"Girly" question

Ok, this is a little embarassing, but I need help. I've finished two 1/2-iron distance tri's as well as my first IM in July. (Yahoo!) Obviously, like you I do lots of riding. My problem is this...my pubic area is soooo sore during my rides, that I can barely stand to ride longer distances. Some people complain about their butts hurting...but my problem is in the front....especially at my "hot spot" if you know what I mean :o It typically hurts for a day or so after a long ride...and that stinks for me and my husband :D

I have had a professional fitting, I use a women's specific saddle, Assos women's bike shorts (that cost $$$) as well as Body Glide "down there". But the problem presists. How are you able to stay in the aero position for long rides without losing all feeling in one of the most sensitive areas? HELP!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Star

How are you able to stay in the aero position for long rides without losing all feeling in one of the most sensitive areas? HELP!!!

---

Hi Star, sorry I don't have an answer for you but I did have another question. In the races you're doing are you emerging from the water and hopping on a bike...if so (since you've tried all the other options) maybe it's irritation from being too wet there?? :confused:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Star

I use a women's specific saddle

---

Have you tried different saddles or a men's saddle? The tri position put you forward and down on your saddle. The pressure points are very different than a typical road position. Also, a custom fitting doesn't mean you can't experiment. All it means is that the LBS has done the best they can at giving you a good solid starting point.

I have never used saddles with a cut out. I was surprised to see at the triathlon on Saturday that just about everyone was using a cut-out saddle and they all looked pretty far forward (which I did expect) on the post to get the cut out in the best spot.

I use a non-gender-specific saddle - a Fi'zik Vitesse, and I am very happy with it. Before I finally found this one, I tried a couple of saddles sold as women-specific, both with and without a cut-out. None of them were comfortable for me, and the one with the cut-out was surprisingly worse than the others. I'd recommend checking with your bike shop to see if they have some saddles you can borrow and try.

--- Denise

Denise, the Vitesse _is_ a women's saddle, although they now make a men's version, I think. Apparently a lot of men liked it- you can read reviews on it and the men are all saying "so what if I like a women's saddle..." Anyway, that's my favorite saddle of all time, an old one, not one with gel. I finally got BF on it (who's on the eternal perfect saddle quest) and he HATED it. That might have been because I have it sloped uphill a little bit, though. A couple saddles before that, though, I had a cut out saddle. The edges of the cutout rubbed me raw! I hated it.

Star, if you have a saddle with a pretty narrow nose, you can set your sensitive bits on one side or the other of the nose, and not have pressure on anything. It only takes a very slight adjustment. Your sit bones stay in the same place.

Nanci

I know when I picked out a saddle when I bought my bike (I got a unisex one with a cut out) my LBS said it had a 30 day comfort guarentee. If I didn't like it - just bring it back within 30 days and I could try something else. I got lucky on the first try though.

In addition to finding the right saddle, there are a few other things you might want to try....

1. Shaving
2. get the right type of shorts...shorts where the padding is moved closer to your frontside (I'm assuming that you have a triathlon bike and are riding in the aero position) You also might want a thinner/less bulky pad (but not too thin - like so many tri specific shorts are)

during the Race Across America... I was in the aeroposition a lot. I tried the liberator saddles with cut-outs witht the results of saddles sores on the sides of the crotch. I thereafter switched to saddleco saddle... the saddle that is made out of a mesh.. I rode on that one for the remainder of my race... and I could pee during the whole race. Previously I have had problems in ultraces in becoming so sore... that it hurts like hell to pee.
I used the Fizik saddle aliente on my climbing bike and love that one. That one does not have a cut-out... but since on the climbing bike I would be more upright, put more pressure on legs and aleviate pressure on butt... it worked well.
I used A&D ointment liberally on my front part of my crotch.... and I mean put a large amount in there....
Then the shorts... invest in a pair of shorts with good padding... I use pearl izumi and sugoi.. top of the line... it is worth it.
Cheers,
Cat.

Besides my Azoto tri saddle, I too have a Aliante. It is worth every penny - even if it does cost $200.

A saddle cover by QR or DeSoto might help also....

Quote:

---

I tried the liberator saddles with cut-outs witht the results of saddles sores on the sides of the crotch.

---

This happened to me when my seat was too high. Once I lowered it a little, that pain went away.

When I first bought my tri bike, I had the same problem with pain in the "hot spot" area after a long ride - the saddle that came with the bike was a QR saddle with no cutout. I switched to a saddle with a cutout and it made all the difference - no more pain down there! I have the Terry Butterfly Tri saddle and really like it, although I wish the nose was just a little thinner. Too long on that one can produce saddle sores, though not every time. But for what you're experiencing, I'd first try a saddle with a cut-out, if you already don't have one. Good luck!

Are you sure that you're sitting on your sitbones and ONLY your sitbones? I had this problem when I was using a saddle that was too narrow. Once I found the Specialized saddles that were wide enough, I didn't have this problem. If your sitbones are supporting your weight, those other parts shouldn't be touching anything.

Pedal Wench - do you sit only on your sitbones in the aero position? When I'm in an aggresive aero position - down on the aero bars for long periods of time, I'm so far forward, that most of my weight is not on my sit bones. Now, on my road bike, yes, but not on my tri bike. Should I be completely on my sit bones on my tri bike? How is that do-able? Thanks!

Performance Bicycle http://www.performancebike.com/
says they will accept any return anytime, including saddles as long as you keep the original receipt. I find that much easier than my LBS, since the selections are quite poor in my town, so they've got to order them anyway. Narrow your search from the advice on this site, then just give one a try. There is a dropdown menu on the homepage of this site at bottom right called "Forum Search" that I find useful, though not as obvious to find as it might be. In the menu is a section called "Gear and Accessories" where you will find "Favorite Saddles" and "Most Hated Saddles".
Sorry if this is twice-told for the regulars.

Thanks for the input ladies. My local shop ordered the Fi'zik Vitesse and I tried it on Saturday...I was in more pain after 60 miles than when I finished the IM bike :eek: I stopped to adjust the seat position a couple of times, but my crotch, toes and shoulders were barking. Before, I was using Specialized with a cut out...but I think its too wide, which caused sores. I did like the more narrow nose on the Vitesse. I was so frustrated and in so much pain yesterday that I almost threw my bike in the trash! haha I need to get this figured out before I go crazy!

Anyone use a San Marco?

Also, about shaving....I have only a landing strip down there but I think that adds to the pain on longer rides...do you wax or what??? I got waxed down there ONCE...and will not do it again :D

And JmcG's question is the million dollar question: how do you stay in the aeroposition and sit on your sitbones?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Star

Anyone use a San Marco?
Also, about shaving....I have only a landing strip down there but I think that adds to the pain on longer rides...do you wax or what??? I got waxed down there ONCE...and will not do it again :D
And JmcG's question is the million dollar question: how do you stay in the aeroposition and sit on your sitbones?

---

Star - I have the Selle San Marco Atola and I like it so far. Im only a newbie though so I have not spent the sort of time you do on this saddle. I do ride in the drops though and have found it to be fine. Another San Marco saddle that has had good reviews here is the Aero.

Good luck with the saddle search. I really can understand your frustration. The Atola is my third saddle the others caused soft tissue pain.

Hi Star,, welcome to the boards...

There are quite a few threads and loads of discussion about shaving, waxing or trimming - if you do a search you are bound to find them

The consensus seems to be;

shaving does create ingrown hairs...

waxing and depilatory creams can create ingrown hairs if you are not careful...

trimming (ie, giving yourself a number one over the lips etc) does not create ingrown hairs and yet still avoids long hairs tweaking and pulling...

I use a combination of depilatory cream and trimming.
Good luck