sore butt

[betty]

any suggestions for a sore butt. i'm using a bontrager, san marcos
women's gel saddle. I do about 10 miles every couple days. I literally feel numb when I finish and my behind hurts (no saddle sores) and also the front of my anatomy HURTS. it would almost seem like wearing a kotex could help!!
i am a new cycler and have only done 150 miles.

[emily_in_nc]

Good cycling shorts with padded chamois....if you aren't already using them. Much better than a Kotex - last longer too!

No underwear under said shorts. Undies can move around and chafe you.

If your saddle doesn't have a cutout, you might find that a saddle with one is more comfortable - especially in the front. I use cutout saddles and never have any numbness or pain in the girly bits. An inexpensive cutout saddle you might want to try is the Performance Women's Contour. It might not be "the" saddle for you, but it's not a big investment, and might let you know if a cutout works for you.

Finally, more time in the saddle will help as well. Your sitbones require some toughening up when you first start riding. But your girly bits should not - you need the proper shorts and saddle to keep that area from hurting. They shouldn't hurt even from the first ride, and won't with the right saddle and shorts.

Good luck to you, and welcome to the world of cycling.

Emily

[esther231]

Also check your saddle. If it's tilted up - get it level.

[KnottedYet]

There's a reason Bontrager have the nick-name "Bone-breaker." Check out the "Favorite" and "most hated" saddle forums for more saddle help.

[Bad JuJu]

There's a reason Bontrager have the nick-name "Bone-breaker." Check out the "Favorite" and "most hated" saddle forums for more saddle help.

That's a good one, Knotted. I heard it as "Bone-traitor." Same idea.

[fatbottomedgurl]

I thought it was the "Bonty of Death". First thing that will be coming off my new Trek Fuel.

[Bikingmomof3]

Check out the saddle threads.

The first thing that came off my new bike was my Bontrager saddle. Ick!

Also, if you do not have cycling shorts witha chamois, get some.

[Brandi]

I used to think shorts were no big thing, I was very wrong! I also have seat with a cut out and I love it. Mine is a terry butterfly. Actually bikemomma gave it to me last year and it has been awsome! But seats are such a wierd thing. Maybe if you find one you would like to try maybe someone on this site will have one they don't want anymore. What works for some does not work for other's. Also my bike shop will let you buy and return a seat within a week if you don't like it as long as it is still in perfect condition.,

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Here's an actual "Bone-shaker":
http://www.splendidpeasant.com/sp7922.htm
Looks comfy, huh?
I don't think ANY chamois would help in this case.

[Lenusik]

any suggestions for a sore butt. i'm using a bontrager, san marcos
women's gel saddle. I do about 10 miles every couple days. I literally feel numb when I finish and my behind hurts (no saddle sores) and also the front of my anatomy HURTS. it would almost seem like wearing a kotex could help!!
i am a new cycler and have only done 150 miles.

I am on the third saddle right now. My recent purchase is Selle Italia Gel. Do not buy it!!! I am returning it back and will try something else instead. Maybe Selle SMP.

I don't care if my butt feels good for 10 miles. I was it to still feel good after 20, 30, 40, etc miles. My butt has not been happy for a long time.

Good shorts definitely help. I LOVE my Assos shorts. They are expensive but this is the only brand that I am going to buy from now on. They make me much happier than any of the saddles that I ever had.

So, keep on trying. I am sure now that it is a never ending story.

[betty]

thanks for all the tips. today i bought emily's suggestion ,Performance Women's Contour Forte . it looks smaller than the bontrager but i am curious
to try out this cut out. she traded in her terry butterfly for this so that inspired me. at this point my butt feels bruised so just sitting on the saddle in store didn't tell me a thing. the store manager just said you just need LOTS more ride time. wierd, he seemed to think cut outs were just for MEN! what's with that.
to reply to someone's post does it have to be to their e mail or how do you do
it in general
sorry being a newbie is humbling

[CyclChyk]

the store manager just said you just need LOTS more ride time. wierd, he seemed to think cut outs were just for MEN! what's with that.

Thats rather ironic because a gentleman who owns a bike shop in Columbia, SC informed me that the cut out was designed for WOMENS comfort, and nothing to do at all with men. Yes some men prefer cut outs, but........
who to believe?? Who knows. I just know what works for me.

I was measured by said man on an "assometer" that he specifically designed. As I was having issues with pain of my second seat, a Serfas Niva, we found it was actually too wide and I needed a sharper tapering of the nose. I selected the Selle Italia Lady.

The first two days I was skeptical. Having been so used to the squishy gel of the Serfas, I now was VERY AWARE of my sit bones. BUT.... I am sooo loving my Selle now. No pain anywhere!!

My point?? It will take you some time to find the saddle for you. You will find post upon post here regarding that very subject.

First and foremost tho, make sure your seat height, tilt, position, etc work for you. All of that can affect how the seat feels. True ride time will "callous" your bum so that you are less susceptible to pain, but you definaly need a saddle that agrees with all the important parts.

[emily_in_nc]

Hi Betty,

Make sure to give the Performance Contour several rides before you decide "yay" or "nay". Every new saddle is going to feel different and may require some sit-bone break-in time. The LBS guy was right that more saddle time will definitely help with "newbie butt pain", but that said, it should be getting better and better, not worse, over time as you ride more miles. And Bontrager saddles are notorious for being ouchies, as others here have said. I test rode a bike with one a couple of summers ago and could hardly bear it for 5 miles -- and I'd ridden several centuries on a Terry Butterfly.

If the Performance Contour ends up not being right for you, you may well like the Terry Butterfly; it's very popular. But I think the Contour is very comfy, and it's so cheap that it's worth a try, anyway, before you start trying the pricier saddles. Some women here go through 10+ saddles before finding "the one", but hopefully you don't have to do that.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

Emily