Road Cycling - don't know if anyone can help...

Just got my first road bike a rather modest carrera virtuoso, perfect for a newbie like me. The only problem is the saddle is terrible and makes my nuts hurt after about twenty minutes of cycling. Obviously I don't want a top notch saddle to put on a entry level bike. Can anyone suggest a comfortable yet fairly light saddle that I can get for about thirty pounds second hand that is going to last for quite a while, any help greatly appreciated.

Measure the width of your sit-bones, this will give you the width you need at the back of the saddle. The front of tha saddle should be narrow so it wont rub the inside of your thighs when pedalling. Look for a saddle with firm padding. Go see what saddles your LBS has, and ask about their return policy if the saddle you choose doesnt suit you. Since saddle comfort is such a personal thing, advice on specific makes is useless - you have to try them for yourself. Since I am comfortable on my no-name $15 saddle, I haven't been able to persuade myself that I have to get a Brooks B17.

Your bar position may be contibuting to your comfort problems, so check that out.

If it's your first road bike you might just not be used to to the different position that it requires. I could hardly walk the day after I got on my bike the first time so maybe all you need is a little grit and patience and you might start not to feel it.

That said, if it's your testicles and not the space behind your testicles you might stand to adjust the angle of the saddle so that you're sitting a little further forward and not fully straddling the saddle where it puts pressure on your scrotum.

Then after all of that, if it still hurts go see a pro in a shop and see if he can diagnose the problem or recommend a saddle that's a shaped differently. It all boils down to personal preference so I doubt anyone could really make a more specific model recommendation without seeing exactly how it's installed and how you sit on it.

If you have a threadless headset you could flip the stem over to raise the bars, which may give a more comfortable position until you are accustomed to the bike.

Like Cottonmather said, try adjusting the angle of your seat. If you got your bike from an LBS, they may be able to adjust the seat and/or bars. They also may be wiiling to swap out seats with you or give you a price break on a different seat.

Just don't be tempted by those "soft" seats.. you need to get a firm saddle, and build tolerance over time..

I did get the bike shop to set it up for me and then went back for alterations after afew rides. I used to ride a lot of miles on my mountain bike and had no problems, I suppose its a different ride position though. The bit that is hurting is just behind my nuts maybe a combination of getting a saddle with one of those channels in it and a bit of experimenting with my positioning and I should be okay. Cheers for your help.

I'd start with positioning/fit first. With any new bike, especially a bike that puts your body in different positions than you're used to, you're going to have little fit issues to deal with. It's a lot cheaper to make fit adjustments than it is to replace saddle after saddle, especially if the saddles you're going through are perfectly fine and you really need something else changed in the fit of the bike.

I did get the bike shop to set it up for me and then went back for alterations after afew rides. I used to ride a lot of miles on my mountain bike and had no problems, I suppose its a different ride position though. The bit that is hurting is just behind my nuts maybe a combination of getting a saddle with one of those channels in it and a bit of experimenting with my positioning and I should be okay. Cheers for your help.

Like I said, it's personal preference. Sounds like the bent-over position on the road bike is just something you're not familiar with and thus you are uncomfortable.

Also, I tried a "channel" cut saddle once and it was indeed painful - the edges kept digging into my crotch. The evenly distributed surface of a traditional smooth saddle was more comfortable to me so you might want to try that, too.

Just got my first road bike a rather modest carrera virtuoso, perfect for a newbie like me. The only problem is the saddle is terrible and makes my nuts hurt after about twenty minutes of cycling. Obviously I don't want a top notch saddle to put on a entry level bike. Can anyone suggest a comfortable yet fairly light saddle that I can get for about thirty pounds second hand that is going to last for quite a while, any help greatly appreciated.

I think that finding the right saddle is a hunt and peck process. It takes many cyclists several tries before they get it right. If you do it right, you can use this to your advantage.

Try going to some group rides or anywhere that cyclists tend to congregate. Tell as many people as you can that you are trying to find a different saddle but don't want to pay new price. Most cyclists that I know have collections of saddles that, although they didn't fit their tush, might well fit yours. I'd bargain shamlessly with those people because, after all, you're not only giving them money but also freeing up their storage space.

Just don't be tempted by those "soft" seats.. you need to get a firm saddle, and build tolerance over time..

I don't understand why I have read this everywhere? What is everyone's problem with soft saddles? I have a gel filled schwinn that I picked up at KMart and it hasn't given me any problems personally, other than the soreness that I assume you should expect upon never riding big miles before and starting now.

Whats up with that?

nose down! nose down! seriously, i don't mind hard-as-hell saddles nearly as much as squishy saddles that aren't adjusted properly.

my friend has a saddle on his specialized that's tilted back and sort of rounded on top. i call it the "chode poker." Anyway, I'm pretty sure most saddles should work if they're adjusted properly. Just make sure the pressure stays on your "sit bones" and not, erm, anywhere else.

I don't understand why I have read this everywhere? What is everyone's problem with soft saddles? I have a gel filled schwinn that I picked up at KMart and it hasn't given me any problems personally, other than the soreness that I assume you should expect upon never riding big miles before and starting now.

Whats up with that?

Soreness... Soft saddles tend to put pressure on the softer tissues instead of putting the pressure on the correct pressure points (varies from person to person) mostly the bony part.

I don't feel any butt pain when riding.. After a century ride, I only had slight numbness, but no pain.