My first problem.....

[Globalti]

Would you walk around with your legs bent?

No. So why ride around with them bent?

 

[Cannondale Lady]

Thanks all for your advice. Riding in ordinary shoes with ordinary pedals. Will up it a little each time s confidence grows. I was very shaky when I set out today but soon settled better than I expected.

 

[summerdays]

Gradually move it up as you feel comfortable with the height. Even small changes make a difference, it will be easier to pedal with it at the correct height for your leg length but not if you are worried about being unable to stop safely. If you get to the point where your hips start rocking from side to side, you've gone too far.

 

[Cannondale Lady]

Moving on to the next day...........I'm not too stiff but butt is rather painful.

Should I wait till tomorrow before getting back on to give my butt time to heal or get back on today and try to work through the pain barrier?

 

[arch684]

Only you will know how sore so you decide.Maybe you could try a shorter ride today

 

[vickster]

Are you wearing padded shorts? Is the saddle in the correct fore/aft position, is it level or slightly nose down

Being too low may not be helping either

If sore, sudocreme can help. You don't want to end up with raw skin, but bruised sit bones are pretty normal when starting out (assuming this is what you mean by butt rather than the softer tissue areas).

 

[mjr]

Should I wait till tomorrow before getting back on to give my butt time to heal or get back on today and try to work through the pain barrier?

Unless you need to ride to get somewhere, I'd wait. I'd also try to figure out why it hurts, but I know a lot of people say about how it always hurts when you start riding and breaking your backside in. I'm not sure I agree with that, but then I dissent on loads of saddle/padding-related stuff. I don't remember a sore bum (sore legs when I increased distance, yes - sore bum, no) but it's been sooooo long since I started riding (aged 5 or something - I'm unusual for my age in never really stopping riding) that I might have just forgotten.

 

[Drago]

Too low a saddle can cause knee and hip problems, and cause instability on the machine as you'll be in the wrong position to control it properly. Start how you feel comfy, but look to raise the saddle incrementally until you're in a better position.

 

[Cannondale Lady]

It's the sit bones that hurt. No friction or raw skin. Will see how it feels when I sit on it later this afternoon. Saddle is straight. Might it help to tip slightly?

 

[mjr]

Nope. (It might reduce the sit bone pressure, but it'll increase pressure on soft tissue that you really shouldn't hurt.)

 

[Saluki]

Thanks all for your advice. Riding in ordinary shoes with ordinary pedals. Will up it a little each time s confidence grows. I was very shaky when I set out today but soon settled better than I expected.

As your confidence grows you will get your seat sorted. When I came back to riding, my saddle was a smidge low for about the first week. Once I'd cracked 4 or 5 miles, my knees were growling so that saddle went up.
Just practice getting your foot down (I always put my left one down). It will come with practice. To this day, I still look for a kerb to stick my foot on, as my knees are not what they were 30 years ago.

 

[summerdays]

I'd give yourself a day off, let everything recover a little, I once battled on with a saddle that came on a new bike and I ended up having to give it a bigger break off the bike to let things recover.

 

[totallyfixed]

I would love to know who first came up with "saddle too low is bad for your knees" or "finding up a hill in a too big gear is bad for your knees" or "zero float on your cleats is bad for your knees". The first 2 will strengthen the muscles, tendons and ligaments around your knees and your thighs will hurt. Providing cleats are set properly the last one will protect your knees.
Sorry I digress, carry on.

 

[mustang1]

With all due respect, it's not hubby riding your bike it's you.

Do it your way until you get your confidence and then go higher as and when you feel comfortable doing so.

If you don't have confidence it'll stop you going out on your bike.

+1

 

[cyberknight]

He is right but you need to feel comfortable and confident. I had a bike fit, fitter put saddle so high I really struggled when stopping on way home from fitting! I lowered a little and found a happy medium (important as I have dodgy knees). Try to find a height that is reasonable and perhaps practice getting foot down while leaning the bike (how I do it), or sliding off the saddle (personally I can't do this, especially when clipped in). I can reach the ground tippy toed when leaning the bike a little. I also have very tight calves which compounds the stretching to the ground issue

As above, make minor incremental increases until you feel comfortable and the saddle is closer the optimal height (approx with knee slightly bent when heel on pedal)

+1
I will admit my wife likes it like you and i have been stealth raising it a few mm every so often, shes not noticed ............. yet .