Saddle Sores-may be TMI

[jaime2426]

I'm hoping someone out there can help me. I'm training for a Team in Training ride around Lake Tahoe in June. Used to ride a lot but not much recently until Feb. I was good until Mar when we really started the hill work. My saddle at that time was a Specialized Jet (got measured for it). After a 45 mile ride, I had a blister on the right side, at inner crease where leg meets sitbone and bruises on the other side. I have been using Butt butter since I started training. I bought new Pearlizumi shorts. The next ride was pretty much the same. I went to my bike store and got a new saddle as the previous saddle was 1 1/2 years old. The new saddle is a Specialized Ruby (got measured for that too). This past weekend was 64 miles. The blister on the right side healed but now I have 3 on the left side at the crease where inner thighmeets the sitbone. It is very painful to ride. I really don't know what else to do. I love to ride and don't want to stop but I can't keep riding like this. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[cylegoddess]

There are several good threads in here on saddle sores and saddles in general.
I would say your saddle is too wide( which is what mine is). You need to get measured,do you have narrow hips?I do and have to ride mens saddles.
The selle mens SMP is good( it has a cutout). By wide It could be the nose.
I have the same problem , and it sucks!:(

[cylegoddess]

Try looking under New riders, health issues and general discussions. There are heaps on threads on this issue! You are not alone!

[Kalidurga]

For some reason the search term "saddle sores" brings up a lot of seemingly unrelated posts, but here you go: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/search.php?searchid=2006740. There are at least four threads listed below your own that should contain helpful info.

I've never suffered from saddle sores, but it sounds awful. Good luck, I hope you find a solution.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Some people get skin abrasion/sores because their shorts are not tight enough, so they shift around while pedaling, causing friction sores.

[OakLeaf]

When you used to ride a lot, did you have these problems? If not, do you have your old saddle around to take some measurements from?

When you were measured for your saddle, did you sit on the pad with your pelvis in a similar position to your riding position?

Could your chamois be too narrow in back? (try laying it across your saddle)

[emily_in_nc]

I would say your saddle is too wide( which is what mine is). You need to get measured,do you have narrow hips?I do and have to ride mens saddles.

That could be, but is not always the case...I had a couple of saddle sores from hell from riding too-narrow saddles over the years. I have narrow hips (34") and am very petite in general. Turns out I do much better on a Terry Butterfly or Selle Italia Lady Gel Flo (wider!) than narrow saddles like the Damselfly. On the narrower saddles, I was putting too much weight inboard, rather than on my sit bones, and I guess the extra pressure caused a sore, once started, to worsen. Narrow hips does not always mean boy-narrow sitbones!

Unfortunately there is often no easy/quick answer to this. It could be the shorts, the saddle, or both; or even your position/fit on the bike. You should not being wearing underwear under your shorts in most cases, and you should get them off immediately after a ride. Wash your shorts after every ride. You may know all this, but I'm throwing it out just in case. Trial and error is in order here. For my most chronic sore, I had to get a cortisone shot right in it (uncomfy, but cleared it right up). I also took several months off the bike. Still, it started coming back when I hopped right back on the same saddle the next season. I finally decided to go back to a wider saddle, and voila, no more sores!

Chamois Butt'r helps me with chafing/rawness from friction (heat, sweat, shorts too large, etc), but not true, deep saddle sores.

Good luck -- this is not a fun thing, and I do feel your pain! :(

[jaime2426]

There are several good threads in here on saddle sores and saddles in general.
I would say your saddle is too wide( which is what mine is). You need to get measured,do you have narrow hips?I do and have to ride mens saddles.
The selle mens SMP is good( it has a cutout). By wide It could be the nose.
I have the same problem , and it sucks!:(

I did read thru most of the threads on saddle sores. I thought I had tried most of it but...I'm beginning to think I was measured wrong. My hips aren't narrow but I don't think the saddle is right based on what you and others have said. Today I noted bruises over both sit bone area. So off to the bike store. Thanks!