Originally Posted by safariofthemind

The hardest thing is getting your bum used to the saddle. Try doing just a couple of hours at a time at first, then increase saddle time as you are able to. Take plenty of rest stops and drink lots of water. Make sure to wear good padded shorts under whatever pants you use and to use plenty of talcum powder and bag balm if needed. Building up slowly is the key. Pay attention to your saddle and where it rubs. Don't suffer with a bad saddle fit, try to get some experienced riders in your local shop to recommend a different saddle if you don't get comfortable after a month on a particular saddle. Also, most of us find that keeping the handlebars about the same height as the saddle or just an inch below it is most comfortable at first.