I have notice that once I get back into the cycling after being off for a few months my sit bones get really bruised. The question is, why do they stop hurting once you get back into things and am biking often? You would think they would be just as sore since you are on the bike more.

Simple - the muscles around them get stronger and adapt.

55/Rad

Thanks 55/Rad.

I found that I could acclimate so I wasn't sore after a 80-100 mile ride, but if I did 120 miles I'd be sore again. Or, if I could ride back-to-back centuries without pain, then adding a third would kill me. A 200-mile weekend was/is the limit of my training opportunities, so I would always hurt on tours. Now I ride a recumbent and none of that matters anymore. I can ride until my legs give out, the only thing I'll have to show for it the next day might be sore quads.

yeah...Mine got used to it. When I first got my bike (hadn't ridden a bike in YEARS) my ass was so sore I thought I was going to die. Now I ride and just don't think twice. my butt muscles adapted!

Keep riding you will get used to it.
I ride a hard plastic BMX seat on my winter fixed and hardly notice it.

Yeah, just got a san marco aspide racing saddle and I'm in the "my couch is much nicer" phase. A lot harder than my old one (very cushy but didn't fit as well). It fits nicely but the sit bones feel it after a while. I need to put more miles in...at least my soft tissues are lovin the new saddle. Hopefully after the first week my sit bones will too (only been two days with it).

This was my experience too but the miles are divided by 2. Now when we eat lunch on a long ride, my wife can't wait to get off the saddle and sit on the ground or a picnic table but I stay on the recumbent's seat because it is more comfortable than a hard bench.

Odd thing, with my recumbent I hear the same comments from the other club members in group rides during rest/snack breaks. Ususally "Wow, you don't even have to get off of your bike!" Heck my bike seat is even more comfortable than my ergo office chair!

'bent Brian

I don't know for sure, but I think, in addition to the above being true, you may get tougher tissue just as you would get a callous on you hands from doing the same thing over and over.