Omg what have I done...?

[tmif]

My cycling adventure has been exciting to date.

I started 18 (badly) months ago when I bought a very cheap mountain bike from Halford's. It was too small, very uncomfortable and i rode it for about 10 mlies in total.

Fast forward to January this year and I thought I'd give it another go. I bought a very upright almost Dutch style ladies raleigh. This was great. It encouraged me to cycle. It was comfy. I started to love it. ...but it was slow.

I bought my trek hybrid in May. I've ridden about 800 miles since then and I love cycling even more.

...and then on Friday I picked up my road bike. Another trek. A silque. It's very pretty. It's supposed to be faster (yay) and I've ridden it a couple of times and knocked a few seconds off my best time in my favourite flat route.

However.... its so uncomfortable. Thr saddle is excruciating. I have padded shorts. But it's still awful. How long should I give it before I throw it over the fence in disgust?

More seriously how do I get over this? Is there a better saddle out there that won't poke in places we don't discuss in a public forum ☺

So I will love it. .. i know i will... but how do I make it a little less torturous.

Thanks people ☺

 

[RegG]

Keep trying! Is the saddle adjusted properly? Is it a 'ladies' saddle - i.e. designed specifically for the female anatomy? You could ask if your local bike shop could do a bike fit for you and make sure everything is adjusted to your needs. Do you need some better padded shorts?

You will get it right eventually, just don't give up trying.

 

[HelsBells Cambs]

Is the saddle the right size? You can measure your sit bones (look on you tube, I kid you not) to find out right saddle width.

Have you had the bike set up for you, in terms of riding position?

If you bought it from a LBS then I would hope that they would have made sure bike was a good fit for you

And how disappointing for you, you must be gutted

 

[ANT 666]

If the saddle on your last bike was good for you then thats what you need to stick with.

 

[13 rider]

Can you swap the saddle of the hybrid onto the roadie and try that. Some of the other females are much better placed to advise on saddles. There have been threads regarding this use the search tool for more info .

 

[tmif]

I did buy but from a local bike shop. They spent ages doing a bike fit.. it took about an hour... checking the saddle height, angle etc.

I have an old back injury which i told them about... and he said he'd swap it for something else if i gave it a try for a few rides... but i don't know how long to wait for? I lasted 4 miles this morning before i had to get off and cry a little!

So I wondered about padding. Will this help or should I go straight for a new saddle.

It is a specifically girlie bike so I presume it has a wsd saddle on it already x

 

[tmif]

If the saddle on your last bike was good for you then thats what you need to stick with.

Oh that's a clever idea. I didn't realise they were compatible ☺ thanks x

 

[Doobiesis]

I was in the same situation as you. Got a brand new road bike in my cycling story. Hated hated hated it. I felt every thing on the road - I kept falling off - saddle hurt intensely - my feet where numb and my hands hurt.

I persevered with it, I even decided to change my bike to a more agressive Giant Liv.

9 months on I got used to it. My feet where numb because my shoes where too tight. My hands where numb because I was too close to the handle bars. I got used to feeling everything on the road and I got used to the saddle.

Don't go changing your saddle as you'll only have to get used to that. Soon (like me) you'll be racing along and wondering why you had such problems! X

 

[RegG]

I did buy but from a local bike shop. They spent ages doing a bike fit.. it took about an hour... checking the saddle height, angle etc.

I have an old back injury which i told them about... and he said he'd swap it for something else if i gave it a try for a few rides... but i don't know how long to wait for? I lasted 4 miles this morning before i had to get off and cry a little!

So I wondered about padding. Will this help or should I go straight for a new saddle.

It is a specifically girlie bike so I presume it has a wsd saddle on it already x

If the bike shop said he would swap the saddle for something else and you are finding it so uncomfortable take it back and see if you can get one like your hybrid saddle - then you will have a comfy one on both bikes!

 

[Lonestar]

My cycling adventure has been exciting to date.

I started 18 (badly) months ago when I bought a very cheap mountain bike from Halford's. It was too small, very uncomfortable and i rode it for about 10 mlies in total.

I can't see what's wrong with that.I bought a Brompton which I hardly use and think possibly it may have been the wrong decision to buy it.These things happen.I've done 20 miles since I bought it a year ago but to be fair I have three other bikes to fall back on so it's definitely my 4th choice bike.

 

[tmif]

I can't see what's wrong with that.I bought a Brompton which I hardly use and think possibly it may have been the wrong decision to buy it.These things happen.I've done 20 miles since I bought it a year ago but to be fair I have three other bikes to fall back on so it's definitely my 4th choice bike.

I think you're right... We all make purchasing errors ☺

I have no intentions of ever riding it again. I should donate it to a charity or something.

 

[Lonestar]

I think you're right... We all make purchasing errors ☺

I have no intentions of ever riding it again. I should donate it to a charity or something.

Good idea. I've known many people at work buy cheap bikes and realise they don't suit/last long or fall to bits.

 

[steveindenmark]

It will be a Bontrager saddle. I have had lots of Trek bikes and the saddles are awful.
Buy a Charge Spoon saddle, they are much better.

 

[MikeW-71]

The Charge Spoon is well worth a try. I have one on my MTB right now, and they are cheap as chips. Womens version is the Ladle

My brother had the same issue when he bought his road bike. He was really comfy on his MTB's saddle, but hated the roadies. Now the old MTB saddle is on his road bike and he's happy and comfy again

 

[jay clock]

My wife has one of these. Cheap enough to try http://www.wiggle.co.uk/bioflex-womens-ozone-saddle/