TJDinFl

I see people riding all over God's creation and I try to ride in my neighborhood (4 to 5 miles), when I finish my lower spine (Butt bone to be exact) is killing me. I have a Back Trails seat pad and also padded riding pants (I haven't worn the pants with the seat pad yet). Is there some secret to what looks like torture to me, with these people riding all over the place. I have a Schwinn Ranger mountain bike with a stock seat. I just got it today for Christmas, but I have been riding a little bit on my son's mountain bike before I got mine with the same results. Thanks.

DieselDan

Adjust the seat angle. Perfectly flat is ideal, but you may need to lower the nose a little. You may need to have your sit bones measured and get a saddle that fits you.

dgasmd

There are several things to it:

1. The longer you ride, the better it will feel until the discomfort disappears altogether. This is saddle time.
2. Poor fit on a bike is the number one reason for pain in the butt, numb hands, pain in shoulders and lower back, etc. Go to the LBS and spend the money for them to fit you right to the bike. Tons of little adjustment here and there make a world of difference.
3. Comfort in a particular seat has hardly anything to do with padding on it or "padded shorts", but mostly to do with the shape of the seat. There isn't a seat that fits all. The one that will fit one great will kill another. Unfortunately, it is trial and error.
4. It does take a good 4-8 weeks for your butt to get adjusted to a new saddle. That is assuming you are fitted right, you spend enough saddle time, and the saddle fits you well.

Start with a good and proper fit and work your way from there. It will fell better in time.

Dr.Deltron

One Forum down you'll find the answer.....


RECUMBENTS!!!

TJDinFl

Thank you all for the info, I have since adjusted my saddle forward and leveled it, this has eased the discomfort somewhat and eliminated hand numbness, suggesting time in the saddle has given me encouragement, in that at least I have something to look forward to, I am not totally satisfied with the comfort yet but maybe it will come with time. By the way how in the world do you get your "seat bones" measured?

DieselDan

Specialized has a special Ass-o-meter to measure sit bones.

DynamicD74

Dare I suggest a Brooks B-17 saddle?

TJDinFl

I want to re-nig on my previous post, my butt still hurts.

masiman

Some peopla are more sensitive than others. Males typically not as much as females. If there are seat problems it will almost always be a female. The only options are to make sure you position on the bike is good. Go to your local bike shop that has a good person that can fit you. Not all shops are created equal in this. Get a recommendation from other riders on good shop for doing a fit.

After you get your position dialed in and you still have problems. Start trying seats. And once you find a seat that you like, buy an extra one or two. Manufacturers changes seats and if yours wears out it will be easier to put on your spare than search around for a new one that you like. The Brooks B-17 is one of the very few saddles that you would not need to buy a spare of. They have been around for decades and will likely be around for more. I really like the looks of Brooks but they just aren't as comfortable for me as other saddles.

Lower back pain usually means bent over too far but not always. If you ride distances, you will likely find that those super soft plush saddles are less comfortable than firmer saddles. There usually is also a period while your sit bones become accustomed to long rides. It lasts for a couple days where your sit bones feel bruised. Your lower back pain sounds different than this though.

Good luck, let us know how it turns out.

TJDinFl

It must be the saddle. Since the first post I have re-diagnosed the pain. At first it was what I thought to be literally a tail bone pain, that is no longer an issue.

I quickly recover shortly after a ride however, while riding I am very uncomfortable in that it is all I can do to ride 30 minutes, not because of a wind/stamina problem but the ole pain in the butt problem.

After learning I actually have sit bones I have determined that is exactly what is giving me the pain while riding. Maybe this will subside in time though, I don't know.

Sci-Fi

Try a different saddle. If Target still has them in stock, try a Schwinn "Pillow Top" or "Ergonomic" saddle. It's not really a soft, plush saddle or filled with some gel, but firm and has cutouts for more comfort and support. Use a level to adjust the saddle to level or slightly tilted forward depending on your preferences. Amazon has both on sale:
https://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Pillow.../dp/B000DZF6WO
https://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Adult-...564631-0039606
Will give you a baseline w/o costing a lot before buying a more expensive saddle.

Tom Bombadil

I wish there was a way of guaranteeing the saddle you (or I) buy will work perfectly. The Specialized sit bones measurement device is a real hit or miss proposition. Even trained Specialized sales reps will admit that it is very imprecise.

A lot of it is dependent upon your riding position, someone who rides in a very forward position needs a much different saddle than someone who rides upright.

When I tried one that was too soft & plushy, it was incredibly painful. Likewise for those that were too hard and too narrow. I went through 5 of them before trying a Terry Fly saddle that works great for me. The Terry Citi saddles work pretty well for me too. These are moderately wide, narrow enough to keep me from sitting on my soft tissues, and moderately soft, which gives some cushioning without sinking too far into them.

Two of my friends got a lot of relief from using the Planet Bike ARS saddle. This same basic design is available from others.
https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...ic+Saddle.aspx

But you, unfortunately, do have to ride a bit to toughen up.