college biker

I just got a new bicycle and have been riding for 4 days. It hurts now to sit down on the seat. Is it a problem with the seat and should I get a new one, or is it just the kind of thing that I have to get used to riding and it will be comfortable later on? Or, will it always hurt regardless of what I do?

I imagine it has a little to do with the fact that I'm overweight, but hopefully that improves with all the riding.

PaulRivers

While it's hard to say for sure, in general with a good seat that isn't adjusted wrong, your but hurts somewhat the first 3-4 rides of the season then doesn't hurt any more. If your butt still hurts after, say 10 rides, I would definitely say a new seat could be a big improvement.

colleen c

Have you rode much before buying the new bicycle? It take some time of riding if you have been inactive.

Fizzaly

i think it depends on where at your pain is, you will b be sore at first but that should only soreness not pain, you might just need a different width seat. im not sure the best size for someone thats overweight but i would think maybe one thats a little wider will help you out a bit

sc0ch

if it still hurts after 2-4 weeks, new saddle. However, only 4 days could be settling in.

In the long run, the right saddle will NOT hurt once you're accustomed to cycling.

travelmama

Try to adjust the saddle. I have a big butt but no saddle makes it hurt while riding. The positioning is what made the ride uncomfortable for me.

atmdad

I would think so. (sorry, couldn't resist)

OP, give it a few days. As others have said it takes a little time to get your arse accustomed to riding if you have been off the bike for awhile.

aadhils

The difference between soreness and pain is that the soreness goes away after the first 10 minutes or so of riding.

ItsJustMe

Check fit first.
An ideal saddle FOR YOU is one where your sit bones are properly supported. Your weight should be on your sit bones, NOT NOT NOT on the soft tissue in the middle.
Some people have a tendency to sit forwards on the saddle and put their weight on the skinny front part, the horn. That's wrong. Your butt should be back so that your sit bones are sitting on the wide part in the back, supporting your weight through your skeleton, not through your soft tissue.

If you're putting pressure on your soft tissue, you're cutting off circulation to parts that will not appreciate it, and you may cause long term numbness, and bruising.

The saddle can be adjusted front and back, and also the handlebar can be adjusted which may change your seating position. Also the saddle can be tipped up and down and raised and lowered.

Also, make sure that your seat isn't too high or too low, that can force you to rock your butt when pedalling, which also can cause discomfort. Ideally when sitting properly and with the ball of your feet on the center of the pedal, your knees should be almost but not quite straight without your ankle extended uncomfortably.

Play around with it. Getting a perfect fit takes a while. I had to tip my saddle back quite a bit since it's slippery and I tended to slip forward onto the horn.

Wanderer

Part of this statement is correct!

I do agree, that positioning will make a huge difference. Start moving that saddle around, and try it level.

How much are you riding, in miles (hours) daily?

Sometimes, a different saddle will really help - talk to your LBS.

jeffpoulin

It may be a combination of your bike fit and your overall conditioning. The more you ride, the more you'll know what adjustments to make so the ride is more comfortable and the more your body will be able to withstand riding without getting sore. These days, I never get saddle sores, even if I spend 8 hours on the bike. That wasn't true when I first started riding, however.

wunderkind

I read so many bicycle reviews about how the reviewer likes the new bike but the seat and immediately go off to the local store to pick up a fluffy gel seat. Bad mistake.
Give it some time especially you have not ridden for a long time. Let your butt get used to the saddle. Adjustment goes a long way. Just don't be so quick to get one of those foam filled gel seats.

tjspiel

If the pain is the result of chaffing, wearing clothes with less obtrusive seams can help. I also had a saddle with a seam in very bad spot.

ItsJustMe

Yeah, forgot to mention that. Really cushy seats are a bad mistake. Humans already have all the cushioning they need. Your weight should be supported on the sit bones, and you don't want to pad them.If you do, the bones will just sink into the padding, allowing your soft tissues to come in contact with the saddle and causing numbness or sores again.

furballi

I've seen a few novice users with the horn of the seat titled downward at 15 degree or more. This is very bad ergonomic. The objective is to tilt the horn downward just enough to keep you from sliding toward the handlebar. A perfectly horizontal saddle is a good place to start. My Brooks Flyer is tilted upward by about 1 degree.

Sit on the bike. Close your eyes and slightly bend over like you're going to rest both palms on the handlebar. Move the seat so that the palm is right above the top of the handlebar.

rhm

If you're a little overweight and have been riding for only four days, then it's probably too early to start blaming the saddle. But as has already been pointed out, a lot of padding on the saddle will certainly contribute to the problem.

A lot of novice riders have their handlebars up pretty high, which also contributes. I, personally, prefer to have my hands four or five inches lower than the seat.

PaulRivers

That's...nice, but I don't even put the handlebars that much lower than the seat on my *road* bike. You're just trading pressure on your rear end with way to much pressure on your wrists.

"college biker", any chance you could post a picture of your seat? I think you'd get a lot more consistent responses. No one has the slightest idea what kind of seat you have now - I've had several friends who bought a cheap bike and hated the seat, and waiting more than 3 rides wasn't going to change that, but it would be easier to say if we knew what seat you currently have. (Some of those older seats are just terrible)

mtnwalker

OP, do you wear any cycling specific clothing? Having cycling shorts with the chamois pads really helps with the comfort on the bike. If you don't like spandex there's underwear with chamois that can be used with regular pants or shorts.

PaulRivers

Personally, as someone who owns chamois but occasionally rides in jeans or rides with just rain pants and long underwear in the winter, I would try a new seat first. Chamois helps with chafing on the thighs, as well as being able to bike faster comfortably, and sometimes "numbness" issues...but hasn't made a difference for me, at least, regarding whether my but find the saddle comfortable.

college biker

Thanks to everyone for all of the help. I am riding just in basketball shorts and a t-shirt right now. I'm not really chaffing, but I am using my girdle (basically spandex shorts) that I wear for football under my shorts, but it doesn't have any padding.

I was able to attach a couple pics of my seat. I think it's just straight, if there is a tilt one way or the other, it is minimal. It's just the seat that came with my bike when I bought it (Trek 7000)

The soreness is getting a little bit better, but will still hurt sometimes at the beginning. I'm not really riding that far-only like 6-7 miles at a time but I don't have any of the numbness issues or anything like that.

Also, sorry to pile on to the thread, but my brakes are kind of squeaking/screeching when I come to a stop. It was doing that on the first day, I took it in, and it was good for about 20 minutes, but then started again. Should I take it back to have them look at it again? I don't want to be a pain at the bike shop because I bought literally one of their least expensive bikes, and they didn't charge me to attach the U-lock thing, look at the brakes, install the water holder or anything and they gave me the lock for 20% off. On the other hand, I don't want the brakes to fail either.

rex_kramer

^^ This.

A nice leather seat is far more comfortable than those squishy gel seats.

alr

+1

My sit bones used to be bruised every time I rode (on a variety of saddles) until I discovered the wonder of the comfort offered by a nice leather saddle. It was riding comfort from the first day.

Sammyboy

Yep, replace that monster with one of these:





https://www.brookssaddles.com/en/Shop...+duty&prod=B67

Your butt will thank you for ever.

chandltp

By butt has been angry since I got one. I'm taking it off and returning it tonight. I can't ride more than 2 days in a row with extreme pain. And the sides have starting flaring out and have cause sores on the back of my legs.

Granted the only issue I have with the stock seat on my Trek 7000 is that I go numb on long rides. If it weren't for that I wouldn't be trying to replace mine.

CCrew

Any saddle is going to hurt until you get used to cycling. And I find a Brooks to be an ass hatchet, so they don't work for everyone.