More attention being given to saddles issues for women

[Owlie]

I'm so sorry that this article promotes the myth that cycling is uncomfortable because of the saddle. Body position, bike fit and the correct saddle is the key, not a saddle without a nose. My goodness, someone with too much curve in their lower back could potentially fall right off the bike.

Indeed. This comes up at lunch. There are a few women in my department who say "I like riding a bike, but I can't stand those skinny saddles." I try to say "Well, they don't have to be skinny, and it can take a while to find the right one--I'm on saddle #3 right now." However, I think they've just got it in their heads that it's uncomfortable and won't hear anything else.

[zoom-zoom]

I'm so sorry that this article promotes the myth that cycling is uncomfortable because of the saddle. Body position, bike fit and the correct saddle is the key, not a saddle without a nose. My goodness, someone with too much curve in their lower back could potentially fall right off the bike.

Ha...I suspect that some of my own "up front" issues could be related to the shape of my back. I have great flexibility and can nearly touch the floor flat-palmed without bending my knees, but am VERY sway-backed (and have a super tilted uterus to boot. I also could never find a menstrual cup to fit, which I also believe is related to my "abnormal" physique). I have the kind of butt that Sir Mix-a-Lot coveted. I sometimes suspect that this angles my female bits in such a way that I have to go for a more upright posture on the bike, even though the rest of me is perfectly comfortable being relatively aero.

[limewave]

Does anyone else get pinched or blocked glands down there from riding? I think that is my biggest issue--not chaffing. Not every ride, but regularly I end up with a cyst (not sure how to describe it). It can be quite painful! And they can get terribly infected if they don't drain properly. I take regular baking soda/epsom salt baths now that help with the healing of them, but they can be really awful! Not sure what kind of saddle would help with that issue.

[zoom-zoom]

LW, do you suppose there's a chamois butter that would help...perhaps something with tea tree oil? That would be awful. I am thankful that I've not had saddle sores of that variety. Owie.

I've been reading more about swayback. This site suggests it's often caused by sitting a lot, but it's definitely genetic in my case...my mom, brother, sister, and son all are shaped like that (and I wish my kid sat more...he's so freaking ADHD, heh). My mom and sister and I all have tilted uterus issues and endometriosis, as well. There are a couple of good graphics that make sense of my crotch issues:

[Kathi]

I'm the opposite, I have a posterior pelvic tilt. I also had endometrious when I was younger. After my PT started working with me on pelvic tilt I searched for information on this but kept coming up with information from men who usually talked about swayback. Recently I found the Hab It website. Not only does the site connect the dots for me on how to find a neutral pelvis it also educated me about how good posture affects female organs as explained in this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcTEUKp7zsY&lr=1

Yikes! I had no clue about the ailments women experience from their pelvis. These things were never talked about in my family, and being post menopausal it's extremely important for me to know this.

When I worked I never sat, didn't have a muffin top or any back problems. I thought I was slowing down in retirement (sit to much) and I know my SI joint issues have affected my activity level. Since I've been working on mobility in my spine and better posture I've discovered muscles in my lower body that I probably haven't used in years. I feel I'm moving better and stronger, even though I don't do much weight training, while I'm watching my family and friends lose strength and mobility as they age.

If you search around the site there's information on how to activate muscles important to the spine and pelvis, ie, how to sit, how to protect the organs and prevent the ailments many of the women on the site are suffering from. Sometimes the information is an answer to questions on the blog.

I guess in a way my SI joint issues were a blessing as the things I'm learning because of it will help me to age more gracefully.

[zoom-zoom]

In the little bit I was reading about lordosis I'm really surprised that I've never been prone to lower back stuff (upper back and neck, definitely--mostly the fault of my DH's jerk cat who steals my pillow and pushes my head off to the side. I get neck spasms on a regular basis from that fur-turd).

[Owlie]

LW, do you suppose there's a chamois butter that would help...perhaps something with tea tree oil? That would be awful. I am thankful that I've not had saddle sores of that variety. Owie.

I've been reading more about swayback. This site suggests it's often caused by sitting a lot, but it's definitely genetic in my case...my mom, brother, sister, and son all are shaped like that (and I wish my kid sat more...he's so freaking ADHD, heh). My mom and sister and I all have tilted uterus issues and endometriosis, as well. There are a couple of good graphics that make sense of my crotch issues:

Are you sure you're not me? In my case, I think it's caused by weak back/core muscles. I can consciously return the arch to normal, but I have to work to keep it there, and it's been getting better since I started doing yoga on a semi-regular basis. I wonder if that's part of the reason for my current saddle woes...

[Kathi]

This position helps me a lot when I sit, it takes the stress off my low back.

http://hab-it.com/blog/?p=105

My SI joint issues started when I bent, from my waist not my hips, over to pick up an empty milk jug off the floor. It locked up, I couldn't straighten up. I don't know why I have this problem but some theories I've heard from PT's is that it was from an injury many years ago or it's an inherited condition. My PT also thought with good lower back mobility and neutral spine I can keep it under control.

I hear you about the cat. When I had injuries that I needed to support on a pillow my cat used to steal the pillow. I would wake up in pain and find his little head snuggled in the middle of the pillow. It was an airline type pillow and it was the perfect size for him. I swear he had a smile on his face.

[Wahine]

The article is silly at best. You've all articulated the reasons why. I particularly like that the lady in the photo is not fit well to her bike at all and is riding on the nose of the saddle.

I really wish I could figure out a way to make a flow chart to help women find the right type of saddle for them. I also wish that I would get paid to design women's saddles and have them actually go to production without being completely altered by the powers that be in the name of marketing.

Thanks to Kathi and Zoom-zoom for some great links on posture. It is a vital component of riding. I frequently get riders in for a bike fitting that turns into a postural training and pedaling efficiency session instead. This is useful information.

[Trek420]

I really wish I could figure out a way to make a flow chart to help women find the right type of saddle for them.

I think you and Knott should make the ap that runs women through a saddle/fit checklist and recommends the right saddle. Then go buy an island to retire on.

[Wahine]

I think you and Knott should make the ap that runs women through a saddle/fit checklist and recommends the right saddle. Then go buy an island to retire on.

Wouldn't that be nice. Maybe you should start shopping for an island. We won't have time since we'll be working on the app.

[Trek420]

Wouldn't that be nice. Maybe you should start shopping for an island. We won't have time since we'll be working on the app.

Ok. Will do.

[limewave]

LW, do you suppose there's a chamois butter that would help...perhaps something with tea tree oil? That would be awful. I am thankful that I've not had saddle sores of that variety. Owie.

I'll have to try some other varieties. I've always just used bag balm. Now that I'm endurance training and riding for more than 90 minutes, I've found that reapplying additional layers mid-ride helps some.

[zoom-zoom]

Are you sure you're not me? In my case, I think it's caused by weak back/core muscles. I can consciously return the arch to normal, but I have to work to keep it there, and it's been getting better since I started doing yoga on a semi-regular basis. I wonder if that's part of the reason for my current saddle woes...

I can't straighten that area of my back, at all. Not even when I was doing yoga and tons of core work on a regular basis. When I lay on the floor I can't pull my lower back to touch the floor at all, not even with my knees up.

[limewave]

I can't straighten that area of my back, at all. Not even when I was doing yoga and tons of core work on a regular basis. When I lay on the floor I can't pull my lower back to touch the floor at all, not even with my knees up.

I have that issue too! I've been practicing standing against a wall and attempting to slowly arch my lower back against it. I cannot believe how much I have to strain!