Anyone else sit sorta 'crooked' on the saddle?

[zoom-zoom]

My hubby noticed during a couple of rides last week that I seem to list over to my left by about a half inch. When I tried to scootch over to the right just a hair it did very bad things to my girly bits, though...instead of being over the cut-out in my saddle I was straddling the right side of the cut-out...ouchie!! :eek:

So am I just crooked, or what? My right leg is just a tiny bit longer than the left and pretty much every injury/discomfort I have ever suffered while running or biking has been on my right side (my ankle sprain was on my left, but that was obviously an acute injury, not a chronic/overuse sorta deal).

I do tend to wear out the inner thigh issue of shorts far before the left side shows any wear.

This makes me wonder if the outer foot pain I've had while riding isn't a shoe issue, but a weird body issue. I thought maybe my Sidis were too narrow, but some days they seem to fit me just fine...other days they feel snug. I think there's some water retention issues at play. I bloat like a mofo! :p

Should we be doing anything with my saddle issue or cleat stack or something to counteract my body weirdness...? :confused:

[Biciclista]

boy, before you mess your back up but good I wish you'd get a professional bike fit done!

[Becky]

Yep, except it's more "front-to-back" for me. My left sitz bone sits a little further forward than my right. I think it's something to do with a very small femur length discrepancy that shoves my hips out of alignment, though I've never had a formal diagnosis of such. My overuse-type injuries tend to be on my left side too.

We're all a little crooked, I think. I find that it gives me less trouble when my flexibility and core strength are good. Hooray for yoga!

[zoom-zoom]

boy, before you mess your back up but good I wish you'd get a professional bike fit done!

That's the weird thing...back issues have never been, well, an issue for me. The relatively short-lived, chronic sorts of things I've had (primarily while running) have been of the knee and peroneal tendon variety. The few times I have had minor lower-back pain have been while running. I haven't had back issues while biking a lot (last year was my first full year on the bike and I logged just over 3500 miles).

[Velocivixen]

Prior to visiting a chiropractor my pelvis was rotated and I had leg length discrepancy. Not sure if I was "caddy-wompus" on my saddle, but I was in pain often. Now I'm all okay.

[7rider]

boy, before you mess your back up but good I wish you'd get a professional bike fit done!

The other day, I heard a horrible "CRACK!" from my saddle, and it canted backwards, towards the rear wheel. :eek: Thinking me and my BFA just busted my carbon seatpost or my saddle, or both, I gingerly rode to my LBS (fortunately, only a few miles away). I stood mostly, sat lightly on the saddle when I couldn't bear it, but boy...just those few miles sitting "off" on my saddle put my back in a world of hurt.

Zoom-Zoom...do you wear orthotics in your shoes? That may help correct for any leg imbalances. Also...do you have a saddle appropriate for your butt? Maybe it's too narrow.

[zoom-zoom]

Zoom-Zoom...do you wear orthotics in your shoes? That may help correct for any leg imbalances. Also...do you have a saddle appropriate for your butt? Maybe it's too narrow.

I don't wear true orthotics in my shoes. I wear Superfeet in my running shoes, but that is mostly because I need moderate rear-foot stability, but can't tolerate the stiffness front-to-back of most moderate stability shoes...stiff shoes anger my peroneal tendons. I wear neutral or very mild stability performance trainers. I don't have room for Superfeet in my Sidis (I'm considering a wider shoe, for this very reason).

My saddle is a Jett 143. My sit bones measure about 125...that's wide enough, right?

[zoom-zoom]

Ooh, I should add that I do have BikeFit cleats (http://www.bikefit.com/index.php) on my shoes.

[Crankin]

I defintely look crooked on my saddle. Every picture I see of myself shows me this, and my left shoulder is often hunched up toward my head :eek:. My recent PT said I do not have a lld, but I *know* I do. I actually feel crooked. I had a shim under my cleat for about 2 years, but it was interferring with the action of the cleat... I couldn't clip in about half the time.
I am pretty sure this is why all of my cycling issues are on my left side. My recent back pain, which was on the right side was definitely from running. I can keep it under control with the exercises he gave me, but my left side issues, which extend pretty much down the whole side of my body never go away. I've had 3 road bikes, 3 different saddles, and been to 3 PTs, the last one being MacKenzie trained. I've pretty much given up.

[nscrbug]

I'm thinking the same thing that 7rider regarding orthotics. I recently had a PT bike fit done and he found a whole bunch of weird stuff going on with my right side. I was rocking my right hip, my right knee was swinging outward, and my right foot was supinating at the bottom of the pedal stroke. I too, have a leg length discrepancy (right is shorter than left). I've been using an OTC heat-moldable insert by Sole, but it's their slim-design version that is ideal for cycling shoes and other low volume footwear. REI sells them for $45. My fitter approved of these inserts, but also put a Specialized valgus shim into my right shoe to help tilt my foot more inward. It seems to be helping, because I haven't had the toe numbing and pain that I normally get on rides over 35 miles. My feet seem "happy" at the moment...which is a huge improvement for me.

Linda

[Xrayted]

You've already gotten sound advice about getting checked medically. I would suggest a leg length x-ray on your legs, maybe a scoli x-ray for your back at the same time. It will tell the whole story in just a few pics. It will show where exactly the length discrepancy is so it can be properly handled. IT can twist your pelvis to one side a bit, twist your spine a bit, lower or raise a shoulder, etc. It's not always about a shim in the shoe kind of fix. Actually, it's rarely a shim in the shoe kind of fix as far as riding on the bike. Or, as Knot can attest to, sometimes things just pull themselves one way or the other and you need to rebalance that.

For me, I have a shorter left tib/fib due to being hit by a car but my femur on the right is slightly shorter compared to the left femur from birth. So, while my left leg is overall shorter, when I'm over the pedals, my right femur is shorter. It makes me want to twist my pelvis towards that side, but when my foot is in the down stroke, my left whole side is shorter, making me want to rock that way. No professional bike fitter in the world will be able to fix that without the proper measurements from a good ortho xray series. Many of us fall into this category, one femur is longer on one side while the tib/fib is longer on the other.

I remember reading a thread in here, maybe a year or two ago, where you can get custom crank arm adjustment thingies made. They study your leg measurements and how you pedal and make something that attaches between the pedal and crank arm, or something like that. It can account for one leg being overall longer but the other side having a shorter femur, or any combination... It's hard to describe with out the pics.

Any of you who've been on here for years remember that? I don't have time for the search right now as I'm about to head out the door. But, I know it's here. Whoever it was that did it, loved it and it really helped them on the bike. I really thought of doing it at the time but then life went in another direction for a while.

:):)

[OakLeaf]

I''ve got longstanding issues with a rotated pelvis and severely tight erector spinae on one side. I think it's because of a weird transverse process on one side of my transitional 6th lumbar vertebra. Running on crowned roads probably doesn't help, either ... I try to run down the center line if there's no traffic, good sight lines, and it's quiet enough that I can hear traffic approaching from the rear, but that isn't always possible! It goes together with a locked SI joint. I've been working on it with yoga, massage and chiropractic, and it's definitely improving.

[zoom-zoom]

You've already gotten sound advice about getting checked medically. I would suggest a leg length x-ray on your legs, maybe a scoli x-ray for your back at the same time.

Would I be getting a referral to a sports med. facility from my PCP for this? Any idea if most ins. pays for such a work-up? Our current ins. is pretty mediocre...I miss the plan we had before I became active. They covered just about everything. Now we are lucky if 80% of things are covered.

[bellissima]

My hubby noticed during a couple of rides last week that I seem to list over to my left by about a half inch. When I tried to scootch over to the right just a hair it did very bad things to my girly bits, though...instead of being over the cut-out in my saddle I was straddling the right side of the cut-out...ouchie!! :eek:

So am I just crooked, or what? My right leg is just a tiny bit longer than the left and pretty much every injury/discomfort I have ever suffered while running or biking has been on my right side (my ankle sprain was on my left, but that was obviously an acute injury, not a chronic/overuse sorta deal).

I do tend to wear out the inner thigh issue of shorts far before the left side shows any wear.

This makes me wonder if the outer foot pain I've had while riding isn't a shoe issue, but a weird body issue. I thought maybe my Sidis were too narrow, but some days they seem to fit me just fine...other days they feel snug. I think there's some water retention issues at play. I bloat like a mofo! :p

Should we be doing anything with my saddle issue or cleat stack or something to counteract my body weirdness...? :confused:

Seating crooked can be few different things and it has to be addressed or some bad complications can arise over time. You should try to find a bike fitter that has experience with this issue and specially with dealing women. One of the main causing factors is the saddle, as women may tend to rotate a little to one side in order to avoid discomfort or sensation on our front area. Another can be foot pronation or a leg length discrepancy among few other factors. The best is to find a bike fitter that really knows that he or she is doing, so you can find out what the issue is.

[spokewench]

The first question is are you having issues with riding the bike, i,e. pain, etc. You may have a leg length discrepancy and this may be increasing pain when you are riding, or it may be just tight muscles - we are all tighter on one side.

My husband has a leg length discrepancy which caused him pain in his knee so he got a cycling specific orthotic done by a cycling specialist and it helped him a lot. He wore it for years when he rode a lot and raced. He does not wear it now because he does not ride that many miles and the issue does not seem to bother him when he is doing less miles and less hard effort type workouts.

I ride off to the side of my saddle and always have. I do not believe that I have a significant leg length discrepancy. I have always ridden this way and I think it is because I broke my lower back in my early 20s and I think this has something to do with the way I ride. Other than the normal issues that I have with my back, I do not think that riding off to the side a bit has caused any other problems/pain when I ride.

I do have and am stiffer on my right side, but I think this is more just the nature of my body rather than caused by the fact that I ride off to the side. I also am stiffer on that side when I am not riding as well.

[Hi Ho Silver]

I sit somewhat twisted on the bike - I have to slightly point the nose of the saddle to the right or else my "girly parts" are in agony. I attribute this to the fact that I had polio as a child, my right leg is shorter than the left, and heaven knows what else is going on with the rest of my skeleton as a result of the polio.

[KnottedYet]

I remember reading a thread in here, maybe a year or two ago, where you can get custom crank arm adjustment thingies made. They study your leg measurements and how you pedal and make something that attaches between the pedal and crank arm, or something like that. It can account for one leg being overall longer but the other side having a shorter femur, or any combination... It's hard to describe with out the pics.

Any of you who've been on here for years remember that?

Drop pedal systems.

http://www.hscycle.com/Pages/cantsandwedges.html

[zoom-zoom]

Interesting input, ladies. Thank you. I found an article (http://www.velofitter.com/blog/2011/3/5/are-you-sitting-crooked-or-lopsided-on-your-saddle.html) that points to a lot of the things I have noticed about my own cycling oddities.

I had no idea I was even shifted over on my saddle until my hubby said something. I figured maybe my rear seam on my shorts was just off, but it felt like it was centered. When I moved myself over just a hair to the right it put me too far right over the nose/cut-out, which was not comfortable. Very odd. Almost makes me wonder if my left butt cheek is just noticeably larger than my right. :p

[zoom-zoom]

Drop pedal systems.

http://www.hscycle.com/Pages/cantsandwedges.html

Huh...so it's just that bottom piece?

[kermit]

I have pretty much the same thing going on with my rides. I do have a BG fit scheduled for this saturday and am interested to see what he suggests. I have a 1/4 inch leg length difference from a broken hip and back and I know I sit crooked on the saddle. I am not sure what exactly makes me crooked, my hip or just my back from my injury but when I measured on the ***-o-meter one side was at 70 and one side was at 80, making one hip wider. The last saddle I got rid of, my SI max flite actually got twisted on the left side (my shorter side) from pushing down more on that side. The weirdest thing ever, it was a great saddle and one day it just bit me. I took it to my LBS looking for something else and it was twisted front to back towards the left. This fit I am getting is $300 bucks but I am really hoping I can finally get even on the bike.

[zoom-zoom]

This fit I am getting is $300 bucks but I am really hoping I can finally get even on the bike.

Oh, I hope it works! $300 is a lot of cash to drop if you don't have marked improvement! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

One other factor I totally forgot to include in my original post: DH discovered that my saddle on my current bike was somehow set almost a half inch higher than on my previous bike. He thinks when the shop set it up that they took my original fit measurements and we all forgot that we'd lowered my saddle on bike #1 a hair, but never applied that measurement to new bike. :o

Hubby hasn't ridden behind me since he made this tweak...so perhaps this is no longer an issue. My outer right foot crampy/irritation is still there, but I'm suspicious that this is more a too-narrow shoe issue than anything else.

[kermit]

Yeah $300 is a lot but this guy is REALLY good, fits racers and top tri folks. I have never really have a complete fit other than a new saddle "tweak" so I am hoping a revelation will happen. That BG fit system is pretty in depth so...and yeah it's Miami prices, another reason we are retiring to Georgia. This fit is my retirement present.

Hope you find happiness...

[nscrbug]

Yeah $300 is a lot but this guy is REALLY good, fits racers and top tri folks. I have never really have a complete fit other than a new saddle "tweak" so I am hoping a revelation will happen. That BG fit system is pretty in depth so...and yeah it's Miami prices, another reason we are retiring to Georgia. This fit is my retirement present.

Hope you find happiness...

I totally feel your pain (no pun intended...lol) regarding the $300 price tag of your fit. I just had a PT (physical therapy) bike fitting 2 weeks ago. It was very extensive (I was there for 2 1/2 hours)..it was a RETUL fit done by a licensed physical therapist with 25 years of cycling experience (has worked with many pros, including the Garmin-Cervelo team) and certification in Retul & FIST fittings. If it is any consolation, I paid $330 for mine. :eek::eek::eek: BUT...I have a lot of physical issues as well as pain issues that needed to be addressed. I'm happy with the fitting, as I think most of my pain issues have been resolved (too soon to tell yet)...except for this nagging hand issue (see my other thread on handelbars) that is better, but not completely pain-free. Good luck with your BG fit...I'm very anxious to hear about it!

Linda

[Kathi]

Yes, for years I had this problem and my fitters couldn't figure out why, no leg length discrepency. Turns out I had a locked SI joint. A very good PT found the problem.

[emily_in_nc]

Interesting input, ladies. Thank you. I found an article (http://www.velofitter.com/blog/2011/3/5/are-you-sitting-crooked-or-lopsided-on-your-saddle.html) that points to a lot of the things I have noticed about my own cycling oddities.

I fit a lot of these symptoms as well -- very interesting article. I've been to several doctors and PTs and have not had a lot of success. I now have a TENS unit I am going to try for the pain in my lower back/buttock (right side) that I primarily get when cycling, but sometimes after hiking with a heavy backpack, sitting for a really long time, or prolonged crouching.

In my case, my problems all originated with my bike accident in 2005 when I fractured my pelvis in three places. I usually blame the fracture I had repaired in my ilium for my pain, but I also had two fractures in the ischial tuberosities that may actually be the root of the continuing problems, since I'm likely not sitting on the saddle "level". I recently had xrays done by a pain specialist, and he said that my SI joint, which I always blame for the pain, actually looked good, with no evidence of arthritis, so perhaps it's really a pelvic tilt or rotation issue and not my SI joint at all. Hmmm....

In my case, I always get saddle sores on the left side, I feel like I'm working much harder with the right leg, I have "knee wobble" on the right, and all my pain is on the right in my lower back and buttock (which is the side my fractures were on).

Too bad I don't live in SoCal -- I'd go see this guy in a heartbeat!

[zoom-zoom]

This is what's weird about this...I have no issues that stick out, aside from the crotch ones. And those are a LOT better since DH lowered my saddle a bit and moved it a touch forward.

I don't think the foot issues are related, but I decided to pull the trigger on a pair of $75 Northwave shoes, since I think I may need additional varus wedging (my knees seem to dive towards my top tube--especially my right one, which goes along with the sore right foot (http://www.bikefit.com/whywedge.php)). I have 1º wedged cleats, but I suspect I need forefoot wedges inside my shoes. No way I have room for those in my Sidis. I can't even fit blue Superfeet in my Sidis, not even with my thinnest socks. It will be nice to have shoes that I can possibly wear with warmer socks next Fall/Winter, too.

[Kitsune06]

I sit crooked, but I sit crooked in chairs and on my motorcycle, too. One of these days, someday, I maybe should have a scoli series/lls to figure my geometry out better, but until then, the plan of attack is just to do what's most comfortable and not too far 'out there'.

[zoom-zoom]

I sit crooked, but I sit crooked in chairs and on my motorcycle, too. One of these days, someday, I maybe should have a scoli series/lls to figure my geometry out better, but until then, the plan of attack is just to do what's most comfortable and not too far 'out there'.

I'm seriously swaybacked with a bootie like JLo or Shakira...I wonder if that has any bearing on things...?:confused: I told my hubby that maybe I have one butt cheek that is freaky stronger and larger than the other. ;)

[Kitsune06]

I have a little bit of a scoli curve to my back so on one side the muscles are super developed and defined and on the other, not so much. I think that sometimes influences which side I 'list' to. :p Unfortunately the only real xray I have of this is from a 1v thoracolumbar xray, so while it says 'yeah it's there', it doesn't say what degree it's at or whether or not my acetabulums are even when I'm standing. Then again, I could have a decent degree of acquired paranoia after being in OP and doing 3-4 scoli series on kids a day on peds day. :p

[hulagirl]

I don't have room for Superfeet in my Sidis (I'm considering a wider shoe, for this very reason).



I have SuperFeet Yellow's in my Sidi's and they fit fine. I LOVE THEM in my Sidi's.

Have you tried pointing the nose of your saddle a HAIR in the direction you don't lean towards? I was getting more issues on my left side, pointed nose a mm or 2 to the right and felt better.

I also got a bigger saddle as mine was too narrow. Your's may be too wide?

ETA:

I had outer foot pain that was cured with a wider saddle. My foot pain was not hot foot. It was a sharp pain that started on the outer edge of the foot, just near that little bone that sticks out on the bottom. Then it would begin to go numb. This happened in slippers, gym shoes, Keen's, everything. It was not a shoe issue. It was 100% solved by me finding a saddle that fit me. And then I stopped pinching those nerves that led down to the foot.

Perhaps your sitting over the edge is pinching something?

[zoom-zoom]

I have SuperFeet Yellow's in my Sidi's and they fit fine. I LOVE THEM in my Sidi's.

Have you tried pointing the nose of your saddle a HAIR in the direction you don't lean towards? I was getting more issues on my left side, pointed nose a mm or 2 to the right and felt better.

I also got a bigger saddle as mine was too narrow. Your's may be too wide?

I pulled the trigger on a $75 pair of discontinued Northwaves, which everyone says run really wide, so I can't wait to see how they compare. Then I have room to play with Superfeet (which I wear in all of my running shoes) and/or forefoot wedges under the insoles. Maybe I can even wear heavier socks during the cold months! :D

I was thinking about the saddle nose thing today, too. I really think moving it a hair to the left may be worth trying. I'm guessing it would only take a few mms to notice a difference.

Not sure if a narrower saddle would be the key. I definitely don't need wider, but I think narrower would have me hanging off the edges. My saddle is a 143...next size down is 130. My sit bones are in the 120-130mm neighborhood. I actually have a new 147mm Fizik on order, since the cut-out on my saddle has been bugging me (I'm less upright on my newer bike and seem to be hitting the front of the cutout where it narrows...and getting pinched where I don't want to get pinched). New saddle will have a channel down the entire length.

[zoom-zoom]

ETA:

I had outer foot pain that was cured with a wider saddle. My foot pain was not hot foot. It was a sharp pain that started on the outer edge of the foot, just near that little bone that sticks out on the bottom. Then it would begin to go numb. This happened in slippers, gym shoes, Keen's, everything. It was not a shoe issue. It was 100% solved by me finding a saddle that fit me. And then I stopped pinching those nerves that led down to the foot.

Perhaps your sitting over the edge is pinching something?

What makes me inclined to think that my foot issue is my shoes is that I had a wider saddle, previously...and still had the foot issues. Only then I also had inner thigh and up-front numbness/pain issues, as well.

My feet are seriously wide...I measure D width--or even a hair wider, but that would put me in men's cycling shoes...I have wide toes, but narrow heels--I have never had luck with men's shoes. Back in the day I played soccer...before there were women's shoes. I always had raw heels. Sidis are probably the last brand I should be in (it's about all our LBS carries, though). The meaty outer side part of my feet spills over the hard plastic sole, especially on my larger right foot. If I had the velcro forefoot straps much looser they'd not hold at all.

I also think I probably require some more medial stability features (this page (http://www.bikefit.com/whywedge.php) really shows what my knees do when I pedal--the insides of my lower thighs often brush my top tube), but I can't add any sort of insole or forefoot wedging to my shoes...those paper-thin Sidi insoles are too thick, as is. Today I was pedaling up a hill, butt out of saddle, and my right foot cramped-up...toes overlapping. That was fun. :p

[Kathi]

I was using those things on my right shoe to correct the exact same problems you're talking about when my knee and foot problems started. I can't say they caused the issues because there were too many factors involved.

Based on where my foot pain was located my podiatrist thought I had 2neuromas. He was shocked when I had no pain when he manipulated the area. For awhile I used met pads on my orthotics but they caused more discomfort.

I used to wear shoes without heels. I read how they can cause foot pain. I quit wearing them, my foot pain went away. Since having my SI joint adjusted my chronic knee pain also disappeared.

At the time I also had a saddle that was too wide for me, not sure if that contributed to my issues or not.

I no longer wear custom orthotics, just Superfeet Berry in my cycling shoes and ski boots. This season, I'm hoping to not use them in the cycling shoes.

BTW, the wedges I had were installed between my Speedplay cleat and my shoe.

[zoom-zoom]

I was using those things on my right shoe to correct the exact same problems you're talking about when my knee and foot problems started. I can't say they caused the issues because there were too many factors involved.

Based on where my foot pain was located my podiatrist thought I had 2neuromas. He was shocked when I had no pain when he manipulated the area. For awhile I used met pads on my orthotics but they caused more discomfort.

I used to wear shoes without heels. I read how they can cause foot pain. I quit wearing them, my foot pain went away. Since having my SI joint adjusted my chronic knee pain also disappeared.

At the time I also had a saddle that was too wide for me, not sure if that contributed to my issues or not.

I no longer wear custom orthotics, just Superfeet Berry in my cycling shoes and ski boots. This season, I'm hoping to not use them in the cycling shoes.

BTW, the wedges I had were installed between my Speedplay cleat and my shoe.

Yeah, I don't think I have neuroma issues...what it feels like is peroneal tendon. I don't have issues except for in my cycling shoes. Otherwise I live barefoot, in Keens, or Dansko clogs.

Superfeet berry are what I wear in my running shoes, though I'm guessing that blue will be about as thick as I could go in a cycling shoe.

I have 2 bolt SPD cleats with a built-in 1º wedge on the medial side, but it's still not enough. I have a feeling I'm going to need at least 2-3º to keep my knees from diving towards my top-tube on my down pedals.

[zoom-zoom]

It appears my issues were related to some sort of leg length discrepancy...

I finally got a pair of shoes that fit my feet (men's LGs, instead of too-narrow women's Sidis), so I had room for a pair of Superfeet insoles (which I wear in all of my running shoes, too). I also moved the cleat on my suspected longer leg back a hair.

Today DH and I rode and he said I am still just a hair lopsided on the saddle, but nowhere near as noticeably as I was before making these adjustments. So I'm thinking I may try a small shim under my left cleat to see if that gets me perfectly balanced side-to-side.

And the extra bonus of having wider shoes is no more toe overlapping and cramping! :cool:

[TrekTheKaty]

Zoom-zoom,
You may not have back issues now, but this may be an early sign. A quick consult with a physical therapist may show the answer.

I used to run, but quick because of back problems. My chiro recommended switching to another sport, and that's how I found cycling. His X-rays showed a twisted and tilted pelvis that results in lower back pain and in the extreme, sciatica.

A second episode put me in the emergency room. One of the top orthopedic Dr's in our area found a bulged disc in an MRI, but "it shouldn't cause you that much pain." :( I demanded a referral to a physical therapist. She was my god-send. She also diagnosed the pelvis twist and tilt (I didn't share my chiro's diagnosis until after). She taught me the stretches I would need to do twice-a-day for "the rest of my life, unless I wanted to come back and visit."

Apparently leg-length issues are frequently misdiagnosed--I thought one leg was shorter than the other, but it was actually one hip higher than the other :eek:

I had noticed recently my Brooks saddle was more worn on one SIDE than the other. DH blew it off. Now I notice the whole seat is starting to tilt to the left--it's two years old. Fascinating. I would post a pic, but it's subtle and won't show in a pic.

[zoom-zoom]

I had noticed recently my Brooks saddle was more worn on one SIDE than the other. DH blew it off. Now I notice the whole seat is starting to tilt to the left--it's two years old. Fascinating. I would post a pic, but it's subtle and won't show in a pic.

That's pretty amazing, really...that our bodies can be strong enough to deform a strong saddle like that.

I've been looking at my saddle. I can't detect any signs of differing wear, breakdown, or tilting on either side. This is after close to 5k miles on the same saddle.

When I started wearing Superfeet in my running shoes I had right knee issues that were markedly better after just a single run (and this first run in the Superfeet was an 11 miler, IIRC). Within a week my knee issues had almost completely resolved...and this was after months of battling knee issues. A few times over the years I have tried to ditch the insoles, only to have my right knee start whining after just a short run or two.

Thus far it seems like the insoles are having much the same effect on my biking form. I'm really suspicious now that my main issue is a left arch that collapses more than my right. When I do the footprint test my left foot always shows a more "flat" print than my right foot, so this makes sense. Everything seems to work up the chain from my feet, for sure.

[TrekTheKaty]

I did a lot of my own research while seeing the PT. When I "graduated" (she helped me build back up lost muscle mass in one leg before cutting me loose), I asked--so is it tight muscles pulling the pelvis out? Or is the pelvis pulling the muscle and causing the pain? (I know the tilt is throwing off my lower back and probably causing the bulged disc. I also have mild scoliosis). She said, "Good question :D"

I believe cycling has less impact than running and builds my core strength. I also seem to have tight hamstrings, which cycling counteracts. Another theory is--long rides just exhaust my hip muscles and they release! No one knows for sure, but it requires continuous maintenance to avoid another painful relapse.

Take care of your back:D If one more person says, "You're too young to have back problems.........."

[zoom-zoom]

It's funny, my hamstrings and lower back are two parts of my body that almost never give me trouble (and aside from my right knee and right peroneal tendon I've had precious few running niggles in 5+ years, either). It's my upper back/neck/shoulders that are often angry...I think in large part because my hubby's kitty is trying to displace me and steals my pillow (he's a really sweet cat, but he is definitely daddy's baby!). I often wake with my head all twisted to one side and Ikky kitty sleeping like a spoiled prince on the middle of MY pillow! :p

[nscrbug]

It's funny, my hamstrings and lower back are two parts of my body that almost never give me trouble (and aside from my right knee and right peroneal tendon I've had precious few running niggles in 5+ years, either). It's my upper back/neck/shoulders that are often angry...I think in large part because my hubby's kitty is trying to displace me and steals my pillow (he's a really sweet cat, but he is definitely daddy's baby!). I often wake with my head all twisted to one side and Ikky kitty sleeping like a spoiled prince on the middle of MY pillow! :p

*** Slight thread hijack! ***
Oh boy...can I totally relate on this one!!! My male kitty does the exact same thing to me...and I don't have the heart to toss him off my pillow, so I sleep all contorted and such...waking up wondering why my damn neck is killing me! :eek:

[TrekTheKaty]

I was going to let the cat comment slide, but my neck problems are from cat shoving me off the pillow!

[zoom-zoom]

Ha, I thought I was the only sap who didn't have the heart to move the baby. But wookit his widdle face...
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/229224_2040811064209_1362296891_2389453_5936767_n.jpg

DH just got home last night from a week of mountain biking in Fruita, CO and Moab. Ikky was beside himself with happiness...he must have purred for about 6 hours straight and stayed almost literally glued to DH's hip until morning. :p

[Crankin]

That article described exactly what I experience. My PT said I don't have a leg length discrepancy, but I "feel" uneven. I am always crooked on my saddle and my pain is all on the left side; lower back, shoulder, crotch, groin. It's pretty bad when I climb, unless I am very warmed up. I know I have mild scoliosis that was never treated.
Oy, I am going to be right near that fitter when I go to San Diego. But, I won't have my bike with me...

[zoom-zoom]

I know I have mild scoliosis that was never treated.

I've often wondered if I have some sort of scoliosis...when we were checked in jr. high everything was fine, but I am seriously sway-backed. Mostly it makes finding jeans a real PITA, since I get a HUGE gap at the back. And I think it has made finding cycling shorts a challenge. PIs are about the only shorts that actually sit over my sit-bones. Just about everything else I tried had the chamois too far back and nearly covering my tailbone, with my sit-bones over the front edge of the wide part of the chamois. I have a seriously tilted uterus, too...I think everything on my lower half is at a bizarre angle. :p

[TrekTheKaty]

Lastly for EVERYONE--yoga, yoga, yoga.

Stretching and strengthening will help offset future problems.

[zoom-zoom]

Lastly for EVERYONE--yoga, yoga, yoga.

Stretching and strengthening will help offset future problems.

That and core work. Hubby had issues wearing a Camelbak while mountain biking...his back really seized-up (and he's not prone to back issues, either). I think he realized how important regular core work is.

[OakLeaf]

Yoga works the core (as well as those all-important stabilizer muscles) very strongly!

[zoom-zoom]

Yoga works the core (as well as those all-important stabilizer muscles) very strongly!

Yep...the upper-body weight workouts I do incorporate a mix of yoga poses and more traditional crunch type stuff, as well as work with stability ball and free weights. Good stuff. My abs usually feel pretty tight for a couple of days afterwards. Just doing free weights work with good form works the core, too. Hubby doesn't do any of this...yet! ;)