Saddle height and fear

[Biciclista]

I think we did a survey way back when about how many people kept the stock saddle on their bike, i think it was like 20% of us kept that stock saddle...
You shouldn't be in constant pain. it's one thing to get sore after riding for an unaccustomed long period, but to get on there and be OUWCH that's not right...
feel free to visit our saddles threads...

[ln_ib]

Thanks, Biciclista, and I am already visiting the saddle threads ... and, I have to admit, thinking about how nice a Brooks saddle would look on that bike.

[Ritamarie]

Wow, that is REALLY pretty.

This thread made me realize that I have no idea the order of things when I come to a stop. The only thing I know for sure is that I unclip my left foot well before the stop because I do that very consciously. I'll have to pay attention next ride.

I asked my DH which foot he unclips when he comes to a stop, because I thought it was unusual for me to unclip my left foot when I am right handed. He said he had no idea. How can you not know that?!?

[ln_ib]

I actually noticed, because I'm really paying attention now, that when I stop I step off first with my left foot, although I'm not clipped in, and I'm right handed. But I'm sure I wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't been paying attention to every little thing I'm doing.

[Crankin]

You're not weird, RitaMarie. Although I started out unclipping right, somehow, I switched to the left. Now, I can't even get on my bike from the right side... after 9 years. I really don't know the order I do stuff either. I unclip a little before a stop and I *think* I lean a tiny bit left and forward. Next thing I know, my foot is on the ground. It all happens in like a second.
I have tried unclipping on the right side. While I had no issue actually taking my cleat out of the pedal, I felt like I would fall if I tried to actually put my foot down. I know you are supposed to feel comfortable doing both, but I never bothered to try again. Interestingly, I can unclip and stop on both sides on my mountain bike, mostly because I always am on the alert to stopping due to obstacles (I generally suck at mountain biking).

[Triskeliongirl]

Congrats on the new bike! I advise against lowering the sadle though, as that can lead to knee pain. Instead, as others have suggested, practice shifting in a trainer. Also, put some cheap flat pedals on so you can first get used to the bike, and then put clip in pedals on later. I find speedplay frogs are the easiest to learn to use.

[sarahspins]

I am right handed.. I mount from the left and unclip the left foot first at a stop. My DH is left handed and he mounts from the right and puts his right foot down first (he doesn't ride clipless). I think it looks weird which is why I noticed, but I didn't say anything

I think to some degree it's just what you grew up doing and what feels more comfortable.

[Ritamarie]

Huh... how about that. I figured that mounting from the left and putting my left foot down came from my horse riding experience where it's proper to mount from the left side of the horse. I always heard that the reason you mount a horse from the left was because soldiers holstered their swords on the left. Maybe it's just more natural for a right handed person to mount from the left. Probably some Pilates person could tell us why.

[sfa]

I'm right handed and I've always mounted from the left and put my left foot down at stops. I always figured it was because by doing that my stronger/more coordinated side of my body is doing the bulk of the work--holding the handlebar at the far side, swinging the leg, getting the bike started from a dead stop, etc.

[papaver]

Why a racing bike and not a hybrid? I just wonder... if you don't have much experience I would stay away from racingbikes all together... but that's just my humble opinion.

It'll make you feel a lot safer on the road.

[ln_ib]

Why a racing bike and not a hybrid? I just wonder... if you don't have much experience I would stay away from racingbikes all together... but that's just my humble opinion.

It'll make you feel a lot safer on the road.

I actually wanted something for touring, rather than racing. I'm not racy, but I do want to go a long way. I'm riding a 545 mile ride in June, and am getting prepped for it now. It's not a ride I feel like I want to make on a hybrid.

[papaver]

There is one bike that is really great for long distances. But dead expensive.

http://www.idworx-bikes.de/nl/bikes/trekkingbikes.php

It's the rolls royce of the trekking bikes. I've had one for a weekend. You ride just as fast as on a racingbike, but the comfort is of a much higher standard.

but like I said, very expensive.

A very good second best: http://www.koga.com/us/ and less expensive.

A friend of mine has a koga and he cycled from belgium to the south of India (and that is a looooooooooooooooooong way). He did this while having cancer. Unfortunately he died at the beginning of this year... but he was happy.

[Catrin]

This is about MY fear of a tall seat-post. When I first started looking into cycling, my instructor put me on a flat-foot bike that had a step-through frame. What I purchased, however, was a Trek 7.6 which is a flat-bar road bike/fitness bike (depending on who you are talking to). I followed advice at the time to just lower the seat a little until I became comfortable riding and then to re-raise it.

I had a fitting today, and the fitting specialist raised my seat 4 inches Ok, so I am long-legged and I know I have this mental thing about starting with my butt on the saddle...gotta get over that for my 50-year old knees sake...but I can't even touch my toes to the ground!

I LOVE my bike, she is great - and this is really the only problem I've had so far - how to deal with starting up properly without being seated. Is this a common problem?

Methinks that they did me no favors getting me started on a flat-foot frame

[KnottedYet]

Huh... how about that. I figured that mounting from the left and putting my left foot down came from my horse riding experience where it's proper to mount from the left side of the horse. I always heard that the reason you mount a horse from the left was because soldiers holstered their swords on the left. Maybe it's just more natural for a right handed person to mount from the left. Probably some Pilates person could tell us why.

I keep my left foot and left hand on the bike, because I'm left-handed and left-footed and my dominant side stays in charge of the bike. Guess I trust the bike more than I trust the ground...

[KnottedYet]

I had a fitting today, and the fitting specialist raised my seat 4 inches Ok, so I am long-legged and I know I have this mental thing about starting with my butt on the saddle...gotta get over that for my 50-year old knees sake...but I can't even touch my toes to the ground!

I LOVE my bike, she is great - and this is really the only problem I've had so far - how to deal with starting up properly without being seated. Is this a common problem?

Methinks that they did me no favors getting me started on a flat-foot frame

I'm long legged, but I can touch my toes to the ground. I don't "ankle" when I pedal, so I much prefer a saddle height that keeps my ankle neutral at the bottom of the pedal stroke. Different strokes for different folks.

However, I always start up OFF the saddle.

Pick a foot (any foot) and stick it on a pedal. When you have a gut feeling for which foot you like to put on the pedal, go outside. Practice standing on that pedal, and scooting around using the other foot to push you (not on the saddle yet, just scooting). Once you feel very comfortable scooting, practice lifting your butt onto the saddle mid-scoot using that pedal as a step.

It's a beautiful thing!

Starting on a flat-foot frame is just fine! That's the way we all learn as kids. Don't worry.

(fitter concern note: I never change a person's saddle height by a full 4 inches all at once. Can you start with 2 inches, then in a week or two go to 3 inches, then a week or two after that go to 4 inches?)