Owwww after a great ride

[Bethany1]

I know there's plenty of posts on girly bits but after yesterday's ride it finally hit me why I've had a such a hard time cycling. It's not my legs or bladder begging for mercy, it's my girly bits.

I just thought I had to go to the bathroom a lot while on a bike as the urge is always there despite several stops in the middle of the woods but nothing really happens. I kept thinking it was my bladder until I used a real bathroom at the gas station yesterday and was in so much pain I wanted to cry.

I took my Mukluk up to Lincoln and had a blast yesterday. The Skratch stuff is amazing and bought a bag of it with the tin at the LBS. Despite it being 100 degrees, I wasn't sick or bloated. I only did nine miles because of the heat, but it was great.

I felt relaxed knowing people were on the trails and that I didn't need to panic about being in the middle of nowhere. There were paved trails all over and I actually hit 17 mph on the bike going down one of the trails. If I can hit 17mph on a 33lb bike, I should be able to fly on my Fargo the next time I head up.

Since I could actually relax and enjoy myself I realized I'm pressing down while I ride and the saddle is jammed up my rear. I'm constantly shifting around looking for comfort and I think my chamois is part of the problem because of the shifting. It's a men's pair of shorts (I can't fit into women's as I'm too fat) and the stores don't carry anything higher than an X-large in mens. I've actually lost weight as the shorts fit much better than they used to, but I know they are too small.

Obviously a better fitting pair of shorts and saddle is the solution but I've tried several over the past year and nothing seems to work. I slide down and cut outs seem to give more space to fall into. My Brooks fit well in the back, but once I'd get off the bike, a few hours later the outside of my legs would ache with pain. The representative at Brooks didn't have an answer.

The LBS don't carry anything name brand or they are comfort style with too much padding. After having to buy a new washer, I just don't have the money to test out saddles or buy new clothing. I wish clothing and saddles weren't so expensive.

It's nice to know what the problem is, now to just find a solution. Anything that helps until everything heals up?

[Biciclista]

the OUTSIDE of your leg hurt with the brooks? do you still have the brooks? I don't get how the outside of your leg has anything at all to do with the saddle.
There are a million threads on here about saddle issues, but you might just want to try lubrication?
I don't think this has anything to do with your weight; but poor fitting shorts could be an issue too, I guess. I'd be looking at saddle/bike fit first though. Good luck

[Crankin]

No wonder you are in pain. Men's chamois are shaped quite differently than women's, for obvious reasons. While I guess some women can wear men's stuff, I would think that it might be a real issue for most.
There are nice women's shorts in XL, XXL, or plus sized, right here on TE. Ask them for help. Terry makes a lot of their shorts in plus sizes.
I know you said money was tight, but I hate to see someone's enjoyment ruined by a pair of shorts. I have experienced that feeling of having to "go," but it was really irritation. For me, it was a saddle issue, as well as saddle position.

[lph]

Just for the record, my favourite pair of shorts is a mens style. I haven't quite figured out why, but it just... works.

I tend to stand a lot when I bike. I don't plan to, it just happens. And I can get some of that squashed, having to pee or numb feeling when touring or riding slowly with my family, simply because I spend much more time sitting than when I ride alone. Maybe it would help if you got up out of the saddle more?

[Bethany1]

I bought men's mountain bike shorts since they fit the best out of my choices last year. They have a mesh undergarment with the chamois.

Went to my LBS about a saddle. I came back home and realized the saddle wasn't going to fit on the seat post. Sigh. I took both bikes up and the mechanic fiddled with the saddle. He realized that all I was doing was sitting on the nose of the saddle. I suggested a smaller stem and he agreed. He dug one up in the back and put it on. Much better as I was more upright but still on the nose.

He rummaged around some more and came up with an adjustable stem that let me put the bar up/down where I needed. It pushed me back up onto the back of the saddle.

Soo..for a test ride when I got home. I like being more upright, but I'm still sitting on the nose and I think the saddle is too wide in the back as I can feel my hips rocking and I still feel like I have to go to the bathroom.

Yay for the stem solution. Nay for this saddle.

As we talked about my Fargo, it almost seems too small (Mukluk was the one we fiddled with) so I must be between Salsa's sizes.

Any suggestions for a specific sizing of a saddle? I can't find the cardboard that has the saddle I purchased but I think it was the Commuter Gel CRZ+. It's either 180 or 190 mm from Bontrager's site.

With a little more fiddling, hopefully I can get more comfortable.

[lauraelmore1033]

Junonia! The big girl's best friend. They do indeed make shorts as big as you'd need em. Terry (available here on Team Estrogen) also makes a few plus sized shorts.

[goldfinch]

He rummaged around some more and came up with an adjustable stem that let me put the bar up/down where I needed. It pushed me back up onto the back of the saddle.

Soo..for a test ride when I got home. I like being more upright, but I'm still sitting on the nose and I think the saddle is too wide in the back as I can feel my hips rocking and I still feel like I have to go to the bathroom.

Maybe the saddle is too high?

[Loraura]

That saddle looks like a torture device. I know gel saddles seem like a good idea. For trips up to the corner store, they are. For rides over 5 miles, they make everything worse. You just squirm around on the gel. Speaking as someone who started out as a heavy rider (much less so now!) I can confirm that girly bit issues are worse when you are heavier. Get a non gel saddle that is the proper width for your sit bones. When seated on the bike you should feel your weight on the bones. If your weight is on the soft bits, no saddle or pair of shorts is going to save you. Get off the saddle when you can, and I know this is draining if you are a heavier gal, but it will help restore circulation down there. If you have a bike computer set it to go off every 10 or 15 minutes to remind you to coast standing up for just a few seconds. Lastly, there is hope! As you keep riding and going in the right direction toward a healthier weight, many of the pressure issues of riding, like numb hands, burning feet, saddle sores, and burning girly bits, get much better.

[ny biker]

Since your LBS sells Bontrager saddles, they should have the Bontrager sit bone measuring thing. If you have not used this yet, you should. And remember that Bontrager offers a 30-day guarantee on everything, included saddles, so you can return the one you just bought if it is the wrong size.

[Bethany1]

LBS has the seat thing stuffed in the back. Not sure why it's not used or promoted at his store. Most of the shops I've been in have the big plush saddles.

Met up with a lady that has a Pugsley today in Lincoln and we did 8 miles of single track. No problems with the saddle even going over roots. Nothing was sore, pinched and I stayed on the seat part. It was an awesome ride not having to deal with crashing onto the nose.

I do know what you mean about the gel which is why I was hesitant to buy it.

Having the stem shortened with an adjustable stem was great. My back didn't hurt despite having a pack filled with some water in it. I'm getting closer to a better fit.

Skratch wins again today while riding.