So, you wanna start riding your bike? First, make sure you buy a bike that fits you! I have seen too many people on poorly sized bikes. While the industry trend is to build smaller frames than in the past, you should not have ten feet of seatpost rpotruding from the frame of your bicycle. If you feel like a circus bear, the bike is probably too small for you. Once you find the right sized bike, pay attention to ride quality. Steel is resilient, light, stable. Aluminum is stiff and lighter, but can ride sketchy over bumps, and cheap aluminum is no "bargain". Ti -- hey, if you'r buying a Ti bike you don't need my advice, bub. ;)
Before starting out, make sure the bike is adjusted for you. You should be able to put the toes and ball of your foot on the ground. If not, the seat may bee too high. If you can put the whole foot flat on the ground, the bike is either too small or likely the seat is too low.
Misadjusted seats on bicycles can keep folks from riding, and even injure them, causing pulled muscles, aching knees, and even numb nutz. Avoid all the above with a dose of prevention, your knees, legs, and family jewels will thank you!
Your seat can be adjusted 3 ways: height, sliding forward and back, and angle. The first a accomplished by the seatpost clamp bolt or allen head, the rest via a bolt on the underside of the seatpost head.
On road bikes, your seat should either be level with the handlebar, or an inch or so higher. Do not make it too high! Your seat top should also be level. Tilted forwards, it causes you to make an effort not to slide to the front of the seat, distractign you from pedaling and putting wieght on your arms, shoulders, and wrists. Tilted too far back, the nose of the saddle pokes up into the nether regions, which is no fun either.
Also pay attention to fore - aft position. Too far back and you will be uncomfortable riding ont he hoods or the drops of the bars. Too far forward and pedaling will be difficult.
Also, if your seat isn't where it should be, your weight may not be on the part of the seat intended for it. Some road bike seats have a wider back and narrow front. Resting your weight on the front is a sure way to loose feeling in Richard, or get saddle sores that'd make any long-distance tourer jealous.
Lastly, choose a seat that makes sense. If you are a bigger person you may need a bigger saddle. This doesn't mean a huge cushion, tho. Bontrager and San Marco -- both known makers of "roadie" looking seats -- make bike saddles which look swift enuff to keep your bike from being an eyesore, but padded enough to keep your @ss from getting sore. Also, be careful of your saddle. Oil or coat the seat "rails" with a protectant to prevent corrosion; wipe the saddle clean periodically. Avoid tearing the corners by not leaning the seat against rouch surfaces if you can avoid it -- or get a saddle with reinforced corners if you can't brake the "leanie" habit.
Get started right. Make sure...
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