If it's comfortable for 60k, will it be comfortable for 100k?

I've signed up for a metric century, and the farthest I've gone this year so far is 60k (farthest ever=75k last year).

I'm wondering if a saddle that works for 60k will work for 100k too. Last year, my saddle was fine for 75k, but this year (maybe because I haven't ridden much yet this year) it doesn't feel as comfortable. What seems to be happening this year is a feeling of pressure on the girly bits...no rubbing or sores or anything. It's comfortable when I skootch back onto my sitbones, but I seem to keep having to skootch back.

Now, this is only my second year of riding (and last year wasn't a full season), so I'm thinking maybe I just have to get used to it again.

Or maybe they moved my handlebars somehow when they were adjusting my brakes?

Or it could be that when a mechanic had your bike on the workstand he raised the seat to clamp it in, then didn't get it down quite as far as it was when he tried to put it back the way it was.

Is it possible that you've lost some core strength over the winter, so that your form is off from last year? That could explain the "scootching".

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Originally Posted by bounceswoosh

Is it possible that you've lost some core strength over the winter, so that your form is off from last year? That could explain the "scootching".

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Oh yes, very possible!!! :D

I'll mention a couple of things that could also be happening. As bounceswoosh mentioned your core could be weaker and your fitness level not the same as when you left it last year. If your core is weaker you aren't able to support yourself as well and you could be leaning on your arms. Instinctively you want to push away from that so you are scooching back. Simarlarly, your core can't support well and after time you start to slouch onto the sensitive parts instead of maintaining posture on the sit bones. If also your "aerobic capacity" is not as good this time of year, you could be getting tired sooner and maybe coasting more or not pedaling with as much power. The pressure on the pedals with constant cadence would help offset slouching on girl parts. You may need to find a new comfortable position such as a slight saddle or stem adjustment.

But then, it could be the saddle as well. I had one saddle that I could ride very well up until about 38 miles, then it hurt all the miles after that. (But that was sitbone hurt, not pressure elsewhere). I changed my saddle and I could ride much more than 38 miles pretty comfortably.

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Originally Posted by mudmucker

But then, it could be the saddle as well. I had one saddle that I could ride very well up until about 38 miles, then it hurt all the miles after that. (But that was sitbone hurt, not pressure elsewhere). I changed my saddle and I could ride much more than 38 miles pretty comfortably.

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So what I'm hearing subliminally is that I should get a Brooks. ;):p:D

Chuckle. No, not from me. But the Brook's fans might come out of the woodwork any time now.:D

I had problems with my Specialized Jett, and Avatar saddles with long distances. I changed over to a Selle An-Atomica and it's been treating me well. Well, so it is a leather saddle. There's a few I'd still like to try out just to see how comfortable they are but I don't really need to.

I never gave Brook's a chance when I was saddle hunting for a few reasons.

welp, another possibility is if you've lost (or gained) weight so you're sitting differently.

the battle of the saddles:( I was having problems earlier this year when I started riding. I probably needed to give it a bit more time as I think always in the beginning of the riding season (when you are starting to ride more, unless you live in Arizona and ride all the time:eek:), you need to give your girly parts some time to "toughen" up. Also, it could be your saddle... maybe it's breaking down a bit.

So what I did is went through the Terry saddles... and finally decided on the Butterfly. I like it alot. It still took me a few rides to get used to it, but now I like it.