Recreational & Family - bike fit (girl)/ riding position/ women's saddle

I am hoping to buy a hybrid and have tried the ridgeback comet which seems pretty good. I am stuck regarding which size to get (between 2) and I think thats partly to do with that I am not sure what my body position is suppost to be. One guy at the shop was getting technical and the other said it doesnt matter as long as you are comfortable (although how far do you need to ride to know if its comfortable?). I am not sure if I am suppost to be rotating my pelvis forward a bit and whether it will cause discomfort in my nether regions ( i am a girl!)? I have seen saddles with the centre cut out. Is that to allow you to get pelvis into correct position without discomfort? Should my weight be going there?

A bit of background info... I have not cycled for a long time and my last cheap halfords bike gave me neck/back pain. I am 6'1", 36" inside leg, so am looking at mens bikes to get the large/XL frame size. I will be riding on roads/cylce routes and maybe doing half hour per night and longer half day rides at weekends to start with to get fit.

please help! thanks in advance.


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Most beginers/restart cyclists change their riding position over the first few months as they adapt. You will probably want to start with a fairly relaxed upright stance and gradually get lower and more stretched out. An adjustable stem is a useful tool in finding your favourite position. Start so that the bike is comfortable with the stem in a fairly short position so you have some extension in reserve for later use.
When looking at the size of bikes, you need adaquate standover but the more important dimension is the length, which affects your upper body position.
The modern style is for a smaller frame with more exposed seatpost. The Ridgeback comet is in this style, with a sloping top tube. (are you looking at the Men's or Women's version?) Generally most people, caught between two sizes, opt for the smaller one.
Most riders get through abunch of saddles before finding one that fits. Mens's saddles are different to womens in shape. The aim to to support your weight on your sit bones and no-where else. Cutouts can sometimes help avoid problems.

When you buy a new bike, it is quite usual to make substitutions to the std kit, eg fit a different saddle or tyres

Neck and back pain was probably due to putting too much weight on your hands; getting a bike with a more slack seat tube angle, which puts more weight on the back wheel, helps a lot. The adjustable stem to pull the handlebars back also helps.

A big, fat, squishy saddle is not what you need; rather it's proper support for your ischial tuberosities(sit bones) that's important. Gel seats tend to cause pressure to build in areas you don't want there to be pressure.

Part of your weight is supported by your legs and feet; that's why as you get tired you feel more saddle soreness due to you resting more weight on the saddle. As you build up strength, you'll last longer on the bike without pain/soreness.

Brooks makes some very comfortable saddles with springs for comfort. Downside is weight but hybrid bikes aren't for weight weenies anyways.

I'm 5'4" tall and a girl. (Let's not discuss weight!) Anyway, I ride Brooks B-17 saddles on both my road bike and my MTB/Comfort bike. Both my bikes are shorter geometries, front to back, i.e., the top tube is shorter. These days, this would probably be part of the Women's Specific Design package, but both my frequently ridden bikes are old ('94 and ~'74-ish). Anyway, I love my Brooks, and I haven't even begun to ride the 600 or 700 miles that I see a lot of people talk about riding to break them in. I find that applying Proofide (saddle conditioner by Brooks) frequently during the "break in" period is all you need. (I didn't really seem to need a break in period. My saddles were always comfortable.) Having said that, Brooks also makes some Women's specific saddles, as well, usually designated by the letter "s" at the end of the model number. Really, saddle comfort is an individual thing, and it's trial and error. Good Luck!

Zinn and the art of mountain bike maintenance has a thorough sizing guide in the back -- everything from what measurements you should take and how your body should be fit on the bike. Maybe you could check out the book from the library. However, if you want to learn how to take care of your bike, this would be a good one to purchase.

Brooks, Brooks, Brooks, and some more Brooks. ;) Nah really, perhaps the b66 s or some of the more racy/narrower saddles with springs. Check out Harris Cyclery.