Originally Posted by
thatguysmells
Hey guys (and gals), this is my first post so please don't hate me if this is a stupid question. I just recently bought a road bike to use for commuting and exercise. It's a 2011 Specialized Allez Steel with downtube shifters. It's pretty sweet! The problem is, I just rode it for the first time a couple days ago and I was on my bike for about 30 minutes in the morning and then another 30 minutes in the afternoon. I was wearing street clothes and a helmet. It was pretty fun riding it; however, my butt bones (proper term?) are killing me. I'm wondering if I need to swap the seat for a bigger one, or if I should just buy some cycling shorts with pads to wear under my pants. Anyone have any experience wearing cycling shorts under their street clothes? Is this a good idea, or should I just buy a different seat? I only plan on using the bike for about an hour a day so I'm not doing anything too long distance. Also, while I'm posting, I should say that it feels like quite a reach/stretch to grab the brakes on my bike. Maybe I need a shorter stem? Sorry guys! I know these are probably stupid questions but please help!
First things first: No dumb questions, just uninformed ones, and you're asking to be informed, so no worries.
Second:
- The "padding" in shorts isn't to pad your posterior, it's to absorb sweat to avoid chafing and other unpleasantries.
- Pain in your "sit bones" (provided it is your sit bones, and not the soft tissue in between) usually just means that you're not accustomed to riding as much as you are.
- A "bigger" seat may make the problem worse, not better. Get fitted properly.
- A shorter stem might resolve your "reach" issue and your "sit-bones" issue. Having someone experienced fit your bike would be worth the time invested. (For as little as you're riding now, I wouldn't go for a full-blown fitting se$$ion.)