Mountain Biking - distance mountian biking and pain

well i decided to throw some slicks (Ritchy) on my Specialized Hardrock Pro and ride those in the city streets this season. ive taken it on trips of 20 - 30 miles and my tailbone kills afterward. I have tried 2 different saddles. Not sure what is wrong? Maybe any mtn bike at this distance is crazy and will cause this. I dont know.

I ride a small frame which in itself looks funny because the top tube slants down so much due to the suspension fork. IM 5'6 with about 30 inch inseam and have plenty of clearance. The seat is up out of the frame over a foot to give me a good pedal stroke.

Most bikes i have had in the past have been more cross country bikes (GT Zaskar, Outpost Trail, etc) have been more "level" and square fitting.

Either way....i notice this pain on my road bike as well so it isnt limted to just my mtn bike. I put clipless pedals on it and im wondering if it is due to pulling up on the pedals which pushes me harder into the saddle? The saddle is level. I checked that.

I have padded shorts but havent had them out to see if it helps. Mabye that is my next test.

Just looking for ideas. My legs are cached around 30 miles but i know it wont be long until i want to go farther and my backside wont take it.

Well I can tell you that the same thing happens to me at around the same distance you mentioned and I wear padded shorts and all that. It makes sense to me that on any kind of bike you should start feeling pain after 2 hours of constant riding, regardless of how much comfort features you are wearing/using.

i suppose....

heck...i feel like i could bike all day long if it wasnt for that. 2 hours and im just getting in the groove. The next day i can i think about is getting back on my bike and doing it again but cant for a few days. I have limited my long distance (20+ miles) rides to thursday and sundays now but look forward to the next ride litterally minutes after i finish.

i suppose....

heck...i feel like i could bike all day long if it wasnt for that. 2 hours and im just getting in the groove. The next day i can i think about is getting back on my bike and doing it again but cant for a few days. I have limited my long distance (20+ miles) rides to thursday and sundays now but look forward to the next ride litterally minutes after i finish.

I try to make stops to rest every once in a while and I've been able to do up to 5 hours of riding that way.

You may need to experiment more with your saddle position (rail position as well as tilt), maybe even your handlebar position (via spacers or different rise or sweep). Hard to say from what little you provide. Both saddles you tried may be wrong for you. The sloping top tube isn't it.

If you have a road bike, why are you riding the mountain bike on the street?

a new pair of shorts may be in order also. The ones you have, the chamois just might not be quite right. I've got several pairs and some of them are definitely "20 mile shorts". After that, they just don't seem to be working anymore. Others I have I could go all day long and not have any troubles.

Chamois cream tends to help on long rides also.

Also, as stated above, you may need to adjust your saddle, or, you may need to try a 3rd one. And remember, the less padding it has, the better is will likely feel after a long distance. Too much padding and you tend to "sink in" and start putting pressure on things that were never meant to have pressure.

If you have a road bike, why are you riding the mountain bike on the street?

just changing it up a bit. No real reason other than getting some use out of the tank once and a while.

just changing it up a bit. No real reason other than getting some use out of the tank once and a while.

I have a hard tail XC bike and a road bike. Personally, I wouldn't bother taking the mountain bike on a long road ride. The position on the mountain bike is good for its intended use on trails. If I were to take the mountain bike out on a road ride, I would get fatigued much earlier than if I was using the road bike. Gear ratios and efficiency aside, the position on the mountain bike is a little too upright for a long road ride, in my opinion. I can certainly see my upper body fatiguing more quickly resulting in all sorts of aches and pains. For that reason, I tend to stick to the bike's intended use. The road bike doesn't go on dirt and the mountain bike doesn't go on pavement.

I ride my mountain bike on pavement for 30 miles. Nothing hurts. You said it happens on your road bike too? That doesn't happen to most riders unles they are just getting used to a long time on the bike. I don't know what to suggest if it's happening on both bikes.

well perhaps im still getting used to the new distance. Typically i havent gone that far in the past. I have since moved up to 20 - 30 miles a couple days a week and would do more on either bike if i had the time / less heal time.

Ive only been out for the past 3 weeks ..so im going to guess about 6 rides total at this distance. I have been on other shorter rides but distance is now becoming more fun

People take long tours on mountain bikes. Some guy rode a Cannondale F3 from China to VietNam and Cambodia. It's not a road bike but you can put some serious miles on a mountain bike and enjoy it.

I ride my roadie and MTB on the road (with slicks), mainly because my significant other has a MTB that she rides on the road. I have learned that saddle choice and position makes a big difference on 30 mile rides. My saddle is actually not level (- 16 degrees on my thomson post) but I found it the most comfortable position. You should experiment with different angles and positions... or maybe you just need full suspension :crash::crash:
Sorry, only pic showing thomson angle, and yes, it's a 5.5" dually
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b358/mystikmax6969/Blur/P1000380.jpg

I know exactly what you mean... recently picked up a bike and have been riding maybe 30 miles a week on the weekends and noticed this Sunday when I got on the bike for a bit and my tailbone was sore. Weather was too good to pass up so I rode anyway.

I've read this before where people have said that it's normal to have some aches in the beginning as you're body isn't used to it. Hopefully that's true and I need to put in some more miles!

Sorry to jump on, but it may be fitting,

Is there a FAQ about the best way to set up the riding position?

I recently got a new bike, and I notice my wrists start to get sore after a while.

Now I am guessing that my options are to get a shorter stem, higher rise bars, possibly lower the seat, or get a different bike.

I have come to realize, I have not messed with much on my bikes after purchase. Maybe some seat height, but that is about it.

I don't know the optimum position for the seat, should my feet be vertical on the cranks when at bottom, or angled?

I have looked around here, but haven't stumbled on the thread, or right key words to search for.

Sorry to jump on, but it may be fitting,

Is there a FAQ about the best way to set up the riding position?

I recently got a new bike, and I notice my wrists start to get sore after a while.

Now I am guessing that my options are to get a shorter stem, higher rise bars, possibly lower the seat, or get a different bike.

I have come to realize, I have not messed with much on my bikes after purchase. Maybe some seat height, but that is about it.

I don't know the optimum position for the seat, should my feet be vertical on the cranks when at bottom, or angled?

I have looked around here, but haven't stumbled on the thread, or right key words to search for.

http://bicycletutor.com/adjust-seat/