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Can't seem to keep my sit-bones on the back part of the saddle...

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Can't seem to keep my sit-bones on the back part of the saddle...

Old 09-12-12, 08:26 PM
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enroper
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Can't seem to keep my sit-bones on the back part of the saddle...

So let me preface this by saying that I'm not a very experienced rider, so that may factor into whats happening.

Anyway got a new bike last week. They did a very basic fit, but not a full fitting. I can't afford to get a full fitting at the moment so I'm hoping to adjust this myself if at all possible.

I seem to keep winding up sitting more in the middle of the saddle, instead of on the wider part. When they had me in the trainer they said my angle and reach looks good and stuff, and the seat seems to be set level. And when I sit on the wide part, I don't feel like too much weight is on my hands. But yet I still slide forward and then my under parts start to not like it.

Anything I can try to fix ? Should I move the saddle forward and/or tilt it up?
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Old 09-12-12, 08:36 PM
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10 Wheels
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You are asking if we can fit an unknown rider on an unknown bike?

Is this you?

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Old 09-12-12, 08:41 PM
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Your best help would come from returning to your bike shop and ask them, unless you can get some pics posted.
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Old 09-12-12, 08:48 PM
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Slide your butt forward/back until you are in KOPS (a good starting point) then adjust the saddle accordingly. You'll learn to fine-tune as you gain experience. Note that KOPS is just a starting point. Read this:

https://sheldonbrown.com/kops.html

Last edited by Busta Quad; 09-12-12 at 08:54 PM.
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Old 09-12-12, 08:51 PM
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Originally Posted by 10 Wheels
You are asking if we can fit an unknown rider on an unknown bike?

Is this you?

seat post is too low ...
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Old 09-12-12, 09:24 PM
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Originally Posted by 10 Wheels
Your best help would come from returning to your bike shop and ask them, unless you can get some pics posted.
+1. Even a basic fit shouldn't have you feeling like you have to push back to get properly situated on the saddle.
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Old 09-12-12, 09:44 PM
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Try sliding the seat forward.
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Old 09-12-12, 10:15 PM
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What you're describing is often, mabye even usually caused by a saddle that is either slightly nose down, or needs to be tilted a little nose up above dead level. Yes it can also be caused by a reach that is too far, but in my experience it's more often saddle level first, then adjust the reach if neccessary.

The first thing I would do is:

1 - put your bike on a level surface, and then put a bubble level on the saddle. See exactly how level it is, or how much nose up or down it is.

2 - if you're saddle is nose down, adjust it until it is dead level using the bubble level. If it is already dead level, or close to that, adjust it so it is "1/2 bubble" nose up (in other words, just a tiny bit nose up). After you try that, if it's not right, you might try even a tiny bit more nose up. You might also have to lower the seat height a little, but do every thing in small increments and keep track of what your'e doing.

I've found that my comfort and ability to stay on the sweet spot of the saddle I use requres it to be about 1/2 to a full bubble nose up. It works perfectly for me that way. Your saddle angle will depend on your own anatomy, the saddle, and your preferences. But give the above adjustment a try before you start sliding it back and forth. My experience is that for me, keeping the saddle back a little behind "KOPS" also helps me settle on the saddle better. If I'm a little too far forward, my position on the saddle actually suffers a little too.
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Old 09-13-12, 06:34 AM
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A lot of seat posts have very poor angle adjustment. They use serrations that are too widely spaced and the result is a saddle nose that is either too high or too low, with no in-between. I always use a post with a 2-bolt rocker-style clamp that allows very small angle changes.
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Old 09-13-12, 06:48 AM
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The truth is that it is hard to tell without seeing you on the bike while cycling.

But generally, even after a basic fit, small adjustments are made to make things more comfortable for you, and make you feel like you fit correctly on the bike. For example, saddle height is something I still mess with every now and then on all my bikes. When using a new saddle, it can take me a week to get it just the way I want, tilting and moving it forwards and backwards by milimeters. Assuming your basic bike fit is correct, it is these small things that can make you feel comfortable. A bike fit generally does not include this, because we are talking milimeters here and the difference is not visible, but you feel it. Play around with different saddle positions and see if you can get it dialed in. If that is not possible, return to your LBS for help.
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Old 09-13-12, 07:27 AM
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I'm actually having this same problem. I keep sliding forward without noticing and have to force myself to slide back. I'm planning on getting a pro fit soon as I'm experiencing multiple pains and discomforts here and there, but I might try what others have said and title the nose up for now.
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Old 09-13-12, 09:02 AM
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Just slide the saddle forward.

A saddle is not a pedal or a handlebar...your butt is not in a fixed position on top of the seat. If you have everything else "generally" correct, put the saddle where it is comfortable for your hinder.

Forcing your body to put your butt where it doesn't want to be is not going to solve anything.
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Old 09-13-12, 09:07 AM
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Adjust the bike so it fits YOU! Do not adjust yourself to the bike. With reach and everything else properly adjusted and you are still moving forward on your saddle, move the saddle with you.

Originally Posted by 10 Wheels
You are asking if we can fit an unknown rider on an unknown bike?

Is this you?

Daaaaang! How tall is that dude???

Last edited by tagaproject6; 09-13-12 at 09:13 AM.
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Old 09-13-12, 09:15 AM
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I only ever had this problem when my saddle was too high and not flat enough. Could be too high, or the wrong shape for your behind. Go back to the shop and let them know.
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Old 09-13-12, 09:25 AM
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Originally Posted by 10 Wheels
You are asking if we can fit an unknown rider on an unknown bike?

Is this you?

It ain't rocket science, and you don't need a picture. If he is sliding forward, then the tilt is off. Tilt up slightly until you find the perfect angle between not sliding and not squishing delicate parts.
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Old 09-13-12, 12:32 PM
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Originally Posted by slowandsteady
It ain't rocket science, and you don't need a picture. If he is sliding forward, then the tilt is off. Tilt up slightly until you find the perfect angle between not sliding and not squishing delicate parts.
OP didn't say he was sliding forward, just that his butt "winds up there".

If the only thing that hurts are the sitbones, then by moving the saddle forward, the only thing you are changing is where the sitbones contact the saddle.
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Old 09-13-12, 12:47 PM
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As an inexperienced rider you probably lack the flexibillity to be comfortable even in an "eyeball" fit. MarK the position of the seat tube clamp on the saddle rail then move the saddle forward . Ride bike lots. As you develop flexibilty and find your self off the back of the seat move the saddle back towrds the original position.
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Old 09-13-12, 01:09 PM
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Originally Posted by thump55
Just slide the saddle forward.
Of course, if you slide it too far forward you lose the dampening effect of the rails. I have short femurs (in comparison to my upper body) and run zero-offsets so I can clamp my saddles in the middle of the rails.
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Old 09-14-12, 11:49 AM
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OP: you've obviously gotten two major schools of thought (1) simply move saddle forward or (2) adjust the tilt. Even if you think it's a forward/rearward issue, just be sure to at least check the level to see where it's at or an obvious tilt issue. Again, in my personal experience, this is the main reason people slide forward on their saddle, but it could be the other reason, sure.

Whatever type of adjustment you do, you should do only one thing at a time and use some sort of indicator (the level for tilt, a mark on the saddle rails for the other) so you can keep track of what you're doing and go back to where you started if need-be.

Good luck. Like someone said: it's not rocket science, just work a little at a time and keep track of what you've done.
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Old 09-14-12, 12:13 PM
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Originally Posted by 10 Wheels
You are asking if we can fit an unknown rider on an unknown bike?

Is this you?

Made me smile!

And that's immediately after finding out a monitor (I assume) terminated terminated on of my posts for blasting the HTFU guys in a postscript.
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Old 09-14-12, 01:06 PM
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Originally Posted by hobkirk
Made me smile!

And that's immediately after finding out a monitor (I assume) terminated terminated on of my posts for blasting the HTFU guys in a postscript.
Your saddle is tilted significantly down.
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Old 09-14-12, 04:01 PM
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on the rivet
Describes a rider who is riding at maximum speed. When riding at maximum power output, a road racer often perches on the front tip of the saddle (seat), where the shell of an old-style leather saddle would be attached to the saddle frame with a rivet.
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Old 09-14-12, 05:00 PM
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.... and never sit on your taint. You'll wind up like pcad.
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Old 09-14-12, 05:54 PM
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Harsh! .....true but harsh! Lol.
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Old 09-14-12, 06:31 PM
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Originally Posted by 10 Wheels
You are asking if we can fit an unknown rider on an unknown bike?

Is this you?

Front wheel is bigger than rear wheel. Other than that.. good fit.
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