General Cycling Discussion - Odd bike seat issue...

In the past 3 years I've had 4 bikes and 6 different seats. Every seat I have ever tried has been initially comfortable, and that lasts for about 2 to 3 weeks, then the pain is unbearable. Looking at the threads about seats here, it seems like I am completely opposite from everyone else, uncomfortable during a breaking in period and then your fine. I bring this up now because I just hit 3 weeks on my road bike's stock seat and recently bought my mountain bike it's 3rd seat in 13 months. I don't want to be constantly buying seats. I brought this up with my LBS, the owner suggested a gel seat cover, one of the mechs in the back with whom I race with dropped about 8 things as he literally fell over laughing at the idea of me showing up to a race with my $1250+ hardtail mountain bike with a gel seat cover. It's not really in my budget to get an $80-$100 seat, (and I fear that it will bring the same outcome) but neither is buying $40 seats every couple of weeks. Any suggestions?

-Middi-zon

Wait a month and put your seat money in a jar.....then buy a $80 saddle! ;)

Have you tried to quantify/identify exactly which attributes of those saddles gave you problems? Doing so would allow you to make a good guess at a saddle design that might be more to your liking. I tend to think that most saddle discomforts cannot be solved with more padding but maybe a better shape and possibly padding in the right places. So I would guess you'd want to find out what that shape is and what those areas are that you need to address.

Think about the contours of the saddle, and where you want your weight to be supported, which should be on your 2 sit bones, not the squishy bits in between.
You may also want to analyse your whole riding position. Saddle problems can be a result of riding in a deep aerodynamic position when you are not riding hard on the pedals.

Swap it for the last one - itseems you just need change.

Joe

Originally posted by Middi-zon
In the past 3 years I've had 4 bikes and 6 different seats. Every seat I have ever tried has been initially comfortable, and that lasts for about 2 to 3 weeks, then the pain is unbearable. Looking at the threads about seats here, it seems like I am completely opposite from everyone else, uncomfortable during a breaking in period and then your fine. I bring this up now because I just hit 3 weeks on my road bike's stock seat and recently bought my mountain bike it's 3rd seat in 13 months. I don't want to be constantly buying seats. I brought this up with my LBS, the owner suggested a gel seat cover, one of the mechs in the back with whom I race with dropped about 8 things as he literally fell over laughing at the idea of me showing up to a race with my $1250+ hardtail mountain bike with a gel seat cover. It's not really in my budget to get an $80-$100 seat, (and I fear that it will bring the same outcome) but neither is buying $40 seats every couple of weeks. Any suggestions?

-Middi-zon
I am on my 3rd seat that didnt work out.Of course i check the return policy before i buy and keep track of shape,measurements and cutouts.I now know at least i need on thats 148mm across the back and a full cutout.

How much to you ride a week? and how long(miles) do you ride a saddle before it gets uncomfortable?

have you considered a BROOKS?

Here's some answers to your questions.

Concerning price, I have $100 that I will be able to spend for a seat, but I'm leaving for college in 5 weeks and a $100 seat is equal to about 9 pizzas, that is a hard decision to make.

On my other seats, anything with a hole or a channel was more painful than the others, right now my new seat on my mt bike is a Selle San Marco Race Gel, it's a medium sized firm saddle with a gel insert, this seems to be very comfortable, but so many were when I first had them.

On my time riding, I'm out on a bike 4 times a week at the least, on my mountain bike trips are about 15-20 miles and 25-40 miles on the road bike.

On BROOKS, I've heard great things about these saddles but the have never really appealed to me, they just don't look very cool in comparision to some. I think most teenagers would agree that they would rather have this

http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/medium/SI-FTG.gif

than this

http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/medium/BK-SWFT.gif

Thank you for the replies

-Middi-zon

Originally posted by 1oldRoadie
How much to you ride a week? and how long(miles) do you ride a saddle before it gets uncomfortable?

have you considered a BROOKS?
15-20 miles 3 days and 25-30 on weekends.I know after a ride.If i am numb,its not working.I know about tilting the nose a tad and i even use a level on the seats.serfas rx is what i have now and it works but its a little to soft after about 15 miles.

Iv had my brooks for 23yrs. my wife has had her female model for 20yrs . we have got through road bikes to mountain bikes. on each our brooks have gone. iv tried some of the new seats, you got to be kidding..no way i subject myself to that kind of pain....when i get a new bike my brooks will be setting on top of it. seat pain is not one of my probles and i dont intend to start .
ill stay with brooks

Originally posted by Middi-zon
....On BROOKS, I've heard great things about these saddles but the have never really appealed to me, they just don't look very cool in comparision to some. I think most teenagers would agree that they would rather have this...........than this

Then why are you complaining about your saddle hurting and asking for opinions?

Just say that you had rather be COOL than comfortable!:rolleyes:

Did you make sure that the saddle was flat or tilted down slightly? If not, this could be causing some of your problems. Make sure the bike is sitting on its wheels on the ground when playing around with the tilt of the seat.

-Moab

.......you got $100 to spend on a saddle but it's more important that it looks cool, than it solves your comfort problem?

-ever considered giving that money to charity? Maybe that'll impress the mech at the LBS?

Take advice from someone who knows what they're talking about before parting with any more cash.

Flanner I think you have misunderstood me. In the original post I said that an $80-$100 seat is a little out of my budget, BikerDawg suggested I save for a month. I addressed that with the statement saying that I have $100 that could go to the seat, but in college terms (where I will be in 5 weeks) $100 is about 9 pizzas, and I would rather have the pizza, implying that savings is not my problem, it's the other things that I could use the money for that would bring me more satisfaction. Also I'm going to a $30 grand a year school, so I consider myself a charity, not a Noble one by any means, just a kid who needs money (Thank you Army ROTC).

Roadie, I appreciate your opinions and have looked long and hard at this option, but I can't picture it on my bike, I'm very sorry.

-Middi-zon

Middi,

Personally, I think comfort is way more important
than cool. but to each his own.
I also don't find cut out saddles to be comfortable.
couple of questions:
what about the seat becomes uncomfortable? is the
padding breaking down? is the position changing and
you think its the saddle ?
Does your LBS have a used saddle bin? mine does
(alot of take off saddles from bikes etc.) try them.
what types of saddles did you try (other than cut out)
maybe if we knew we could help recommend something
different.

Marty

OK, the descriptions on my seats:

Stock seat on my old Fuji Nevada - Had lots of gel, nose was too wide.

Stock seat on my Giant Warp DS3 - Made by WTB, looked like the comfort V Comp, had a channel.

Stock seat on my Giant Rainier - made by WTB, had a small oval hole.

2nd seat on my Giant Rainier - Selle San Marco ODS, too firm.

3rd seat on my Giant Rainier - Selle San Marco ODS Race Gel, comfortable at the moment.

Stock seat on my Giant OCR 3 - Similar to the stock on the Rainier but with more padding.

Description of pain - no numbness, just generally sore and tender down there, no pain off bike.

Hope this helps

-Middi-zon

ZON; I DO understand where you are coming from ...if I were not a "retro" geek in bike and body, I would have the same concerns.

BUT!

check out the "swallow" at www.wallbike.com. I know its pricey, but Bill does give a 100% moneyback warrenty if you don't like it.

Terry

Don't change your saddle... change your bike :)

This is comfortable...

http://www.eomtbc.orcon.net.nz/pix.ht1.jpg

Much better than the weapons of @$$ destruction on my other bikes.

Middi-zon are you wearing chamois padded shorts, if not that could solve the problem.

Hope you find a solution, Portent.

Middi.....

I think you just demonstrated a capacity to spend well over $100 in your quest for posterioral relief;) Solution to your problem lies in careful analysis of the problem and a systematic search for the solution- skills you'll be using all the time at College. My worry is that superficial concerns will hinder your pursuit of what works- style over substance, in other words.

A few ideas:

do you have narrowly or widely spaced "sit bones" (they are what you think they are- the protruding bits that rest on the back of your saddle)? Different manufacturers make different widths of saddle.

Does the length of your top tube/stem combination and/or a vigorous riding style have you perching on the nose of your saddles?

Is the painful area always the same and where, specifically(you mentioned the nose, in relation to one rejected seat)?

Do you have access to other saddles to try (partly covered by an earlier poster)?

Do you find different top covers, e.g., lycra, leather, plastic- makes a difference?

Is clothing an issue?

Is the pain different, depending on weight distribution, i.e., when you're hammering or cruising, riding on or off-road, -or dependent on road/trail conditions?

The reason I am asking such wide questions is that the problem can be located in any of these areas, singly or in combination. Also the MTB solution might not work on your road bike........

Sorry I mis-read your post but I don't think I misinterpreted your basic problem, which is adding a superfluous variable-what other people think looks cool/what you think looks cool -into an already tricky equation. The seat which you can ride with comfort may not look as acceptable as the the ones you already tried and found wanting.

-and I like eating pizza as much as the next guy:)

No kind'n.Screw looks.I'll use a womens seat if it works.Your on the dam thing anyway,u cant see it.

Originally posted by shokhead
No kind'n.Screw looks.I'll use a womens seat if it works.Your on the dam thing anyway,u cant see it.

I found it hard to mount the pink bannana seat off an old Schwinn girl's bike on my modern seatpost. :D

I'll draw the line with pink.LOL

Any saddle with the maker's name on the back of the saddle, like a brooks, has to be cool, because the other riders only know the brand when you go by them.

Well... if you think you can qualify... then you need to get the Real MAN Saddle (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/real-man.html). :D

Sounds like you are spending to much time in the saddle. No, you aren't riding to much, you are probably just spending to much time seated. Stand up more, it works different muscles and gives the boys time to breath.

The only time I've ever felt numbness is logging 70+ mile days touring on a fixed gear over virtually flat terrain. Not very condusive to standing and constant vibration from the unpaved gravel surface.

Originally posted by NuTz4BiKeZ
Don't change your saddle... change your bike :)

This is comfortable...

http://www.eomtbc.orcon.net.nz/pix.ht1.jpg

Much better than the weapons of @$$ destruction on my other bikes.

heh heh..not that IS uncool! ;)

[double post eliminated, I hope]

one time, i got a BMX bike from a friendon trade and we had taped the seat together then bolted it on. it took me a long time for my butt to get used to it :-/

Anybody who thinks a Selle Italia Genuine Gel Titanium rail Flite Saddle looks better than a Brooks Team Pro doesn't know their saddle from a sawhorse and deserves to ride the latter.(IMHO)

Ok, I can get that not everyone likes the
look of a Brooks Saddle.
This is the San Marco Regal (no embroidery) which
is an Italian Version of the Brooks.
None other than Richard Sachs says it is more
comfortable than a Brooks Team Pro or B17.
I'm actually curious about it, and if I didn't already have
6 extra saddles I might buy one (as a spare for my "other" bike)

Marty

Who?So it is for whoever that is.It might not be for the other 10000000000000000000000 of us.One persons treasure is another persons trash.

Originally posted by shokhead
Who?So it is for whoever that is...

Richard Sachs, probably the pre-eminenet US framebuilder.
And also a traditionalist (he builds lugged steel frames, what
TimB would call Pimpy :D )

If you want more info on him check out
Richard Sachs Cycles (http://www.richardsachs.com/)

Marty

Originally posted by lotek


If you want more info on him check out
Richard Sachs Cycles (http://www.richardsachs.com/)

Marty

The lastest issue of the Rivendell Reader (http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/html/reader.html) had an extensive interivew with him. Well worth the subscription, well worth the read.