Saddle Discomfort and Lady Bits

O.k. all you people that know what you are doing, i think i need advice. i just started biking on a beach cruiser a year ago, even got run over in november. bike is o.k., i've been riding it this summer to the american river about 30 miles out. I had a major embarassing problem the first time. I was out all day in longish cut-off jean shorts and a ( maxi-pad) I 'm serious here. not joking. never rode my bike that far before. when i got home, burning upon bathroom, has this ever happened to anyone before? so sorry, but we are all women here right?

I have a Giant Innova hybrid with shock post - the original saddle was very uncomfortable. And yes, I had the burning, etc. after my first 15 mile ride. We went back to our bike shop and each purchased a Rav-X gel cutout unisex seat (The women’s model was too narrow for me). It is very comfortable and my husband, who wasn’t having any issues with his old seat, said it was better and he did not even realize how uncomfortable his old seat was until he switched. I have not ridden in cycling shorts yet (saving up for them), but I ride with my workout slacks and shirt and have not had any more issues with saddle sores/burning.

I having started using the ReSkin product after I read about it in this thread. It really does the trick for me. They are expensive but worth it for me. They now have some distributors here in the US -- I was able to get the distributor here in Portland, OR to ship to me direct.

Linkbeak

Wow Joyce, this is your second post here in.... five and a half years on TE?
What a chatterbox! :D ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ramdoride

Has anyone tried the Falcon? Thoughts? other suggestions?

---

I tried the Falcon X. I ended up sending it back, but now I'm wondering if I made a mistake. I got it because of pain in the front, and it did solve that problem, but my back side felt bruised even after several long rides. I know that sit bone pain isn't supposed to be as much of an issue, but it was pretty painful so I sent it back. I am now trying a butterfly, and am waiting to do some longer rides on it before I decide.

I have a Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow and it's really great. No pain at all, even after several hours.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...0006-N0806.jpg

I'm happy to see this thread is still fairly active...I am unsure where to turn for some info.
To make a long story short, I am a fairly new cyclist (started riding a little more seriously approx. 9 months ago). I have always exercised in one form or another, and started participating in sprint triathlons last Aug. Background provided to explain I am not a couch potato having suddenly ventured into endurance sports. . .
Nonetheless, two weeks ago, spur of the moment and on a slightly too large rented road bike (a really good one, but a 54 cm instead of my usual 52) I did the Death Valley Century. I had no idea I was going to do it, but did--and am still suffering the consequences. My entire crotch is numb. It doesn't hurt, it is simply numb. This numbness is most apparent when I wipe with toilet paper (and "enjoy intimacy", as they say in genteel conversation with my fiance). The inner tissue is not as affected as the outer. It had appeared to have improved just a little, but I tried to ride again (this time on my bike with a terry butterfly saddle) but even 53 miles seems to have set it back to where it was two weeks ago.
ANyone out there ever experience complete numbness? How long does it last? I assume I have caused some nerve damage; so I need to stop riding completely until it is no longer numb? This of course would be horribly frustrating as I am registered for my first tri in May, and the Sante Fe Century a week later, and am hoping to do a cycling tour for my honeymoon in AUgust. . .
Help!

Did you ever purchase the Terry Falcon X. I've been riding for two years now on the same seat and have the exact same issues you've described. I believe a new seat is in order;)

If my saddle gave me a numb crotch for days after riding, I'd be buying and testing different saddles like crazy to avoid that. :eek: :(
Circulatory and nerve damage can become permanent.

Yes, nerve damage is exactly what I'm worried about--it never occurred to me that more than TWO weeks after the ride I'd still have so much numbness. It has improved a little, but only a little. That there has been ANY improvement makes me feel a little better--but after trying to ride yesterday, on a good saddle that has never caused trouble--I am wondering if I should stop riding completely until this clears up. I'm hoping someone it out there that has had the same experience--I know bodies differ, but i'm sure there's an average recovery time--and it would be helpful to know what I'm looking at. 6 weeks? 8 weeks?
It's sure hard not to be discouraged.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chandler

Yes, nerve damage is exactly what I'm worried about--it never occurred to me that more than TWO weeks after the ride I'd still have so much numbness. It has improved a little, but only a little. That there has been ANY improvement makes me feel a little better--but after trying to ride yesterday, on a good saddle that has never caused trouble--I am wondering if I should stop riding completely until this clears up. I'm hoping someone it out there that has had the same experience--I know bodies differ, but i'm sure there's an average recovery time--and it would be helpful to know what I'm looking at. 6 weeks? 8 weeks?
It's sure hard not to be discouraged.

---

If it's any help, my DH had problems with one saddle- he did a century on it and was suddenly very numb afterwards....and the numbness wasn't going away. :eek: He changed saddles and eased up a bit on riding, and the numbness very slowly went away- but it took about 3 months to completely disappear. :eek: Happily, it did disappear, and now he can ride as much as he wants on the new saddle. The 'bad' saddle is relegated now to his errand bike which only goes on very short trips around town. No more problems.
So don't get too scared....but do change your saddle! You may have to try several before you hit on one that works well for you.

I've never bruised a nerve "down there," but I've bruised nerves in my thumb and in my brachial plexus and it's taken months to recover. If that's any comfort to you...

I would DEFINITELY avoid doing anything that might cause further damage though!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chandler

Yes, nerve damage is exactly what I'm worried about--it never occurred to me that more than TWO weeks after the ride I'd still have so much numbness. It has improved a little, but only a little. That there has been ANY improvement makes me feel a little better--but after trying to ride yesterday, on a good saddle that has never caused trouble--I am wondering if I should stop riding completely until this clears up. I'm hoping someone it out there that has had the same experience--I know bodies differ, but i'm sure there's an average recovery time--and it would be helpful to know what I'm looking at. 6 weeks? 8 weeks?
It's sure hard not to be discouraged.

---

Please do NOT get on that saddle. If I were your doctor (and that's who I think you should be talking to) I'd tell you to swim and run until you get your feeling back. IF you get it back. meanwhile, I suggest you go and get a professional fit, because if a "good" saddle has the same effect, it might also be the way you are sitting on it. Define good saddle. define saddle,
I'm curious what you've tried.

Several years ago I had an area on my leg that was numb. The dr. called it "swashbuckler's disease." It was nerve damage. It took months for it to come back. But on the leg is a lot easier to deal with than what you're describing. I also had a friend who had it on one foot--from shoes being too tight. Good luck. I hope you heal quickly.

Thanks for all the input, everyone. Since the cycle I rode in the Century was a rented bike that my fiance arranged for me (himself an endurance athlete with four ironman finished under his belt--i.e., not a slug or slacker, so he chose carefully) I have no idea what that saddle was.
Yesterday was my first day back on a bike after 2+ weeks; I rode a Lemond with a Terry butterfly saddle.
Since I do triathlon, I too have determined that it is best I stay off the saddle and run, swim and dance (which I also do) as my forms of exercise until the numbness completely abates. From what I've been able to research on the net, the point of trauma is the pudendal artery which controls blood flow to the urethra, clitoris and vagina. (A woman named Dr. Collins in the process of conducting a multi-year study specifically on women cyclists to address our health issues.) This atery is the female equivalent of the perineum artery, which is the one that causes male cyclists' genital problems. In both men and women, the artery in question is flattened after prolonged pressure is applied. It does appear that I have not caused permanent nerve damage but that the blood flow was constricted, is still constricted, and will simply take time to regain normal levels of blood flow while the artery regains its natural shape.
That's what I've learned so far. Big Fat Drag.
But at least I really don't think it's permanent.
Once healed, I will shop for the saddle that is right for my anatomy. In the meantime, I'm learning a lot.

I'm putting in an "update" for reference purposes for others, since there is SO LITTLE about female-specific cycling health specifically pertaining to the soft tissue/crotch issues. I have spent lots of time on the net, have spoken to two PTs (one who specializes in women's groin/pelvic girdle health issues), and a GP. It is the pudendal NERVE (not artery) that has been compressed. It is very rarely a permanent injury. It is a slow healer--we're looking at easily 6 weeks. There is not a lot one can do to speed the healing process, but the pelvic health PT recommended icing. . .fun!
In the meantime, I can finally tell that some healing progress has been made--but I'm still pretty numb. I did a careful spin yesterday on a very upright bike, and alternated sitting way back on the hip bones to spin with being up out of the saddle to spin--one position per song, so I was up 50% of the time. It does not seem to have had an adverse effect.
So that's the scoop! As they say, all's well that ends well!

Person who rode in jean shorts and a maxi pad -ouch! Just the thought of the jean seam makes me cringe and maxi pads I find, tend to 'dry' you out and cause chafing. I noticed this in a spin class. Get some bike shorts, even without chamois!


I have been riding a mens selle italia as my other saddle seems to have hit the bermuda triangle, in the ordering.Ouch! Better than old one( it was too wide at front) but man,no cut out. <Mens saddles suit me better, as I have narrow sit bones but thank god new one ( selle something, cant recall but is men, has ciut outs, and nose is slightly canted down.)
Orbea, has terry butterflys on their lower ends, but the better bike have selle italia.

Im finding that all shorts give me chafing on side of girly bits. Is it because they are mens? The cheap ones of course arent as good as moulded ones, but do I really need all this padding?

I just started riding (yay!) with the intention of commuting 5.5 miles each way to work - in NYC! I went out for a 15 mile ride (totally nothing compared to all of you but hey, its been a while) and wow was I bruised! I'm just starting to feel better now (day 4) and plan on riding to work tomorrow, and will promptly get a new saddle as apparently the one that's on my bike is not so good for me! It has the cut out, but I think the nose is too wide. I also believe it is too cushy for my tush because I keep sliding off from one side to the other. Thanks for the recommendations! The expression on the bike shop guy's face will be priceless tomorrow!

Brachial Plexus injury pain lasting months?! Groan. I'm dealing with that now too - its been about a month and the pain has flared up again.

Hi folks, I'm brand new here and I've got more info on here in the last few minutes than I have had in the last two months from my bike shop and bike nut husband.

I've only recently taken up road biking in anticipation of a big event I've got in a months time. I got a Trek 1.2 WSD and love it but am now on a test saddle trying that out. I get a cut between my inner and outer ladybits and abrasions elsewhere on them I believe purely because they are much larger than normal. Of course I don't want to have such discussions with the nice man at my local bike shop and I certainly ain't going to show him.

I am going in for an event that will be 81 miles and mostly I'd been doing 40 mile training runs but recovering quickly. At the weekend however I did 68 miles. After 15 I had to stop and adjust the saddle and borrow a friend's gel seat cover. Felt like I had a boat between my legs but I got round OK. Trouble is I also got a burning pain between my shoulder blades. After I got back I recovered pretty quickly but went out on a 28 mile ride three days later and I'm in agony. Cuts everywhere and my neck and vertebrae feel like there is something wriggling around in there coupled with the burning.

I feel really :( because my legs are fine and I'm really getting into the rides but I'm scared to get back on the bike because of the pain elsewhere. I've only got a month to go before the event. My bike is in for some nipping and tweaking to the handlebars to try to remedy the neck pain but it's now 2 days since my last ride and it's still burning.

1) what are you wearing in the way of shorts/tights?

and

2) what's the old saddle, and what saddle are you currently testing?

I've got Scott female specific 3/4 cycling shorts

The old saddle was a Bontrager one which came with the bike

The test one is by velo (I think) but it's much fatter. At first I thought it was OK but now I just don't know.

Check out some Terry saddles. You can get a Terry saddle to try for 30 days with no questions asked return privileges. You might ask on the Terry forums about your problem too, they're at

http://forums.terrybicycles.com/index.php

One of the Liberators might be your best bet. According to the blurbs, they have a "larger cutaway".

Riding the wrong saddle is sheer torture. When I tried to ride the Terry Butterfly Ti, which is a "better" saddle than the Butterfly CrMo that came on the bike, I was miserable. I'm glad the CrMo worked for me because the thought of testing saddle after saddle to find the "right" one (or at least A right one) curdles my blood. In that case I was better of sticking to the saddle I already had, thank goodness the first saddle I tried was a keeper.

I found also, that, rather than thinking of sitting on saddle, I think of myself as three point contact - buns, feet, hands. Then weight is more even. Thats holding me until new saddle arrives.( selle SMP mens, as I have a skinny pelvis, being petite and small boned.)
Also, skinny chix will well, 'stick out' more down there. As well as comfy girls. So either end of spectrum, your going to have to get special saddle.

I still dont know what to do about shorts( other thread). Nothing works!

My problem doesn't seem to be one that has been mentioned before, so I hope for some new suggestions.

I was one of the lucky people who had a good bike shop who insisted that my first saddle would be the ladies selle italia, so until buying a time trial bike I haven't had any difficulty. Now on my new bike with a selle italia ladies SLK saddle, I keep on getting a rubbed spot above the labia in the area where there is no hair - only on the right side though. I've solved pressure problems by tilting my saddle down 5 degrees, and I've put a new chamois in my skin suit (the old one was a men's chamois with a seam which I thought was causing the rubbing), but on today's 40 km time trial after 30 km I could feel that I'd rubbed the area raw again. When I'm not in the aero posistion this spot doesn't rub, so it's definitely due to being in the position where I'm rotated over and down more.

The guys use saddles with very soft noses, but after trying 3 of these, I find that I have to have the cutout to relieve pressure, but that isn't helping with the friction 'burn'.

Any suggestions

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by equus123

Hi all,

I don't intend to get graphic with this discussion but I'm curious if anybody shares the same problem that I do....

I've never had a saddle that's been super comfortable but the Terry Butterfly that I've had the past 2+ years has been pretty good for me. I can't use a saddle without a cutout because it causes an immense amount of pain and I've recently come to realize that it's because I have very large labia majora. So the necessity of having a cutout is imperative because of the larger amount of soft tissue than the average female.

What really sucks about it is that the majority of women don't have this problem and it already stinks to be a female cyclist - having to sit on all of our parts! Men are so lucky because they can move it out of the way. I really feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place because there's nothing I can do with *mine* but sit....and deal with it.....

Does anybody else have this? I ask because I thought that I was just odd in that I would never find a comfy saddle but then I came to realize *why*. Forgive me for crossing the line but most days, it looks like I have little balls because they actually do hang down from my body a little. aaaahhhhhh :confused::mad:

---

I discovered Tea Tree Oil Salve when I suffered from recurring yeast infections, and I have found that a dab or two around the labia after your shower is very helpful in soothing and healing. The brand I use is by "Desert Palm," and available in the Health Food store. good luck!