Bakeoh

Does anyone have a recommendation for a saddle that relieves the pressure on the perineal area. After riding for 5 miles or so, I go numb, including my toes. I there a saddle of seat position that will help?

solveg

(I'm not qualified to answer this, but I predict that one person will ask if you've been professionally fitted, another will tell you to point the saddle down slightly, 3 or 4 will say that numbness down to your toes is very unusual and a medical discussion will ensue, and a couple dozen or so will mention that they are in love with "saddle X" but that every person has their own likes and dislikes.

Oh, and someone will be crabby and tell you to sit on the post.)

Beverly

What type of bike and saddle do you currently ride? Five miles seems like a short distance for this type of problem.

solveg

Good point, Beverly! Now I feel bad for trying to be funny...(I just got done reading more of DG's clipless thread) .

Anyway, good point. Carry on.

card

A search of this forum will reveal more recommendations on saddles and positions than a person could read in a week.

Beverly

You were right on target.....

stapfam

[QUOTE=solvegOh, and someone will be crabby and tell you to sit on the post.)[/QUOTE]


The state I finished rides with some saddles- that would have been more comfortable.

Just a coupleof questions- How long have you been riding?- If a fair time- How long have you had the saddle? And have you tried adjusting the saddle in any way?


Saddles can be a problem so find a friendly shop and sit on as many bikes as you can the day after you have ridden. The bit of pain you still have will tell you what saddles not to buy- and hopefully put you onto a type of saddle that may suit.

cyclezen

my personal belief is that a lot of 'P' word problems can be related to proper saddle width, well before brand, cutout, vint'ah'ge-retro-butt hatch, 'bling' super-expensivo carbon shelf or sprung barcolounger cushion.
itz all about support, and the width of the load...

George

B17

Thrifty1

Brooks!!!!

Tom Bombadil

What general type of saddle are you using now? Wide & cushy with springs? Standard stock saddle on a $200 hybrid? Standard stock saddle on a $600 road bike?

card

BluesDawg

Here's one that solveg forgot.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/real-man.html

europa

I'd second this question (hard to get one in through the chattering monkeys ). Soft saddles, particularly gel saddles, can result in this sort of pressure as the padding/gell gets pushed aside by your bones applying pressure to the soft areas.

Richard
am I allowed to rave about the comfort of my Brooks ... even though it's only just been despatched from Europe and isn't even in Australia yet?

solveg

Yah! You always* surprise me!

George

I just since a picture of a new Brooks and it's only $700, for collectors I would think. I forgot the model.

Yen

Wow, numbness down to your toes sounds like major nerve interferrence. What type of saddle are you using now?

JanMM

Toe numbness does not sound like typical bike seat-related discomfort. Your legs get numb?

CrossChain

I recall a stranded cyclist who was reduced to boiling his Brooks and eating it. (Didn't need any additional salt or seasoning for flavor.) Couldn't do that with a plastic saddle. See, Brooks are good for something after all.

John Z

B 67, ahhhh, comfort!

oilman_15106

Overall bike fit has more to do with comfort than the saddle itself. Your post on the toes points up to more problems than the saddle. Simply getting a Brooks or Fizik Aliante(my favorite) will not fix your problem or cure cancer. Check some of the online fit calculators or got to the LBS and get fitted to the bike.

There are more bikes hanging in garages collecting dust due to improper fit than any other reason.

Bakeoh

I am fairly new to cycling. Last night I lower the seat about an inch and moved it forward. Seemed to help. Toe problem was gone. Still had discomfort in the perineal area.

The seat is a stock that came with my Trek 1.2. I am a larger person, 6' 2" and broad. I will check with the LBS for a better fit.

Tom Bombadil

Technically, moving the saddle position down is not a good thing for your legs. It increases stress on your knees. However medical conditions can force us into making adjustments that aren't normally optimal.

The stock Bontrager saddle on a Trek (Pilot?) 1.2 is not well regarded. So it isn't surprising that you are having some problems with it. As to which saddle would work best for you, I have no idea.

If you have configured the bike to have a more upright riding position, by raising the handlebars and/or lowering the seat, that will shift more weight onto the saddle. Generally when one does this, then they need a wider saddle. You could look at options from Terry, Brooks, Selle, and others, which all offer wider saddles than the stock Bontrager you have now.

But perhaps you really shouldn't be configuring the fit to shift more weight onto the saddle. As stated by others, it is best to start out getting the fit set up correctly, then you can address the saddle situation. If you change out the saddle first, then an adjustment to the fit could make the replacement saddle a poor choice.

Stringrazor

I just replaced the saddle on my Trek Pilot 1.2 with a Serfas RX-921V. I also adjusted the tilt nose-down one notch. I installed the new saddle and made the adjustment after being off the bike for over 3 weeks due to travel and illness. I've only done two short rides since then but the change is easily felt and I had no pain at all. I was expecting a lot of discomfort after 3 weeks off the saddle but there was none.

I choose the Serfas for function, cost, and expediency. I saw it in the local SportsChalet sports megastore, it was only $40, I read some favorable reviews on-line, and between the Serfas satisfaction guarantee and SportChalet return policy, I knew I could return it. It's a relatively heavy saddle at 510 grams but I'm not concerned about its weight. If you are there are, other choices available from Serfas, Terry, and undoubtedly many others.

I know I committed the cardinal sin of troubleshooting by changing 2 parameters at one time (new saddle and tilt adjustment). At some point, I may put the stock saddle back on just to see how much the tilt adjustment alone helped.