Seems like its not my week to ride. I just started back after recovering from a bad back spasm. Yesterday, one of the saddle mounting bolts broke today is the derailleur hanger... well at least I dont have to worry about scuffing the paint anymore.

 This only had 400 miles on it. 

also its interesting to see where these break. Good thing I bought 6 when I bought the frame. New hanger on and a new chain in the mail... the derailleur is totally fine..... I double checked the carbon with the sound test... no dead spots... just scratched paint.


any suggestions on paint to do touch up?

You might benefit from ditching the integrated bars and go for something separate so you can add length.
You sound like you’re trying to fit a lot of body in a small space, and that’ll make you sit strangely, or on the wrong part of the saddle.

That’s why is doubting any saddle would offer much, if any, improvement. A few mm of saddle width really won’t make that much difference.

I build custom bike for people and most are on an endless quest for a more comfortable saddle. Most of the time, the current saddle is fine but the position is wrong which is causing the discomfort.

A saddle that can be found quite cheaply on eBay is a fizik antares VS. It’s quite old now, but it’s a good all rounder that works for quite a lot of different users.

I was looking more at the shape of the two saddles over width alone. The current saddle is quite flat.  where the ryet aircode has that broad saddle With a nice curve.  over the sit area. I think with the other being flat it is causeing exessive pressure.  I am looking at alot more than just how wide thigs are.

That's a seriously crazy height to inseam ratio to the point that getting a frame with custom geo would probably make a huge difference for you. My friend who is 5'5" with a 28" inseam already struggles to find bikes he can stand over. 100% see a fitter a get their recommendation. It could absolutely save you money in the long term if you're constantly trying new bike parts to get a bike to fit you better. I'll ask my former teammate who lives in LA if she can recommend a fitter. Also maybe look into Walty, they make custom Ti frames. Just get a fitter to recommend some bike geo and then give that to a frame builder. I know it's expensive but a Ti bike can last you the rest of your life. I got a Ti frame from a builder in Santa Cruz and it's been amazing. I'm a bike nerd with several bikes but I've put almost 20K miles on the Ti one since I got it in early 2020, way more miles than any of my other bikes have gotten.

Putting an ultra long stem is not an ideal solution. It'll make your weight distribution way off from how the bike was intended and will make your steering hella sluggish.

that is a sexy bike frame. just

I would love to buy a new bike but its not in the cards rigth now. which is like 2k plus wheels and group set. (maybe if I find a place that pays more than now... I am in healthcare and most places are looking to tighten their belt. and a lot of workers will be looking for new jobs too as rural areas shut down care centers. thank you GOP killing aca subsides.) and sluggish is fine if its comfy. I am not racing. its my fun exercise bike.  I can get a Ti or AL 3d printed stem made. AL is going to be super cheap compared and would last as long as the carbon frame. probably longer. I have a set of skills in 3d design and printing. its a hobby. I could even design it to have some fast mount tt bars. I would love to hear any recommendations for fitters.  also I can just barely tipy toe when on the seat.  I can stand over the top tube  with cleats on. though not comfortably.  I have big hands and feet. I wish we could have custom handle/stem combo.

You’ve listed all these things yet you think swapping the saddle is going to make some miraculous change for you.
It wont, so get a bike fit and sort this out one and for all.

Alternatively buy the bike that you were happily riding for hours at Burningman. If it means riding a cruiser or whatever it was, then at least you can ride. Waaaay better than contorting yourself onto a bike that clearly doesn’t suit or fit you.

Yes, I am going to need a custom solution. So a bike fit is only going to be part of the ultimate solution. So I am focusing on what is actually becoming more uncomfortable aka the saddle. I am going to get some new shorts incase the padding is part of the problem. I have saddle height dialed in. Q factor perfect....Also bike fitting is all subjective. there has been a few studies. and bike fitters dont agree on fits. You can go to 100 different fitters and get 100 different fits. Its note going to magically get the perfect fit only ball park. Also I am radiologic technologist. So I know anatomy extremely well.  and I know that the saddle is pressure on my sit bones and soft tissues. It feels too flat. fine for short rides.  As I said before. I am very in tune.  So try a saddle or two frist. I am very frustrated with bike geometry yelling at me isnt productive. I was trying to explain. I know my situation.

A saddle that can be found quite cheaply on eBay is a fizik antares VS. It’s quite old now, but it’s a good all rounder that works for quite a lot of different users.

I dont know if I want to get a used saddle especially an older model that might be worn out. I was looking at the ryet saddles. Specifically at the ryet aircode as it  is recommended by a few bike fitters. I am feeling pressure on my sit bones and on the soft tissues.  So something with more of a cut out might help. Idk untill I try them.

This is the bit that gives me pause. I remember you talking about a 50mm or 70mm spacer for your bike. Unless you have a shoulder injury or impingement, once you get to the correct saddle position, you should be able to work with a range of combinations of spacers and stem lengths without altering your back angle. In other words, getting rid of spacers should enable you to move back into a long but not crazy long front-end arrangement.

If this hasn't happened yet, I would strongly suggest you resolve this before you spend more money on parts. The reason is that your fit affects pelvic rotation, which in turn determines how wide a saddle you need relative to your sitbone measurements, which are usually not taken on the bike. The second is that getting the right fit will affect your saddle position and relative weight distribution between contact points.

Regarding frames, yeah, with your proportions, it could end up being less than ideal. However, there are relatively affordable custom geometries from Waltly (Ti) or Marino (Steel), but there are frames like the "FRMAE" frame that is on Aliexpress (also as the Airwolf YFR039) that is about 30mm longer reach for stack than your current frame if you can find the right size. It also takes a round seat post and has a relatively small seat post height for the reach.

Well like I said I had a spasm in my lower back  that happens every year or so. another joy of a long spine... I just increased my rides to 5 times a week  even if is a like 7-10 miles. a month before it happened...  So I dont know if that was a factor. So I been wanting to build up that strength/flexibility before moving down.  And proper stem would need to be custom. So I might as well get one printed.  to be aero. and fit that sexy bike.  Also looking at the differece between the 218 and that airwolf adds like 2 cm and subtracts 1cm. where I need 12cm difference that still comes down to custom stem.

Its like splitting hairs.lol I need to get a proper bike fit at some point. However I am very in in tune with my body feel. like I can tell a difference of 5mm in seat height and if the seat is tilted wrong. I feel like if I was sitting wrong. I would know.


If I where to get another frame I would the airwolf yfg001 and do a gravel build... there is some nice gravel/road rides in LA. and that frame would give me a little more breathing room.  and keep my stable with a similar look... 

Also I wanted to get a proper saddle on my bike like I said the saddle is a off a norco bike maybe  slightly too small.. It can go on my bike shaped object which needs a better saddle too.. I literally paid 3bucks.

Have you seen a bike fitter? You might benefit from a second opinion.

I remember your fit being very low-saddle and high-bars, which doesn't make much sense if you have longer-than-average arms for your height. Your saddle pain is likely, in part, related to trying to force-fit a bike that doesn't suit your body type and potential flexibility limitations.

There are no frames that fit my body type!!!! My reach is closer to someone who is like 6'8  and my bb to seat is 67cm and pedal to 82cm with cleats.  WHen I get in an "aero" position, My shoulders are  over the handle bars and I got the longest stem velobuild offers. if I didnt get the biggest bike. and slam My seat... I would be over the front wheel... You know when people joke about people needing dental work if a handle bars fail I need to  get a sternum xray.

custom bikes frames  start at like 4 times the total cost of this bike.  and at that price I could get a reactor aero from no22 well almost.  I could design my own and get it printed in china for  that price for sure. Which I am fully capable of.

Trust me I know more about the frustration of not fitting.  I am a tall odd shaped woman. Nothing fits me... Except pants. Being I got the inseam of a 5'2 lady.  tops are belly tops. dresses are shirts. I am excited when I find a full bib or jerseys that fit.

now My sit bone measurements are 130-140mm... and the saddle is 145 wide... I think its more the issue.  Being thats where I am feeling pressure. 


though...I need to slam the handlebars at some point.  The higher bars were more of a getting in better shape and more comfortable with the bike before slamming them. Like training wheels. and they are more to do with handpressure. than sit pressure.

Moving the saddle back and forth to get more reach isn’t the right thing to do.
You find your saddle position and it stays there. You change your stem length to suit your reach.

The saddle could be ok, just in the wrong place.

I got a velobuild 218 aka the fauxma frame. In the largest frame I can fit leg wise with the seat slammed. So moving the seat back will just make it a touch more relaxed and I have about 15mm to play with the height... I really do have about 8-9inchs( 225 mm) of sit height on most people. with long arms too I am 6 ft height and my arms are 6'4 wing span. I make a great swimmer.  So I say this they dont make a stem long enough for me. I found a 220mm stem for my other bike.    They just dont make bike frames for people like me. without not being totally custom.  any ways moving the seat back is just going to relax the position geometry.  moving it 25mm isnt going to do much. I moved it to the middle just to make sure I am sitting on it appropriately.

I have a width of like 130 to 140  I need to try a few times.