Bad fitting bike and I feel guilty

dgk said:

Several years back I started to get into cycling and bought a Trek
mountain bike. I forget the model but it was around $700. I noticed
that if I didn't wear bike shorts or at least very tight underwear
that it hurt my nuts when I pedaled. Plus, my butt got numb after 10
miles or so. I'd adjust the seat height and tilt but it was just never
really comfortable without that good lift. Still, I used it a fair
amount, just wore bike shorts.

Sounds like your saddle doesn't suit your anatomy. Try looking at
different saddles -- some bike shops will let you borrow a saddle to try
for a day, if they know you, and others have generous return policies.
It's worth a shot.

-km

the black rose said:

dgk said:

Several years back I started to get into cycling and bought a Trek
mountain bike. I forget the model but it was around $700. I noticed
that if I didn't wear bike shorts or at least very tight underwear
that it hurt my nuts when I pedaled. Plus, my butt got numb after 10
miles or so. I'd adjust the seat height and tilt but it was just never
really comfortable without that good lift. Still, I used it a fair
amount, just wore bike shorts.

Sounds like your saddle doesn't suit your anatomy. Try looking at
different saddles -- some bike shops will let you borrow a saddle to try
for a day, if they know you, and others have generous return policies.
It's worth a shot.

-km

I did replace the saddle. I got one of those split down the middle
jobs. It was better after that. I'll try moving it around some more.

dgk said:

On Fri, 08 Oct 2004 17:22:38 GMT, the black rose
<[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Sounds like your saddle doesn't suit your anatomy. Try looking at
different saddles -- some bike shops will let you borrow a saddle to
try for a day, if they know you, and others have generous return
policies. It's worth a shot.

Quoted message said:

I did replace the saddle. I got one of those split down the middle
jobs. It was better after that. I'll try moving it around some more.

Why not swap a saddle you KNOW is comfortable (like the one from your new
hybrid bike or whatever it is), and see how that works? If you still can't
find relief, then you'll know it's the frame/size/geometry/etc. and not the
seat.

Bill "eliminator" S.

Bill Sornson said:

dgk said:

On Fri, 08 Oct 2004 17:22:38 GMT, the black rose
<[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Sounds like your saddle doesn't suit your anatomy. Try looking at
different saddles -- some bike shops will let you borrow a saddle to
try for a day, if they know you, and others have generous return
policies. It's worth a shot.

Quoted message said:

I did replace the saddle. I got one of those split down the middle
jobs. It was better after that. I'll try moving it around some more.

Why not swap a saddle you KNOW is comfortable (like the one from your new
hybrid bike or whatever it is), and see how that works? If you still can't
find relief, then you'll know it's the frame/size/geometry/etc. and not the
seat.

Bill "eliminator" S.

Fair enough. I'll try that.

dgk <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Maybe I should just sell it.

If the two bikes have the same frame size, perhaps your LBS could help
you re-fit the new one with respect to the old one in terms of saddle,
pedals, and handlebar positions. They may do so for a nominal fee,
however.

dgk <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Maybe I should just sell it.

CORRECTION to my previous post: I actually meant re-fitting your old
bike (Trek MTB) with respect to the new one (Trek 7100). Hope the
context makes this clear!

On 8 Oct 2004 12:38:03 -0700, [email hidden] (Running Bear)

Quoted message said:

dgk <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Maybe I should just sell it.

CORRECTION to my previous post: I actually meant re-fitting your old
bike (Trek MTB) with respect to the new one (Trek 7100). Hope the
context makes this clear!

Very different sizes. I'm not sure what the old one is, but the new
one is a big guy. I'll find out the facts.

Maybe you should ride your MTB on the weekends, maybe with a club or a
group of friends.

Y'know, for fun?

- -

"May you have the wind at your back.
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

dgk said:

Very different sizes. I'm not sure what the old one is, but the new
one is a big guy. I'll find out the facts.

Interesting. Bigger usually means you're bent over more,
to reach the bars, which usually means you're more likely
to start mashing soft tissue on the seat.

Are the saddles the same shape? Maybe the new saddle has
you sitting up on your sit-bones (two little loops at the
base of your pelvis*) rather than your perineum (the mushy
bit between your bearings and your manhole).

Sitting directly on your sit-bones makes a *huge* difference in
soft-tissue pain (as long as you wear padding to protect
the skin on the bones) and a somewhat noticeable difference
in ease of pedalling. But, honestly, I don't even do it for
more than 50% of a ride, and probably need a seat adjustment.

Also check the seat-tubes for angle and set-back. You may
be able to get a new seatpost with a different setback
and make the old bike as comfortable as the new one.

--Blair
"If that doesn't work, I know
a guy with a blowtorch."

* - usually people say you're sitting on your ischia,
but the part of the loop at the inside-bottom when you
lean forward is more likely your inferior pubic ramus.
http://www.vh.org/adult/provider/radiology/pelvis/PelvisOblique10.html

dgk said:

the black rose said:

dgk said:

Several years back I started to get into cycling and bought a Trek
mountain bike. I forget the model but it was around $700. I noticed
that if I didn't wear bike shorts or at least very tight underwear
that it hurt my nuts when I pedaled. Plus, my butt got numb after 10
miles or so. I'd adjust the seat height and tilt but it was just never
really comfortable without that good lift. Still, I used it a fair
amount, just wore bike shorts.

Sounds like your saddle doesn't suit your anatomy. Try looking at
different saddles -- some bike shops will let you borrow a saddle to try
for a day, if they know you, and others have generous return policies.
It's worth a shot.

-km

I did replace the saddle. I got one of those split down the middle
jobs. It was better after that. I'll try moving it around some more.

When I tried that, I found it just moved the pressure from one
line down the middle to two lines on the sides, and made it sharper.

Getting a new pair of shorts (my old ones had a true
moleskin shammy, i.e. not much padding) with a pair with
a thick pad made a reasonable difference. Tuning my seat
and remembering how to sit on it made the most difference.

--Blair
"There's things that shouldn't
be risked, even for a ride."

On Fri, 8 Oct 2004 18:22:45 -0400, [email hidden] (Chris Zacho

The Wheelman') said:

Maybe you should ride your MTB on the weekends, maybe with a club or a
group of friends.

Y'know, for fun?

- -

Ah, I have a funny story about that.

After having it for a year I did take it on a trip to the mountains. I
went with a friend. Up, up up. We just kept going up this trail. It
was real hot, real humid, and really buggy. Smack! Smack! Holiday
Hills - Pauling NY. I don't recall the year but it was July 4th. 1998?
Around then.

I'm off the bike and pushing it up at this point. Finally we get to
the top of the trail and start a minor descent. At the bottom of which
is a very muddy patch. Chris zips right through it. Me, being somewhat
older and less experienced (zero experience) slow down. The bike
starts skidding to one side, I try to put my foot down on the other.
But my foot is trapped in this stupid cage. Finally I get it out as
the bike is tipping over.

My foot hits the ground. Somewhere underneath the mud, maybe six
inches or so, I feel something shift. I'm now looking down and see the
bottom of my foot. Not good. I scream. Chris stops, says are you ok?
No Chris, whatever it is isn't ok. The ankle is now twice the size it
was just a few seconds ago.

The foot feels like it's being held on by a string. Back we go, me
limping up the small incline back to the top. Then I get on the bike
and we bike back down that long uphill. I didn't have to pedal once,
which was very good because I couldn't. I literally glided back to the
building we were staying at.

A few days later, after the swelling went down, the surgeon screwed
the bone back together. He told me that if I really wanted to keep
walking, don't break it again. So, no, I don't think I'll be heading
off to the woods any time soon.

All that aside, I took it off the wall on Sunday, pumped it up,
adjusted the seat some more, and started riding it. It was not causing
nut problems but was too high to be comfortable. Not to worry however,
since three blocks away from home the front tire went flat. We went
back, I got the new bike, off we went.

Inspecting the tube later, it was leaking where the valve seat meets
the tube rubber. Not a place that I really want to patch. I think it
was just [censored] at me for neglecting it most of the summer. I'll put
in another tube tonight or tomorrow and try again.

Blair P. Houghton said:

dgk said:

Very different sizes. I'm not sure what the old one is, but the new
one is a big guy. I'll find out the facts.

Interesting. Bigger usually means you're bent over more,
to reach the bars, which usually means you're more likely
to start mashing soft tissue on the seat.

Are the saddles the same shape? Maybe the new saddle has
you sitting up on your sit-bones (two little loops at the
base of your pelvis*) rather than your perineum (the mushy
bit between your bearings and your manhole).

Sitting directly on your sit-bones makes a *huge* difference in
soft-tissue pain (as long as you wear padding to protect
the skin on the bones) and a somewhat noticeable difference
in ease of pedalling. But, honestly, I don't even do it for
more than 50% of a ride, and probably need a seat adjustment.

Also check the seat-tubes for angle and set-back. You may
be able to get a new seatpost with a different setback
and make the old bike as comfortable as the new one.

--Blair
"If that doesn't work, I know
a guy with a blowtorch."

The pain I was really complaining about was the nut crunching, not
really the numbing although that is annoying.

The geometry of the bikes is totally different. The new one is a much
more upright comfort type. I like it a lot except for riding into the
wind.

Raising the seat on the MB much higher did make it more comfortable,
at least in that way. But it was worse for the upper back because,
well, having the butt so high means that I'm bent over more. Somewhere
is a happy medium. I got a flat shortly after making that adjustment
so I'll try again after I replace the tube.

dgk said:

Blair P. Houghton said:

dgk said:

Very different sizes. I'm not sure what the old one is, but the new
one is a big guy. I'll find out the facts.

Interesting. Bigger usually means you're bent over more,
to reach the bars, which usually means you're more likely
to start mashing soft tissue on the seat.

Are the saddles the same shape? Maybe the new saddle has
you sitting up on your sit-bones (two little loops at the
base of your pelvis*) rather than your perineum (the mushy
bit between your bearings and your manhole).

Sitting directly on your sit-bones makes a *huge* difference in
soft-tissue pain (as long as you wear padding to protect
the skin on the bones) and a somewhat noticeable difference
in ease of pedalling. But, honestly, I don't even do it for
more than 50% of a ride, and probably need a seat adjustment.

Also check the seat-tubes for angle and set-back. You may
be able to get a new seatpost with a different setback
and make the old bike as comfortable as the new one.

--Blair
"If that doesn't work, I know
a guy with a blowtorch."

The pain I was really complaining about was the nut crunching, not
really the numbing although that is annoying.

The geometry of the bikes is totally different. The new one is a much
more upright comfort type. I like it a lot except for riding into the
wind.

Raising the seat on the MB much higher did make it more comfortable,
at least in that way. But it was worse for the upper back because,
well, having the butt so high means that I'm bent over more. Somewhere
is a happy medium. I got a flat shortly after making that adjustment
so I'll try again after I replace the tube.

I lowered the seat and raised the handlebar. Much more comfortable. I had
been getting numb fingers. You have to set the bike for your body.

--
Bob Burns
Mill Hall PA
[email hidden]

dgk said:

The pain I was really complaining about was the nut crunching, not
really the numbing although that is annoying.

If your nuts are getting crunched, either they're too large, or
you're not pulling them up high enough in your shorts.

--Blair
"Nobody start a Lance Armstrong thread here."

Blair P. Houghton said:

dgk said:

The pain I was really complaining about was the nut crunching, not
really the numbing although that is annoying.

If your nuts are getting crunched, either they're too large, or
you're not pulling them up high enough in your shorts.

Or your name is Brock Bailey.

Bill "or something like that" S.

Blair P. Houghton said:

dgk said:

The pain I was really complaining about was the nut crunching, not
really the numbing although that is annoying.

If your nuts are getting crunched, either they're too large, or
you're not pulling them up high enough in your shorts.

Nah, not too large. I did pull them up into my pants, by using tight
underwear or biking shorts. But that is not a solution and shouldn't
be needed. Nah, it is something about the way the seat is mounted.
I'll bring it to the LBS and get their advice.

Tue, 12 Oct 2004 09:24:42 -0400,
<[email hidden]>, dgk

Quoted message said:

Nah, it is something about the way the seat is mounted.
I'll bring it to the LBS and get their advice.

Have them take off that seat and fit the bike with a proper saddle.
--
zk

On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 12:39:37 -0700, Zoot Katz <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Tue, 12 Oct 2004 09:24:42 -0400,
<[email hidden]>, dgk

Quoted message said:

Nah, it is something about the way the seat is mounted.
I'll bring it to the LBS and get their advice.

Have them take off that seat and fit the bike with a proper saddle.

Someone wrote to me offline and pointed out that the MB is never going
to be as comfortable as a hybrid-comfort bike. And I have to agree. I
really don't ride on dirt much and probably wouldn't have bought it
knowing what I know now. Of course, I never intended to end up
commuting to work on a bicycle.

dgk <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Several years back I started to get into cycling and bought a Trek
mountain bike. I forget the model but it was around $700. I noticed
that if I didn't wear bike shorts or at least very tight underwear
that it hurt my nuts when I pedaled. Plus, my butt got numb after 10
miles or so. I'd adjust the seat height and tilt but it was just never
really comfortable without that good lift. Still, I used it a fair
amount, just wore bike shorts.

But that bike was too expensive to leave anywhere so I bought a
succession of cheapos ($100-140) to bring into the city or ride to
stores or anywhere that I would have to leave it for a while.

Starting this May I've become a bike commuter, around 25 miles
roundtrip into Manhattan. The cheapo bikes aren't really good for
putting lots of miles on, so I bought a Trek 7100 (I think, it's
locked outside at the moment) for around $300. A hybrid sort of
comfort bike.

I love it. It isn't so expensive that it is a huge theft target. It is
very high but this is what the guy at the LBS said I should have. He
was right. It is a pleasure to ride. I don't need bike shorts to keep
my nuts from getting cracked. My butt doesn't get numb.

I've put about 1300 miles on it already. If I go on a bike trip on a
weekend, I take it.

My nice Trek MB is hanging in the garage. I haven't ridden it in two
months. I feel guilty. It looks at me when I go for the new one. HEY,
I COST MUCH MORE!!!

Maybe I should just sell it.

You did not buy that $700 bike for transportation.

I bet you never go to a supermarket or any store with a bike.