Adjusting to Saddle issues

[LizF]

I've been working with my LBS to find a comfortable saddle. I've been reading the posts here (very helpful!). The LBS has been switching them around for me & I'm on about my 3rd or 4th saddle. Other salient facts: road biking, newish to the sport, starting to "up my game" & am currently working on increasing speed as a recreational rider.

Biggest problem is hiking my butt back to avoid labial bruising. Minor problem some light numbness after riding that resolves itself overnight. Most recent is a men's specialized gel toupe, 143, which is the best yet, but....

So here's my question: How much scooting around, re-arranging my butt, dealing with minor numbness & bruising is to be expected? My seat bones have toughened up quite considerably & they tolerate this saddle fairly well.

Hubbie says scooching around is to be expected. LBS says keep trying. What do y'all say?

[mimitabby]

if you're moving around this much, i wonder if the saddle is in the right place.

If you're bruised already it will take a while, but when you have a saddle you like, it's instantly better, bruises and all.

[tulip]

If your natural position is more forward than your saddle's setup, I'd move the saddle forward. The saddle should support your sitbones where they are; you shouldn't have to move your sitbones in order for the saddle to support them.

I don't scooch, and I have no problems. When I'm on my bike, it's very comfortable. Have you had a professional fitting on the bike?

[OakLeaf]

Sometimes a different stem can really change the way you sit on a saddle, too.

I wouldn't expect bruising or a lot of moving around once you've gotten used to a saddle. I'd be particularly concerned about the numbness. You don't want to permanently damage nerves down there!

How many miles do you have on your current saddle? How many miles on your road bike this year (roughly)?

[LizF]

Yes, I've had the bike fitted at the LBS. They say that if I move the saddle forward, my knee won't be lined up with pedal correctly. They use a plumb line to measure this. Tipping the nose down does solve the problem with the soft bits, but puts a lot of strain on wrists & shoulder (which has some lingering tendonitis).

The scooching is to take pressure off of the girlly bits.

I've put about 8-900 miles on the bike this year. I've tried each saddle for at least 100 miles over 2-3 rides (Minimum).

[tulip]

Sounds like perhaps our toptube/stem combo is too long. As Oak suggested, have you looked into a shorter stem? This problem may involve more than the saddle. There's no need to be uncomfortable. The bike shop folks, bless their hearts, may not be aware of the level of discomfort. Otherwise, they would obviously help you get the right fit. And of course, they wouldn''t have sold you a bike that is too big just because they had it on the floor...

[LizF]

I have tried a shorter stem. (Sorry still working on what all the bike parts are). The man at the bike store is suggesting a bigger angled stem, putting me in a more upright position. This concerns me somewhat because when I am working hard, I have a tendency to lean farther forward. Bad technique? But that certainly won't fix the problem.

The woman at the bike store (actually she's a purchasor that occassionally works the floor) says to keep working at finding a seat I like.

My husband says a little discomfort is to be expected.

[redlights]

I scootch around a bit, usually re-adusting after tucking for descents, and I scootch a lot when I have aerobars on. Some scootch is to be expected but not constant scootching.

You shouldn't have to be constantly aware of your saddle.

[Torrilin]

My husband says a little discomfort is to be expected.

He's right, and I'm not sure he's communicating what he means well *g*.

They've done studies comparing how men and women respond to the standard instructions for hip replacement pain. Women tend to reach a *much* higher level of impairment before the surgery and tend to devalue the pain they feel. It's common for them to reach the point of the bone starting to *die* before they get the surgery. Men hear the standard instructions as "when I have a hard time leaving the house, I should get surgery". Women often wait til leaving the house is a great effort.

So yes, some discomfort is normal. Bruising, numbness, sores... those are *not* normal. If it hurts enough that you notice it easily, it's not ok. Usually doctors would class "some discomfort" as in the 1-3 range on a standard pain scale. If you're above a 3, give yourself time to heal and keep looking for an appropriate fit.

A week or two off the bike should let your body heal. Then it will be easier to tell what hurts.

[sundial]

Did you have your sitbones measured? Many bike shops have a Butt-O-Meter.

[LizF]

Got the sitbones measured.

[GLC1968]

You know, I have similar problems on my bike. Once my sit bones are used to riding, the only place I ever have issues is on the soft tissue. I do move around on the saddle quite a bit. It's never distracted from my riding and most of the time, I don't notice I'm doing it. I don't get numbness though...that would worry me.

The one thing that reallly helped me was core strengthening. Next time you are riding, get into position where your butt bones are where they belong on the saddle. Now without moving anything else, contract your abs (pull them toward your spine). Does that lift the soft tissue away from the saddle? For me, it does...instantly. When I've been remiss about my core strength, my saddle discomfort is worse. Not sure if this is your issue or not, but it may help. If you are already a Pilates instructor with a super strong core, forget I said anything! :p

I would also keep working on the saddle. Have you tried a cut out?

You definitely don't want to tip the saddle forward if its increasing pressure on the hands (I had that, too). I have a seat post with the ability to adjust the tilt without increments (it doesn't have grooves, it has two tension screws). This allowed me to find the exact best spot for front tilt where it gives me as much front relief as possible before increasing the weight on my hands. That might be a possiblity for you if you feel like the saddle is the best you can find.

Good luck with it!!

[OakLeaf]

You can also shim a notched seatpost with a little piece of aluminum cut from a pop can, to give you micro-adjustability without buying a new seatpost.

[spindizzy]

Liz;

I think I'm on my 6th saddle..bless my LBS guy, JP - he's been so patient. I've done selle SMP pro, SMP Evolution, Selle Lady Gel Flow, Terry Damselfly, Bontrager something or other. My original Fizik Vitesse was fine for sit bones, but I was having soft tissue numbness etc. The SMP Pro was beautiful on soft tissue, they have never been so happy, but wasn't on my sitbones and the bones I was sitting on did not respond to two good weeks of riding. I just felt that saddle was a bit too wide as well.

Rode 70k yesterday with a San Marco Aspide Glamour (who thinks up these names?) It has a small cut out. Was good for sit bones, though my butt started to be a bit uncomfortable at about 2 hours and the labia were mildly complaining about pressure, but no numbness. Didn't hurt when I went to the bathroom (another good sign) So I was guilty of a bit of scooching around. I think I'll try this out for a few more rides. I may try a Specialized Jett, though my LBS doesn't deal with Specialized products. I will get it elsewhere and get my coach to fit it for me. He's promised to sell it for me if it doesn't work.

I just hate going into the shop to say,,"Hey this doesn't work." (again!) But I also have given them very good business, so at the end of it all, I may buy the saddle there and give JP a bottle of scotch for being such a patient guy.

So keep trying, (and I will too!) there's got to be the perfect saddle out there....

[OakLeaf]

If you order the saddle direct from Specialized, you have 30 days to return it for a full refund. Of course you're still out the shipping, but not the whole price of a saddle.

[KnottedYet]

If you sat on a butt-o-meter and got a saddle 2 cm wider than your sits bones, then maybe the problem is too much padding? (depends on your soft tissue structure, and everyone is different) Width of the nose (either not wide enough or too wide)?

It does sound, too, like you might have too much anterior pelvic tilt going on. Your fitter should have told you how many times and in what time frame he can recheck your fit without additional charge. With the amount of distress you are describing, it certainly sounds like you need the fitter to help you tweak the fit some more. (hey, that $150-$200 you spent on the fit is an investment for more than just the 2 hour fit session!:D)

Edit to add: Oh, and the inevitable plug for the fabulous book: Andy Pruitt's Complete Medical Guide for Cyclists. Good book.

[koala]

If you're scooting back on the saddle, the simple answer is that your front parts do not like that particular cut-out. The rest of what you described confirms that diagnosis, so when you ride you end up trying to get away from it.

If you like the Toupe, why not try the Ruby in the 143? You seem to like the rest of that saddle, just not the men's cut-out. The women's cut-out is quite different. It is an hour glass shape, which might give you plenty of relief in that area & eliminate the bruising.

[chicago]

I scootch around a bit, usually re-adusting after tucking for descents, and I scootch a lot when I have aerobars on. Some scootch is to be expected but not constant scootching.

You shouldn't have to be constantly aware of your saddle.

x2 could haven't said it better myself :)

[LizF]

Thanks for all the hints & encouragement. I THINK I've found a saddle that will work. It's pretty comfortable, even when it wasn't adjusted properly (I'm trying to learn to do my own work) or when I was wearing the shorts that don't quite fit right. Rode for about 45 miles today & everything is feeling pretty good. You guys were a big help!

[suzbyrd]

I've had my share of saddle issues. Can't tell you the number of saddles, but they include the terry falcon, the performance women's contour (old style and new style), wmb, etc. I really like the specialized jett model but because of the way the rails were, it put me too far from the handle bars with me sitting on it properly. I have been fitted at the LBS and got a new seat post so I could sit more "forward" with the seat to get closer to handle bars, but the jett was just too far back. OK, so the soft tissue rubbing was only on the right side or in the middle and the conclusion I came to was a couple of things: first, the cutout has to be pretty far forward and, second, the nose has to be tilted a little off center to the left. (this is caused by a hip bone out of alighnment). What I ended up with is a selle smp strike seat. The width on the back is not as wide as I like, but the relief from rubbing on soft tissue is immense. I cannot tell you the difference! Finally I can ride without much pain or rubbing. It is so much more fun to go out and ride knowing I won't be raw when I'm done! I haven't even had to use any kind of lube.

[Beane]

Liz;

Rode 70k yesterday with a San Marco Aspide Glamour (who thinks up these names?) It has a small cut out. Was good for sit bones, though my butt started to be a bit uncomfortable at about 2 hours and the labia were mildly complaining about pressure, but no numbness. Didn't hurt when I went to the bathroom (another good sign) So I was guilty of a bit of scooching around. I think I'll try this out for a few more rides.

I am having the exact same experience with the Aspide Glamour with the cut out. So far I've taken it on two ~25 mile rides and while I've been uncomfortable by the end, it hasn't been terrible.

DH: So, how was the saddle?
Me: Um. Well, it wasn't the worst ever, that's for sure.

Not sure if I'll be keeping it for the long haul. We'll see.

[RoadRaven]

I scootch around a bit, usually re-adusting after tucking for descents, and I scootch a lot when I have aerobars on. Some scootch is to be expected but not constant scootching.

You shouldn't have to be constantly aware of your saddle.

OK... I love this post - all the scootchy talk

But seriously, I am kind've similar to Red... except for the aerobar scootching - I don't move for the duration of a timetrial, and as little as possible when training on my aeros. Consequently I have numb bits when I do sit up.

As for actual scootching, like the others have posted, mainly when there has been a change in position - eg, after a downhill, after standing and then trying to get "arranged" when I sit again...

Once seated, you shouldn't be scootching lots
Best of luck finding a good combination of saddle and shorts

[mimitabby]

Thanks for all the hints & encouragement. I THINK I've found a saddle that will work. It's pretty comfortable, even when it wasn't adjusted properly (I'm trying to learn to do my own work) or when I was wearing the shorts that don't quite fit right. Rode for about 45 miles today & everything is feeling pretty good. You guys were a big help!

what is it? (just curious) glad we could help.

[Ana]

Yes, yes, please share! I am curious too :D

[LizF]

The saddle that is working for me is an Aeromax by RavX. My husband bought it for his circa 1980 road bike which he replaced this winter. The LBS told him it was a tri saddle. I figured since it wasn't being used regularly I'd give it a try. My other logic process was that since triatheletes spend time in the crouched position & my problems were in that area, it might help.

Rode 75 miles on Sat & 26 on Sunday with nary a problem! (Ok, there were problems, but they weren't saddle related!).

Thanks again for all the encouragement.