Getting back into the saddle
 

I have a few questions.
thank you for all the help as well.

1) I need a new saddle for my Fuji absolute 1.9 hybrid .... the saddle it came with is harder than a rock and uncomfortable.
Can anyone recommend something in the price range of 30.00 to 50.00 (USD) that I can find online? Amazon would be wonderful!!!

2) How do I find my balance to ride smoothly again? A friend mentioned training wheels, are they even made for adults?
I haven't been on a bike since I was around 10-12 when a horse came into my life and I rode her everywhere instead of my bike. She was also my best friend (and lots easier to go uphill in also).

3) How do I find racks for the bike? what the heck do I look for?!? I am at a loss. I have contacted the company more than once to try to get their help in some specific information with no luck. FUJI absolute 1.9 19in diamond frame (which is all I know about this bike)


Some things you should know..
I had hip replacement surgery back in Dec. I have been given the OK to ride from the surgeon who did the surgery. I also have essential tremor (which I am hoping to get zapped this summer).

thanks for all the help with these.. I am excited to get back in the saddle!!!

I would talk to a fitter as far as saddles or try some out maybe your local shop has a tryout program or can help measure your sit bones. Typically $30 saddles probably aren't going to be much better than what you have and certainly those heavy padded gel RX BS saddles aren't going to solve any problems but just make them worse.

As far as balance the best way to do things is take off the pedals and use it as a balance bike. Training wheels don't really do any good for balance just keeping you able to ride on 3-4 wheels instead of two. Balance bikes are the way to go to learn balance. Lower the saddle, remove the pedals and start scooting and lift your feet and you will get there eventually.

Go down to your local shop and they can take a look a the bike and recommend and sell and install a rack if one will fit. Most likely if you have rack mounts you can fit just about any rack but Tubus, Racktime, Topeak, Planet Bike, Surly, Specialized all make some decent racks. What are you looking to carry?

Good luck with getting back in the saddle.

I order from Amazon all the time. If you don't like it, don't order! BUT, LOTS of small BUSINESSES USE amazon as a platform to sell their products . . . WHICH I utilize all the time.

this might help you decide, to go with or stay away from certain asspects.

https://www.bikeforums.net/general-c...t-comfort.html

I too use AZ and Ebay, but I have never purchased a saddle from either one. Lots of bike parts and electronics, etc, but never a saddle. For a saddle, I recommend you visit the LBS and talk with someone explaining what you're after (riding style and bike type) and let them kinda guide you if they appear to know what they're talking about. Good luck with the balance. My DW (now 73) gave up riding 2 years ago because of inner ear (balance) issues. I still ride 20+ miles/day in all weather. I did recently give away my MTB to a young guy in the neighborhood, much to my wife's delight. She just recently purchased me a new bright yellow riding jacket because now I spend so much time on the highway, but she prefers that over my stupid MTB antics. Good luck to ya,

Do you have a copyright on that>ASSpects

I want to eventually use the bike to bike tour with .. more than likely it won't be until I get full use of my leg back. but, it's my goal. For now, I need a pack to hold a sweatshirt, rain gear, hydration, dog gear. go pro stuff.

The shop I bought my bike at is 50 miles away, the local shop is closed for now due to covid (45 miles away) ... I would like to get racks before September.
As for installing: I think I can figure it out it really doesn't seem too hard.. plus there is always YouTube (oh wait, that is owned by someone rich too! is it also off-limits, or JUST amazon?!?)

what are "sit bones"? that is not a term I am familiar with? I am a science major... lol My surgeon learned fast, that I like medical terms, rather than layman terms. So much easier to understand. However, I did google "sit bones" and I came up with zero entries.

Well that doesn't change much. The workers at Amazon still are maltreated and of course Jeff Bezos is still the richest man on the planet. Of course yes you can find ways to make Amazon sound good. People do that all the time...Mussolini made the trains run on time and Bernie Madoff donated a bunch of his money to potentially decent causes.

I don't order from Amazon. I try not to support companies and people like that. Places willing to sell fakes and knockoffs and treat their employees like that are not places that are good to give your business to.

Getting back in the saddle... Oh Boy, What Fun!

1> There is a seat out there that allows you to ride all day without any pain; but the Elves snapped them all up to ride thier unicorns. Still, the search goes on. On a hip replacement you are going to need a wide seat. Don't get fancy. If you must have extra padding and springs then your not ready to ride yet. Try a female "Sanctus" seat. They are not expensive and found through Amazon easily.

2> Finding your Ballance just requires training. When you are riding don't look to far off in the distance and not to close either. Ride slow and focus about 3 meters in front of your front wheel. Ride at first in a parking lot and pick things out on the surface to ride around. I usually go through an empty parking lot picking two rocks or leaves on the ground and try to get both my tires through them without touching them. It works. Also, when riding I am always trying to pick out my next place to fall. Here is a good test. Stand up on one leg and close your eyes. How long is it before you tip? That gives you an idea of how fast and over what terrain you can ride.

3> Bicycle Rack? Much latter... Keep your bike clean and simple. Keep your bike light and maneuverable. Latter you will know when you can afford the extra weight of a rack.

Notes: You are coming back after surgery. You are a different person now so you have to learn what this new person can do, but slowly and without injury. You probably should lower your seat a little (1"-2.5cm) or more from the way you used to have it. You might need to raise your handle bars up a little too. For me straight bars even with a 6° back sweep are uncomfortable. You may want to consider getting a handle bar with more sweep. At least from 15° to 40°, something like the "Origin8 transit Ergo" Handlebar. Don't worry about your resting tremor. I have had guys blast past me on thier bikes who had sever Parkinsonian tremors. Yep... GOOD LUCK!!!

I love the name.
thanks for the link! I am seriously amazed at the price people have spent for saddles . . . WOW! I seriously can not afford some of the high priced ones. I'd say my price range is around 50.00 MAX right now.

Is it worth trying a few I have found on Amazon? I have been thinking gel or memory foam as a material that would be most comfy for me, knowing how comfy I need it to be.

I'd try grabbing some padded jhorts before swapping butt bike parts. You might beat the rump costs while gaining that serious cyclists look all in one shot!

and trump screwed the USA and people still support him.. If you want to rant about the rich.. please refrain from doing it on MY POST! I am trying to learn here and get back to the life I once had. and I bought a bike. I can now do stuff again. go rant somewhere else. I actually had an amazon order come today! I own an ECHO. Eventually, the government (now that we actually have decent leadership) will crack down on their illegal policies, I am not worried.

I don't plan on wearing cycle shorts . . . I get cold easily and I promised myself no freezing on my bike. Not saying I am wearing jeans, but I have some other options that arent skin-tight Lycra.
As far as other cyclists go... I don't care what others think... they can even laugh if they want. i do not care.

You can wear the padded stuff under the chaps you wear normally.

Thank you so much for this. Makes me feel better knowing my tremors aren't going to stop me from riding. (now to do some research into tremors and bike riding)
to answer some things.
my seat is all the way down, I was thinking about adjusting my handle bars UP (the shop I got it from said they can help adjust them)
Going to ask before I do this . . . can I print your post so I can refer back to it quickly?

This is the only Sanctus I found.
https://smile.amazon.com/Comfortable...g-goods&sr=1-3
and
I also found this.
https://smile.amazon.com/Most-Comfor...eation&sr=1-27

I didn't think of this :) My pants of choice will be scrub pants. I love them and own several pairs. they are light comfy (actually have pockets) and are in my favorite colors. Plus some have elastic at the cuff. For cycling, I plan to waterproof the ones I wear.

I've read this thread and just thinking out loud here, have you thought about a trike, 3 wheeled bicycle? Seems as if it may solve most of your hurdles in one swoop.

Mine is a hybrid, as my surgeon said NO road bikes.

unfortunately, they were above my price range. Plus, could not find one in Maine! BIKES ARE SCARCE HERE! There would be some things I would have to consider too.
would I be able to bikepack with it? would I be able to add a trailer? could my dog safely jog next to the bike?

Yes, I did take a trike into concideration.

Take your time and don't overdo it. The seat you have may be okay for you, after you get a few miles under your belt. I would stay away from a memory foam saddle. Generally speaking, a softer saddle is worse than a firmer saddle. These are just generalities though, and every one is different.

The padded shorts under the scrubs sounds like a good idea for you. As for seat height, for now, lower is not a bad idea, just don't go too low. You have to work with your flexibility, and I am sure that after a hip replacement, you won't be as flexible as you were, for now. Try not to try to push too hard of a gear either. It is better to spin the pedals faster, than it is to try to push hard on the pedal, especially coming off a hip replacement.

Best of luck wit the recovery, and getting back into biking. Most importantly, have fun!

Careful.
No politics around here.
You said that we now have ‘decent leadership’ though lol.
We need more new members such as yourself with a good sense of humor :thumb:

If you are new to cycling there is a lot you don't know. And, asking questions is a good way to start. BUT, ultimately it won't be the answers that resolve the issues, it twill be your experiences. So, let the answers here be a guide but expect the solutions to come from yourself over time. Be patient with it all. My advice for the beginning of your journey is to make sure your bike fits and then ride it. Over time you will start figuring things out.