New bike, new rider, new pain!

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Jonesy127

New Member
Location
Bath, UK
Hi all. Not only am I new to the forum, I'm new to modern cycling; in that I haven't ridden a bike for maybe 20 years.

I've just embarked on a new commute by bike venture; bought a Trek 7.2FX 2009 for my 20 mile round trip every day.

It's a pretty flat route on the Bath/Bristol cycle track, which I'm enjoying, except for the painful saddle!

The bike is fitted with a Bontrager Nebula. Now I remember as a kid the painful (but worthwhile) process of breaking in a leather Brookes saddle - is this still the case with modern design saddles?

Bear in mind I've only done 7 days so far, so only 140 miles...perhaps I need to be a bit more patient? Or consider a different saddle/gel cover/etc?
 

Spinney

Bimbleur extraordinaire
Location
Back up north
Are you wearing padded shorts? That's the first, easiest and cheapest step!
 

killiekosmos

Veteran
Your ar$e just needs a bit more time/miles to toughen up.

+1 for padded shorts

also make sure you have the saddle set at most comfortable (least uncomfortable) position.
 

Chamfus Flange

Well-Known Member
Location
Woking, Surrey
Congrats! That's a good mileage for a start-up. Not supprised you're in pain. Keep it going with advice above you'll soon be riding pain free. I've been commuting on a bike since 2003 and now can go for 50 miles a day without cycling short(?) or pain.



.
 

adds21

Rider of bikes
Location
North Somerset
+1 for the shorts. I do the same kind of distance on my commute each day (also into Bristol, but from the south), and felt the pain at first! I don't bother with padded shorts anymore though.
 

recutibi

New Member
Jonesy127 said:
Hi all. Not only am I new to the forum, I'm new to modern cycling; in that I haven't ridden a bike for maybe 20 years.

I've just embarked on a new commute by bike venture; bought a Trek 7.2FX 2009 for my 20 mile round trip every day.

It's a pretty flat route on the Bath/Bristol cycle track, which I'm enjoying, except for the painful saddle!

The bike is fitted with a Bontrager Nebula. Now I remember as a kid the painful (but worthwhile) process of breaking in a leather Brookes saddle - is this still the case with modern design saddles?

Bear in mind I've only done 7 days so far, so only 140 miles...perhaps I need to be a bit more patient? Or consider a different saddle/gel cover/etc?
...or to change for a recumbent bike or better a trike :-)
 

iacula

Senior Member
Location
Southampton
I've never used padded shorts, I cycle 22 miles a day. I use a Selle San Marco Rolls saddle no problems now. The first month is the worst, I suggest you decide after that.
 

bauldbairn

New Member
Location
Falkirk
iacula said:
I've never used padded shorts, I cycle 22 miles a day. I use a Selle San Marco Rolls saddle no problems now. The first month is the worst, I suggest you decide after that.

The same - 20/30 miles a day, after 3/4 weeks you'll wonder what you were worrying about.:evil:

Oh! and welcome to the forum.:biggrin:
 

HJ

Cycling in Scotland
Location
Auld Reekie
Jonesy127 said:
Hi all. Not only am I new to the forum, I'm new to modern cycling; in that I haven't ridden a bike for maybe 20 years.

I've just embarked on a new commute by bike venture; bought a Trek 7.2FX 2009 for my 20 mile round trip every day.

It's a pretty flat route on the Bath/Bristol cycle track, which I'm enjoying, except for the painful saddle!

The bike is fitted with a Bontrager Nebula. Now I remember as a kid the painful (but worthwhile) process of breaking in a leather Brookes saddle - is this still the case with modern design saddles?

Bear in mind I've only done 7 days so far, so only 140 miles...perhaps I need to be a bit more patient? Or consider a different saddle/gel cover/etc?

Congratulation on your new commute :evil:

I think your best option would be a new saddle, Bontrager Nebula is a soft spongy horrible thing, gel cover are a thing of satan and best avoided. Brookes saddles haven't changed and still need to broken in, but have a reputation for being very comfortable once you have done so. Other saddle to consider would be Specialized BG Toupé (get you sit bones measured first to get the right width) or Fizik. Also it is worth have a look for threads in "Bikes, Accessories, Kit, and Clothing" there have been a number of discussions as to the merrits of different saddles, good luck :biggrin:
 
HJ said:
Congratulation on your new commute :sad:

I think your best option would be a new saddle, Bontrager Nebula is a soft spongy horrible thing, gel cover are a thing of satin and best avoided. Brookes saddles haven't changed and still need to broken in, but have a reputation for being very comfortable once you have done so. Other saddle to consider would be Specialized BG Toupé (get you sit bones measured first to get the right width) or Fizik. Also it is worth have a look for threads in "Bikes, Accessories, Kit, and Clothing" there have been a number of discussions as to the merrits of different saddles, good luck :thumbsup:
satin or satan?

Could be confusing .. :thumbsup:

(Note that I out-typo'd you, HJ, in that I originally wrote "satin or stan" there):ohmy:
 

rh100

Well-Known Member
Jonesy127 said:
Hi all. Not only am I new to the forum, I'm new to modern cycling; in that I haven't ridden a bike for maybe 20 years.

I've just embarked on a new commute by bike venture; bought a Trek 7.2FX 2009 for my 20 mile round trip every day.

It's a pretty flat route on the Bath/Bristol cycle track, which I'm enjoying, except for the painful saddle!

The bike is fitted with a Bontrager Nebula. Now I remember as a kid the painful (but worthwhile) process of breaking in a leather Brookes saddle - is this still the case with modern design saddles?

Bear in mind I've only done 7 days so far, so only 140 miles...perhaps I need to be a bit more patient? Or consider a different saddle/gel cover/etc?

Hi and welcome

I suggest having a read of this: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html

especially the part about your sit bones, it made a massive difference for me in getting a comfortable saddle, it still hurts after a few hours on it, but the original one on the bike nearly put me off cycling. I also tried a gel cover and found it to be a waste of time. Hope this helps.
 

Banjo

Fuelled with Jelly Babies
Location
South Wales
Welcome to the forum Jonesy. I think your rear end and saddle just need to get to know each other better.

I bought a Trek Valencia with a Bontrager Nebula a few months back and thought it was uncomfortable at first but now after about 1500 miles its great.I did a 100 miler on it last week and had no ar$e problems at all.
 
OP
OP
J

Jonesy127

New Member
Location
Bath, UK
Thanks for the welcome and encouragement, everyone! :laugh:

As it happens a colleague suggested some padded shorts, but I was hoping I wouldn’t have to rely on clothes for a comfortable ride.

Sounds like I need to give it a few more weeks before I decide on what way to go next…
 
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