Newbie who is Very Sore

[Wolf]

The saddle isn't really all that puffy. I know the original seat made my issues much worse, it was smaller and very hard. I couldn't even walk after using that one. The current one is slightly softer, but it's not puffy or ultra soft. I've got a little more junk in my trunk than I'd like, so I have to be careful of smaller seats, at least until I get my rear end down to a size I want it to be at. Since I enjoy riding so much, I figured it was one excersise I could really stick with to help lose the weight. And unfortunetly, I've got a ways to go to get my rear end down. So I can't go much smaller with the seat than I've gone already (I don't want to lose the thing up in there! LOL!).

[Biciclista]

like Bleeker said, no matter how much "junk in your trunk" if your tailbone is hurting, this saddle is NOT working. you shouldn't have any weight on your tailbone, only on your sitbones.

That saddle is allowing you to sink down to your tailbone. Bad saddle.
Good luck. A lot of very large women are riding bikes without tailbone issues. You can be one of them; change your saddle!

[robinmarylong]

I was having trouble with my seat when I first bought my bike and it turned out that my seat needed a small adjustment, but first I went to my LBS to make sure the seat was the right size. The have a little stool you sit on and it shows where your sit bones are and what size seat you should use. For me the movement of 1/4 of an inch made a huge difference.

[tulip]

Your sit bones will not change due to weight loss--they are bones. It sounds like you need your whole bike looked over by a reputable local bike shop (not a Wal-Mart type store). While they are at it, ask them if they do professional fittings, or if they can at least take a look at you on the bike and check your position and bike fit. A professional fit will run $100 and take a couple of hours, but it will be well worth it to be comfortable on your bike.

Getting the right saddle may take some time and money, but starting with a proper bike fit will help.

[Geonz]

It also might not be the seat at all, but its position. If it's too low, you're going to be sore.

[Wolf]

It also might not be the seat at all, but its position. If it's too low, you're going to be sore.

What if it's too high? We were talking about this at work today and it is possible that the seat might be too high for me. I'm not sure how your feet should touch the ground when stopped but sitting on the bike.

[Kano]

What if it's too high? We were talking about this at work today and it is possible that the seat might be too high for me. I'm not sure how your feet should touch the ground when stopped but sitting on the bike.

"How your feet should touch the ground" depends on the bike. "Cruisers" you generally can put your foot flat on the ground while seated on the bike. Maybe it's MY hybrid, but I hop off the saddle just like I do my road bike when I stop -- it's not stable to have just the tip of the toes on one foot on the ground, at least not MY toes!

I actually had my saddle height adjusted on Monday -- during a bike fitting. Boy oh boy, it feels HIGH right now! Just a wee bit spooky now and then, but I know I'll get used to it.

(the bike fitting is a story on its own -- VERY interesting process!)

Karen in Boise