Newbie who is Very Sore

[Wolf]

The OP also needs to be sure the bike is checked for assembly defects in view of her initial problem with the handlebars being loose. Based on this problem, I am guessing the bike was purchased either used, at a dept. store, or poor quality bike shop.

*hangs head in shame* I got it for $86 at Toys 'R Us. My dad got took real bad at a bike shop, so when it was time for mine and I was testing the waters as to whether this was my thing or not, I opted for an el cheapo from Toys 'R Us, with the plans of getting a better bike when my bank account allows. I just discovered a bike shop locally that has been getting rave reviews and hasn't been there long, so I'll probably stop by, with the bike, on Sunday to have them give me an assessment, and if they seem ok, I'll eventually be buying a better bike from them.

[Wolf]

From your description, you may be bearing your weight on the saddle a little too far back on your rear end.

First issue, bike fit. Your bike needs to fit you like a comfy old pair of jeans. Frame or standover height, saddle height, reach, and several other measurements come into play here, and if you're having to stretch out or scrunch up anywhere, that shifts where you're bearing your weight on the bike, and almost any saddle is going to hurt under those conditions.

Next step, after the bike gets fitted to you, check the saddle. A medium to firm saddle will usually ride better because it lets the load go to your sit bones and not your tender parts. The wide, cushy saddles aren't always the best solution. You might also look into getting a good pair of bike shorts with a good chamois... because on a bike oftentimes the padding isn't on your saddle, it's in the seat of your britches.

If there's a local bike shop that you trust, ask them for a bike fitting session. It's well worth the cost, and you may have to change out some parts (stem, seatpost, etc.) to get all the parts in alignment with your body.

I had to stop to think, but now that you mention it, I don't scrunch up much or often... except when I first start peddling. I'm at a stop and go stage right now, building my stamina, so I'll bike about a mile or two, but I'll stop a few times during that period. When I first start peddling to get it going I do scrunch up a bit, it almost feels like my thigh is hitting into my lower torso. I kind of assumed that would just happen until I lose some of the belly.

I'll be heading out Sunday or Monday to talk to the guys at the local shop. Thanks!

[LoriO]

Good luck at the bike shop, I'm sure you'll get a lot of good help there. It will be worth it, when you have a bike that fits it is like night and day! Suddenly you will find that biking will be just a little bit easier and a lot more enjoyable!

[Wolf]

Thanks for all the help! I'll let you all know how it goes at the bike shop if I get there this week. Thanks!

[emily_in_nc]

There are saddles that are split in the back to take all pressure off the tailbone area. I ride with a gal who injured her tailbone badly in a bike accident years ago, and she needs this type of saddle.

Here's just one example:

http://ridingbicycles.com/itemdetails.cfm?LibId=29722

Warning, tho, a lot of these saddles cost more than the bike you are are currently riding!

[tulip]

When you are ready and able to get a better bike, that local bike shop might have some used bikes that would suit you fine. Better to have a decent used bike that you know is a quality vehicle (because bikes are vehicles, after all) than a new bike from TRU that is not safe and will continually give you problems (and it's a used bike now, anyways).

Until then, though, be careful and check over the bike thoroughly before every ride to check for loose parts.

[Wolf]

I got the bike over to the local shop this afternoon. He looked it over, tightened up the handbars, etc. The verdit:

1. The bike is too small for me.

2. The bike is a piece of junk. I knew this. And he didn't say it like that, but that was the jist of it. It was assembled poorly, for the most part.

The bike needs a lot of work done to make it an efficient one (and to assemble it correctly), but it will cost me way more than I actually spent on the bike to do this. And seeing as how it is too small for me, there really is no point in doing that. So I decided to keep the money and put it aside. I'm going to start saving for a new bike. It will take a few months to do, but I'll get there eventually.

He looked it over and apparently my saddle is fine. It's actually worth more than the bike is. LOL! But he said it was a good size and shape for me. He adjusted it and raised it, a measure he said would hold me until I got the money up for a new bike. I can no longer reach the ground... well, I can, but just barely.

I haven't ridden yet as we had horrible thunderstorms this evening. I'm aiming for sometime tomorrow afternoon to test it out. If I can fix it. I somehow screwed up the breaks on the way home, everything is tangled and the breaks won't release.

A new "starter model" bike will cost me around $400, and I think I can save that up over the next few months. That includes a fitting to make sure I don't get the wrong size again.

Anyway, the future of my bike will be to hang in there - hopefully - until I get a new one, and then it will be donated to our local "bike man" who fixes up old, broken, or unwanted bikes to give to less fortunate kids at Christmas. I'll keep the saddle and put the original one back on before I do that. But I think it's a good future for the bike. He knows what he's doing, so some kid won't be getting a piece of junk.