New to cycling question

Find a saddle that suits your sit bones is a big help too. A lot of bike shops have sample saddles that you can try out on your bike so that you can find the right one for you.

I empathize and agree that it's time in the saddle that will fix this. Congrats for picking up cycling and keep it up!

A good bike shop can help you find a better fitting saddle than what came with your bike. And they'll be happy to sell it and some expensive but worth it bike shorts to you, too.

First, because you're new to this, you need to get used to it a bit.

A good bike shop will have a demo saddle program; they'll lend you one for a week, then another, and another, until you find the right one.

It's counterintuitive but less padding is better.

1) Make sure your bicycle is set up so that it fits you properly. It also helps if you are not too upright.

2) Make sure you've got the right saddle for you. It needs to be wide enough so that your sitbones are comfortably placed on it, but not too wide.

3) Get a decent pair of cycling shorts with enough padding to cover your sitbones but not too much so that it bunches and causes friction.

4) Strengthen your upper body and core. You should not be putting all your weight on the saddle. Much of your weight should be on your feet, but that requires a strong core.

5) Sit with good posture.

6) Ride lots. And exercise lots in general.


These days, I can do a 400 km randonnee (400 km within a 27 hour time limit including all breaks) with no butt issues at all. A number of years ago, I could do 1200 km randonnees (1200 km within a 90 hour time limit including all breaks) with no butt issues. The only thing holding me back from doing 1200 km randonnees now is that my leg strength and fitness level need to build up a little bit more.

@CincyNeid could maybe share his expertise.

Ben_Likes_Beer wrote: »

Sounds like I definitely need to invest in some cycle shorts. Thanks for all of your responses.

Shorts certainly help, but they are only a band-aid if the seat is in the wrong position. When I was new to road biking, I got a loaner bike from a man. We adjusted the bike to me as best we could, but left the seat with the slight tilt up in the front that preferred. I didn't experience discomfort on the bike, but later in the day it would hurt to pee. I had been wear bike shorts. Female bits and a tilt up in the front are not a good combination.

I watched some youtube videos on seat set up and made sure the seat was level and position properly (as best I could on my own). Next ride --no issues. I eventually ended up buying my own women's specific bike (with a women's seat) that was fitted by the store to me --even better.

The next year, I started commuting to work by bike and bought a hybrid for the commute. The store adjusted the seat height and that was it. I had no end of problems with the seat but didn't' think about getting it "fit" because it was "only a hybrid". Turns out I was positioned with too much weight in the front, which caused my hips to roll and friction -- despite bike shorts. The hybrid gave me my first saddle sore -- what a *kitten* gift.

Moral of my stories -- the priority is to get the right seat and the correct bike set up. Cycling shorts will provide comfort, especially in hot sweaty weather, but not solve the problem of a bad bike set up.

Also as a previous poster mentioned, chamois cream is not just for the pros. Bike seat - bottom friction is the enemy of comfortable riding - use whatever it takes to have a comfortable ride. Be particularly mindful on long, sweaty, summer rides.

Get the right seat for you from a bike shop, and ride more. It does get better. Cycling shorts help as well. Finally, having the bike properly fitted to you makes a big difference as well.

The right saddle for you, proper positioning and padded shorts all help. But the thing that helps more than anything else is spending time in the saddle. It will never feel like an easy chair, but after a few weeks it'll get to the point that you can ride long distances without even thinking about the saddle.