OiS

A little background may help. I had a bike custom made for me back in 2001. I loved that thing, did a lot of distance on her, and never had any real problem with her, especially from a seat perspective.

About 18 months ago, I put new HED wheels on her after throwing a spoke on the old Shimano wheels. About one month after that, after dropping into a shopping centre for 30 mins, leaving my baby locked to a pole, with another lock securing the front wheel to the frame, I nevertheless came out to find her gone. Even with 2 locks, at 3pm on a bright Sunday afternoon, in an area with people about, she was stolen.

I was really crushed about that. There's more to this story that is not so relevent, so will just get to main point. Anyway, I did not have a road bike since that time, so nearly a year and a half without riding anything more serious than to work and back on an old MTB. Then, I got my new baby.

I have put about 250km on her so far, and am slowly building up my distance again. The one thing that prevents me from going further than I do is because the area around my ol' fella gets numb and/or a little painful. When I put a pick of my new baby up in "What road bike do you have?" thread, mentioning I may swap out the seat, I got this comment:

I was thinking to angle it even more downward initially as I thought this may help. But does the comment mean I should do the opposite? I don't really want to lower the seat 'cuz I feel my legs are spinning fine, so I am reluctant to lower it and be pedaling with legs bent even more.

So, do I angle it downward even more, or, level it out and drop it a little anyway, or, keeping riding it as is 'cuz it is a result of not really having done much riding in the last year, or, change the seat?

Here is the pic of my new bike:




and if it helps, here is the pic of my old bike, taken before I had replaced the wheels:



Thanks for any and all help.

simonaway427

Don't lower your seat if your pedaling position is good for you. By tilting your seat downward, your body weight will shift forward onto your hands, which may cause some discomfort. You just need to tweak to find a balance between numb "regions" versus hand/wrist discomfort.

znomit

The photo angles are different but it looks like you're body is angled forward more on the new bike.
Yes seat angle makes a difference to fit for the old fella.

Loose Chain

The seat should be level. Try a Specialized BG Avatar.

Cannot comment on height without knowing your data.

I watched the TDF, I always laugh at how I see the finest cyclist in the world riding bikes with saddles clearly set lower than what is fashionable on the Tour de Street. I guess those professional cyclist don't have a coach, a fit, a proper bike, poor things.

OiS

Thanks for the tips. I found that the seat was actually slid on the rails all the way back, so today I tried with it moved forward a little, and still leaned a little forward, but it wasn't a lot better. I am gonna try to move it more forward and tilt a little more, and if it is still not much better, think I will give up and change the seat.

OiS

Thanks for the tip on the seat too, I have had a quick look, and may be a good one. Similar in design to the Selle SMP which was the other option I was thinking.