Going in circles here

[Swan]

Thank you both! I slapped on some thick gloves, strapped a pillow onto my seat (and boy did that help a LOT), and adjusted its height for today's ride. Unfortunately the saddle's angle and forward/backward position or the handlebars' height cannot be altered, but I won't use that as an excuse to not ride. I've found that the most comfortable riding position for me is the same one I'd use for riding horses, but the handles are a little too low for that... My chain came loose today and my gears were super hard to shift -- this is something I'm very well versed in when it comes to riding bikes though, so I was very surprised and frustrated when it happened -- so overall I think I'm just going to need a different bike. This one is less than a few months in my possession and is already having so many troubles.

I'll make a few calls and see if the shops closest to me offer comprehensive fittings and saddle parts. It wouldn't hurt to check their costs and whether or not they offer test rides either. It sounds like it's going to be needed! Thank you all for your advice on this and all of the pointers/links. I super duper appreciate it!