Hi!
I've had my bike for about 5 years (flat bar hybrid) and bought it with the intent of losing weight and getting fitter rather than breaking any land speed records. I pottered about for a bit, but rides became fewer and farther between.
Then, in August 2017 I had what I thought would be an innocuous visit to the GP. Sadly as events unfolded over a couple of weeks, I came away with a diagnosis of high cholesterol, type2 diabetes and prostate cancer. Fortunately the NHS is the greatest thing since sliced bread, and through a combination of surgery and tablets, it's all, largely, under control.
But it appears that I'm borderline on the Diabetes, and there's a good chance that if I can shift a good chunk of my 18st 6lb (target weight, 13st 7lb), I may be able to come off the tablets.
So earlier in the year I decided to start exercising a bit more, and eating a bit less. So far, so good. Currently at 17st 9lb and heading in the right direction.
Exercise-wise, I'm riding before work Mon, Wed and Fri, and on a rowing machine on Tue and Thur to vary things. Having come back to this after a lengthy break, the first few rides saw me panting from breath and coming home with legs of jelly, but gradually that's improved to the point where I do my 8 mile ride (2 laps of a 4 mile circuit) and come home able to breathe and my legs suggesting they could manage another 4 miles.
The fly in the ointment is my backside. By mile 7 it is crying out to be removed from my steed! It's not a problem of numbness, my squishy bits all seem ok, but my 'sit bones' don't seem to want to sit in the right place.
I had a Specialized / Body Geometry saddle that was lightly padded and about 155mm wide at it's widest, although the seating surface was probably more like 125mm.
I have now replaced it with a new Spesh / BG saddle that's about 180mm wide, and when I'm perched on it, it seems to be a perfect fit.
However, after a few mins pedalling, I'm finding myself shuffling forward so that instead of my sit bones sitting 'on' the saddle, they're starting to straddle the narrower nose, and the discomfort starts again. As long as I shuffle back every minute or so, it's ok, but i can't help thinking that there must be a way of getting a better seating position.
The saddle's as far forward on the rails as I can get it, and horizontal (although tbh, I can't see any way of adjusting the angle nose up / nose down anyway). Saddle is at the correct height as are (I believe) the handlebars.
Any suggestions, short of glueing myself to the saddle? I'd really like to be able to go out for longer rides, but at this rate I can't see me getting beyond 10 miles, let alone a longer weekend ride.
NB - I do wear padded shorts but contrary to popular thinking, I wear snug undies as no-one's ever going to convince me that going commando is anything less than the behaviour of a savage!
Present company excepted, naturally...
;o)
Cheers!
I've had my bike for about 5 years (flat bar hybrid) and bought it with the intent of losing weight and getting fitter rather than breaking any land speed records. I pottered about for a bit, but rides became fewer and farther between.
Then, in August 2017 I had what I thought would be an innocuous visit to the GP. Sadly as events unfolded over a couple of weeks, I came away with a diagnosis of high cholesterol, type2 diabetes and prostate cancer. Fortunately the NHS is the greatest thing since sliced bread, and through a combination of surgery and tablets, it's all, largely, under control.
But it appears that I'm borderline on the Diabetes, and there's a good chance that if I can shift a good chunk of my 18st 6lb (target weight, 13st 7lb), I may be able to come off the tablets.
So earlier in the year I decided to start exercising a bit more, and eating a bit less. So far, so good. Currently at 17st 9lb and heading in the right direction.
Exercise-wise, I'm riding before work Mon, Wed and Fri, and on a rowing machine on Tue and Thur to vary things. Having come back to this after a lengthy break, the first few rides saw me panting from breath and coming home with legs of jelly, but gradually that's improved to the point where I do my 8 mile ride (2 laps of a 4 mile circuit) and come home able to breathe and my legs suggesting they could manage another 4 miles.
The fly in the ointment is my backside. By mile 7 it is crying out to be removed from my steed! It's not a problem of numbness, my squishy bits all seem ok, but my 'sit bones' don't seem to want to sit in the right place.
I had a Specialized / Body Geometry saddle that was lightly padded and about 155mm wide at it's widest, although the seating surface was probably more like 125mm.
I have now replaced it with a new Spesh / BG saddle that's about 180mm wide, and when I'm perched on it, it seems to be a perfect fit.
However, after a few mins pedalling, I'm finding myself shuffling forward so that instead of my sit bones sitting 'on' the saddle, they're starting to straddle the narrower nose, and the discomfort starts again. As long as I shuffle back every minute or so, it's ok, but i can't help thinking that there must be a way of getting a better seating position.
The saddle's as far forward on the rails as I can get it, and horizontal (although tbh, I can't see any way of adjusting the angle nose up / nose down anyway). Saddle is at the correct height as are (I believe) the handlebars.
Any suggestions, short of glueing myself to the saddle? I'd really like to be able to go out for longer rides, but at this rate I can't see me getting beyond 10 miles, let alone a longer weekend ride.
NB - I do wear padded shorts but contrary to popular thinking, I wear snug undies as no-one's ever going to convince me that going commando is anything less than the behaviour of a savage!
Present company excepted, naturally...
;o)
Cheers!