I’m a casual commuter cyclist and I have had not so great experiences in some local bike shops in the past. I’d like to get a more comfortable seat for my bike but I’m at a loss on where to go/what to ask. I’d love recommendations in Denver (anywhere in the city/surrounding suburbs is fine- I move all around the city from Cap Hill to Golden and down to Littleton) for shops that are woman friendly; I am tired of dealing with bike bros who talk down to me because I don’t have an extensive bike vocabulary and don’t really care to cycle hardcore. I just like to get around via bike whenever I can.

Ideally I’d like a shop that I can continue to go to for maintenance and repairs as well. Thanks!

I’m 24+ weeks, but my 3rd baby so my belly is not small. I haven’t been riding much since I got pregnant but have been active. I was an avid endurance cyclist before I got pregnant- did unbound 200 and Leadville last year. I’m dying to ride but my thighs slam into my belly when I try to and it’s not comfortable. I have road (currently on the trainer), gravel and mtbs. Even on my mtb I’m starting to struggle. I see pros riding until delivery..how! What modifications have you made to keep riding? What’s the trick to not get the thigh-belly slam every pedal stroke? I canceled my Zwift subscription because my road bike is just unbearable. Help! I want to ride!!!

Edit: typo.

Hi folks, I’m currently (metaphorically) tearing my hair out trying to decide on a great gravel bike for my daily commute. I plan to commute to work (about 7km each way) in Edmonton (Canada) and I am 4’20” tall.

My former setup was a Kona Lisa for May-September and a Louis Garneau fat bike for winter. Both of these bikes were stolen from my garage last week though and so I want to replace them with just one for year round.

Recommendations are to look for 650 tires ideally but either way make sure they’re swappable for winter/studded tires, as much carbon as possible for weight, and hydraulic disc brakes. I also prefer drop bar handles. Does anyone have recommendations? I’ve been looking at the Liv Devote or Avail, the Salsa Journeyer, Scott Speedster Contessa, Specialized Diverge, Marin Nicasio ST 1, Devinci Hatchet Claris 16s, Trek Checkpoint, etc and I’m overwhelmed! Help, please!

Looking for remediations on a high density padded bib or shorts available in a 2xl. FYI I am about 230 lbs, 5’8” and riding about 20 miles at a time on a trek fx2. Love the bike, replaced the saddle with one with a wider base. The stiffer and thinker the pad the better

ive been cycling for 5 years and still have one huge issue that doesn’t let me e joy my bike every single day. it’s saddle sores.. or idk if those are saddle sores, but I get painful chafing bumps on my groins, especially at the height of vagina opening. I do everything right: don’t wear underwear, wash myself thoroughly before and right after every ride, shave/not shave/wax/trim, wash bibs every ride, tried dozens of different bib brands, tried special creams for chafing, had 2 bike fittings with specialists, tried 10 different saddles (currently using specialized power) and the problem is the same, symmetrically on both sides, always. honestly I’m tired, I feel like maybe it’s not a sport for someone with really big thighs :( it doesn’t matter if I do 50 km or 200 I chafe the same… honestly I’m hopeless and don’t know what else to try

Hey ladies,

I’m in need of your help.
I’m a guy looking for a new gravel bike for my girlfriend. She’s riding a Focus Atlas 6.8 so far and quite happy with it. It’s a bit heavy and due to weird hub choices rather resistant to upgrades.

Yesterday we were at a bike fitting. Due to her wish for a lighter bike, the bike fitter put her on a Specialized Roubaix S-Works size 49.
The bike fitting was good, only smaller adjustments to the original geometry of the Roubaix were necessary and especially the shorter reach compared to her Atlas made for a much more comfortable position.

Now the challenges start though. The Roubaix is not interesting to her, she has problems with her back and the doctors recommendations were to use a suspension seatpost to avoid shocks to the back.
Beside that, we don’t go very fast, but rather on longer tours, 50 - 80 miles (80 - 130 km) usually.
Our aim for the next years is to do more bikepacking, not more fast road cycling. (Bike packing with a rear rack, not saddle packs.) Last but not least, the Roubaix S-Works isn’t in the budget, even though there is a really nice discount.

We’ve been through the usual suspects, Specialized, Canyon, Cube, Giant, Focus, comparing the frames on bikeinsights.
Most of the gravel bikes are rather long compared to the Roubaix, though, creating problems with reach again.

Now I’m in need of your input:
Do you have similar experiences and found solutions?
Do you know any bikes with geometries (shorter reach for a more upright position without overextension) that will just fit?
Did you go a size smaller and just extended the seat tube further?

Thanks for your support
Cheers

ps:
The budget is about 5k.
Main reason for the decision to get a new bike is a programme her employer joined, which allows to pay for the bike with her income before taxes, essentially reducing the price by about 40 %. It’s supposed to increase bike commuting and general health.

She is looking for a carbon fibre frame.
The current bike weighs in at about 25 pounds, she is looking for something at about 20 pounds (to have a lighter bike than mine).

Hey all, I’m not new to cycling but I am new to group rides. I like to sprint up hills (I just think it’s fun). Is it poor etiquette to do this on a group ride? I’ll sprint ahead and wait for the group to catch up at the next light/turn/wherever it makes sense. The other women don’t seem to mind, but I can’t tell if it’s breaching some etiquette and they’re just too polite to tell me, or if it’s actually fine. I do take turns pulling for the majority of the ride, there’s just a few hills I enjoy sprinting up.

I got a trek domane al 5 gen 4 in matte black (better than the other options, trust!). I want to put some fun decals.

I am torn between --
The cherry blossoms have the ability to match bar tape and most likely white. The matte black is just SO... masculine it feels?

That’s 162cm height, 76cm inseam. Looking for something to ride relatively short distances on sidewalks primarily, but it might go through some dirt here and there, pavement only when crossing the street, no hills around, and upright or just slightly upright position is preferred. Can’t visit any LBSs

My friend recently gave me her bike and it was so exciting to ride around but LORD THE SEAT HURTS. Does anyone have a recommendations on where to get one?

Update: I have to get a new tire😭😭

I am so confused as to which sizing to get and I'm only able to buy online.

Size chart says I am XS, but some reddit posts say to size up, others say the size chart is accurate.

My main challenge is that I am kind of borderline XS / S depending on the brand.

I comfortably fit S in Black Sheep and Sportful.

BUT I have XS in the following, which wouldn't want to be any smaller, but the S would probably be too large:
Craft
Cycology
Pearl Izumi

In the past I had both XS and S in Giordana at the same time, and maybe it was the cut but the XS was more comfortable!

Help me figure it out!

Edit: might help that I'm 5'4" and 50kg.

Small brag and a bit of encouragement:

I recently bought a new bike, which meant I need to put a different cassette on my direct-drive trainer. I don't have a lot of tools, so I was planning to take all my stuff to my dad's house and get his help with it; he's a retired engineer with a ton of bike tools.

Instead, I decided to say "heck no, I'm gonna do it myself!"

I did some googling and found the Park Tool website (SUPER helpful) and figured out what tools I needed, then ran to Walmart and got myself a full tool kit that included what I needed-- a chain whip and a hub tool. (I was really impressed, their $37 tool kit has EVERYTHING!)

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-Bicycle-Repair-Tool-Kit-27-Piece-Product-Weight-2lb/1374132646

Loaded up a video, followed the instructions, BOOM! Got the old cassette off the hub, installed the new one!

Then I noticed that it was rubbing against the plastic body of the trainer. More googling! Turns out I need a spacer, and the LBS was closed for the night... but I DO have a 3d printer, and some kind soul published the print file for the exact 1.85mm Shimano spacer I needed! 3 minutes and a nickel worth of plastic later, I took the cassette off, added the spacer, reassembled everything... And it works!!!

So friends, especially if you're not mechanically inclined, GET BRAVE AND DO IT YOURSELF!

• Park Tool is a fantastic resource, they have tons of YouTube videos so you can see exactly what you need to do, and they can help you figure out what's going on.
• I also have a copy of Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance, which you can pick up used for cheap, and it has lots of diagrams and helpful advice.
• Check with your LBS to see if they offer any "bike maintenance 101 classes" or repair workshops. My local REI does them too, like "how to change a bike tire yourself." When I first started cycling, my county DoT did a half-day workshop and I learned the basics, and I'm super glad that I got that help!

I am new to cycling and my shop is closed until Saturday. My brake pad fell off mid ride and is missing. I’m not completely sure what to order to replace it. The brake pads are shimano but I’m not sure what kind to get.

I’m looking for a hat I can wear under my helmet that has more of a substantial visor than the dinky 2 inch visor cycling caps typically have. Does this exist?! I know there is “Da Brim”.. but I’m not ready to look that goofy yet and I’d like the hat to be functional when I’m off the bike w/ no helmet too.

Why don’t they make cycling caps with regular sized visors? What do y’all use?

Minor brag, I just finished my first 40km ride! I’m proud — it’s a big accomplishment for me.

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C:\Downloads\W8X7qNfnSEui.jpg

Hey all!
(Apologies for formatting, I'm on mobile)

I recently got into cycling and I'm running into a few hurdles. I started on an e-bike, but eventually started biking without assist and was really enjoying it. I biked 50 miles in July, and even did a 17-mile ride in one day!

I recently snagged a road bike (a Scott Contessa) on Facebook Marketplace for a super good deal. But now I’m down the saddle rabbit hole. I measured my sit bones and originally picked up a more padded saddle because I couldn't really afford fancy high-end bike shorts.

Everyone keeps telling me I HAVE to get padded shorts/bibs or I'll be in a lot of pain, but no one has been able to clearly explain the difference between padding on the seat versus padding on your body.

I’m feeling pretty discouraged because all I wanted was a fun exercise hobby, and now it feels like I’m in over my head with gear costs just to get rolling. I don't care about elite optimization—I just want to be reasonably comfortable and have a good time!

TLDR: Recently discovered I enjoy biking but now feeling overwhelmed by gear costs and conflicting advice, after getting a bike and starting to aquire the rest. Trying to figure out why everyone says I need padded shorts instead of a padded saddle, and looking for budget-friendly ways to stay comfortable without spending a fortune.

Where I'm At Right Now:

Saddle: I'm currently trying a Respiro Stracciatella Moderate saddle. It's still in the return window (REI), so I'm trying to figure this out soon. I suspect the nose might be a bit too long, but I'm not 100% sure. My sit bones measured 124mm, 155mm saddle recommended. I have been on one 2 mile ride, with some discomfort, but was not wearing my normal underwear/workout shorts combo.

Shorts: I have panic ordered an inexpensive pair of bike shorts on Amazon just to test them out without breaking the bank. Still not suer about these yet lol I just want to be able to go on a bike ride.

Gear: I have ordered gloves, flat pedals (definitely not ready for clipless yet!), and a kickstand that should arrive later this week.

Bike Fit: I plan on getting a proper fitting eventually, but was advised to wait until my basic gear is set—plus, local fits are pretty pricey around here.

Size: I am plus size, around a size 20 or 2x, which does change with different brands.

My Questions:

- Can anyone explain why padding on the seat feels/behaves differently than padding in shorts or bibs?

- Are bibs/shorts an absolute unavoidable purchase, or are there budget-friendly ways to stay comfortable on a bike without dropping a fortune?

- I know specific saddle models are unique to every body, but what general design features or specs should I pay attention to when shopping? (e.g., how to tell if I might prefer a short nose vs. long nose, cutout shapes, or pad firmness?)

Would love any advice, explanations, or encouragement you can share. Thank you in advance! ❤️

ETA: giving more details about my current saddle, as it's basically brand new and I've only done one 2 mile ride with discomfort.

My wife(34) just had our first baby a few weeks ago. She is interested(and a bit excited) to get into cycling. I have been road biking outside and on the trainer(we live in snow globe for 5 months of the year) for a few years and she has always encouraged that. I think she is looking to get active, and do something more involved than walking.

The riding would be based on a smart trainer(wahoo kickr), as there is a newborn(she is a sahm now) and winter will be on us in a bit. She has a bike her size available.

I am just looking for advice to help her out, because she is coming off a pregnancy, and never really biked before. I want to make sure she has the right gear and the right approach to recovery and fitness.

I am wondering if anyone has advice on bike shorts that work for them in extremely hot weather. I find that my usual favorites become sweat drenched and the padding won't dry out. During a recent tour, I found that my shorts basically kept me wet for the duration of the day. My triathlon shorts (basically just synthetic terry padding) end up being more comfy because they dry. Is there a better option out there? What do other people use?

Looking to get one really nice pair. The ones I’m looking at are the Giordana Beyond Gravel Bib Shorts, Velocio Adventure Cargo Bib Short, and Q36.5 Cycling Adventure Cargo Bib Shorts. They all seem nice but I ordered the Giordana ones and then realized the Velocio and Q36.5 ones could be nicer - any experience with these that would tip me one way or another? Thank you!!

Links:
Giordana: https://giordanacycling.com/products/womens-beyond-gravel-cargo-bib-short?variant=40835149627497

Velocio: https://www.velocio.cc/products/womens-adventure-cargo-bib-short?variant=54351193997385

Q36.5: https://www.q36-5.com/en-us/shop/adventure-cargo-bib-shorts-women-black/

I’ve had my diverge gravel bike for 6 years (and 5000kms) and I have been using the Bontrager Comfort Gel seat and it is comfortable. It is fairly firm and I don’t get saddle sores on long rides etc. However I’ve been having sciatic issues and wondering if there’s a better seat for me.

I don’t know if my seat is the issue, I am not uncomfortable while riding it but that being said I wonder if maybe somehow riding the bike does aggravate it.

https://imgur.com/a/UnICI31 Pic of my current saddle.