New bike - sore bum, why?

Aluminium alloy frames do have a reputation for being quite harsh so probably contributes to your problem. If you have a fair length of seatpost exposed, then a lighter carbon or titanium post can help alleviate vibration, as would slightly fatter tyres run at a reduced pressure. Finally, a good pair of bike shorts can help too.

Bradley probably had the Rolls on to keep the weight within limits, as track bikes should be light - the regs aren't much better than a fully geared bike.

I like my Rolls (hand me down) on the Commuter and the Regal on the training bike....I do find the Flite Ti splits me in two on the best bike though.......

Almost certainly to do with the saddle (either it doesn't suit you, or is just too hard in the wrong places), or a different position compared to your old bike. The relatively high pressure in your tyres probably doesn't help. Very unlikely to be anything to do with the frame material (since the difference that makes is negligible). I'd suggest swapping the saddle (another Flite if you get on with them), and dropping your tyre pressure a little.

Fist of all - if you were comfortable with a Flite then try and find another one the same, then check it's at the same angle as on other bike that you're comfortable on, and same distance from the bars and same distance behind the vertical line from the bottom bracket.

However if you're keen to persevere with the current saddle...

Sorry to get intimate, but which bit of your bum is getting sore? If it's the soft stuff just behind yer goolies then the shape/angle of the saddle is wrong for you. I find I need to sit on the bones of my @rse, not the squishy bit behind my balls, and soft gel saddles are generally less comfortable because once the bones have sunk through the gel, other areas of the saddle are pressing up against my nuts, or the bits just behind them.

To get a good position, the tilt of the saddle is important - if I tilt it forwards, I get less pressure on the sensitive forward stuff, but what tends to happen is I then slide forwards while riding, ending up on the narrow bit, and have to keep hitching back onto the wide comfy bit - if I tilt the saddle slightly back (i.e. nose up), it looks like it'll crush my gonads but effectively it means I stay on the wide bit and actually I get less pressure on the wrong bits.

The frame material may or may not be irrelevant but the stiffness of the frame does make a difference, albeit only slight. There are lots of arguments on the net about whether a stiff frame makes any difference to ride comfort, with lots of incomplete science being thrown in to prove right one opinion or another. Much more relevant is to get all the other things right first. I have a touring bike which is made of 531ST and an old Bottechia Columbus SL, and I've tried the same saddle, same wheels, tyres, bars and stem on both, the 531 is hard up the @rse and the Bottechia is velvet. Should be the other way round! SO I've gone for a Flite with a hole in the middle - it's pretty good. Haven't done more than about 60 miles at a stretch since getting that saddle, but it's the most comfortable so far, despite being the least cushioned.

I thought that might be it - it's rare for a bum to get sore, after all they're meant for sitting on. But goolies are a different matter. Also if your upper body position is different it affects which bit you're sitting on - e.g. if your bars are lower, you roll onto your nads.

Try the thing of tilting the saddle back slightly and lowering it - so you sit further back on it.

Best of all as I said before is get another saddle like your other one that you reckon is ok, though you might still have to fiddle around a bit to get it right.

I think any new saddle hurts a bit until your bum bones have got used to it. A bit like shoes.

I have a Spesh Toupe Gel and I love it.

Why not swap saddles from your old bike to your new one? If it's then comfy then you know for sure it's the saddle and you'll have saved yourself a large amount of money for the fitting.

I just couldn't get myself out of bed! Did 5-6 hours on Saturday in the rain, then had to drive some friends to Manchester and back in the evening for a party. And with the clocks changing I just didn't manage to get myself out of bed in time. Set the alarm but only really came too at around 9.00. Hmm. :oops:

I was tired all day and ended up just chilling in the afternoon in a coffee house with the better half. All my stuff was still soaking from the Saturday anyway, so I wasn't very motivated to put any of it on... :roll: