Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Achieving bike comfort

Here is an article I came across today discussing bike comfort, as in eliminating/reducing seat discomfort. I tend to agree with much of the article. Some aspects of the article I don't have any experience, but it is informational and gives one some ideas to ponder.

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/features/saddlecomfort.shtml

From the article:
Numb genitals, burning pain in your crotch, bruised buttocks, saddle sores and raw, inflamed skin are some of the common problems cyclists have with their saddles. The problems often get so bad they keep you off the bike- especially for new cyclists. Add to these very real problems a storm of sensation surrounding frightening claims of erectile dysfunction and impotence. No single issue attracts the amount of concern that saddle (dis)comfort does, and no topic seems more immersed in cycling lore and marketing misinformation.

Someone remind me again why recumbent riders, who suffer none of these ills, are considered weird?:lol:

they actually make shorts that expensive

From the article:
Someone remind me again why recumbent riders, who suffer none of these ills, are considered weird?:lol:


Asides from some minor discomfort I have never expirienced any of these woes on a traditional bike even with the stock saddle.

Bent riders are weird because...well...you look too darn happy :D

http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Baboon_buttocks.jpg/200px-Baboon_buttocks.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Baboon_buttocks.jpg)

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/features/saddlecomfort-06/12saddlecomfort.jpg

FTA: Every cyclist experiences some degree of saddle discomfort. It is an inescapable feature of the sport. Truth be told, the bicycle seat as we know is a bit of a bad idea: It puts weight on parts of the body never intended by nature to support weight.

I quit reading after that load of horsepucky.

I enjoyed the article.... makes ver good sense to me. Thanks.

From the article:
Numb genitals, burning pain in your crotch, bruised buttocks, saddle sores and raw, inflamed skin
Someone remind me again why recumbent riders, who suffer none of these ills, are considered weird?:lol:

I hate to say this as a recumbent rider but I personally don't recall ever having a problem on my upright with any of this even on long rides.
Now on my recumbent on two 200k+ rides and also after a long week of commuting in 105+ I have experienced the highlighted issues in one form or another. Chamois Butter for looong rides, lots of hours in the seat and switching to an underarmor heatgear baselayer seems to have solved them so far but problems are still possible on the recline.

Now joint pain yeah that problem the recumbent solved for me.

I use big wide fat gel seats and love them . Can't stand those hard a @#$%^& leather Brooks saddles they really hurt my butt .My saddle may not look cool butit feels great after a ton a miles on them :)

HI,
Maybe the should move the offending items to the ear lobes that way you will not have any of that numbing pain..
Better than ear rings????:eek:
Doug

What a load of crap. You sit on the same parts of your butt on a bike as you do anywhere else. If not, you're not doing it right.

I do have those problems from time to time, although I've been spared the Job-like fate of having them all at once. The problem in my case is not the saddle itself, but the fact I don't sit properly on the saddle - between the leg-length discrepancy and the scoliosis my pelvis looks left instead of forward.

That said, it seems to me the article is wrong to attribute such problems to saddles themselves. The problem in many cases is one of bike fitting.

I use big wide fat gel seats and love them . Can't stand those hard a @#$%^& leather Brooks saddles they really hurt my butt .My saddle may not look cool butit feels great after a ton a miles on them :)




In time the Brooks will form and shape to your arse, providing you with an ideal support structure. Thats the way it is with most people. The big wide fat gel seats have no support structure and will actually work against you on long rides.

There's a reason behind all this hoopla and cult following with the Brooks line. Its not all BS and advertising hype.

...
That said, it seems to me the article is wrong to attribute such problems to saddles themselves. The problem in many cases is one of bike fitting.

?????
From the article:
"Be certain your bike fits you correctly and your posture is good.

Bad bike fit and posture are two of the reasons cyclists think they need a new saddle. The truth is, most cyclists would be better served to use the money on a good bike fitting and high quality shorts than a special saddle."