Novice intro and a couple questions

[Paul Redefined]

Hi folks,

Have a brief 'hi i'm new' post in the welcome mat but as I'm a beginner, thought i'd say hello here and ask a couple questions.

My name is Paul, i live in South East London and I'm a novice cyclist. I bought a new (to me) Hybrid, a 2009 Trek 7.3fx and i'm loving it. I haven't cycled for years and it feels like it. i went out yesterday for my first 'proper' ride since buying the bike last week, it was only 7km but it felt great!

My story kind of started in January when after 20 or so years I decided to change my life completely. first chapter of my new life was documented on a tumblr blog of the same name as my user name here. I gave up smoking on the 5th January, it was tough, but I managed to get through the first few weeks. Unfortunately, my weight really started to balloon. I went up to around 17st (240ish lbs). I started running and loved it but had to keep stopping every couple of weeks due to niggling twinges that became painful injuries, All due to a motorcycle crash I had some 20 years ago. the impact of road running was becoming very painful. I however carried on intermittently and got down to around 15 1/2 stone before finally calling it quits on the running. I'm proud of the fact i completed the couch to 5k program, it was incredibly hard, that first day running i literally couldn't manage a couple of hundred meters.


So, last week i bought a bike and started the next chapter of my fitter and healthier lifestyle. NO IMPACT.... bliss.

I've crept back up to 16st but i'm not beating myself up about it. If i lose some weight cycling, great but it isn't the primary reason. being healthier and fitter is the primary reason and I have a goal of touring a little of europe on two wheels someday.

So thats it really for me. 2014 has been a fantastic year for me, I gave up smoking, got healthier and fitter, lost a bit of weight, started a business (thats really starting to take off) and re-discovered a bit of my childhood freedom when i bought a bike!!


Today, I went up to the city (well Blackfriars, from Honor Oak Park) it was a round trip of around 21km. Not bad going for only my second ride, i loved it, loved being out there but my bum, jeez, it hurts..I feel really bruised. It's the stock seat on the bike and I'm hoping i will get used to it as the last 5km were a lot harder to ride than it should have been, simply because i had to keep standing on the pedals. I don't really want to buy a new seat just yet if its due to not being used to it.

How long should i wait until perhaps buying an aftermarket seat?

After reading loads about fitting, i'm sure my frame is too big as i can just about stand without my man jewels being crushed on the top tube. I'm not overly worried as when i'm cycling, i have the seat at the height that my leg is almost (but not fully) extended, cycling feels ok. I got the bike for a good price and as it is getting me into cycling I can live with it being too big in the short term.

Am i causing problems for myself by having a frame that is too big?

I don't want to spend too much money on this bike as I already plan on buying something new in the nearish future but if i'm causing myself some problems i'd sooner sell this and buy a similarly priced smaller framed bike.

At the moment, i'm putting all the little sore bits down to not being on a bike forever.

Cycling near the city was an eye opener, even in the cycling routes. I'm a novice cyclist but not a novice road user, especially in the city after being a motorcycle courier for some 15 years(ex courier, now i run my own little handyman company in se23) so have some decent road craft but it seemed like i was invisible at times. i thought it was bad on mechanical two wheels.

Anyway, not here to moan, it's something i will get used to i guess. I'm here to say hi and i look forward to being an active member of the forums.

If there are any other novices around the Forest Hill/Honor Oak/Dulwich area that would like to meet up for rides, I'd be happy to tag along!

forgot to add, on Strava my name is Paul Redefined (as well as all the other usual social media) Be great to have some friends to add for help/encouragement/laughs etc

 

[flyingfish]

Hi Paul
Give the saddle a while & maybe look at padded shorts? Sorry but I don't know enough about frame size to advise about bike fit.
Pete

 

[Garry A]

Padded lycra shorts definitely help, on their own or under normal shorts.

 

[JasonHolder]

Padded shorts a must. Preferred bibs, as they don't keep sliding down and bunching up

Get a new seat anytime you like. Most bike shops have trial seats for you to borrow. Just ask.

Always better to ride smaller bike adjusted to fit than bigger bike wise. If nothing else, its going to be much more comfortable.

And welcome

 

[ColinJ]

After reading loads about fitting, i'm sure my frame is too big as i can just about stand without my man jewels being crushed on the top tube. I'm not overly worried as when i'm cycling, i have the seat at the height that my leg is almost (but not fully) extended, cycling feels ok. I got the bike for a good price and as it is getting me into cycling I can live with it being too big in the short term.

Am i causing problems for myself by having a frame that is too big?

Bike sizing has got nothing to do with standover height! I'm not even sure that I could stand over any of my bikes' top tubes, or if I can, there would not be much clearance. As a matter of interest, I'll go and check ... Ok - on both of my road bikes, I make gentle contact with the top tube when astride the bike and wearing my cycling shoes. It isn't a problem - when I stop, I keep my right foot clipped in, slip down off the saddle and lean the bike down to the left

You would probably want more clearance for hardcore mountain biking when you might have to make very sudden dismounts on uneven surfaces. I have about 2 inches clearance on my MTB, due to its sloping top tube.

If you get a smaller bike then you would still have to have your saddle at the height it is now, but the bars would be closer to you and lower. That might be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how long your upper body is and how flexible you are. The standover height is not what you should base your choice on.

 

[Saluki]

Awsome advice @ColinJ , as per.

Welcome to the world of cycling. Buy some padded shorts and keep up the good work

 

[Paul Redefined]

Bike sizing has got nothing to do with standover height! I'm not even sure that I could stand over any of my bikes' top tubes, or if I can, there would not be much clearance. As a matter of interest, I'll go and check ... Ok - on both of my road bikes, I make gentle contact with the top tube when astride the bike and wearing my cycling shoes. It isn't a problem - when I stop, I keep my right foot clipped in, slip down off the saddle and lean the bike down to the left

You would probably want more clearance for hardcore mountain biking when you might have to make very sudden dismounts on uneven surfaces. I have about 2 inches clearance on my MTB, due to its sloping top tube.

If you get a smaller bike then you would still have to have your saddle at the height it is now, but the bars would be closer to you and lower. That might be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how long your upper body is and how flexible you are. The standover height is not what you should base your choice on.

That's put my mind at ease completely. I'll definitely not be mountain biking. Thanks @ColinJ

 

[Steady]

Also I find a poorly fitting saddle can make the bike feel too big if your sit bones aren't actually in the right place, it's a bit like riding a rodeo and makes things very uncomfortable, but some seats are just horrible. I think when I was heavier it took me around a week to adjust to a saddle and I'd feel it if I took time off the bike, and it would feel bruised, so give it some time and then reaccess.

I have a tatty old mtb seat on my road bike now, but it's comfortable, doesn't look nice but who cares.