General Cycling Discussion - Another Sore Butt/Saddle Position Question

Hey! This is a request for advice about saddle position.

After riding for about 6 weeks or so, I finally got some saddle sore last weekend after about a 55 mile ride. OK, first let me admit that I had been wearing underwear until now, and I wasn't using padded shorts. And yes, the saddle sore does seem to match up to just wear edge of the whitey-tighties would be - that is, just where the bottom of the butt meets the top of the thigh.

But I think the more direct reason for the soreness is due to a new pedalling techinqu I tried. When going uphill, I was sliding back off the saddle a bit while angling the bottom of my hips forward a bit so that I was pedalling like a bent, kind of. SO that put the affected area of my bum right on the back edge of the saddle.

This pedalling seemed to have made climbs easier (could just be a kind of placebo effect, though, hmm). But do you think it would be easier on my butt to tilt the saddle upwards just a bit?

BTW, if it makes any difference I'm riding a mountain bike.

Hey! This is a request for advice about saddle position.

After riding for about 6 weeks or so, I finally got some saddle sore last weekend after about a 55 mile ride. OK, first let me admit that I had been wearing underwear until now, and I wasn't using padded shorts. And yes, the saddle sore does seem to match up to just wear edge of the whitey-tighties would be - that is, just where the bottom of the butt meets the top of the thigh.

But I think the more direct reason for the soreness is due to a new pedalling techinqu I tried. When going uphill, I was sliding back off the saddle a bit while angling the bottom of my hips forward a bit so that I was pedalling like a bent, kind of. SO that put the affected area of my bum right on the back edge of the saddle.

This pedalling seemed to have made climbs easier (could just be a kind of placebo effect, though, hmm). But do you think it would be easier on my butt to tilt the saddle upwards just a bit?

BTW, if it makes any difference I'm riding a mountain bike.


I suggest that you let the saddle sore heal then try the new riding technique and see if the sore repeats. Won't be able to really tell till then and I think that if it looks like a "tighty-whitey saddle sore" and quacks like a "tighty-whitey saddle sore", then it is a "tighty-whitey saddle sore".

You might have something else going on, but who can tell, since you are committing the heinous crime of wearing underwear with bike shorts! This issue must be resolved before any further action can be considered! :)

Well, after getting the sore, I've been riding without underwear.

you're also supposed to rub your butt with ass butter i hear... i don't know how anyone could do that.. but you may like it.

i thought your SO was supposed to do the rubbing ...

I suggest that you let the saddle sore heal then try the new riding technique and see if the sore repeats. Won't be able to really tell till then and I think that if it looks like a "tighty-whitey saddle sore" and quacks like a "tighty-whitey saddle sore", then it is a "tighty-whitey saddle sore".



LMAO!!!

You oughta be a doctor.

Sorry, I have no suggestions Diggy, I'm pretty new to the specifics of riding also. I did, however, tilt my seat "nose up" a bit more, which helps me feel like I'm not gonna slip off the saddle front ways. I think it's made riding a bit easier.

OK, first let me admit that I had been wearing underwear until now, and I wasn't using padded shorts.

Well, after getting the sore, I've been riding without underwear.
You don't need chamis cream unless you really feel you need it but I would suggest wearing padded cycling shorts. ;)


I'll let the Underwear Nazi tell you about the evils of wearing underwear with cycling shorts.

Me -- I never wear underwear -- under anything. :o

I recently was on a 7 day ride across Iowa--RAGBRAI. Butt maintenance was a critical issue, because after riding 70 miles one day, you had to get up a do it again the next. Cycling shorts were a must, but saddle soreness in the exact location you describe was just reality. Minimizing it was the key. I used diaper rash ointment on that location each evening before sleeping and it seemed to keep it at a tolerable level. I will tell you that the folks that used chamis cream seemed to have no complaints. I've yet to try it. BTW--they apply it directly to the chamis not their butt, although it gets transferred to the butt once you put the shorts on. It a bit more dignified approach and scores more style points when you're living/biking situation is rather public.

Be careful about unusual saddle positions. You may find that by increasing the nose of the saddle it puts pressure in other rather tender areas.

Hey after searching through some threads I tried out Preparation-H on it, and I also got some Johnson and Johnson diaper rash stuff. The Prep-H worked very well I think. I just did about 3 hours and it was ok.

I did forego the undies, and it was definitely more comfirtable. But I also didn't use padded shorts. I tried some Nema padded shorts for the first time earlier in the week, and they seemed a little hot and stuffy due to the chamois (but that was after I had already gotten the saddle sore). I'll have to wait for the sore to heal before giving the chamois a fair shake.

Hey I can't imagin putting on the butt cream in public, man. I mean, your lyin' on your back curled up tryin' to see what your doing down there - no way!

Hey I just got a thought - can't you get a callous down there so that saddle sores aren't a prob anymore? If your whole bottom was a callous then you'd really be a hard arse. :D Ha I'm stupid.

. . .

Hey I can't imagin putting on the butt cream in public, man. I mean, your lyin' on your back curled up tryin' to see what your doing down there - no way!

Ahem! It's easier to sit on the toilet and put the but cream. Easy access, ya know?


Hey I just got a thought - can't you get a callous down there so that saddle sores aren't a prob anymore? If your whole bottom was a callous then you'd really be a hard arse. :D Ha I'm
stupid.

You don't want to get a calloused butt. Soft buns with hard muscles underneath are much, much nicer! :)