yannisg

This one sided saddle rub rash is on the sit bone area on the right side only. I use a Trek road bike with a Fizik Aliante saddle. The same condition appeared with various other saddles. This rub rash appears on long rides (greater than 200k) or on consecutive 200k daily brevets. This condition gets worst when there is considerable extended uphill. That is, being in my lowest gear 34X28 at low cadence (50-60rpm). The longer the riding time or the more extended uphill the worst it gets. Getting out of the saddle more might help, but as you tire it becomes more difficult to get off the saddle for long periods. I use high quality shorts, and always used chamois cream if the ride is longer than 200k. I have been using LeMond wedges to correct minor leg length discrepancies and fore foot tilt for many years. I have also added a 2mm shim between cleat and shoe on right leg thinking that an increase height might reduce the friction. I do not want to make any drastic changes since I have no knee or back problems with this setup. I am probably moving my torso on the saddle to increase the effort on the pedals.
Has anyone had a similar problem? Any recommendation is appreciated.
YannisG

unterhausen

Unfortunately, wedges don't always correct leg-length discrepancies.

I have a similar problem, but I'm just living with it. I carry little packets of chamois cream and reapply when things start feeling touchy. I am also carrying an extra pair of shorts on longer rides in high heat. Standing up definitely helps, there was one ride when I injured my right knee and couldn't pedal standing up. I think that was the worst case of saddle sores I have ever had. There is a long climb just before the finish of that ride, I was nearly in tears at the end.

yannisg

Thanks for yr reply,
I agree that wedges are not to correct leg length discrepancies that why I tried the 2mm shim in addition to the wedges, but I can't say it helped much. I think, if I could keep my cadence higher it would help, but when the grade steepens a lot my cadence drops especially at the end of a tough ride.
YannisG

George

The wedges are used for the tibia, if that’s what’s short. If it’s your femur, you should be moving your cleat forward

yannisg

Hi George,
Wedges are to correct lateral knee movement, and not leg length discrepancies as per Lemond Wedge info. How do you determine which part of the leg is short, practically?
Thanks for the response.
YannisG

George

Sorry, I meant shims. It's just trail and error and you did say that you have shims under the cleat already, so I would try moving the cleat forward a little and that should give you a pretty good idea, what has to be done. I had shims under my cleat and I ended up taking them out all together and just moved the cleat forward. It took me a while to get it, but you just have to play with it. Good luck.

ldarlee

Most accurate way to determine the shortness is with x-rays, but since most riders don't have a machine at home, you can try this very elementary method:

Sit on a hard-back chair with your spine against the back and feet flat on the floor. Look at your knees. If the top of one knee is higher than the other, the discrepancy is in the tibia; if one knee is forward of the other, the discrepancy is in the femur. It helps to place a ruler or level against the top/front of the knees, and also to have someone else there to eyeball the top/sides.

yannisg

George thanks.
I'll give it a try on my next long rider because the problem does not appear enough on short training rides.
YannisG