when i'm riding, i try to keep my hips back on the thick part of the saddle, but i keep coming up on the front taper. i have to periodically shift back into position.

1. i should be keeping my hips back, correct?
2. is this normal? why am i coming out of position? i do feel like i'm reaching too far for the handlebar sometimes..

Sit where it's most comfortable. If you keep finding yourself shifting forward, maybe you should move your seat forward a bit.

I believe the sit bones should be near (maybe a bit in front of) the widest part of the saddle.

Where you sit is largely a function of effort.

essentially, the padding on this saddle shows where you should "generally" sit. different riding positions require different sit bone position though.

I place my saddle where I can move around a little on it to keep my butt happy. Kind of not all the way forward or all the way back. Works for me.

More often though, I sit on the saddle when I'm riding my bicycle.....

Where ever its most comfortable. If you keep sliding forward, pick up the nose of the saddle a hair.

this is the most comfortable saddle I've come across, one I can wear with jeans and be as comfortable as with biking shorts.. it's a noseless and I sit right on the front of the saddle...

https://www.amazon.com/ISM-Century-Sa...eywords=saddle