benkoostra said:
Don't inflate your tires to max pressure.
Just want to + 1 this. Tire size and pressure makes a very significant difference in comfort, and there is a school of thought that in certain cases it does not slow the ride, but may even speed it (i.e. rough roads where the tire would roll rather than bounce over roughness). I believe if you go to sheldonbrown.com, there is an explanation and maybe even a chart on how your body weight and tire size should affect optimal inflation pressure. Just as vehicle tire pressure depends on weight and size, so does bicycle pressure.
So, in my experience the things that really make a difference in comfort are (assuming you want to make the best out of your current frame):
tire size and pressure: put on the largest size your frame will accomodate. I have a CAAD7 which is probably similar to CAAD9. I have SQUEEZED a 28 tire in there, but now am riding a 25 which is really about as large as I should have on there. If you haven't already, try that. I'm assuming you're running a 23, not a 21?
Once you get the largest tire on there you can, don't over inflate it. I'm about 75 kg (165 lbs or so) and I never fully inflate my tires. I once looked at the chart I mention above and have used it and have not gotten pinch flats except when I totally ignore tire pressure for more than a week!
Like I said, it is really debatable if these two factors (size and pressure) will really slow you down, depending on road surface. Regardless, unless you're a full on racer, in a close race, it is meaningless.
Handle bar tape: don't be afraid to use some nice padded tape.
Gloves. Maybe gel gloves will help you. You should try them. For me, it happens that the high end gel gloves I most recently bought aren't optimal for my hands, and my old cheaper ones are actually more comfortable - just an example of individual differences though.
These things are all cheap (the pressure especiallly
), and in my experience actually help as opposed to carbon stuff which is highly debatable (my expensive carbon seat post did nothing!)