Pain While Riding

Hi,

I'm brand new to this forum...and glad to find it! I recently started biking to decrease my increasingly expanding frame.
I've riden over one hundred miles in two weeks and it's been the best thing I've done for myself in three years. Here's the "down" side.....I have quite a bit of discomfort "down there" when I ride for more than 30 minutes....which is daily at this point; and I'd like to increase my time from one hour to two hours this next month. I purchased a gel seat and it does help...but I still find myself having to go to a standing position to alleviate the pressure on my "girl parts". I figured since you all were open enough to discuss comfort during periods...I thought I'd ask for some advice on this subject. Is this common? What can I do to reduce the discomfort? Thanks for your feedback and Hello to all!

Make sure your saddle is adjusted so that you're sitting on your sit bones. There shouldn't be any pressure on your folds. Most women seem to like the saddle to be nearly flat but with the nose canted down slightly. That's how I ride on my tandem. On my road bike since my handle bars are nearly level with my saddle, I prefer the saddle nose to be canted up slightly. Play with the position to find what works for you. I find gel saddles to be too squishy to really feel my sit bones on. But we're all different. Just remember pain is not something you have to ride with. Bikes are not supposed to be uncomfortable.

Veronica

I just switched to a Terry Liberator saddle which is firm for the sit bones, but has a cut out in the front. It makes a tremendous difference for me. I don't have near the chaffing that I used to have and it seems to help prevent some of the numbness I was having in my feet.

I just found this site and I'm just butting right in....The things that have helped me with that issue were tipping my seat just slightly down and using a saddle with the cut out. I also find a good pair of padded shorts makes a pretty big difference for me. I have one pair that I can only ride in for about an hour.

For me it was a combination of switching to a saddle with a cut out and adjusting my handle bars. I found the tilt of my bars meant I was just a touch too stretched out, so was putting too much pressure on my 'girl bits'.

I must admit, I did suffer in silence for quite a long time when I started out, as I thought maybe it was something you got used to over time, but since I made the switch I can't belive I put up with the discomfort for so long! :eek: :)

Veronica,

You are everywhere girl! Good for you.

My "sit bones" huh? I need to see what that's like. I have a Gel seat, but my (and I love this - ) "folds", do seem to be taking on some pressure that's not so comfy. So, should I take me and my bike to my bike shop and make them measure me to fit the bike appropriately? They "looked me over" on the bike, when I bought it, and adjusted it, but I wonder how accurate this guy was. I totally trust them, they are bikers themselves.

My left thumb and forefingers get numb too. I wonder if I'm too close to the handlebars? Got any ideas?

respects,
klr

I'd never felt my sit bones until I got a Brooks saddle. They're leather and you'd think they would be wicked uncomfortable, but they're not. I love mine. They sort of conform to your shape.

My hands used to fall asleep a lot on the tandem. We flipped the handlebars around to move them a touch further away and up. You can't flip your handlebars, but you might think about raising your stem.

Veronica

I'm assuming (which could make me an *****) that you all are riding road bikes. I've been riding a hybrid for the past year and a half, so this mat be way off base. But, after trying out three different saddles (Selle, Specialized WSD, and Terry Liberator)I went to the weird and wonderful www.spongywonder.com. It felt very odd at first, but now Ilove it. No pressure anywhere, plus lots of cooling airflow. I am goin gto be buying a road bike soon, so not sure what will hapopen then, but if you really can't get comfortable, give this a try.

Your spongywonder is made about 5 mins (across the river) from where I live. I'm going to take a drive over and check it out. It looks pretty odd, but I have an open mind.

Cindy

Quote:

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Originally posted by Veronica
I'd never felt my sit bones until I got a Brooks saddle. They're leather and you'd think they would be wicked uncomfortable, but they're not. I love mine. They sort of conform to your shape.

Veronica

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I echo this! I have had a leather saddle for 10 years (not the same saddle, but same brand) - it's a San Marco. No cut outs, just looks like a real cool saddle with gold trim. The leather does conform to your butt. It takes a couple of weeks, but you'll throw rocks at anything else.

I have an mtb that came with a fancy cut out saddle & it isn't nearly as comfortable. (Full suspension mtb, so can't be the ride) It's soft and wider than my "male" saddle.

Disclaimer - I have narrow sit bones - never had kids, so they never spread out (so I'm told):p

Are you wearing cycling pants? If not, they are worth every dollar you pay for them. That would help your croch pain alot. Make sure you get a pair with 6-8 panels in them. The more panels the more expensive they are. Also be sure to buy pants made for women. That is important.

to Ridin a giant: did you check out the spongywonders?
to Dogmama : I had a leather saddle 32 years ago on my first "ten speed" 'bike. I don't remember it bothering me, but of course, I don't remember much from those days.
to Barrb46: I agree, bike shorts make a tremendous difference.
Now to all of you, I just went out on Sunday and bought a R800 Feminine Cannondale road bike. Woohoo! It's so fast. A couple of new things for me - cleats for one. Love them, what a difference. It makes it so easy. And if I may brag a bit, I have not fallen, so far...
The saddle is a Terry Butterfly. I'm not sure about it yet. The rear end part or 'sit bone' stuff seems OK, but up towards the front... I know ones ears and nose keep growing, but labia? Seems a bit of pressure there. I'm going to give it a while to get used to, but I may end up with another spongywonder. Anyone try the Koobi saddles? They look to be cut out all the way to the nose, so that could be a possibility.

I'm new to riding too, and still trying to get comfortable on my hybrid. A cut-out saddle and padded shorts have made a big difference. Everyone keeps telling me you just have to experiment with the various components of fit (seat height, stem height, etc.) until you get it, but I'm finding it a frustrating process.

cyclingnewbie and all newbies - don't, don't, don't give up on trying to get the comfy fit right! Just keep trying (sounds cheesey!) I know it's frustrating, been there myself and ocassionally go back whenever I have to switch to a new saddle (like now, cuz they discontinued my old one) or find shorts. Of course, there are those days when it all just "isn't!"
And many of us 'old timers' can tell stories of when saddles were two selections - superwidetractorsize or incredibly narrow floss width. Or the jerseys that were butt cupping/too long, shorts that "X" marked the spot--of pain! And just plain ugerlie too :)
But you'll reach it - whoo hoo - and you'll know it!

Rd,

Thanks for the encouragement. My bike is currently in the shop for a tuneup and, when I pick it up on Saturday, I'm going to have the LBS guy take a look at the fit again. Hopefully he can fine tune it a bit and get me a better ride. I'm glad to hear that, once I get the fit right, cycling will be more comfortable. I have been out in the middle of nowhere, pondering my 25 miles back to the car, thinking that bikes are just miserable and that's all there is to it!! I'm glad to hear that you think I CAN get comfortable so I can enjoy the view.

cyclingnewbie -
Gotta tell ya, I identify with the being out there & wondering how you want to get back home from 'soft bits' pain. When I moved back to TX I was reluctant to ride far cuz the 'soft bits' hurt and didn't realize at time (sigh, another learning experience) that saddle was pretty worn & the new cut outs were just coming on market - some of 'em were pretty awful too!
Take heart still (& body parts!) when you get over the learning curve (again, still, forever??!) your experience will really help you be able to buy the things that work best. I can usually go to shorts & check the pad to see if I even like the amt, then try them on. Shoes, I can try them on and usually know how they will feel w/socks on (winter riding apparel for me) or ok w/o. Then w/shoes on bike, adjust the saddle height just a smidge up/down to allow for knee bend. When you start out, its just so darn much to figure out, and guys in bike shops can be good (mostly) but they don't, er, ride like girls! I mean, getting fit right on bike, getting comfortble w/that & learning how to handle solo & group riding. Not to mention clothes for all times of year!EEEEEEeck.
But its still sooooo much fun. Just keep posting, we'll all help out.
tracey

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm glad to read that the fit/comfort thing isn't just me because I'm out of shape, too old, etc.!!

Totally agree on the fit advice. Keep plugging and keep asking for help, if you have to go to another place, do it.

It's a totally different experience when it fits right.

I had a Terry Liberator on my Diamondback hybrid. Loved it.

Did not love it on my new Specialized Dolce road bike. To much presure on the parts. Talked to the boys at the shop. Came home with a Serfas Itallia. It has a wider cutout than the liberator.

I played with height a bit, moved it front and back, tipped it down in front. It still isn't right. With the seat level,l I get pain in the front ( I seem to have an extra fold develope in the folds -like riding with wrinkle in your sock, only worse).

We rode 50 miles Saturday, and again on Sunday. Sunday I tipped the seat nose down one more notch-the parts were better (still not great) but my sit bones were screaming-They are still muttering at me this morning. It feels like they hit the seat on the outside curved part, rather than the flat part, and put pressure where nature didn't intend presure to be.

I wanted to check out my theory, so actually messured the sit bones-they are 4 inches apart. I don't know if that is wide or not, (I do know my rear is curvy, not sleek) but it does indeed look like it hits the curves of the seat instead of the flat.

When I got the bike, the guy spend a lot of time making sure it fit me, so I don't think that is the problem. I love the guys at my LBS, but they are guys, and just don't have the same issues.

I am trading the Serfas in tomorrow, but don't know what to try next. Any ideas?

HI Sandra, another spokanite here!! Which bike shop do you use?

Irulan

Hi There,

I believe I ran into you at two wheel transit the day I was buying my seat. You turned me on to this forum. We talked about places to buy lycra for shorts, and what to use for the pad.

I like TWT, but must confess, I bought the bike at wheel sport-cause I liked it best.

heh, that would be me. Welcome to TE, this is a pretty good group.

Wheelsport has a good reputation but for some reason I never go there.


if you dig around on this site, there's lots of good discusion about saddles, soreness and things people do to get more comfort.

penny

The lifter of Heavy Objects works with the manager of the south hill wheel sport, and one of my co-worker's hubby works at the division store, but I don't go there often either. Just not in my line of travel.

I will poke around on the site more for ideas about butt pain. :)

Have you had a proper bike fit? I know that if your bike does not fit you correctly it can cause pressure and then pain in all sorts of places, including your "down there" regions. It might be weird discussing it with a male bike mechanic, but the bike fit might be worth it.

I bought the bike about 2 months ago, and the guy at the bike shop spent quite a bit of time making sure things were right, changed out the handlebar parts, fussed with the seat height and front to back-so I don't think fit is the problem with this bike.

Lots of the posts I have been reading talk about women with narrow hips wanting narrow saddles. I have the opposite problem. My hips are not narrow-I think my sit bones are just to wide for the seat. It is a theory at least.

A benefit of getting older-I am not much likely to be embarrassed by talking about the problem with the guys at the shop-and the shop I go to has older guys working during the week, instead of young kids who will blush so nicely. :)