What a pain in the butt!

[IGGY]

Hi gals-can you help me please? I got a trainer for Christmas (woot) and I have been on it every day and my *** is killing me. Before the trainer, I might be able to squeeze in 10 miles a week, twice. On a good week (kids, husbands work schedule etc.)
I figured from my "vast" knowledge of spinning class (ha ha ha), that my butt would harden up. Well, it hasn't.
I realize that I've put more miles on my bike since Christmas than since I got it, and it feels great to say that, but my backside is complaining.
My question is:
ride through the discomfort or take a day off?
My shorts and my saddle are the same, they've never bothered me even after my one really long (22 miles-really long for me at the time) ride! I was not sore at all. It's the same kind of oh my sit bones feel like knives pain that I got when I first started taking spinning classes. It went away after about four classes, when I got my saddle butt.
Thanks!
Nicole

[alpinerabbit]

I think a couple days off would be the solution to your massive periostitis you probably have acquired. There is a big step going from twice a week to daily, as I found out (rather pain-stakingly) on the occasion of our first training camp.

The usual saddles on spin bikes have much more padding than regular bike saddles. Don't know anything about yours.

[Irulan]

1. tip the nose of your saddle down - for a lot of people a few degrees down from level works well.
2. you are wearing your padded shorts commando, correct? That is how they are designed to be work.
3. spin bike saddles SUCK. A good bike saddle will support you on your sit bones and does not have a lot of padding. You might need to try a few: Terry, Selle d'Italia, Specialized all make great saddles

[IGGY]

1. tip the nose of your saddle down - for a lot of people a few degrees down from level works well.
2. you are wearing your padded shorts commando, correct? That is how they are designed to be work.
3. spin bike saddles SUCK. A good bike saddle will support you on your sit bones and does not have a lot of padding. You might need to try a few: Terry, Selle d'Italia, Specialized all make great saddles

yes, commando under the shorts. I'm weight bearing a ton on my arms. I haven't managed to stand and spin with the trainer, so I spend a long time sitting...but it's definitely my hard bones, not my feminine bits that hurt.
I've been off the bike for three hours and I'm still hurting.
I have a velo saddle that came with the bike.

[parity]

Does it only hurt when you are on the trainer? Do you have a block under the front tire so you are level when on the bike? Otherwise you will be in a sloping position like going downhill, which could put pressure in the wrong places. You can buy a special block or just use some wood.

[Irulan]

yes, commando under the shorts. I'm weight bearing a ton on my arms. I haven't managed to stand and spin with the trainer, so I spend a long time sitting...but it's definitely my hard bones, not my feminine bits that hurt.
I've been off the bike for three hours and I'm still hurting.
I have a velo saddle that came with the bike.

that sounds terrible!! Second the "make sure bike is level". I use a phone book.
And, try a different saddle. I have specialized on all four of my bikes, I lovelovelove them, even my trainer bike which I do all seated.

[IGGY]

that sounds terrible!! Second the "make sure bike is level". I use a phone book.
And, try a different saddle. I have specialized on all four of my bikes, I lovelovelove them, even my trainer bike which I do all seated.

okay, that is good, I use a phone book also, and was afraid that it had to do with the fact that I sit the entire time. If I stand, I have to go really slowly, or my legs just slam down on the pedals (if that makes sense). I know it has to do with building up my core, but I worry more about sitting and maintaining 90 rpm than standing, I'm 20 lbs. overweight.
My husband stopped tonight and got me a different saddle. (gel) It's pretty narrow, not huge, so we'll see.
My plan for now is to put the new saddle on, take a day off, then try it again. I could definitely ride for longer than 30 mins at 90 rpm if my butt didn't hurt!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Iggy, all I can say is that when i first started riding a lot, my sitbones were in AGONY- like knives as you say. over a week or two the pain subsided and then I was fine unless I went for weeks without riding again.
I think it's a good sign that the pain is definitely on your sitbones- that is where your weight should be, and this proves that's where your weight is landing.
I think your tissues around those sitbones are really sore and bruised right now and you just need to take a day off (maybe two) and then ride smaller amounts but more often, to give it a chance to adapt.
When I was in awful sitbone pain at first, my DH said to trust him, it would fade away. I didn't believe him at the time, but sure enough he was right.
Good luck, and I hope it does fade away after a rest and more time riding smaller amounts. You need to build up more slowly perhaps.

[Irulan]

gel, wide >>>> those are all ick and probably contributing to the problem. A good saddle is narrow, and firm.

Also, if you are slamming when you stand, you might want to increase your resistance for standing....?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

gel, wide >>>> those are all ick and probably contributing to the problem. A good saddle is narrow, and firm.

I agree about the gel- gel can cause pain!
I agree that a firm saddle is usually more comfortable.

But narrow....well.....let's just say if I had a narrow saddle it might just become the world's worst wedgie. I might need to have it surgically removed.

[Irulan]

I agree about the gel- gel can cause pain!
I agree that a firm saddle is usually more comfortable.

But narrow....well.....let's just say if I had a narrow saddle it might just become the world's worst wedgie. I might need to have it surgically removed.

LOL, this is why there are so many saddle choices out there....

[malkin]

In real life riding, there's a lot more variety for my butt, pedal, coast, stand up, sit down, wait for traffic light, I'm in and out of the saddle all the time.

Indoors, it's butt to saddle the whole time (unless I crash off the rollers) so it is a lot more tiring for Les Demoiselles Derrieres.

[OakLeaf]

.let's just say if I had a narrow saddle it might just become the world's worst wedgie.

+1

If the pain's in your sitbones, then your (old) saddle is almost certainly the right width.

Too narrow is what's going to shred your girly bits. Gel will do that also.

My money's on (1) much more frequent riding than you were doing and (2) being on the trainer where you rarely change position (unless your outdoor rides were flatland pacelines, which are pretty much the same thing). Ease into it a bit and you should be fine.

[IGGY]

Thank you all for responding. I'm going to take the day off tomorrow and then see how it goes.
slowly.
in the saddle.
gradual, baby steps!
Have a great night!
Nicole

[malkin]

I might need to have it surgically removed.

True for me too, but Lamaze might be an alternative to surgery.