gel covers or gel saddles
06-18-06, 01:56 PM
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gel covers or gel saddles
we are looking into puttting on gel covers on our tandem, we would like everyones input to what is better for us gel covers or gel saddles.
06-18-06, 02:42 PM
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From what I have seen of the gel covers they appear to be sloppy. Alot of movement and the fit being less than perfect. While the gels are too soft for me, I would look there first.
06-18-06, 05:37 PM
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Ride as hard a saddle as your individual butts can take.
Instead of gel saddles or gel covers (which do tend to get floppy/sloppy) carry a *real* sheepskin seatcover; when butt's getting sore put on the sheepskin. Important: At end of ride, remove sheepskin cover!
Eventually butts will get used to longer rides on regular saddle and you may be able to get rid of that furry cover.
Must be getting to be nice in Ionia by now . . . we're x-Michiganders.
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem
Instead of gel saddles or gel covers (which do tend to get floppy/sloppy) carry a *real* sheepskin seatcover; when butt's getting sore put on the sheepskin. Important: At end of ride, remove sheepskin cover!
Eventually butts will get used to longer rides on regular saddle and you may be able to get rid of that furry cover.
Must be getting to be nice in Ionia by now . . . we're x-Michiganders.
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem
06-19-06, 10:31 AM
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Echoing Rudy and Kay, I don't think the gel covers are a good idea. They tend to be used to cover up other problems which should be fixed at root cause.
1) Check that you are correctly fitted to the bike and your existing saddle is adjusted correctly (normally flat). If your saddle is too low or your bars are in the wrong place, it will make you uncomfortable. What you are aiming to do is support the majority of your weight your pelvic 'sit bones', not on the soft tissues around them. Read the Specialized website for a full explanation / marketing for their Body Geometry saddles
2) Wear cycle shorts with a pad. They need to be non-baggy and are worn without additional underwear. Modern pads are synthetic but you can add a little moisturiser or chamois cream if you suffer from chafing on a long ride.
3) Ride regularly - there is a certain amount of pain when you sit on your sit bones for the first couple of times, but it does go away once you've been riding for a few weeks. However you shouldn't have pain / numbness in the perineal area.
3) Try some different saddles - there is definitely some truth in Specialized's marketing of fitting the saddle width to your hips. Avoid ones with gel wobbly bits, springs, or squishy foam padding and look for one with relatively firm padding, preferably covered in leather. New saddles also take a few hundred miles to become fully flexible, so don't expect immediate complete comfort. If you like the look, rarely ride in pouring rain or have mudguards (fenders) and aren't worried about weight, then the Brooks saddle range works well.
Hope that helps,
Andrew
1) Check that you are correctly fitted to the bike and your existing saddle is adjusted correctly (normally flat). If your saddle is too low or your bars are in the wrong place, it will make you uncomfortable. What you are aiming to do is support the majority of your weight your pelvic 'sit bones', not on the soft tissues around them. Read the Specialized website for a full explanation / marketing for their Body Geometry saddles
2) Wear cycle shorts with a pad. They need to be non-baggy and are worn without additional underwear. Modern pads are synthetic but you can add a little moisturiser or chamois cream if you suffer from chafing on a long ride.
3) Ride regularly - there is a certain amount of pain when you sit on your sit bones for the first couple of times, but it does go away once you've been riding for a few weeks. However you shouldn't have pain / numbness in the perineal area.
3) Try some different saddles - there is definitely some truth in Specialized's marketing of fitting the saddle width to your hips. Avoid ones with gel wobbly bits, springs, or squishy foam padding and look for one with relatively firm padding, preferably covered in leather. New saddles also take a few hundred miles to become fully flexible, so don't expect immediate complete comfort. If you like the look, rarely ride in pouring rain or have mudguards (fenders) and aren't worried about weight, then the Brooks saddle range works well.
Hope that helps,
Andrew
