Swollen "ahem....."

[Gowest]

Hi ladies - I just finished my first time trial on my new TT bike. I had the bike set up by the same professional who set me up on my road bike - which has an awesome fit. I had been using my road bike with clip on aero bars for time trials - until I got my new Orbea Ora. I raced her tonight and used a selle time trial specific seat (ie the nose was padded with gel) I have never been in so much pain in my life. My labia are swollen to about four times their normal size. I could hardly get off the bike. I came home and sat in a tub - but the pain is quite intense. I have a high pain threshold - but this is pushing it!!! I have put ice on "it" and taken some ibuprofen.

I have two questions: (1) Any suggestions for treatment (2) What kind of saddle should I put on this bike?

The funny thing was - it didn't hurt until I sat up at the finish - it was a 20K time trial. I like time trialing - but I don't think I can bear this again. I suspect I will be off my bike for several days...,.good thing I was not going to race the entire omnium.

I am sure I am not the only person this had ever happened to.

Debi

[Blueberry]

OUCH!!!

I think you're on the right track with ice and Advil. If there are abrasions, then either Vagicaine or A&D work well.

But OUCH, just OUCH!

As a completely unrelated aside, we've been taking about the Bicycle Inn for Labor Day on another thread - any interest??

CA

[Dianyla]

I am sure I am not the only person this had ever happened to.

No, you're definitely not the only one. I got a massive case of the Hot Dog Bun Labia somewhere around mile 150 of a double-century. The only thing I could do was slather on some vagicaine and grit my teeth the rest of the ride.

Consider trying a different saddle, and also realize that a "good" saddle can quickly turn into a "bad" saddle if you don't have tip angled down for using aerobars.

[Wahine]

I agree with Dianyla. You may need to tip the saddle nose down a bit.

Ouch, I hope you feel better soon. I can sympathize.

[RoadRaven]

My "ahem" gets swollen at times too.

After a TT is common as I don't move from the one position at all for 40 minutes or so (and have usually warmed up for 30-40 minutes before hand, so weight is already being applied before the race starts).

And just echoing Dianyla and Wahine... the nose of the seat on my TT bike (which has bull horns and aerobars, and a low front end) is angled slightly more down than my road race bike. I have posted pix of them both in my thread in the "TE Member Race Results" forum if you want to see. The difference is much - only millimetres, but thats often all it takes.

So Gowest, are you going to post a race report for us of your first TT? There are several enthusiastic TTers here on TE and we're always keen to read about how others have found their TTs.

And what bike do you have for TTing on?

[Zen]

Orbea Ora

HotDogBunLabia is too funny

[teigyr]

HotDogBunLabia is too funny

yes it is. The sad thing is I know what she's talking about. Been there...don't usually notice until I'm in the shower. Why don't men have these problems?

[Idaho Jen]

I jumped on to Team Estrogen tonight because I have been having similar issues and needed some direction! I am an Olympic and Half Iron tri gal and the last tri I did left my Ahem not so pretty. I had two bruises/blood blister looking things on my right upper thigh and on my hip flexer right next to my girl. Swollen labia every time I ride!
Since the half I started paying attention and notice that after every ride I have abbrasions on my left hip flexer area and this weekend another blood blister on my left labia. Could my seat be too wide? The guy that does my fitting is shaking his head, not sure what to do. I have not dropped trou to show him the actual owies, but if it would get me relief I will!!!
I am on a Selle Italia fem seat now. Wondering if a mens saddle would be better? I wear light padded shorts, lube up well....It is not abraision from pubic hair cause that was lasered away.
HELP

[Dianyla]

Since the half I started paying attention and notice that after every ride I have abbrasions on my left hip flexer area and this weekend another blood blister on my left labia. Could my seat be too wide? The guy that does my fitting is shaking his head, not sure what to do.

Most problems with abrasion/pressure on the labia have to do with those delicate bits being forced to carry too much of the body weight. Most of your weight should stay on your sitbones. It could be that the saddle nose is too high, or is too wide in front, or is simply not shaped right for you.

The fact that it's unilateral also makes me wonder if you might have a leg length discrepancy? Or maybe your cadence is uneven due to one leg being markedly stronger than the other?

[Zen]

I tried one like that once.

I nearly died!

Clearly I depend on the nose of my saddle to help me control the bike.

I don't think I depend on the nose much at all. In learning how my bike handles and responds, I tried sort of "dancing" on the seat, just shifting my weight changes direction. But I think my Pilot may just be like that compared to your LHT.

Most problems with abrasion/pressure on the labia have to do with those delicate bits being forced to carry too much of the body weight. Most of your weight should stay on your sitbones. It could be that the saddle nose is too high, or is too wide in front, or is simply not shaped right for you.

It could also be a matter of stem height or reach, couldn't it?

[Wahine]

It could also be a matter of stem height or reach, couldn't it?

Absolutely. This is particularly a problem if your using tri bars on a bike that has a traditional road geometry.

Tri bikes (and TT bikes) have a shorter effective top tube to bring the rider forward over the wheel, they also have a steeper down tube angle which creates space around the anterior groin area. When you put tri bars on a road bike the rider is almost always bent too much at the hip and too stretched out which puts pressure more towards the front of the pelvic floor. It's also a good Idea to tip the nose of the saddle slightly downward.

[Tand-Rand]

Super helpful to hear about others' experience with this. I just started riding TTs this summer. I had some very significant swelling (mostly on one side) the first time and continue to do so with each event. My husband said that now we have three testicles between us!

After reading these posts I think I also can decrease this unwanted effect by tipping down my nose. Makes perfect sense. I have an unusually dropped position because I race as stoker on a tandem. To decrease my resistance I ride gripping the top tube under my captain's seat. Not very comfy but I have virtually no upper-body wind resistance. I'll give it a TT trial!