Trackr

I've had a problem with being saddle sore all my life.

It was a lot better (practically gone when using padded shorts) on my 29" mountain bike.

Today, I started riding my street bike and I can barely sit down now..

After about 10 miles, I just couldn't sit on it anymore and had to pedel standing up.

Should I wait until my butt hardens or get a softer seat?

Thanks.

GlennR

When I started to ride longer I found that at 40 miles my butt was sore. After doing some research I found that a firmer saddle was better so I purchased one and now can ride much longer than 40 miles with no problem.

It sounds counter intuitive but its true.

indyfabz

I agree with the others on the Fastest Tire Size thread you started re: trolling. Please unsubscribe like you said you were going to.

rpenmanparker 

A proper saddle isn't about softer, it is about fit. Sure the right amount of the right density padding is important, but softer, bigger, cushier isn't always better. You don't say much about where the pain is and whether is stops when you stop riding. Whether it is muscular, pressure on nerves, or chafing. We need some more information. But it sounds like you need to hook up with a bikes shop that provides measurement for proper saddle fit, saddle trials and free exchange until you get it right. Don't just buy a cushy seat. That can make you even more miserable than you are.

NattyBumpo

rpenmanparker is spot-on, If the saddle doesn't fit your behind, all the padding in the world won't help. And saddle position and attitude is crucial. When I first took up road biking seriously, I auditioned eight or nine different makes and models before I found the "Goldilocks" saddle. Most of my riding buddies were on something like a Selle San Marco, something with a slight negative arch to its shape (like a swayback horse), so that's what I was fixated on at first, and which turned out to be the wrong answer. What I found was that my backside much prefers a saddle that is flat as a board. Not only that, but with the nose positioned quite a bit higher than the tail. I've moderated the position some over the years but the nose used to be stuck up so high, my buddies kidded me that my saddle looked like one of the old Concorde supersonic jet airliner on takeoff roll:





Granted, my solution was out of the ordinary, and it's unlikely yours will be that extreme, but my point is that you'd be well-served by exploring all the adjustment possibilities your current saddle offers before abandoning it. Saddle adjustments generally are best made in small increments, so, unfortunately, it can take some time before you find any given saddle's sweet spot. Or determine it doesn't have one and move on to the next saddle. But in the end (no pun intended), whatever works for you is what works for you. Roadies are by nature a parochial lot, and will tend to ridicule anyone who doesn't conform (especially a noob), but I found that a little needling from your riding buds is a lot easier to endure than a raging saddle sore.

gregf83 

Ride more.

TrojanHorse

Buy this saddle, it will fix all your problems



Shark, the necessary evolution of the saddle | Essax 2.0

CliffordK

Each bike may be a little different, and jumping from one to another may take some time to get used to it.

However, also look at your seats.

I used to not think much about saddles, but I find the Fizik saddle that I put on my road bike is quite comfortable with a generally flat top.
The barrel shaped saddle I have on my cargo bike is just uncomfortable, and I should probably change it out soon.

Clem von Jones

Try a 145mm-155mm width saddle like this Robot Check Most saddles are made for people with really narrow hips. It's a mistake to think in terms of soft/hard instead of narrow/wide.

rocdoc

I think you already got good answers. I'll throw in another opinion for the correct fit and against thinking of padding as a panaceum. I am relatively new to semi-serious biking and for a while I have also been mistaken in thinking that the magical saddle made from unobtainum with anti-gravity properties and pure white cloud surface was the answer. And in fact, a cheap saddle that fits is 10 times better than a "high end" saddle that doesn't. It's worth measuring your seat bones and seeing what you need in terms of anatomy. I have narrow hips, kind of typical for my height and weight, but, I found, quite a bit wider sit bones - we're all built differently. So I just need to find a wide saddle (sometimes women saddles may just do it), with enough central relief opening (works best for me, as I tend to keep my lower back straighter when leaning forward than most so it generates anterior perineal pressure). You just need to figure out your own couple of characteristics and you should have much less painful rides. You can also do what I sometimes do at my LBS - roam the aisles and stick saddle after saddle against my behind. Not a pleasing sight, but a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do

Trackr

I've already written my input on that false accusation and unsubscribed from that thread.

Now, you're crapping my new thread that has nothing to do with the subject at hand, just to let me know your opinion of the old one, and yet you call me the troll.

Obviously, the irony is lost on you, but there it is.

If I ride anymore, I'll start bleeding.

The pain is basically around the area where my bones touch the saddle, as in what parts of my behind make contact with the seat.

It's not surprising, really. If you sit on a hard surface and continuously shake it, it will keep hitting the surface and be sore at the end.

Logically, then, a more cushy surface seems the only solution.

I'd say that it's my fault for riding a bike without front suspension on the sidewalk, but I'm certainly not the only person doing this.

Could it be that my butt is just really sensitive?

bt

next rpenmanparker is gonna need to see some pics....

motorthings

There are more things in comfort, Trackr, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

Trackr

Come on, guys. Take this seriously, please.

I already lost a lot of time looking for a new bike. I need to be able to ride this bike every day.

Elvo

Don't ride on the sidewalk unless you absolutely have to. Go to a Specialized or Trek dealer, get properly fitted, and try out their saddles.

10 Wheels

Take a Very Hot Soapy 10 Minute Soak in the bath tub each evening after your ride.

Trackr

Am I going to have to do this every time forever, or is my ass going to get used to it eventually?

I mean, is like playing a guitar where your fingers develop calluses? Is my butt supposed to get hard as a rock?

therh

I could have not said it better. A firmer saddle can help tremendously, as well as a proper bike fit.

Here are videos to look at to get a pretty good fit, help prevent saddle sores and, save some cash.

Doing a bike fit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VYh...ature=youtu.be
and

Prevent Saddle sores
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AyWnPVB4BI

indyfabz

Obvious troll is obvious.

indyfabz

The more pertinent question is are we going to get used to your ass.

gregf83 

I just wanted to quote this.

CliffordK

There are several different types of Brooks Saddles that are very popular. I haven't tried one for more than a few minutes myself.

As I mentioned, I've been quite pleased with my Fizik. I think it is the Fizik Life Rondine with Technogel. It is narrow, but flat on top. It is actually pretty cushy. It has endured well over the years, although I think it may now be a discontinued model, so perhaps it is time to upgrade. I do have a tendency to wear out the tip of the saddle nose.

Fizik Rondine LIFE MG Men Saddle

I did meet someone who absolutely loved his moon saddle.
moonsaddle.com

Anyway, it is possible to go with something entirely different.

Try out a few saddles and see what is comfortable. And, it may take a few days of riding to really get it know it.

StanSeven

Troll or not, with stuff like this it has potential to be a BF legend

Trackr

Wow. I don't know if I'm a troll magnet or if Bike Forum is a serious cesspool, but we'll deal with the trolls first.

Talking about yourself, I see.

But I do love how you recanted your previous vitriolic statement of "Get some "feminine napkins" to help with the bleeding, obvious troll."

If you troll as well as you bike, I'm surprised you haven't gotten run over yet.

I don't know. How did you get used to all that sand in your vagina?

5,000 posts, huh? Boy, you truly represent this forum.

You're just trying to start an argument to show how smart you are.

And finally, a real reply. Thank you, Clifford.

I don't know a place near me that will let you borrow a saddle for a few days, so I'm going to have to either get used to the one I have or get fitted for a better one.

I'll look into that.

CliffordK

There is a discussion about "sit bones" on the internet, and i think you can find them by sitting on cardboard and measuring the indentations or something. It might be worth looking up, at least to help get yourself in the ballpark.