My saddle is killing me

I have been riding for a few months and have been several short rides (30 miles or less) and a few long rides (40+ miles). On all of these ride my vaginal area gets really sore. Like someone kicked me. As I sit here right now (two days after my last ride) it still hurts. I "upgraded" the saddle when I bought the bike, so I don't think it is that. I am thinking it may be my reach to the handlebars. Against my better judgement, I did not get a women's specific bike. I am not short, but I am all legs, very high waisted, and very short arms. I have been concerned with the reach from day one, but the men at the store that the bike fit fine. They had to get me a shorter stem, though. Also making me think it is the reach is that my neck and shoulders hurt too. So, can anyone offer any advice? I lobe riding , but hate the pain.

Welcome to the forum!

Let's see, where to start... Just because you upgraded the saddle on the bike doesn't mean that you have the right saddle for you. The last time I needed a saddle for a bike - the one I had been happy with was no longer sold, so I had to start from scratch - it took me 4 saddles before I found one that worked for me. I tried 2 different Terry Saddles, a Specialized, and the one that I liked was a Fizik Vitesse. And I found that my body didn't like the feel of the saddles with a cutout. But we're all different... Check with your bike shop and see if they have a stash of saddles that can be borrowed / tried out for fit. You might want to check out the Favorite Saddles discussion (scroll down on the main page to find it, or click here).

On the back pain - you're right, it could be related to the reach. Do you have a WSD bike? Did your LBS really do a fitting, or did someone just eyeball you and the bike?

--- Denise

Thanks for the link. At least I am not alone with this pain. I think I may try to go back to the LBS and talk to them about my fit and pain. THey are all men, so we'll see how it goes. No, I don't have a womens specific bike. I wish I did. My next one will be.

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Originally Posted by agl1975

No, I don't have a womens specific bike. I wish I did. My next one will be.

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My bikes are all custom, but my body proportions really don't need a WSD - but it sounds like you might have a better fit on one. You might be interested in this discussion from earlier this year:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=2994

Oh, and you and Shaula must have posted about back pain at the same time!

Did you see her thread?
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=4183

If it feels like someone kicked you in the vaginal area, that seems like it would be a fit issue. I've had saddles cause my sitbones to feel bruised and my soft tissue burn, but I've never had it feel like I was kicked in the crotch. Is your weight on your sit bones?? Have you tried tilting your seat down at all? Maybe look for a shorter stem if you feel too stretched out. There was a link someone posted on here once to an article on how to make sure you fit your bike properly, I'll try to find it. I would definitely take it to your lbs though and have them check the fit again. I guess every saddle can effect you differently, but that seems odd to me to have a bruised feeling in the vaginal area, for me the bruises are always in the sitbones. Maybe other girls here have had that problem with a saddle though, I'm not that experienced!

Oh, just wanted to add, Denise is definitely right though, many times it take multiple saddles to find the right on, so I wouldn't assume it's a good saddle because it's upgraded. I just haven't had that type of pain from a saddle before

Thanks for the responses. I am so sore. Me and my husband tried to "be together" yesterday and the pain was too much. Do you think a LBS where I didn't buy my bike would help me in this situation? The only person I liked at the bike shop I bought my bike quit - she found a different career so she could have more time riding. There is a bike shop really close to my house that I have heard good things about.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by agl1975

Thanks for the responses. I am so sore. Me and my husband tried to "be together" yesterday and the pain was too much. Do you think a LBS where I didn't buy my bike would help me in this situation? The only person I liked at the bike shop I bought my bike quit - she found a different career so she could have more time riding. There is a bike shop really close to my house that I have heard good things about.

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Any LBS should be able to help out. Go to the one you feel most comfortable with. I bought my bike at a Bike shop in Sacramento (got a good deal) but always go to the LBS for any problems or queries the other is just too far away and I like the staff much better at my LBS. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by agl1975

I have been riding for a few months and have been several short rides (30 miles or less) and a few long rides (40+ miles). On all of these ride my vaginal area gets really sore. Like someone kicked me. As I sit here right now (two days after my last ride) it still hurts. I "upgraded" the saddle when I bought the bike, so I don't think it is that. I am thinking it may be my reach to the handlebars. Against my better judgement, I did not get a women's specific bike. I am not short, but I am all legs, very high waisted, and very short arms. I have been concerned with the reach from day one, but the men at the store that the bike fit fine. They had to get me a shorter stem, though. Also making me think it is the reach is that my neck and shoulders hurt too. So, can anyone offer any advice? I lobe riding , but hate the pain.

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so glad to see this isn't just me. any changes you can suggest since you wrote this last?

You also should research adjustable stems. I have one on one of my bikes. It really has helped!

No one has asked this and I don't think you mentioned it, but you ARE wearing PADDED bicycle shorts, aren't you?

If not, get thee to a LBS and buy a pair - that may make all the difference in the world to you. And if you already have them, well, never mind.

I went through 5 seats before I got one that was comfy. My bike shop was very good about letting me try seats till I got one that I liked (which they ordered in for me).

Just a little helper tip regarding healing. (My saddle's not going the distance, either:rolleyes:) After my big ride on Sat, my vulva area was just a little sore - but then got irritated by something I put in the bath water. DH suggested the aloe gel with lidocaine that we keep in the fridge for sunburns. It worked GREAT (but I let it warm up a little;) Hope you're mended and "getting back together."

In terms of an adjustable stem - I got this one from a place called yellow jersey -the AX50 adapter
- but it is a cool and easy to install adjustable stem
Try this:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/ax50.html

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Originally Posted by withm

No one has asked this and I don't think you mentioned it, but you ARE wearing PADDED bicycle shorts, aren't you?

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Oh, so true. I've been riding 3 years, and have not ridden in anything but bike shorts in that time. But, awhile back, I decided to hop on the trainer indoors for a brief, easy, 15-minute recovery spin before doing some rolling-pin massage. I jumped on the bike in jeans, thinking, it is only for a few minutes.

I didn't realize it, but I had gone totally numb from the jeans' center seam in those 15 minutes, and when the feeling returned, I felt pain I could not have imagined. Now when I see people riding out there in anything but lycra, I am amazed, and I will now put on cycling shorts for ANY time on the bike.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by latelatebloomer

Just a little helper tip regarding healing. (My saddle's not going the distance, either:rolleyes:) After my big ride on Sat, my vulva area was just a little sore - but then got irritated by something I put in the bath water. DH suggested the aloe gel with lidocaine that we keep in the fridge for sunburns. It worked GREAT (but I let it warm up a little;) Hope you're mended and "getting back together."

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Aquaphor also works great for chafing in the nether-regions. I used it a lot--post-ride--this past winter.

You said you have short arms? Did they position your handlebars in relation to your saddle to accomodate them? Are you bending from the hips or from the waist? Are you curving your back to reach the handlebars? You should be in a neutral position and may require the handlebars be raised.

Are the handlebars short reach? Many WSD bikes include short reach handlebars. They bring the brifters closer to you and center you better over the bike.

Also, your saddle could be too high. Try lowering it slightly to see if that helps.