Embarrassing Seat Injury?!

I hate to be too graphic - but after 3 long rides on the saddle that came with my bike, I fear I've injured the front/center neighborhood of Lady Town. The saddle was causing some major compression/squishing in that area, but I wanted to give it a fair try and make sure it wasn't just me... I bought a women's saddle yesterday but am too sore to try it just yet. Can I rest assured that partial numbness / pins-and-needles feelings will go away on their own?

And about products like Butt Butter, etc. - are they meant for this area and type of problem? Not sure if there's chafing at work too or if it's mainly the pressure/weight that's been on this area... Do you apply liberally or use a tiny bit? Does it get all over the inside of your shorts? (I did commit to ditching the undies after the 1st ride - at least that's better sweat-wise.)

Thank you!

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Originally Posted by L-Bell

I hate to be too graphic - but after 3 long rides on the saddle that came with my bike, I fear I've injured the front/center neighborhood of Lady Town. The saddle was causing some major compression/squishing in that area, but I wanted to give it a fair try and make sure it wasn't just me... I bought a women's saddle yesterday but am too sore to try it just yet. Can I rest assured that partial numbness / pins-and-needles feelings will go away on their own?

And about products like Butt Butter, etc. - are they meant for this area and type of problem? Not sure if there's chafing at work too or if it's mainly the pressure/weight that's been on this area... Do you apply liberally or use a tiny bit? Does it get all over the inside of your shorts? (I did commit to ditching the undies after the 1st ride - at least that's better sweat-wise.)

Thank you!

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1. use liberally, at least a good coating. I tend to put directly on my skin, I know others put on the chamois of their shorts.
2. Always wash your shorts after a ride, if you start touring, always carry two pair so you have a fresh pair everyday

Once you are back in the saddle, be sure to have someone help you check you saddle height - see other posts here. I had to switch saddles yesterday and had to stop and adjust it twice on my ride so even "non-newbies" don't get it right the first time :)~

L-Bell, did you read the most excellent threads about saddle fitting that Muirenn linked to earlier in this thread? A "women's saddle" means basically nothing. Any more than "women's pants." It has to fit YOU. There are brands and sizes of jeans that will fit you and brands and sizes that won't, and a saddle is no different.

Lubes are helpful for chafing, though they're not a substitute for a well-fitting saddle, and in general, the better your saddle fits, the less lube you'll need. They won't do anything for pressure.

Chamois creams won't help compression issues, they are used for chafing (really the original use for a chamois cream was to keep your chamois soft..... but that was when they were real chamois leather :rolleyes:)

Saddle issues can be caused by a lot of things-

ill fitting saddle - if it is too wide, too narrow, or just the wrong shape for your body - cut out or non cut out also depends on what is right for you. It's also hard to get used to thinking this way but soft is not generally better. You want your own soft tissues basically suspended above the saddle by your sit bones. A soft squishy, jelly, saddle will just cause you to sink down in and squash things that ought not be squashed. Yes - your sit bones *will* be sore for a while - but it's like breaking in a new pair of boots - if you ride regularly that soreness will go away. You should not however be experiencing numbness or pain in other places! That won't go away and you can cause permanent injury eventually.

ill fitting bike - if you are reaching too far forward (thus rolling your pelvis forward off of your sit bones and onto your soft tissues) or having to scoot forward onto the nose of your saddle.

lack of abdominal strength can be a contributing factor

Best thing you can do is get a real bike fitting - and by that I mean one that you pay for and spend at least an hour or more getting - you may even be able to get your medical insurance to pay for it, if you go to a PT who also does fittings. The person that does the fitting should look at your saddle as well.

Thank you - I did peruse the saddle threads, I think I'm just rushing and panicking a little b/c my "big" ride is a week from Fri and I'm hoping to find some relief (and re-gain some sensation) :o before then.

My LBS (hee hee using acronyms) did spend 2+ hours with me when I bought the bike, fitting and making adjustments, and everything else feels pretty good. When I stopped in yesterday, the fitting/saddle guy I needed had just started a new fitting, so someone else helped me choose a new saddle based on the pain I described. He said what I'm hearing here - that squishy may look tempting but is not the way to go. They have a 30-day exchange policy and said to try it and and come back as often as needed until I find the right one.

Great to know a little more about butter usage (didn't want to get carried away and ooze right off the bike, and never would have thought it could go right on chamois) - I think a little will help with the irritation as I get going again.

Tonight I will get out a chair and tape measure, read those threads, and work on finding a longer-term solution! Thanks again as always for the advice.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by L-Bell

Tonight I will get out a chair and tape measure, read those threads, and work on finding a longer-term solution! Thanks again as always for the advice.

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Yes do! It's quite an enlightenling experience to realize what part of your anatomy you're actually trying to support, and how to do it.

My personal experience is that a too narrow saddle is total he11 from the first 5 minutes, it feels like you're being split up the middle. No can do. A wide enough saddle will usually work somehow, but if it's too cushy you'll get chafed along the inner thigh. Think of trying to run wearing a diaper. A firm saddle can feel uncomfortable to begin with, and you will get sore at the pressure points. But it's a bruised kind of feeling, very sore to begin with, eases off after a little while in the saddle, and goes away completely within maybe a week. If you're feeling numb and pins and needles soft tissue and nerves are getting compressed, and you might want to try a saddle with a cut-out. I can hardly ride a saddle without one. Just a few tips to get you started.

One thing I also learned: I need to activate my core muscles. My saddle wasn't the problem. It was me. When I'm using my abs to more or less suck in my belly, I'm in perfect position. When I forget, I'm basically letting the lady parts press into the saddle, and after a few miles, they'll let me know things aren't good.

Well, even if you think that the problem was you - just check if you have to "concentrate" too much on the way you sit. After all, a good saddle should make you sit comfortably from the start.

I am experiencing a similar problem. The saddle that came with my bike was for a man. I have been trying out different seats that are not as long. Seems to be helping. Need to try out a couple more to decide which one feel the best.