Cycling after 25 years...

[badkarma]

From the outcome of a midlife crisis, finally the bike arrived yesterday. I've never ridden one in the last 25 years and I did 42 Kms on my debut... Pardon my language but my ass is paining like hell now

Any advice? Bigger seats? Cushions?

I'm 6"4' and it's a 23" frame - Cube Reaction Hybrid Pro 500...

 

[simonk]

Give your arse a day or so to recover then ride regularly building up the distance. Arse pain *should* subside. If it doesn’t there are plentiful aftermarket saddles available (although finding one that suits is, I have found, hit and miss).

 

[simonk]

In your picture the saddle is also at an angle, which won’t help if you rode it like that. It should be level.

 

[badkarma]

In your picture the saddle is also at an angle, which won’t help if you rode it like that. It should be level.

Shall I adjust it parallel to the bar that runs across the bike?

 

[Supratad]

Parallel to the ground.
Adjust it, ride it in the street, adjust again etc etc. If its pressing on your cheeks like a priest on the bus, the rear is too high. If the front is too high slightly, you feel pressure on your "taint" but not in a nice way like if your wife surprises you during oral pleasure.

 

[R120]

The saddle should be level as a starting point (i.e parallel to the ground) and you can make adjustments from there.

If you are just using the bike for general riding around, you could look at a bigger comfort saddle, but generally speaking if you are going to go mountain biking on it most people will look for a slimmer more performance orientated saddle that doesn't get in the way when moving the bike around

I would also suggest getting some proper cycling shorts if you haven got some - by that I dont mean going all skin-tight, but a lot of MTB shorts have lycra liners with chamois pads, and your arse will thank you for using them - they are also designed so you dont get uncomfortable rubbing etc as all the seams are out of the way of sensitive areas

The Endura Humvee 2 shorts with removable liner are a great starting point for a decent short.

Hummvee Short II with liner | EnduraSport

 

[Zimmerframe]

To get you re-acquainted with some of the mumbo jumbo

These should then get you started :



Keep in mind though that we're all different and these are guides.

 

[Supratad]

Mind you 42Kms is not bad for someone who's not touched a bike in 25 years. I presume you've stayed fit in other ways over that time. When I got back on, it was only round the block.

 

[badkarma]

To get you re-acquainted with some of the mumbo jumbo

View attachment 30281

These should then get you started :



Keep in mind though that we're all different and these are guides.

Thank you, very helpful

 

[MattyB]

Mind you 42Kms is not bad for someone who's not touched a bike in 25 years. I presume you've stayed fit in other ways over that time. When I got back on, it was only round the block.

Agreed. I would start with 10-15 mile rides to start with, and build up from there. Getting the bike adjusted correctly and finding the right saddle are important, but there will probably always be a degree of discomfort when starting riding after a long time off.

 

[badkarma]

Mind you 42Kms is not bad for someone who's not touched a bike in 25 years. I presume you've stayed fit in other ways over that time. When I got back on, it was only round the block.

My wife said the same thing. But I'm now limited to my couch at the moment. There is good amount of pain on my legs.

 

[Zimmerframe]

When I got back on, it was only round the block.

I've never heard that expression before. Is that modern UK slang for Missionary ?

 

[Supratad]

I like that idea, that works.
Maybe there could also be “left my bike by the bins behind the coffee shop”.

 

[steve_sordy]

Instead of buying some bike shorts that come with integral padded liner, consider buying some separate padded liners and using them on whatever shorts you use now. Like these from Endura.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=E...QAw&biw=1366&bih=625#spd=18030406419118986705

They come with or without clickfast fittings (you choose, it's not random!)