Swollen "ahem....."

[KnottedYet]

I tried one like that once.

I nearly died!

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

[RoadRaven]

Sundial, those seats have been around for a while... but whenever we (my boys, partner and me) have occasion to discuss them, we come to the conclusion they are great for potential crashes...

When cyclists stand, many tend to use their thighs on the nose of the seat to help with steering... without the nose, a key part of riding style would be altered.

On the other hand, I dont know anyone who has used one... but I do note I have not seen them on pro-cyclists bikes - for bunch racing or for timetrials...

[sundial]

I wasn't sure it was tri friendly, but I thought I'd post it. I certainly can understand why one would want a traditional saddle. It's too bad the thing has to be so uncomfortable for TT.

[Grog]

The nose of the saddle is essential for cycling at some speed, because you don't want to have to turn the handlebars to turn.

I wonder whether someone could train to steer the bike with only the hips, no upper thighs.... but I strongly doubt this will appear in cycle racing any time soon!

This being said, on a comfort bike where you're totally upright, it might do a lot of good!! I'm sure some roadies have tried it too.

[indysteel]

OK, that's even funnier than "hot dog bun labia".

I'm a long course triathlete and I used to use a Terry butterfly saddle. It worked great except that for training distances like IM I was breaking them down too fast and it was getting to expensive to keep replacing them. I would think that for time trials at 40 km it would wrok very well. Now I use a WTB women's specific gel saddle and that works well, but works best if my chamois is thin. With a thicker chamois I can also start to resemble Angelina.

Wahine, how quickly were you wearing out your Butterflies? I just ordered my second one. My first lasted about 4500 miles before I started to notice pain where I'd never had pain before. Figured that the saddle might be the culprit. I otherwise like the saddle, but wonder if I'm just going to have to replace it nearly every year. Susan at TE suggested that the harder I ride (and I have been increasing the intensity of my rides), the more quickly it will wear down.

[Wahine]

I was replacing mine every 1 to 2 years, so probably around 3000 miles or so. My problem was that I would start to slide forward on the saddle and it would bother my arms and hands more than anything. Then once I realized what was happening, I would notice it sooner and eventually I just got frustrated and changed saddles. I had less problems when I rode in the flatter lands. I think that rocking back and forth a bit more with climbing accelerated the breakdown.

[bigd]

at 59, have started cycling again after a few years away. mostly rec (5-10 miles every few days) and the "numbness" is making me crazy. sometimes can barely dismount and standing up straight at times is actually shooting pains. have to stand away from passerbys to massage the pain down before restarting.

New PI Short Attacks and better posture helping a little. want to try angling seat front down at bit, before looking for new seat, but how much and how to judge/eyeball/measure? If new seat needed anyone know "estrogen friendly" stores in DC area.

All counsel appreciated. Thx in advance

[Zen]

Now I use a WTB women's specific gel saddle and that works well...

WTB?

[Wahine]

WTB is the brand. I have no idea what it stands for.

[Dianyla]

WTB?

WTB = Wilderness Trail Bikes. I tried the WTB SpeedShe and my girly bits absolutely hated it. The flesh near my tailbone got totally sore and inflamed from the ridges of the cutout.

[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!