General Cycling Discussion - Well Saturday was the last straw.

I have tried to adjust the seat that came on my GF Tiburon for quite a while now, but after Saturday I had enough. It seamed that I was squishing all the padding where my butt pushes, but the center and the front wouldn’t squish as much, causing some nasty discomfort. Also the suspension post seemed to be impossible to adjust properly. I would put my heal on the peddle, and have a straight leg while in a door jam, but as soon as I would start to ride it would seem the suspension would sink a little more, causing me to be out of shape (no jokes please).

Well I opted for a saddle that has minimal padding (less than an eighth of an inch of compression) and a solid seat post. I propped myself up in the garage doorway, and got the saddle height adjusted properly for the first time since I had the bike, and I have the saddle adjusted horizontal so far.

My question is this. I road to the bike shop yesterday so they could replace the stem (warrantee work), and the saddle seamed very hard, to the point of being uncomfortable. I see these seats everywhere, and was wondering how long it usually takes to break in my saddle.

Unless your riding a Brooks saddle they do not break in. If your new to riding it will take some time to get used to a saddle. Also saddles are like shoes it might be just the wrong fit.

saddles are like shoes it might be just the wrong fit.

The old one sure was, I gave it more than enough time to break in, no way. I am hoping to have better luck with this one.

Go buy some cycling shorts. I picked up some cheap ones and wear them under my regular shorts when I ride. They save your sit bone! Lately I havent needed to wear them much as I guess I have gotten used to riding now.

When I picked up my new Bianchi Axis, I thought the saddle, a WTB Rocket, was ridiculously hard. When I got the bike home, my cycling buddy from work (30 years cycling experience) commented on the "hard" saddle.

But after some riding, I got used to it. I got a lot more comfort by tilting the nose down one little "notch" of adjustment. Getting my first couple of pairs of bike shorts made a world of difference too.


It doesn't bother me at all for almost two hours into a ride now. I did order another saddle --a Koobi Au Enduro-- which is about an inch wider and an inch and a half longer; similar level of padding. I put it on last night and have only made the short ride to work and back with it so far. It feels better, but I'll need to take a long ride to find out how much I really like it. I think it looks better than the Rocket, but that's pretty meaningless. :rolleyes:

By the time I had ordered and received it, I started to realize I was getting used to the WTB Rocket saddle and probably didn't really need a different one....

Good riding,
desmobob

Well after 17 miles, I am one happy man!!! I had no pain, and no problems. I did adjust the seat 1 notch from level, and YES BABY it was a good day, and yes the cycle shorts are a godsend. I have 3 pair, and would not ride down the drive without them. Sorry for anyone behind me, but it feels soooooooo good.

was wondering how long it usually takes to break in my saddle.

I think that it takes three good rides but the saddle isn't what gets broken in.

Heh, isn't it amazing how sometimes less is more :)

Unless your riding a Brooks saddle they do not break in. If your new to riding it will take some time to get used to a saddle. Also saddles are like shoes it might be just the wrong fit.


Right! Unless your saddle is a slab of leather, like a Brooks saddle, it will never break in. Plastic, or leather-covered plastic, doesn't break in.

If your saddle is a Brooks saddle, like one of these: http://www.wallbike.com/B17.html , excellent choice, but it will take a few weeks to break in. Mine took me 3 weeks (800 kms).


You might also have a shop check your bicycle fit.

Oh, I knew the saddle would not break in; it was me that needed broken in. I road 380 miles on the saddle (you can’t call it a saddle it was a seat), and it never gave me a good ride. It had way to much padding, and was wide. Being a big dog, I figured it was just me. Well I got a Bontrager Comfort Saddle for men, and after stopping a couple of times to adjust it, it felt great! I didn’t have the squishy parts of the seat that weren’t squished by my sit bone bunching up on me and causing some serious discomfort. As a mater of fact there was no discomfort at all. The old seat had about an inch and a quarter deflection, where this one has at most an eighth.

Usually I would wake up in the morning a little sore around the behind areas, but today I feel great. I just can’t believe how much different a saddle makes. Like night and day.

Anyhow I have to run. Thanks to everyone (Including the guys at Boardman Cycle Center) for all your help.