Dialing in my seat adjustment???
05-01-07, 01:49 PM
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Dialing in my seat adjustment???
I just recently got my first tri bike and am now dealing with an uncomfortable stock seat. Before I spend more $$$ and replace it, can you guys chime in with any suggestions for setting the placement? i.e. angled slightly up or down or completely level. I've monkeyed with it every which way and still can't get it comfortable while in the aero position.
Thanks!
Thanks!
05-01-07, 02:45 PM
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It's really hard to give advice on seat adjustment over the internet, especially without a picture of you on your bike. But even if you posted a picture, it'd still be difficult. It's one of those things that is very rider-specific - what works for us may not work for you. Sorry I can't be more specific than that - you may need to visit a shop that has expertise in fitting.
That said, here are some things I've done that you may want to consider if you haven't done so already:
1. Buy some decent bike shorts that have a good pad. Don't train in your tri-shorts - the padding just isn't enough.
2. Use some kind of chamois cream. I use Assos, but I've read that a lot of people swear by a product called "Bag Balm".
3. Besides concentrating only on the seat, handlebar height affects comfort issues in the seat area as well. Play around with it by adding spacers or flipping your stem up to see if this helps make you more comfortable.
How long have you been riding your tri-bike and how long have you been cycling in general? If you're new to cycling, it may just take some getting used to. If you can't make it work and decide to buy a new seat, keep in mind that softer does not necessarily mean more comfortable. In fact, the opposite is often true. A stiffer seat (that's the right shape for your anatomy) will allow you to rest your weight on your "sit bones", where a softer seat will sometimes spread the weight over the entire crotch area and cut off blood circulation.
That said, here are some things I've done that you may want to consider if you haven't done so already:
1. Buy some decent bike shorts that have a good pad. Don't train in your tri-shorts - the padding just isn't enough.
2. Use some kind of chamois cream. I use Assos, but I've read that a lot of people swear by a product called "Bag Balm".
3. Besides concentrating only on the seat, handlebar height affects comfort issues in the seat area as well. Play around with it by adding spacers or flipping your stem up to see if this helps make you more comfortable.
How long have you been riding your tri-bike and how long have you been cycling in general? If you're new to cycling, it may just take some getting used to. If you can't make it work and decide to buy a new seat, keep in mind that softer does not necessarily mean more comfortable. In fact, the opposite is often true. A stiffer seat (that's the right shape for your anatomy) will allow you to rest your weight on your "sit bones", where a softer seat will sometimes spread the weight over the entire crotch area and cut off blood circulation.
