Tailbone Pain

[Meg888]

Great stuff and makes lots of sense. I always thought more padding more comfort. And judging by those pics you've put here Heisenberg71 - looks like my seat is way out of proportion. We did quite a bit of off road/dirt track which was when the pain became bad, so the bumping prob had lot to do with it. I'm attempting again tomorrow and will be taking all the advice you folks have given so fingers crossed! I'll keep ya all posted !

 

[Heisenberg71]

?

 

[jay clock]

Some excellent comments. The pic of you on the bike has you doing the equivalent of sitting astride a log with all your weight going straight down. Will be made worse if you are a slow cyclist as weight will be on your bum not legs.. And your arms should be taking some of the pressure

Go to another shop is my suggestion

 

[Meg888]

Yes I am a slow cyclist, extremely cautious!!

We raised the seat as high as comfortable at the time, however, I was struggling to get off the bike, when I was breaking to stop - my foot just had too far to go to reach the ground and so bike was slipping sideways and I almost tripped each time. After a while of cycling, it was struggle to get back on - once I started to get a bit tired, I have really short legs - and just couldn't seem to get my leg over () so it's definitely going to have to come down at least 1 cm I think, and then just edge it up/down at a time until more comfy. Re the coccyx pain, I still had it, and it was only made mildly worse for the ride - I wasn't out long, and it was a fairly flat (safe!) route I took. Despite me thinking the seat is still a little too high, I was a lot more comfortable this time round, my arms/shoulders didn't feel under as much tension. Just one other thing, and this used to happen last year also, but not terribly bad - I get sore hands! (Sorry, i'm a right complainer!!) the pads of my palms seem to go slightly numb and my thumb joints go stiff - am I holding on too tight? I wear the gloves, and turn them so the padded section of the glove provides some relief but not to my thumb joints.

 

[vickster]

I don't get off the saddle to stop, I lean the bike to one side, in my case to the left as I ride clipless and unclipping my left foot. I can't slide off the saddle while still clipped to one pedal, not good for my knees...and I'd probably get my shorts stuck on the saddle!

Can you not push up onto the saddle with a foot on the pedal?

Ref the hands, sounds like you are putting too much weight through them and gripping too tightly and/or the grips are too big for your hands. Specialized ergo grips are good too, can put the weight through palms rather than fingers and they sell a slimmer female version

 

[fossyant]

Sounds like you are gripping too much - you should really just rest your hands on the bars.

Bear in mind, ability to touch the floor when stopped and in the saddle does not guarantee correct saddle height. You should just about be able to tiptoe. I can't touch the floor on my MTB as the bottom bracket is slightly higher than the road bikes, so saddle height being the same means I can't touch the floor.

 

[jay clock]

The idea when stopping is to slide forwards....

 

[Meg888]

I lean to the left when stopping also, but the bike was just sliding away from me and I was sort of hopping to keep upright - must have looked a right ...! The padding of my shorts kept getting hooked on the saddle as I got on, IF I managed to get my leg over, and there were lots of people about - running, walking dogs, laughing at me , that's why I wrapped early - I'd had enough! Next episode - this weekend!!

 

[jefmcg]

This is why you have to raise the saddle height gradually. Put it as high as you can manage, and when you used to that and you can stop safely and you don't get the saddle hooked on your shorts, raise it another centimetre. Keep going until you are at the correct height.

(I honestly can't tell you how I dismount or mount my bike. In fact, I had trouble getting on a spin bike the other day, because it didn't trigger the muscle memory, and I have no conscious knowledge of that I usually do. )

 

[velovoice]

re Stopping and Starting. My sister - also a beginner who was very nervous at the idea of not being able to touch the ground - found this very helpful:

 

[Globalti]

If it's any consolation my neighbour who is 6'2" has just got his first bike, a nice road bike from Decathlon, and we are going through almost exactly the same learning curve with him. However even on his second ride of 3.5 miles he says he felt much better and didn't need to lie down at the end through giddiness!

 

[Meg888]

Thanks for the vid Velovoice, it's very helpful. I will have to practice stopping this way - looks so easy, but you can bet I'll hash it up!!

 

[Meg888]

f it's any consolation my neighbour who is 6'2" has just got his first bike, a nice road bike from Decathlon, and we are going through almost exactly the same learning curve with him. However even on his second ride of 3.5 miles he says he felt much better and didn't need to lie down at the end through giddiness!

I'm pleased I'm not the only only then Globalti - my partner was threatening to get me stabilizers!!

 

[Meg888]

Oh dear didn't mean to attach the drinking pic - that's not me by the way - I've just sent it to someone else in an email, and i've obviously uploaded it here...... Now you know why I'm not so good even riding a bike!!

 

[Globalti]

How did you get my picture?