Shouldn't Bike Shorts And Saddles Work Together?
#26
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,467
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4335 Post(s)
Liked 3,958 Times
in
2,646 Posts
I can't think of a lot of clothing manufacturers who are also doing saddles minus maybe Specialized or Trek/Bontrager. Pactimo, Primal, Gore, Pearl Izumi, Assos, Sugoi, Endura, Louis Garneau, Castelli, 7 Mesh, MAAP, Cadence...all don't make saddles. Also haven't really had any issues with cut outs and any of my bib shorts or back when I didn't wear bibs and just regular shorts haven't had a problem there either.
If you are having problems I would go see a fitter because it may not be your saddle, it may not be your shorts (though it sounds like maybe you have an issue of testicular placement within the shorts which can happen with those with those parts) it could just generally be your fit on the bike, your saddle could be slightly at the wrong angle or position on the seatpost and your seatpost could be at the wrong position, maybe there are other issues with reach and spindle length on your pedals, that is causing issues that is being attributed to shorts and saddle working together.
If you are having problems I would go see a fitter because it may not be your saddle, it may not be your shorts (though it sounds like maybe you have an issue of testicular placement within the shorts which can happen with those with those parts) it could just generally be your fit on the bike, your saddle could be slightly at the wrong angle or position on the seatpost and your seatpost could be at the wrong position, maybe there are other issues with reach and spindle length on your pedals, that is causing issues that is being attributed to shorts and saddle working together.
#27
On The Road Again
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: DFW area, TX
Posts: 186
Bikes: Specialized Sequoia
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 443 Post(s)
Liked 62 Times
in
40 Posts
Agreed. Now, put on cycling shorts with the typical padding in the crotch / genitals area and try sitting on your bike again. Isn't that padding, which is trapped between your genitals and the saddle, exerting pressure up against your genitals?
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,938
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3943 Post(s)
Liked 7,285 Times
in
2,942 Posts
Please don't post any photos ...
Likes For tomato coupe:
#29
On The Road Again
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: DFW area, TX
Posts: 186
Bikes: Specialized Sequoia
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 443 Post(s)
Liked 62 Times
in
40 Posts
Here's a typical design of a bike shorts pad. I don't have an issue with the upper half of the larger sit bones pads in the upper part of the pic. Call it the upper third of the raised padded areas. I'm saying that the narrower pads in the middle and lower part are right under the perineum and testicles, and also right in the area where the cutout would normally be in a saddle. Keep the larger part of the upper sit bones pads and remove the perineal and testicular ones and I'm happy. Keep the thin blue pad in those areas for modestly if desired, but no raised padding.
Last edited by bike eagle; 01-12-23 at 11:58 AM.
#30
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,270 Times
in
1,439 Posts
Likes For Rolla:
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,959
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4340 Post(s)
Liked 1,528 Times
in
997 Posts
I'm not saying that my testicles are contacting my saddle. I'm saying that the padding between my testicles and the saddle is filling that gap to the point where the padding is pressing against my testicles. The saddle presses up against the padding, which in turn presses up against my testicles. No padding, no pressure. Yes padding, yes pressure.
#33
climber has-been
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,090
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3414 Post(s)
Liked 3,543 Times
in
1,783 Posts
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,938
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3943 Post(s)
Liked 7,285 Times
in
2,942 Posts
To summarize: OP thinks all cycling shorts are presently designed wrong because he can't get comfortable wearing them, and the rest of us tolerate this discomfort because it makes our junk look bigger.
Likes For tomato coupe:
#36
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,270 Times
in
1,439 Posts
#37
climber has-been
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,090
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3414 Post(s)
Liked 3,543 Times
in
1,783 Posts
If you think this is an argument for why there should be no padding in the perineum area, it isn't.
__________________
Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse
Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse
#38
On The Road Again
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: DFW area, TX
Posts: 186
Bikes: Specialized Sequoia
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 443 Post(s)
Liked 62 Times
in
40 Posts
Maybe I need to start my own line of shorts:
"Smart Pads! Padding where you need it, and none where you don't!
Saves weight!
Less restrictive for more power!"
Etc...
"Smart Pads! Padding where you need it, and none where you don't!
Saves weight!
Less restrictive for more power!"
Etc...
Last edited by bike eagle; 01-12-23 at 12:26 PM.
#39
On The Road Again
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: DFW area, TX
Posts: 186
Bikes: Specialized Sequoia
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 443 Post(s)
Liked 62 Times
in
40 Posts
I disagree. It is exactly why there shouldn't be padding in the perineum area in shorts. Padding inside shorts and padding inside a saddle (in the same area) are identical.
#41
climber has-been
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,090
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3414 Post(s)
Liked 3,543 Times
in
1,783 Posts
It ought to be obvious that saddles are different that skin, and that having a saddle move against unpadded shorts increases skin irritation.
Edit: rydabent has entered the chat. It was only a matter of time.
__________________
Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse
Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse
#42
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,938
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3943 Post(s)
Liked 7,285 Times
in
2,942 Posts
You should be happy -- you might have finally found someone you can convince to switch to a recumbent. If he does, you can call your crusade a success, toss your computer in the landfill, and never post your manifesto again.
#43
On The Road Again
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: DFW area, TX
Posts: 186
Bikes: Specialized Sequoia
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 443 Post(s)
Liked 62 Times
in
40 Posts
Saddles contact the outside of shorts. Shorts contact the skin.
It ought to be obvious that saddles are different that skin, and that having a saddle move against unpadded shorts increases skin irritation.
Edit: rydabent has entered the chat. It was only a matter of time.
It ought to be obvious that saddles are different that skin, and that having a saddle move against unpadded shorts increases skin irritation.
Edit: rydabent has entered the chat. It was only a matter of time.
#44
On The Road Again
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: DFW area, TX
Posts: 186
Bikes: Specialized Sequoia
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 443 Post(s)
Liked 62 Times
in
40 Posts
“Because we’ve always done it that way” is never a good answer.
#45
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,938
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3943 Post(s)
Liked 7,285 Times
in
2,942 Posts
Likes For tomato coupe:
#46
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,546
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5223 Post(s)
Liked 3,579 Times
in
2,341 Posts
Zoot Core Mens 7-Inch Tri Shorts
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...TF8&th=1&psc=1
size up because they are snug, especially in the waist (if you have a 'Dad bod"). I buy size 38" waist pants, but prefer the XXL Zoot Shorts
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...TF8&th=1&psc=1
size up because they are snug, especially in the waist (if you have a 'Dad bod"). I buy size 38" waist pants, but prefer the XXL Zoot Shorts
Last edited by rumrunn6; 01-12-23 at 12:52 PM.
Likes For rumrunn6:
#47
climber has-been
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,090
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3414 Post(s)
Liked 3,543 Times
in
1,783 Posts
#48
On The Road Again
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: DFW area, TX
Posts: 186
Bikes: Specialized Sequoia
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 443 Post(s)
Liked 62 Times
in
40 Posts
How do you know it works for everyone? What about the millions of people who tried cycling and quit because they weren’t comfortable? Of course, they also don’t post in these forums, because they left cycling for other activities.
Likes For bike eagle:
#49
On The Road Again
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: DFW area, TX
Posts: 186
Bikes: Specialized Sequoia
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 443 Post(s)
Liked 62 Times
in
40 Posts
Zoot Core Mens 7-Inch Tri Shorts
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...TF8&th=1&psc=1
size up because they are snug, especially in the waist (if you have a 'Dad bod"). I buy size 38" waist pants, but prefer the XXL Zoot Shorts
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...TF8&th=1&psc=1
size up because they are snug, especially in the waist (if you have a 'Dad bod"). I buy size 38" waist pants, but prefer the XXL Zoot Shorts
#50
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,938
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3943 Post(s)
Liked 7,285 Times
in
2,942 Posts