SmilingMom

Hello all! My family is very new to biking and I have a question. We purchased a Fuji road bike for our son so that we all can ride together. The problem is the seat is extremely uncomfortable (very little padding - like sitting on the hard plastic with a little "leather" over it). My husband and I both replace the stock seat that came with our road bikes, but we are having trouble finding a new seat to fit a child's body. Does anyone have any ideas where one could be purchased? The bike shop in our town told us that a men's or women's seat that fits him would be our best bet, but they are either too long or too wide. When I search for child's road bike seat, I keep getting results for child carriers! So frustrating as he does not enjoy riding for very long as it become painful.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. My husband and I are looking to lose some weight, and to expend some of our son's afternoon/evening energy!

Thanks!

roadwarrior

Does he wear bike shorts? They do make padded bike shorts for kids. Most road seats are like that due to the sitting position on a road bike.

mulveyr 

Is it the Fuji Ace kids' bike? If so, it's about as good as you're going to get in a child-size saddle, based on the ones I've seen. Road bike saddles do not generally have much padding--in fact "gel" saddles and the like, which seem like they might be more comfortable, end up being horrible after a few miles.

A lot of discomfort in new riders can be attributed to simply not being accustomed to riding. Additionally, if the seat isn't positioned correctly it can rub in all the wrong places. If your son can articulate where the discomfort is coming from ( i.e. the nose is rubbing/chafing, etc. ) then repositioning the saddle might work fine.

As was also noted, you can get child-size padded bike shorts. I started long-distance touring with my son when he was eight, and he used Child Padded Cargo Mountain Bike Short - Loose Fitting , and found them extremely comfortable.

SmilingMom

That is the bike and unfortunate as my husband's seat has a little more "cushion" and our son liked the feel of it when we tried it on his bike, except it was too long. My husband has been riding longer than we have (training for a long ride later this year), and loves his seat. We as a family are looking to ride 10-20 miles a couple of days a week together, then my husband will ride longer rides with his buddies on other days.

We have adjusted his seat a couple of times when he describes the discomfort, and it is better for a little while, but I most likely will have to take the him and the bike to the bike shop and have it fitted to him. I know there is a "learning curve" to the discomfort (I have it as I did not grow up riding bikes) though our son has had a bike for a few years, but it was just riding around the neighborhood and to the park (very short rides).

On our first "long ride" (less than 10 miles and a lot of stopping to adjust), neither he nor I had bike shorts. I did ordered him some padded bike shorts, but they were too big and that he did not think he would be comfortable in tights so I am looking for something like your link. Thanks for that! I will order those ASAP. Now I am hoping that the new shorts and a fitting will help! It is annoying that the local bike shops do not carry children bike clothes, but there is not much of a market, it seems.

Thanks for the info! I really appreciate!