And then I realised just how much I'm doing wrong ...

[RhythMick]

Took up cycling 7 months ago and have turned 236 lbs of wheezy pathetic 48 year old barely capable of climbing stairs into 220lbs of 49 year old with MUCH better breathing and all round fitness. My Sportives are now 50 mile plus, did the Lincoln GP 63 miler on Sunday and even managed a sprint halfway up the final cobbled Steep Hill.

Definitely improving, but I have a few problem areas...

- aching neck and shoulders, I think because my Planet X Kaffenback has my bars lower than my seat and I'm not used to it (got that bike in January)
- aching wrists
- numbness in one or more fingers, which can last a few days
- sore bum ... Not chafing, but aching sit bones

Brief searching through the forums and a bit of research uncovers a few things I might have been doing wrong.

- I always wore undies under my cycle shorts, apparently they are designed to be worn without (how is a newbie supposed to know that?)
- when I got my new bike with it's thin Selle Italia saddle I found it uncomfortable on my (cough) little Mick. I lowered the seat angle nose down. Apparently a common mistake among newbies and may be forcing more weight onto my hands than I should have, causing the wrist aches and possible numbness I guess. I'm wearing Altura padded fingerless mitts by the way.
- the cycling shorts I wear are reasonably comfortable and with a good chamois in place but I've been told bib shorts would be better

Now, before I rush out and change the saddle angle, possibly go buy a Brooks, get some bib shorts and discard the undies ... Any advice from the more experienced riders ? In particular, how does one get measured for a saddle and how exactly do you test ride it ? Presumably you just wouldn't know unless you rode it for 30 or 40 miles.


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[endoman]

Go and get a bike fitting, best money I have spent since starting cycling.

 

[black'n'yellow]

Some shops carry test saddles, and Specialized BG dealers will usually have a sit-bone measuring mat which will give you a better idea of the width you need. I would go that route for starters.

If you are already having saddle problems, then to be honest, a brand-new Brooks is probably the last thing you need right now. Maybe work up to that one...

 

[steve52]

when i started (restarted) aged 52 i had similar probs ie i only had a 2 hour bum. i rasied the bars by turning the stem bit upsidedown so when on the top of the bars my hands are at the same hight as the saddle, that and perseverence and i now have a 5 hour bum,yippeee

 

[steve52]

i did get so sore once i went to the doctors, he kindly explained that i had a young slim saddel and an old fat arse

 

[PpPete]

Aching sit bones..... might mean your saddle is actually too wide !
I have an older fatter arse, but my sit-bones are quite close together (according to the Spesh measuring thingie).... seemingly too close for any of the modern plastic saddles that to be comfortable for any length of time. The Spesh narrow models were better than any of the others but still couldnt ride longer than 3 or 4 hours.
The narrower Brooks models work for me for rides up to 16 hours (so far).

OTH - riding Sportives with a Brooks is a
You might just have to take up Audax instead!

 

[RhythMick]

Go and get a bike fitting, best money I have spent since starting cycling.

Planet X do a bike fitting service. Crikey nearly £200. Ok worth it maybe if it clears the problems. It's a Retul 3d thingy, sounds like something Lance Armstrong would go for, not the president of the FCAB.




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[RhythMick]

Planet X do a bike fitting service. Crikey nearly £200. Ok worth it maybe if it clears the problems. It's a Retul 3d thingy, sounds like something Lance Armstrong would go for, not the president of the FCAB.




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FCAB = Fat Chuffers At the Back


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[endoman]

I think a Retul fit is probably over the top for you. My fit cost £150 which included a set of custom footbeds,
I have a mate who has rave reviews of this place in Barnsley http://www.racescene.co.uk/

 

[RhythMick]

I think a Retul fit is probably over the top for you. My fit cost £150 which included a set of custom footbeds,
I have a mate who has rave reviews of this place in Barnsley http://www.racescene.co.uk/

Yeah thanks. I contacted Racescene and will let you know what happens.


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[RhythMick]

Ok after some advice from cycling friends I've decided a large part of my problem is that the bars are too low for me. I've turned the stem over and reviewed the saddle height (ok) and fore-aft (was set way back). The bars are now MUCH MUCH more comfortable for me and I strongly suspect that the saddle position will only need minor adjustments from here once I get used to it again.

I can still see me going for a nice Brooks saddle at some point, perhaps the (sprung) Flyer or the B17 but I'll let the geometry settle in first.


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[postman]

For the saddle try a Charge Spoon.

 

[RhythMick]

For the saddle try a Charge Spoon.

Heard a few recommend those, not heard anything about why though. Wiggle have the 2011 model for £15 so easy enough to try.


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[black'n'yellow]

The Spoon seems to be one of those saddles that lots of people can get on with. The only issue with it is the side stitching - which has a tendency to eat through whatever shorts/bibs you happen to be wearing...

 

[smutchin]

Re shorts - I find the main benefit of bibshorts is not having an elasticated waist, which can be quite uncomfortable, especially if you have a bit of excess girth. Can't make any specific recommendations but pretty much anything will be an improvement in comfort over non-bibshorts.

d.