SykesAT

Hi all,

I'm very new to road biking and just purchased my first road bike. I am 5"11 with a 32" inseam. I was told by my LBS that I would need a 56 or 58. The bike that I liked was only available in a 56 and the store told me I looked better on a 56. I'm hoping this was not just a sale pitch. Having ridden the bike a couple of time I find that I am constantly shifting my weight to the back of the saddle, about every 1/2mile. Is this a sign that the frame is too small? The LBS has a good exchange policy and they seem like great people. I don't want to exchange the bike if I don't have to, but if the size is wrong it's only going to get more problematic as time goes by.

thanks for any and all help.

fa63

Push your saddle back further on its rails, or if that is not enough, get a seatpost with more setback. You shouldn't have to exchange the bike if that is your only issue, unless you are already pushed all the way back on a seatpost with 35mm setback.

Do you have a picture of the bike as is?

billDennen

Without seeing you on the bike it is difficult; nevertheless my first thought would be to adjust the saddle tilt to tilt the nose up just a tad more.

pdedes

no. you've only ridden the bike a few times. it takes a while to dial in your fit.

miyata man

SykesAT, lets just run with the probable idea that the bike shop took the initiative to put you in a close to optimal seat height and horizontal placement. The thing you need to key in on here is how well positioned your lower body is. Do you have any knee pain or feel like you are having a hard time maintaining a rhythm in a low gear due to being to much one way or the other in relation to the crank. Chances are you are not entirely sure but try to envision whether having a longer stem would make you more comfortable or if the act of pedaling is where the problem is starting. A longer stem with a different amount of bend to it is a very easy fix if that is sounding like a more realistic fix. Take the bike into the shop and ask the most experienced looking person about the problem. Chances are they will take the few minutes to get you on the road feeling happier about your purchase.

androidtt

Like this??

SykesAT

thanks guys. I'm going to run to the LBS and talk to them about the fit. I hope with a few adjustments it can be perfect.

thcri

Take your bike, your shoes and typical clothing. Have them put your bike on a trainer and do a fit. It will cost you a hundred bucks or so but will be well worth it in the long run. Don't mess around having a Not Right Saddle.

AndyK 

Could also be the reach is too long, forcing you to slide forward on the saddle? A good way to verify this is to position yourself on the saddle, then ride on the tops of the bar. If you don't slide forward, try riding on the hoods. Slide forward now? Reach is too long.

lpolliard

+1 Are you sliding forward on the saddle?

calamarichris

Interesting video and explanation. I noticed myself creeping forward when working hard earlier this year. Tried different saddles and different tilts, but the only time it doesn't happen is when climbing.
After seeing several pros with the same problem (Hincapie does it in the extreme and even Spartacus does it a little (several times here, most notably at 2:40]) in TT vids, I decided it's our sitbones walking involuntarily forward as we rotate our hips to contribute to the thrust.
I'd love to see this one solved by the ergonomics wiz-kids at Specialized or Selle Italia somehow, but in the meantime just being aware of it seems to reduce the sit-bone creepage.

soma5

Alberto needs a little velcro.

miyata man

For me it was always a mix of two things. For starters, it was mentally picturing always falling forward as a mechanism to maintain momentum. Secondly, if you are really dedicated it is about the limit of your range of motion you can use to shift muscle usage and still stay in your tuck. I notice Contador seems to be faster in a TT when he is sliding onto the nose of his saddle and getting a good rhythm of alternating which leg pushes him back. I could be completely wrong but for me that momentary relief for one hip or the other really made a big difference when pushing a big gear fast and long during a personal TT.

FeelTRush

I slide forward on two bikes. It happens most when I'm tired; not much when I'm fresh. Maybe I'm just short and need a bent post.

PeaceVegan

Saddle tilt is too nose down.

tntyz

Saddle tilt, especailly if you're feeling it in your hands.

BarracksSi

Or maybe that's just the most comfortable spot for your sit bones on that saddle regardless of anything else in your fit. Maybe you'll keep scooting back to find it again no matter how far back you position the saddle. Might as well try sliding it forward on the seatpost for a couple rides and see how it goes.

androidtt

I notice that I slide on my saddle, like the video posted above, whenever I go on hard efforts on the hoods or aerobars. I have to consciously think about it to notice it though. And then I have to consciously make an effort to stop it. I don't really think it's a problem since it doesn't hurt me in any way. Maybe there is a short loss of power, but there's probably a microsecond of recovery that will offset the lost power.

Is your saddle shuffle hurting you?

I agree with the person above. If you keep sliding backwards, maybe push the saddle forward a mm at a time. When you test a ride out, do it for a longer distance too. Sometimes it may feel comfortable at first, but can turn on you when you're on a longer ride.