Saddle Sore

[ntchanda]

Hello All:

I am having ongoing issues with saddle sore. The problem is that where my sit bones are (which seem to be right on the saddle, and have equal pressure on both sides) I have a line of saddle sore that is killing me! I have a 6 month old Specialized Ruby Pro (love it, so far) with their stock women's Ruby Ti saddle, so I haven't tried different ones yet. It is level, and I had a pro bike fit done through a sports medicine shop where they specialize in both bike fits, so I feel confident in their fit. I feel like I have tried more bike shorts than anyone should ever have to..I have a few different versions of Pearl Izumi with a moderately padded chamois, and a pair of Gore top of the line. I am pretty petite, so I wonder if they are all too big. I have tried riding both with and without back-side cream.
Anyone had this and/or any recommendations?
Thanks!

[joannofsonoma]

I too was suffering from saddle sores a few months back. I put 8,000 miles so far on my bike in 2009............quite a bit. My sores were so bad I had to visit the doctor and take antibiotics to clear them up.................I am not one to pop pills but they would nNOT clear up. Anyway, afterward I SLOWLY built up time again on my bike and butt............I found that the sores started to materialize when I would be at the end of an intense week of riding and would still push myself..............especially on hills since that is when I am moving around most on my saddle. So...........first off, I would say to look at when your sores started to happen............what was different??? Was it humid??? Did you not take a recovery week??? Also.................once you are done with your ride..............strip.............take off those sweaty bibs/shorts and clean down under!!!! Wear "airy" shorts afterwards. These were words from my coach and oh..............they really helped!!! Next, you may want to try a different saddle. There REALLY IS A DIFFERENCE in all the saddles out there..........I go for a cut out.................but try others...............find a bike shop that will let you take them out for a ride!!! HOpe this helps!!!

Jo Ann from Sonoma!!!!

[Eden]

The only time I've ever had saddle sores on my actual backside it has been from shorts. If your shorts are loose the edge of the chamois (or any other seam on the shorts) can certainly cause problems - it can move back and forth and act like a little saw! It's a good reason that cycling shorts really should be tight. They shouldn't be able to be wrinkly when you are wearing them.

Even if the shorts are not particularly loose a badly placed seam can wreak havoc. One year the chamois in our team shorts had a seam that would actually cut your skin.... (I was not the only person who had the problem). When it was wet it was 100x worse - I actually had line of cuts on my rear once that looked like I'd had a close call with a shark or something