Feelings after my first couple of rides

Cliveyp

So, I collected my first roadie last week and have managed a couple of trips on it to familiarise myself to the position and riding experience differences over the MTB.

Initially I think my saddle sits a little high (the shop actually set up as so without me being there, so am impressed at their guess work being so close!). I know its not been set to a specific, but as I found it rideable, I thought i'd give it a shot as a starting point. Reasons to think this is too high is mainly that I feel a bit overstretched at full extension on the pedals......

Now, i'm liking the bike lots, and have taken 2 mins off my time for a familiar route over the time taken on the MTB (we're only talking 11-12 miles here so nothing major at this stage), but obviously with this sort of time cut i'm heading in the right direction. I also didnt feel that I was travelling quite so flat out, so i'm sure I can build this up a lot more. One thing I've noticed though is a degree of pain in my right foot, around the ball area. What could be causing this pain?? I've highlighted the saddle height as I think this could contribute (if i'm overstretching and actually pushing with my foot rather than my leg when I reach towards the bottom of my travel). I'm also wondering if it could be peddle related, as i'm used to flats, but am currently using the ones supplied with lovely toestraps.....could these be forcing my foot into an uncomfortable position??

I know these are probably simple questions that some of you think I should be able to answer myself through some trial and error, but I appreciate your thoughts......

Cheers

Gizmodo

Go to youtube.com and search for "road bike fitting" - there are plenty of good videos like this one:
http://youtu.be/1Fsr7yYShD8

PostieJohn

General rule of thumb.
You shouldn't be able to see the front wheel hub, through the handlebars, when sat 'normally', on your bike.

PostieJohn

double post

Wacky Racer

Get your bike set up properly first, the seat height is VERY important. There are plenty of articles and You Tube videos about setting seat height and fore/aft position. You won't know the cause of the foot problem until you rule out riding position.

Pedals, cleat position, shoes, are all other contenders for your problem, it is trial and error until you find the culprit.

Cliveyp

Thanks or your help folks. Was hoping to get out tonight but work had other thoughts for my evening entertainment, so I'll have to try for tomorrow instead!

Calpol

I am new to this also so take anything I post with a health warning. The ball of the foot thing I also suffered from until I switched to SPDs and a pair of clown shoes. Up until then I was wearing trainers which flex too much and dont allow for an optimum foot position. Going clipless is a bit nervy at first but once you have swapped you won't go back. I went for the DHB MTB shoes from wiggle and the double sided shimano M520 pedals. Cheap and cheerful but fine for me to start with.

Cliveyp

Well I've struggled to get out over the last week, but managed to tot up 14.5 miles on a run last night. Before I went out I dropped just over 1/2" from the saddle height as a first guess to my foot pain. It appears to have worked as I felt like I could keep going and going......but I wanted my tea!!

I also decided it was time to start trying to pull up on the pedals too (as best as I could on the standard toe clips).......it's introduced a whole new world of pain to my legs but the difference in the way the speed builds is immense......I think it's time to go clip less!!

nferrar

Get some proper stiff sole cycling shoes, trainers will allow the pressure to be too concentrated and squash the nerves in your feet leading to hotspots/localised pain. Stiff soles spread out the pressure