Riding position - for boys

DonDaddyD
DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
edited June 2009 in Commuting chat
OK, I'm not as witty as the Greg's so I'm going to ask this straight out.

On the saddle where should I position my crotch area?

Should I be sitting on my perineum (aka 'rumble strip', 'gateway to heaven/hell', 'dirt track', 'sweet spot')?
Food Chain number = 4

A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
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Comments

  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    On the saddle where should I position my crotch area?
    On the soft upper surface.

    The testicle artery is the one that you DON'T want to sit on. Unless you like that numb "other person's testicles" sensation, of course. Which I think you might.
  • jedster
    jedster Posts: 1,717
    er no... you should be sitting on your sit bones
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,716
    I just sit on it. Never really thought about it all that much.

    Now that you do have me thinking about it, normal position is on the sit bones, as it should be. When I'm really pushing on the drops though, I slide forward and rotate my body down so that my gooch is supported by the nose of the saddle, as far forward as I can get. That's only for a few minutes at a time though.
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    OK where are the sit bones? Is there like a diagram showing where or how a person should be seated in the saddle?
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,716
    Have a good feel or your arse. You know you do it anyway.

    On each side, you'll feel a bony protrusion at the top of your thigh bones. These are your sit bones. They're designed for sitting on.
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    @WhyamIhear

    Should my butt cheeks be flapping over the back of the bike seat?

    Serious question.
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,716
    Depends how big your butt cheeks are really...
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    Have a look at the Specialized BG minisite http://www.specialized.com/bc/microsite/bodygeometry/main.html?x=y IMHO Spesh have it spot on with saddles atm and there's a natty little diagram. The shop really should have looked at your positioning when you bought the Kuota though, perhaps pop in over the weekend and get some more advice.
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    I'm gonna take it there on the weekend. I want to lower the bars (get the thingy cut) and get the saddle height/position tweeked.

    I've got a sneeky feeling that my Selle Italia C2 gel flow saddle is too narrow for my buttcheeks.... (what with the 34inch waist and thighs that won't fit anything but 36-38inch trousers) :oops:

    On the giant I use a 143mm Specialized Avatar saddle and that's sofa levels of comfort.
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • AllTheGear
    AllTheGear Posts: 248
    +1 on Spesh saddles, I have a BG Gel Toupe and the cutout really does help - I was going to get gangrene in my bits using the Selle Italia I had before.

    However, with the saddle level, I'm comfy on the tops but a bit squashed in the drops, like whyamihere's comment. I have to tilt the saddle slightly nose-down if I want to ride in the drops for an hour or two (which I do.) I understand a nose-down saddle is an indicator of incorrect set-up but don't know what the solution is - I want to get my head down! I'm all skin and bone so maybe that's not helping.
    ... and no idea ...

    FCN: 3
  • AllTheGear
    AllTheGear Posts: 248
    DDD - your bones are pretty much fixed and are independant of the size of your butt cheeks. You could be right on width, if you go to a good shop (e.g. a Specialized saddle stockist) they will be able to measure you up.
    ... and no idea ...

    FCN: 3
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    Allthegear. The guy in DeVer had a right laugh when he "checked" I.e. gingerly looked at my waist area... to wiegh up what width saddle I should have. The other guy said "you won't be needing one of those American ones".

    What hurts the most is that my Kharma came with a perfectly fine saddle and I went a bought the bike without a saddle to save £50 only to spend £50+p&p on a saddle that I can't really say is more comfortable than my £40 saddle on my commuter.

    Riding on the drops of the Kharma is fine a little too comfortable.... I'm still getting used to riding on the hoods as the bars are more narrow than my commuter. Trouble is I'm conditioned to riding the commuter which is uber comfort and haven't really experienced anything as sporty as the Kharma. Still needs tweaking though.
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    Should've bought the comfier Wilier! :lol:

    If you find Spesh saddles comfy then I'd suggest trying a 143mm Toupe, v comfy. Will De Ver let you try a few saddles out? Best to stick with the brand that suits you, I've tried Selle Italia, Fizik and Spesh. Spesh (for me) was the comfiest by miles.
  • heavymental
    heavymental Posts: 2,094
    Don't get that steerer cut until you're happy that your position is as you want it. You don't want to be hankering after the couple of cms you left on the cutting room floor when you find your shoulders are hurting because you're too low and you want to raise your position a bit. Leave your options open for a few months by using the spacers either above or below the stem position.
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Heavymental wrote:
    Don't get that steerer cut until you're happy that your position is as you want it. You don't want to be hankering after the couple of cms you left on the cutting room floor when you find your shoulders are hurting because you're too low and you want to raise your position a bit. Leave your options open for a few months by using the spacers either above or below the stem position.

    +1

    They can't be uncut, you know...
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    When I put the spacers above the bars it doesn't fit the same and the steerer wobbles...

    OH boy...
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • heavymental
    heavymental Posts: 2,094
    Hm, shouldn't do if everything is the right size.
  • AllTheGear
    AllTheGear Posts: 248
    Good idea to put the spacers above the stem. It should all fit just the same, worth getting it looked at before you get your tube cut.
    ... and no idea ...

    FCN: 3
  • benno68
    benno68 Posts: 1,689
    +1 - don't cut it, at least not for a while until you find your perfect riding position.
    _________________________________________________

    Pinarello Dogma 2 (ex Team SKY) 2012
    Cube Agree GTC Ultegra 2012
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  • Craggers
    Craggers Posts: 185
    When I put the spacers above the bars it doesn't fit the same and the steerer wobbles...

    You sure that the spacers are protruding above the top of the steerer when you tighten the top cap?
    Fixed / Fast(ish) / Frankenbike
  • AllTheGear
    AllTheGear Posts: 248
    Hmm I see there are ladies present. Didn't you see the title? 'for boys'. Sheesh. You must be the type that walks into the gents.
    ... and no idea ...

    FCN: 3
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,072
    Cut nothing yet or you'll regret it later bung on some carbon spacers £5 from here http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/andymac21 ... QQ_armrsZ1

    It's going to be months before you get truly comfortable with your new steed.
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,444
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    On the giant I use a 143mm Specialized Avatar saddle and that's sofa levels of comfort.


    This may be blasphemy*, but is the answer not obvious?




    * not the correct word, brain too tired to spell sacralige :oops: :P
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • NGale
    NGale Posts: 1,866
    The gents in my cycle group regularly complain about their seats and the numb nuts they get from them.

    I just tell them to MTFU :lol:
    Officers don't run, it's undignified and panics the men
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    You wouldn`t say that if you`d ever been kicked in the nuts. :?
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    OK so I sat on the Kuota (Medium 53.5cm frame I think( and then the Giant (large frame 55cm frame).

    In the immediate the Kuota felt more comfortable and the Giant felt too streched with a lower seat, higer handle bars which made it feel like a mountain bike urgh!

    The Specialized saddle was instantly and noticeably more comfortable. I may swap saddles or buy a new one for the Kharma....

    I think I need to ride the Kharma for a solid week to get use to the different geometry...
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • NGale
    NGale Posts: 1,866
    antfly wrote:
    You wouldn`t say that if you`d ever been kicked in the nuts. :?[/quote

    It hurts just as much to be kicked down there for a female. Believe me I know I've been there during many a karate and Tae Kwon Do session... :lol:
    Officers don't run, it's undignified and panics the men
  • AllTheGear
    AllTheGear Posts: 248
    NGale wrote:
    ...It hurts just as much to be kicked down there for a female...

    :lol::lol: yeah right
    ... and no idea ...

    FCN: 3
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    Oh,i`m sorry to hear that but you are forgetting that as men we have a much lower pain threshhold so it hurts a lot more. :shock:
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • NGale
    NGale Posts: 1,866
    AllTheGear wrote:
    NGale wrote:
    ...It hurts just as much to be kicked down there for a female...

    :lol::lol: yeah right

    that same numbing pain that seems to grow and grow and eventually end up in your gut that gets to the point where you let out one of those silent screams....yes I know what thats like... :lol:
    Officers don't run, it's undignified and panics the men

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