New obese cyclist + experience of Decathlon

[Cycleops]

Hello and welcome. Nice bike the Triban, but they do come with budget saddles. Buy a wider padded one, it will make things a lot more comfortable for you. Padded shorts will also help. If you want to loose weight you will also need to control your diet, but I'm sure you know that. Good luck.

 

[Kies]

Yeah i remember changing the Triban saddle pretty quickly. Sit bones take time to harden. It will take a few weeks. A better saddle will help. I bought one from Decathlon ... A selle something in black with a little padding. Think it was around the £25 mark

 

[daddypaul3]

+1 for the padded shorts they help a lot ,just don't assume the thicker they are the better they are they dont have to be 2 inches thick for it to help

 

[fatCyclist]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I bought the £20 padded shorts from decathlon and the do help a wee bit but not a huge amount. In terms of saddles, I was also looking at a Selle (SMP TRK). Given the stock saddle is so narrow I'm thinking its extra width will help. But will also persevere to build up the sit bones.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I normally hate saddles (not great for a cyclist I know) and find getting one that I like is hard work at the best of times. The stock saddle on the triban 3 has, however, been fine for me for rides under 100km (just don't ask me to use the one on my touring bike at the moment - even though I did 14,000km on it, I can't currently sit on it for more than 10km). What I have found over the years is that better quality shorts/tights offer much more comfort and that whilst they can cost lots, they are worth every penny. I ride in Assos shorts/tights/knickers and if I was in the OP's shoes would upgrade them before I upgrade the saddle (unless the saddle width has been confirmed as too narrow - an LBS can help with this).

 

[Iain M Norman]

How does the feel of the saddle change if you shift backwards or forwards?

 

[voodoochilli]

Hi everyone,

I thought I'd combine my welcome post with this one as it might prove useful to other newbies. Quick intro about me: I'm a mid-thirties 18stone unfit writer. I last rode a bike in anger when I was at college. When my mountain bike got stolen, I learned to drive and didn't look back.

I'm now working from home and not running my car, and in order to reduce my massive gut and to get out of the house to stop myself from getting cabin fever, I thought cycling would be the ideal sport. Especially as I find walking/running incredibly dull. So, I trawled these forums for the last week and came away with an overbearing suggestion of buying a Triban 3.

Of course, the problem came when I actually tried to buy one. There are none, at least not in my size and in my store. However, the friendly people at Decathlon sorted me out. I went down there today and learned that the Triban 3 is discontinued. The 3a is a downgrade, but also cheaper. I didn't want an inferior bike, but the new 5a is perfect.

Sure, it's £99 dearer than the old Triban 3, but it's IMHO a better-looking bike, and has a great spec for the money. The chap at Decathlon let me ride a 5a (54 size) and also a 7 (57 size). It turns out that a 57 suits me better and he ordered me a 5a in a 57 which should be in next week.

I looked at a smaller 3 and the new 3a and have to say I prefer the 5a look. It's dark graphite with a matte finish and to my newbie experience just feels/looks more 'pro' with regards an entry level bike.

So, from next week I'll be joining the ranks of cyclists and hoping to shed some flab. I wanted to thank everyone on this forum for all the posts with other threads that have helped me make my choice, and I hope my brief experience of Decathlon and the new range will maybe help someone with their decision.

Lastly, are there good cycle groups for newbies in Essex? (Thurrock area). Is there a central database for this kind of thing, and/or routes/rides?

Thanks

Sounds like you got it sorted now, but if you still want to save a little cash with a Triban 3, Decathlon Coventry will let you use a courier regardless of where you are based. That's what I did. Cheers.

 

[fatCyclist]

How does the feel of the saddle change if you shift backwards or forwards?

Painful in any position. I try and use the rear of the saddle for most support and I try and keep a straight back so that I'm not sitting all my weight, but it's still very uncomfortable. I'll continue for another week and see if my bones toughen up, but I definitely thing a new, wider saddle is on the cards.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Painful in any position. I try and use the rear of the saddle for most support and I try and keep a straight back so that I'm not sitting all my weight, but it's still very uncomfortable. I'll continue for another week and see if my bones toughen up, but I definitely thing a new, wider saddle is on the cards.

Hi there, FatCy, I'm not far from you and I have a virtually unused Charge Spoon here. It'll be slightly wider, and it's slightly too wide for me. Happy to meet up with you and let you try it out for a while. PM we if you're interested and can give me a non-A13 route to Thurrock or somewhere in between to meet.

 

[fatCyclist]

Hi there, FatCy, I'm not far from you and I have a virtually unused Charge Spoon here. It'll be slightly wider, and it's slightly too wide for me. Happy to meet up with you and let you try it out for a while. PM we if you're interested and can give me a non-A13 route to Thurrock or somewhere in between to meet.

Hey Marmoset. That's very kind of you, thanks. However, I just got back from Decathlon this afternoon after purchasing a Selle saddle. It's wider with more padding and a cut-out.

I fitted it and it's like night and day compared to the original saddle. I can even ride this one very comfortably without the use of padded shorts (although I'll likely use shorts for longer rides). It appears to definitely be a width issue and a padding issue. The Selle feels really good. It's a bit wider and heavier than the supplied 'racing' saddle, or even the Spoon, so as I get leaner and fitter I make think about getting a more streamlined one, but for now, it seems the new one is going to be just right for me a while. I appreciate the offer though

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Hey Marmoset. That's very kind of you, thanks. However, I just got back from Decathlon this afternoon after purchasing a Selle saddle. It's wider with more padding and a cut-out.

I fitted it and it's like night and day compared to the original saddle. I can even ride this one very comfortably without the use of padded shorts (although I'll likely use shorts for longer rides). It appears to definitely be a width issue and a padding issue. The Selle feels really good. It's a bit wider and heavier than the supplied 'racing' saddle, or even the Spoon, so as I get leaner and fitter I make think about getting a more streamlined one, but for now, it seems the new one is going to be just right for me a while. I appreciate the offer though

No worry, I think I just needed an excuse to get out on the bike in this weather!

 

[fatCyclist]

No worry, I think I just needed an excuse to get out on the bike in this weather!

Not sure what it's like up your way, but down here it's surprisingly okay. A few very small snow flurries, but otherwise the wind has been low and the temps not too bad at all. Managed to get a good ride in earlier, but forget to set my Strava app so didn't record it.

 

[fatCyclist]

For those interested, this is the saddle I got: http://www.decathlon.co.uk/flx-man-gelflow-saddle-id_5919000.html

The guys at Decathlon said if it wasn't right I could return it and try another. But so far so good. (It's cheaper online than it is in-store). It has a little bit of 'suspension' on the rails, and that's very noticeable on the bumpy roads around here. I no longer feel every tiny bump shooting up my harris.

 

[fatCyclist]

[QUOTE 2386131, member: 259"]Good luck. I tried a gel saddle a few years ago and I just could not get on with it at all.[/quote]

I'm sure eventually it won't be right, and I understand the criticisms of gel saddles, but for me while I'm still very unfit and very heavy it enables me to ride the bike for longer. I'll likely change it as I get fitter and leaner and ride much longer distances. The problem with the original saddle was it was painful almost immediately and eventually it would have put me off riding. Although this won't be ideal in the long-term, I'm happy to have it for now to keep me riding

 

[wanda2010]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I bought the £20 padded shorts from decathlon and the do help a wee bit but not a huge amount. In terms of saddles, I was also looking at a Selle (SMP TRK). Given the stock saddle is so narrow I'm thinking its extra width will help. But will also persevere to build up the sit bones.

Hi FC, I have the SMP TRK on two of my bikes and I think they are fab and very comfortable. For long distances (over 50 miles) I have the Dynamic which, admittedly, cost an arm and a leg but was worth every penny. Glad you've got one.