Oh my aching arse...

[mtbdarby]

Since I busted my seat post bolt in May I've had nothing but problems with my delicate areas on my road bike. But I've also had a lot of variables.

I now ride longer distances and completed my first century last month. I thought I had everything dialed in and I actually felt pretty good after the century at least in the nether regions. The problem I had at the time was a numb foot. I wanted a professional fit so I took it to an lbs in a bigger city.

Well, it wasn't a professional fit it was an eyeball. He raised my seat which was uncomfortable for me so I lowered back a smidge. He also rotated my handlebars a bit toward me. Felt good on the trainer at the time....

I did a metric century on Sunday and my crotch is still killing me! The front end feels highly irritated much like a yeast infection. There was way too much pressure on the front end during the ride and I made 3 adjustments down during the ride. The most pain is coming from the middle of my crotch - more like bruising feeling. Where my underwear band hits hurts immensely. There are no abrasions, lumps or sores, just plain ole pain.

Any idea where I start again with adjustments? I don't ride in the drops much because it puts too much pressure on the front end, but I'm not sure why the middle section hurts so much. I was very conscious of keeping my sit bones on the saddle. I use a specialized dolce saddle that is 1 year old and have not had these problems before, but then, I never rode over 30 miles last year. I wear PI microsensor 3d shorts too if that helps and bag balm for rides over 30 miles.

There are no stores nearby that do professional fittings so if anyone in Wi knows of a shop in the Fox Valley or Madison area please let me know. I have a duathlon in 4 weeks and I'd like to get this resolved quickly.

TIA!

[SadieKate]

Was the fore/aft position of the saddle changed? It sounds like you aren't sitting on the saddle as intended by the design.

Even if it wasn't moved on the post (seat post bolt to me means the bolt that keeps the post from sliding into the frame) all the changes you mention affect your reach. You could unconsciously be accomodating by moving foreward or backward on the saddle, or tipping your pelvis, or rocking your hips, or so many things.

And, are you wearing underwear? Maybe the change finally put you in the right spot for you, but not for any underwear.

[sundial]

Oooooooowwwwwch. I'm sorry you are suffering so much in the saddle. Ack!

OK, in reviewing some of the info you've shared, I can make a few suggestions based on my riding experiences.

1. Bike fit--Thou shalt not reach too far for the handlebars. Are you having pain in your shoulders? Neck? Back? If you are reaching too far forward, that will put pressure on your girlie parts, too. You might want to try a shorter stem either with an adjustable stem or a regular stem. I found that a 80mm stem did the trick for me.

2. Saddle--Thou shalt not go numb in the saddle. If I remember correctly, the Dolce saddle does not have cut-outs, just a padded nose? Have you considered trying one of the Specialized mtb saddles like the Ariel or Lithia in the correct width? A Specialized dealer has a butt-o-meter to measure the distance of your sitbones and can recommend some of the saddles that are available in 3 different widths. Or consider maybe a Brooks or Selle An Atomica? Also, your saddle may need to be adjusted so that the nose is pointed down just a little. And check the seatpost--it may be raised too high also.

3. Shorts--Thou shalt not use the wrong short. Maybe you are one of those that needs a thinner chamois. Some of the PI's have thicker chamois and I have found that it sometimes bunches up during a long ride. I now order PIs in a smaller size. I also use Terry shorts because the chamois is thinner and has 4 way flex.

Hope these suggestions help. I know my fit was trial and error and I've got it dialed in late in the cycling season. Good luck and let us know how you are doing.

[mtbdarby]

Sundial, good points. Here's my answers as I sit here with shooting pains from my crotch:(

1. No pain in the neck, back or shoulders. I had a shorter stem put on at the beginning of the season. I have a trek 2100 wsd and I have short arms. That has never been a problem.

2. I've never gone numb - just pain since the century. The dolce does have a cutout and I have it on all 3 of my bikes so I wouldn't think that is a primary issue. And I did do the butt-o-meter at the lbs to make sure it was the right fit:D .

3. The PI's did right by me on my century so I wouldn't think a metric would be a problem although a slightly thinner chamois would be nice.

SK - I changed the fore but it caused very sore thighs with every ride so I put it back. I think because I was so uncomfortable on Sunday I shifted around a lot which probably made things worse. And no - no undies here. I LOVE riding commando:p .

I think I need to shoot for the fit I had for my century. I'm pretty sure the problem is coming from the last bike "fitting" from Wheel and Sprocket in Appleton.

[sundial]

Mtdarby, maybe the shape of the saddle is wrong for you. I think the Dolce has more of a pear shape, right? It looks to be a full-figured saddle compared to the Avatar, Alias and such. I am actually riding a mens saddle, the Alias, and I have nary a pain in the inner thigh/pantyline area.

[DebW]

What about the tilt of the saddle? Try loosen the bolt holding the saddle and tip the nose down a bit.

[Torrilin]

I don't know of a place in Madison that does "professional fit". I haven't been to Yellow Jersey or Machinery Row tho, so they may. Budget Bikes doesn't claim to do fitting, but when I've gone in with a specific fit problem, I've had mechanics help me out, and so far the suggested fixes have worked. They're not willing to change many things at once, which I view as a good thing. Willy Street Bikes tends to ignore customers. When you can *find* help, the help is helpful. REI might be worth a try, since there's a saleswoman there who has a fair bit of clue.

When I have trouble, I try to take a few days off the bike. Or even *sigh* a week mostly off. Letting things heal really helps me judge how an adjustment worked.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Are you able to raise your handlebars a bit? That would place your posture a little further back onto your sitbones and off your front bits.
Maybe this happened because when he raised your saddle higher that made you bend down lower to reach the bars- thus putting more pressure on your front girly parts.

Do try a thinner chamois as well- the more stuff and "upholstery" you put between your bits and the saddle front, the less room you'll have, and the more pressure pushing back against you there will be.

[Xrayted]

Dar - I agree with Deb W on tipping the saddle down a bit if you are going to leave your seatpost and handlebars at that height. Also, try a thinner chamois for the very reason Lisa mentioned. It made all the diff with me. No more sore bits. Also, PI isn't exactly the best short on the market, they just price them that way. They actually gear their market towards beginners. Sugoi and others are infinitely better than the PI's. Usually, once you try another brand, you realize what you are missing. Everyone sells PI's though so they are just easier to find. I've pretty much abandoned mine and may just give them away soon. Try a tri chamois and see if you like it. Good luck! :) :)

[SadieKate]

Also, PI isn't exactly the best short on the market, they just price them that way. They actually gear their market towards beginners. Sugoi and others are infinitely better than the PI's. Usually, once you try another brand, you realize what you are missing. Everyone sells PI's though so they are just easier to find. I've pretty much abandoned mine and may just give them away soon. Try a tri chamois and see if you like it. Good luck! :) :)

So a $120 PI microsensor short is geared toward a beginner? :eek: :D

http://www.pearlizumi.com/product.php?mode=view&pc_id=106&product_id=759506

I'm not a fan of PIs either but I sense that Dar's saddle and shorts combo is fine. All the pain started after her bike fit. Dar, if you paid for this fitting you should be able to go back and give them some pain, if you know what I mean.

[sundial]

And remember, when you raise the seatpost, you will need to bring the saddle forward about the same amount.

[mtbdarby]

The problem became pronounced after he raised the seat AND tilted the handlebars back toward the seat. I lowered the seat back down a bit though because it wasn't comfortable on my legs.

Deb and X - on the metric I did stop 3 times to tilt the saddle down - just a millimeter at a time. I think my stuggling to find a comfortable position during the long ride just bruised things up a bit more. I tipped it down more on Tuesday for a short ride but I might have tipped it too much. Ugh. I only have 4 weeks to the duathlon and I really can't afford time off the bike. I need to figure it out ASAP.

I think I will try a thinner chamois down the road Lisa. I have a couple pairs ready to retire. I have noticed the PIs are a bit bulky, but I didn't have a problem with the PIs and the saddle for the century so it really seems its coming from the lbs changes. It wasn't a paid fitting so I really can't yell at them, ya know? I took my chances and wound up on the losing end;)

[short cut sally]

Oh my gosh, I didn't know that PI's were geared towards beginners. I just bought my first pair at 80.00 on sale. Liked the material, but not the leg grippers, and liked the idea of a one piece chamois vs. the sewn seam between the chamois and the piece that goes on the inner thigh. I can say that the seamless design didn't make one ounce of difference on the irritation that I get at that spot. Dar, hope you can get your problem taken care of soon. Go back for a readjusment or get a "second oppinion"!