Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Just bought a single speed, and my ass hurts...

I am a woman, about 5'7 and 140, I just need some help picking out something that will keep my ass from hurting. Any cushioned bike shorts anyone recommends? Maybe something to wear under my clothes when I ride? I wear tight jeans for the most part, haven't bought any sweet cycling gear yet. Maybe I will have to....

Pics?

Congratulations on the new bike! You might be better off asking this in the women's forum, as women and men typically have a little different needs when it comes to comfort in the saddle. That said, my boss loves her Pearl Izumi Ultrasensor shorts. What is your saddle like? Most stock saddles are designed for the thinner hips that men have. There are wider, women's specific saddles that accommodate wider hips.

Good luck!

If you haven't been riding regularly for a while your butt will have to go through a "break-in" period for any bike you get. It usually takes about a week or so. After that then look into getting a women's specific saddle. Go to your local bike shop and ask what they have in stock and they will help.

Pics?


Of my bike? It's a 2009 schwinn madison

ok, I will just grin and bear it and take a lot of Aleve

Of my bike? It's a 2009 schwinn madison

ummmm...of the "I wear tight jeans for the most part" part.



Just kidding.

What kind of hurt? Abrasion? Muscular soreness? Does it feel like it's the sit bones?

Since you are local, I have an old Terry saddle sitting in my parts bin that you can have.

Since you are local, I have an old Terry saddle sitting in my parts bin that you can have.


do you live in midtown??

expect to go through some pain as your butt gets used to rides that last more than ten minutes, but if you're in agony something's amiss.

it shouldn't hurt the second you get on the saddle for the first time in the day.

who fit the bike to you? a performance bike employee?

is it the saddle that comes on the madison?

are there areas of pressure that are worse than others, is it not a general butt pain?

if the answers to the above questions are yes, i'd suggest getting the bike refit by someone who knows how to fit a bike. if that doesn't solve it, consider a woman's specific saddle or just another saddle that fits your anatomy better.

a good saddle takes a week of solid riding to even begin to break in, leather or plastic. that said, you want a saddle that will support you, not squish up against you and put pressure back onto your tenderparts. some of the most comfortable saddles after an hour of riding are the hardest feeling ones... you want it to fit you, not absorb and push against your hard parts so the soft parts have less pressure.

but yes, it will take *some* getting used to.



DEFINITELY take up the terry saddle offer, if only to 'test ride' it for a week and give it back if it's not helping your problem. with saddles you really have to try it to know anything.

Land Park but I work downtown. Its all close.

What kind of hurt? Abrasion? Muscular soreness? Does it feel like it's the sit bones?

i think it's just from the seat smashing up against my "area"

i have ridden to work and back a few times, if it just needs some breaking-in time then i will just wait it out, i guess if it's a problem for another week i will look for a new saddle

http://www.schwinnbike.com/SchwinnFiles/ProductImages/2000_1300_S9MAD_246_1.jpg

san marcos saddle. no idea if it's a good one or not, i just needed a faster bike for commuting and i thought the madison was nice and inexpensive-ish. i have it in black though

yeah that's a ponza and i've heard they only have one comfortable position, which won't work for everyone.

i haven't ridden one but they feel godawful just looking at their shape.

Terry saddles are nice, my wife has one on her road bike and a Brooks on her singlespeed.

Terry also sells a wide variety of women specific cycling shorts and tops. And they aren't all flowers and puppy dogs.

expect to go through some pain as your butt gets used to rides that last more than ten minutes, but if you're in agony something's amiss.

it shouldn't hurt the second you get on the saddle for the first time in the day.

who fit the bike to you? a performance bike employee?

is it the saddle that comes on the madison?

are there areas of pressure that are worse than others, is it not a general butt pain?

if the answers to the above questions are yes, i'd suggest getting the bike refit by someone who knows how to fit a bike. if that doesn't solve it, consider a woman's specific saddle or just another saddle that fits your anatomy better.

a good saddle takes a week of solid riding to even begin to break in, leather or plastic. that said, you want a saddle that will support you, not squish up against you and put pressure back onto your tenderparts. some of the most comfortable saddles after an hour of riding are the hardest feeling ones... you want it to fit you, not absorb and push against your hard parts so the soft parts have less pressure.

but yes, it will take *some* getting used to.



DEFINITELY take up the terry saddle offer, if only to 'test ride' it for a week and give it back if it's not helping your problem. with saddles you really have to try it to know anything.

Thanks, that is a lot of help. I will wait it out, I haven't really ridden single speed before, I am used to cruisers but they are too slow and bulky.

there are enough goddamn flowers and puppy dogs though.:mad:

http://www.terrybicycles.com/product_images/display/1858.gif yay flowers.

Land Park but I work downtown. Its all close.


i work downtown too, you a fellow furloughed state employee like me? wasting time on bikeforums instead of actually working? ha

i think it's just from the seat smashing up against my "area"

i have ridden to work and back a few times, if it just needs some breaking-in time then i will just wait it out, i guess if it's a problem for another week i will look for a new saddle

http://www.schwinnbike.com/SchwinnFiles/ProductImages/2000_1300_S9MAD_246_1.jpg

san marcos saddle. no idea if it's a good one or not, i just needed a faster bike for commuting and i thought the madison was nice and inexpensive-ish. i have it in black though

Give it a little time. And make sure it's relatively level (a few degrees up or down seems okay but more than half a bubble may cause you to put too much pressure on tender parts). I hated the Selle Italia Flite that came stock on my first "good" bike. Now I can't ride anything else.

Thanks, that is a lot of help. I will wait it out, I haven't really ridden single speed before, I am used to cruisers but they are too slow and bulky.

it's more the change in riding position, a cruiser puts you upright for comfort and a madison and road bikes/track bikes have you in much more of a tuck out over the bars for aerodynamics and to keep your muscles aligned for powerful strokes.

i just wanted to echo the 'tuff up and wait it out' advice without being ridiculous- if you're in serious pain or pain that continues or worsens do NOT continue because you can really seriously hurt your precious booty.


Give it a little time. And make sure it's relatively level (a few degrees up or down seems okay but more than half a bubble may cause you to put too much pressure on tender parts). I hated the Selle Italia Flite that came stock on my first "good" bike. Now I can't ride anything else.
how could you!

i love the flite, best saddle i've ridden aside from the aspide, if only the aspide fit me. maybe that's because i came from much harder saddles. the first hard saddle i rode fit me pretty good. it was an "ouch, that's annoying" feeling rather than a "oh god my ass is killing me" kind of feeling.

in fact, mandie, get back to me if you are still having problems in a week.

there are enough goddamn flowers and puppy dogs though.:mad:

http://www.terrybicycles.com/product_images/display/1858.gif yay flowers.


haha, sorry, but those are FUGLY

okay thanks for all the advice everyone, I will check into it. The place I bought my bike forum keeps hiring new people who pretty much come across as being a few bolts short of a toolbox so I will probably take it somewhere where people know what they are talking about.

The guy I bought my bike from swore it didn't come in an extra small until I told him that I SAW IT ON THE WEBSITE. haha.

And I am game to borrow that terry seat

haha, sorry, but those are FUGLY


Must be part of the "retired in Florida" lineup.

Two of those letters are wrong;)

check out bonktown.com they a single item for a short period of time at a steap discount then move on to the next item. It always seems to be womens clothes so yo could easily get some cheap shorts to wear

i work downtown too, you a fellow furloughed state employee like me? wasting time on bikeforums instead of actually working? ha

Not State but City, but still wasting public dollars on the web. :) I'll grab it tonight and bring it to work tomorrow.

Drop me an email at chris"at"sacbikekitchen.org.

Not State but City, but still wasting public dollars on the web. :) I'll grab it tonight and bring it to work tomorrow.

Drop me an email at chris"at"sacbikekitchen.org.

Done

single speed + run a red light +

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/75/183625130_0668088f49.jpg?v=0

= ass hurts

I am surprised no one offered a lady a butt pad, cover that goes over the seat? :)

I am surprised no one offered a lady a butt pad, cover that goes over the seat? :)

I saw some bike shorts on REI's clearance section of their website, but the "crotchal" region looked a little funny I don't want people thinking I am packing heat if you know what I mean.

I heard regular massages of the affected area can help.

Oh and the 'crotchal region' will always look like you're 'packing heat'...

Keep in mind that jeans are NOT ideal for bike riding since the stitches are right in the " area".

Congratulations on your new bike.

I am a woman, about 5'7 and 140, I just need some help picking out something that will keep my ass from hurting. Any cushioned bike shorts anyone recommends? Maybe something to wear under my clothes when I ride? I wear tight jeans for the most part, haven't bought any sweet cycling gear yet. Maybe I will have to.... you sure it was a bike that caused this?

Try adjusting your seat position so that the majority of your weight is applied to the back (wider) portion of your seat. You can accomplish this by moving the seat forward or by tilting your seat forward a bit (or a combination of the two). A professional fitting might be useful.

Of my bike? It's a 2009 schwinn madison

no...of the hurt ass

^^lol

Brooks has a b17 women's saddle which might fit your bone structure more accurately.

There are cheaper than most b17's also.

Here's a link:
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=10674&src=froogleUS&currency=USD

+1 on the Terry butterfly saddle. My wife loves hers.

+1 on the Terry Butterfly saddle. My wife loves hers.

this thread is useless without pics :crash:

Your nether region hurts and I assume its not your butt.
Your comfort bike was comfy, the madison is far from.
You wear tight jeans and I assume you always did.

Lets review,
a) Comfort bikes have wider, mushier comfort saddles. Good for short runs, bad for long(er) rides.
The sit bone and flesh sink into the comfy saddle and that becomes VERY uncomfortable
b) You bought the Madison and your nether region is screaming and I am guessing the mileage is under 5 miles each way.(just a guess)
c) the Madison was bought at a Bike shop.

Did you get fitted at all at the bike shop?
Did you go back and ask for help? Almost all saddles can be adjusted a bit and your positoning makes a
difference, plus saddle position and angle.
Hmm, I'm no Groinacologist, but maybe the jean seam is digging into your nether stuff.

start at the shop
Fix or replace saddle
Try women specific cycle shorts, tights etc.
Worse case, try loose fitting pants, sweat, wind pants.

Goood luck

Robert

I still vote for the massages. :thumb:

I saw some bike shorts on REI's clearance section of their website, but the "crotchal" region looked a little funny I don't want people thinking I am packing heat if you know what I mean.

Yea I dont see myself wearing biker shorts either, they do look funny in the crotch area.
If i do end up buying them I'd have to wear some adidas or nike shorts over them, sorry guys and gals I am new to biking myself :D

Try adjusting your seat position so that the majority of your weight is applied to the back (wider) portion of your seat. You can accomplish this by moving the seat forward or by tilting your seat forward a bit (or a combination of the two). A professional fitting might be useful.
Exactly. If you're area hurts, you might be up on the nose or the saddle's not wide enough to support your sit bones. In that case, get a wider saddle. If it's your sit bones that are sore, your butt needs to get used to the saddle. Women's padded shorts will help a bit, but can also bunch up and put pressure on your soft tissue if you have the wrong saddle.

When I was trying out single-speeders I test rode the Madison. My hinder was sore after 15 minutes on that San Marco saddle. And I had a pre-toughened hinder. My LBS also said, the saddle on this bike isn't a plus. Changing the saddle won't necessarily cure all butt problems but I wouldn't be surprised if almost any decent saddle is better than that torturemonger.

Brooks has a b17 women's saddle which might fit your bone structure more accurately.

There are cheaper than most b17's also.

Here's a link:
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=10674&src=froogleUS&currency=USD
That's a great price for a Women's B17, I just ordered one for my wife's 08 Madison for $74 (as well as a regular B17 for me at the same price) and I thought I was getting a decent deal =/ But if it's coming from the UK I'd imagine the savings would be lost in the shipping and customs charges to the US. But yeah, my wife wasn't feeling the stock Maddy saddle too so we're giving the Brooks a try. Hopefully the shorter, slightly wider form factor will help her out.

I am a woman, about 5'7 and 140

nudes or yr lying

also, my gf swears by the selle san marco glamour aspide saddle. she's done 50+ mile rides (fixed) on it with a smile, many without so much as a chamois. she's 5'6" and ≤130.
i ride a selle rever k and have done big rides with no discomfort as well (not that this helps).

but seriously, nudes.

nudes or yr lying


this thread is useless without pics :crash:


you sure it was a bike that caused this?


I heard regular massages of the affected area can help.

This place sucks the clever out of the internet.

i wasn't trying to be clever.