General Cycling Discussion - A sight for sore...um...donkeys, yeah...

Well, I've been a cyclist for a whopping week and I already want to get rid of my car :D -- I'm glad that I'll be moving close enough to work to commute (on the bike, of course) in the future, as it doesn't really rain that much in Sacramento, and there is some nice biking to be found in Davis.

Only question I have, is how long will it take for my *** to get used to things (I never thought I'd say that unless I landed in jail...)? Most of me feels great, but there's that nice little spot right at the base of the spine that gets exorbitantly pissed whenever I put pressure on it, which just happens to coincide with whenever I sit down.

Is this a common new-cyclist problem?

Everybody gets a sore bum :) If you are riding everyday, you may want to give it a rest. I've only been riding a couple of times a week and my back side has adjusted nicely in a very short period of time. Selle Italia seats are not cushy, but now that I'm used to it, I'll be buying another one for my MTB.

Take a day or two off or you may make yourself miserable...

What type of saddle do you have?
If it is too soft get a new saddle that is somewhat firm but gives a little.

First, you will buy the latest fancy-schmancy gel saddle, and find your @$$ is still sore.
Then you'll buy an even more expen$ive saddle, still have a sore @$$, and finally you will buy a Brooks saddle.

That's usually the progression of things.

Like D*Alex, I am a Brooks fan. But give yourself a little time. When you start riding for the first time in years it just takes a very few days for your rear to get used to riding even on a very soft saddle. If, after a week or two, you are still gettting sore every ride, start looking at new saddles. Counterintuitively, a firm saddle is more comfortable than a very padded one. Brooks saddles are nothing but a shell of very hard leather. You can knock on them, and they sound like knocking on wood. The secret is that as you ride on them, they shape themselves to your shape and become extremely comfortable.

See you you feel in a week or so.
Regards,
Raymond

Originally posted by D*Alex
First, you will buy the latest fancy-schmancy gel saddle, and find your @$$ is still sore.
Then you'll buy an even more expen$ive saddle, still have a sore @$$, and finally you will buy a Brooks saddle.
Can't stand 'em personally, but I know that saddles are a pretty personal thing. I'm a big fan of the Selle Italia Trans Am. Most comfortable saddle I've ever owned. But that's MY BUTT... YMMV.

BTW, everyone gets sorebut at the beginning of the season. It goes away.

I usually pedal out of the saddle for a few seconds every few miles or so. It just gives my backside some temporary relief which can work wonders.

"Sit bones."

Get some Chamois shorts, yes- like the racers wear, and wear them NEXT TO YOUR SKIN.
I am serious, this is the best thing you can do for comfort. Stay away from obvious cloth types, they're only good for shorter mileage. You can't get shorts lined with real natural chamois anymore, but very good synthetics are available. They're very far from cheap, but they ARE WORTH IT.
Ride Comfy
Pat

I've had a Selle Italia saddle for ages now & its great for me.
I've heard of cyclists weeping when their Brooks saddle breaks or if their bike gets stolen because it takes weeks of a$$-busting discomfort to "break-in" a Brooks, but once done, apparantly, they're the best.

As previously mentioned padded cycle shorts do make a great difference, especially on longer rides.

And also as previously mentioned, time will harden your butt.

So - time, shorts, saddle = pain-free rear

Stew

Originally posted by RainmanP
Like D*Alex, I am a Brooks fan. Brooks saddles are nothing but a shell of very hard leather. You can knock on them, and they sound like knocking on wood. The secret is that as you ride on them, they shape themselves to your shape and become extremely comfortable.

Raymond - this is not true. What really happens is your butt changes shape until it conforms to the shape of the Brooks saddle.

This is why Brooks users are adamant about the merits of the saddle and will brook (pun intended arr! arr! :p ) no argument and are keen Brooks evangalists. They are terrified that they have endured weeks of pain and discomfort for no reason.

Folks! Next time you see a bike with a Brooks saddle - take it off and hide it. Watch the bike owner break down and weep at the thought of having to go thru all that pain AGAIN until his butt takes on the shape of his new Brooks!

(the truth is I'd love to put a Brooks on my bike - but I'm too scared)

Stew

Actually, if you have a new saddle, treat it with proofhide (using gentle heat, like from a hairdryer set on low), and do this 3 or 4 times before mounting it on your bike, it will be quite comfortable. an old, used, dried-out saddle (like my 35 year old B72, off a long-dead Rugde) will require more drastic measures. I used Lexol on the underside, and let it soak in. When even that didn't soften it enuf, i got some Neatsfoot Oil, and treated the underside, letting it soak in around the metal bits, and keeping the saddle upside-down while doing this. Now, this old saddle which the previous owner gave up on, and sold for $20, is very comfortable.
Oh, BTW, I also own a B17 narrow, a B66, and a Team Professional. All have different surfaces, and all are comfortable (although the B17 narrow is much too skinny for long rides).
Bash them all you want, but us Brooks owners know that you are secretly envious of us. I'm not even considering anything other than a Brooks Team Pro on my next bike.

Hi All,
I have a Brooks B17 and its the most comfortable saddle I have owned. The problem is I always get a sore spot behind my you know whats but right in front of my you know what. I usually dont really feel the sore spot until I hit the hot shower after my ride. I have fiddled with saddle position etc. I finallly gave up and got a stella saddle and never have a sore spot problem but the sella is not nearly as comfortable on long rides as the Brooks. I am thinking of trying a team pro as its more narrow but waiting awhile as I am spending so much on saddles. I cant figure out why I am getting a sore spot in that area as my saddle height is correct . I am not moving side to side as I ride. I use a good riding shorts and always treat the chamois with butt-r ( a cream to soften the liner).
Any suggestions ???

Ride Safe....Dudley

Brooks are great saddles, i've had 3 or 4 over the years. Its also important to get out of the seat and pedel for a few seconds every so often.

Brooks are abit wider than most other racing saddles, so it will probably fit your 'sit bones' better.

cheers!

Stew, my man, I have to take issue with you on a couple of points. I own 3 Brooks saddles, one good old standard B17, and two Team Pros one of them the "Pre-Softened" variety (ordered by the bike shop without my specifying and accepted by me because at the time I did not know the difference). I found all of them reasonably comfortable from the first ride. That is not to say there was not a bit of very minor discomfort on the very first ride or two with each, but I think that happens with any saddle since it is a new shape affecting different areas. Nor am I suggesting that others may experience more discomfort with a new Brooks saddle; I just did not.

The leather does actually shape itself to you. Mine have distinct dimples where my "sit bones" are. These dimples began to show up within a few rides even on the extra firm non pre softened Team Pro. My bike shop buddy has a collection of old Brooks saddles. All show exhibit shaping to the rider. Some are distinctly curved to one side or the other because of the particular riders pedalling style.

I actually hesitate to recommend Brooks saddles to anyone out of the blue, but I will tout them if someone asks. They are something of an acquired taste and not inexpensive. I think it is something one must come to on one's own after hearing and reading about them. I actually did not buy my first Brooks because I thought it would be absolutely the most comfortable saddle I could buy. I bought it because I am something of a traditionalist at heart and liked classic look and the simplicity of a saddle that was nothing more than a piece of shaped leather.
Regards,
Raymond

Brooks Saddles, I'm thoroughly intrigued. I'm going to check them out. I was wondering tho' with all this talk of the saddle conforming to the shape of your behind do you guys wear a padded pant/short with the Brooks saddle?

I always get a sore spot behind my you know whats but right in front of my you know what.

Sounds like the saddle needs to be tensioned. Do you have a Brooks tension wrench? A 13mm wrench will work, but the Brooks wrench is much easier to use.
Most of the people that have this problem are riding around with the leather way too slack. You absolutely must increase the tension twice a year.
Oh, well, it keeps the price of used saddles real low!

Originally posted by Bikinguy
...spot behind my you know whats but right in front of my you know what.

So we all can know and use the proper biking vernacular.

The spot you speak of is your 'taint', taint this or taint that.

;-)

D*Alex'
Yep I ordered the spanner wrench and proofhide with the saddle.
I have tensioned the saddle quite alot judging from what others have stated about theirs. I have a B17 champion which has that camfered (sp?) edge along the top sides and I think that also causes me some rubbing. I usually like to ride in the drops on on the brake hoods and this saddle width seems more fitting for an up right position. I think the Brooks pro might be a better fit for me but just hate to shell out the 150 bucks right now. The Stella is a good saddle but just not the ride all day feel of the brooks.

HardBall...yeah buddy I know that term well. *S*

You all ride safe....Dudley

I've only been cycling for a couple of weeks so I'm no expert but I've found shifting my backside further back in the saddle for a while helps. Try sitting so that half your butt sticks out behind the back of the saddle for short periods.

Richard

Originally posted by Bikinguy
Hi All,
The problem is I always get a sore spot behind my you know whats but right in front of my you know what
Sounds like perineal pressure to me. [I'm no a urologist, but I play one on TV.] After rides, do you have trouble with your you know what when you're trying to you know?

You could try angling the nose down a degree or two.

As you're a new cyclist, I'd advise dipping your toe in the saddle waters before jumping in with both feet.
It's reasonable to try a decent comfort-oriented saddle first, many of which are used happily by thousands of regular cyclists. I'm not talking about those silly floppy gel covers that people put on their cruisers for a ride around the development, but a saddle that was designed for comfort, not just performance, on medium to long rides.
I'm a 3,000 mile-a-year roadie (probably about average), and I used the Serfas RX saddle all last year. It's cushioned in the right places, has a cutout, and is REASONABLY PRICED (I think it's around $40). I only replaced it (with a Koobi Tri) because I was getting serious about losing some bike weight. Now my wife, who only started riding this summer, uses it.
If you can't be happy with something like the Serfas RX, try to figure out why. Does your body need more support in a particular area? Is there somewhere that needs more padding? Is it too short? Too long?
Then, when you understand what needs to be changed, you can decide if a Brooks or other seat will solve your problems. Just don't go spending a fortune on a saddle and expecting it to be your last one, until you've put in a couple thousand miles and understand what your needs are.

velocipedio,

No I never have or had that problem. Wish the hell I did have that problem as it would have saved me a small fortune over my lifetime. *LOLOL*


D*Alex..will give your suggestion a try. Have tried that before but felt too much weight on hands so I over did it I am sure.



MikeC ..Thanks for you comments. I have used about 4 saddles in the last 2 years. Like you said I started with a too much padding variety and went to a much harder saddle. Using a Stella Flite now and have put around 800 miles on it and its ok. But still looking for that all day saddle.

Ride safe and if I see ya on the road you will get hammered!
Man I am so full of myself today!! *LOL*

Well, my butt seems to be more accomidating at the moment, and I'm going to tweak my seat height and handlebar position (get the handlebars about 4" below the seat, and move the seat down slightly so it's that magic 107-109% of my inseam).

Thanks for the tips!