Originally Posted by
Element GT
Have not had a pro fit yet. I was always uneasy of throwing out the cash to get one done as 1) I hadn't been as committed to cycling in the past 2) had done mostly shorter rides without issue. But now I can see that may be a good choice as I am starting to really get into it and it's becoming a pain in the but (literally)
It is true before we even talk about replacing your saddle or getting new shorts, there's plenty of reasons that cause saddle discomfort than the saddle or shorts itself.
For instance, causes of saddle discomfort other than the wrong choice of saddle or wrong shorts:
- Saddle is too high
- Saddle too low....NOPE! A too low saddle won't give you saddle discomfort, but too high saddle will so the problem is far more likely it's too high.
- Saddle is adjusted too far forward. Adjusting the saddle all the way back on the other hand, will improve comfort. Note, moving the saddle to the back may require you to lower the saddle too.
- The handlebar / drop bar is too far away from you. Either your bike frame is too big or too long for you or the stem is too long.
- The saddle tilt angle is not level on top. Take it to level adjustment and observe. If you're getting lower back pain, tilt the saddle nose a little bit downward, if you're feeling too much pressure on your hands, tilt the saddle nose a little bit up.
- Not pacing your rides properly. If you suddenly went much farther than your typical rides, you'll need to ride slower, slower than the speed you do on 20 miles. At least until you start getting used to longer rides then you can increase speed again.
- Not standing occasionally to pedal off the saddle. Even Pro racers do this. You don't need to stand for long periods. 10 seconds at a time will do.
- Not drinking nor eating enough - this is a common problem to those with little experience on longer rides.
As you can see, there can be many reasons for saddle discomfort. Some of them seem unrelated to saddle discomfort but believe me they do. I've learned it through experience, some painful experiences. You can fix yourself many of the things I mentioned above in case you really don't want to be pro-fitted.
If you're doing doing something new or your body isn't used to or posture is "unnatural", you'll experience reduced blood flow in many parts of your body and that can cause discomfort in parts with reduced blood flow, including the area where you sit on the saddle.