Hubby is mad that I won't ride......

[mimitabby]

with or without hubby, start looking for better (for you) saddles. start here in our saddle threads and you also might need to be fitted to your bike !

[GeorigaGirl94]

No I didn't get a professional fit for my bike. He picked it out, bought it and luckily for me ..it's great. I've had one other bike that I absolutely hated. (he's tried to get me into cycling for years). Unfortunately he is one of the know it all types and I'm trying to explain that I'm not being picky or trying to be lazy I just don't want to hurt. My butt if fine it's the umm...can't say this delicately...my other area that hurts...goes numb. Hours after a ride I can wipe and they will still feel kinda numb and sore.
There is one bike shop here that I really like so maybe I'll chance going in alone or with him (being a silent helper) and try out a saddle. I've heard lots of good things about Terry. I wear Terry shorts and for the most part love them. This is also my first time using clipless pedals so I am a true beginner...

Hubby says my brakes are my best friend...I still get a lil nervous going downhill especially steep hills and tend to use my brakes more than I probably should. I'll learn as I go..but I just wanted some input on the saddles to show him I'm not the only one who understands what an uncomfortable saddle is all about!
Thanks guys

[Zen]

it's the umm...can't say this delicately...my other area that hurts...goes numb.

Labia majora?
Labia minora?
Perineum?
Twinkie?

[SadieKate]

Thanks, Zen, I don't quite understand why clinical terms are so difficult to use. It certainly takes the guess work out of the conversation.

[Zen]

and maybe find yourself someone else to ride with who's a little less...pushy. at least until you feel more comfortable.

[salsabike]

Twinkie, THAT'S it.

I agree with Grog and all the others. It is very important that you get a bike fit done by an expert, and it probably would go best if you went by yourself so you could feel free to say, Hey, it hurts THERE; can you fix that? THEN you can set about making saddle decisions, and you may well want to change at that point.

[bouncybouncy]

Twinkie?

my hubby may actually think of the pastry...then it would lead into a whole 'nother dicussion!

who-ha!
that is what it is 'round here...

[motochick]

I have nothing in the way of advice to add as everyone else has pretty much covered it....but, I have 2 selle italia lady gel flow saddles lying around that I do not need anymore. They worked great for me on rides under 50 miles but now that my mileage has increased, I have switched to a selle an-atomica. If you would like to try the gel flow, I will ship one to you at no cost and you can give it a whirl. You don't need to feel like you have to buy it or anything, I am just trying to help you out. PM me if you are interested.

Brenda

[Flybye]

No I didn't get a professional fit for my bike. He picked it out, bought it and luckily for me ..it's great. I've had one other bike that I absolutely hated. (he's tried to get me into cycling for years). Unfortunately he is one of the know it all types and I'm trying to explain that I'm not being picky or trying to be lazy I just don't want to hurt. My butt if fine it's the umm...can't say this delicately...my other area that hurts...goes numb. Hours after a ride I can wipe and they will still feel kinda numb and sore.
There is one bike shop here that I really like so maybe I'll chance going in alone or with him (being a silent helper) and try out a saddle. I've heard lots of good things about Terry. I wear Terry shorts and for the most part love them. This is also my first time using clipless pedals so I am a true beginner...

Hubby says my brakes are my best friend...I still get a lil nervous going downhill especially steep hills and tend to use my brakes more than I probably should. I'll learn as I go..but I just wanted some input on the saddles to show him I'm not the only one who understands what an uncomfortable saddle is all about!
Thanks guys

I can't help but wonder if there is a little more here than just the saddle. I know that the saddle is AN issue, but I would be willing to bet that the nervousness and his pressure to get you to ride when you don't want to is really part of the problem. Especially if you say that he is a know it all type and within the context of him thinking of you as being a b****. I don't know about you, but I have to do things my own way with my own expectations and within my own time frame. You also need to know that you MAY not LIKE to ride and that if you don't, it is perfectly OKAY.

If you do like riding and would enjoy it more with a new saddle, my advice would be to get a saddle that works and find time to ride without him, thereby increasing your confidence with the brakes, the saddle and the clipless peddles. Maybe ride when he doesn't even know about it so you can surprise him. Find a quiet bike path. I can't imagine being new and trying to ride with someone else, ESPECIALLY someone like my dear husband. I need time - QUIET TIME - to hear myself think - to think about important things like "stop sign coming up, how do I unclip again??" and "which gear shift is up and which is down?" and "I'd like to stop and rest now" I sure couldn't do it with someone controlling handing out advice and helping when all I need is some quiet time to get my confidence built. ONCE you have YOUR confidence - then join him.

If I am way off base here, then snag a saddle and get riding!!

[GeorigaGirl94]

I love him and he Does "try" to help but your aren't too far off base. I would like to ride on our local riverwalk and feel "safe" and we start our ride off on a fairly busy street with dozens of soldiers out and about..it's a bit nerve wracking. I do however, enjoy when we hit the backroads, no traffic just the sounds of nature. He really helps with the gear issues though because without him I'd totally lost. I have to take up for him because he really thinks he's doing me a favor and in part he is and in part he's not. I can learn from him but I would like to learn some things on my own in my own good time. I'm a bit of a hermit though and he is my dearest friend and we do spend a lot of time together so it seems only natural that we are riding partners. He says he likes to ride with me because he can work on his spin and just take it easy. He says he just enjoys being out there with me. So far...saddle aside for the most part I've really enjoyed our rides.

Take it easy on him girls he's sensitive...

Thanks for all the advice and I will take it to heart and hopefully I'll be able to come back and tell you all about my great rides!!

Jamie

[Triskeliongirl]

One last point, a saddle that is set too high even if it is good in other ways can also cause you problems, as your girly bits get sawed over the saddle with each pedal stroke. Sometimes women need the rear of the saddle slightly higher than the front (whereas a lot of guys prefer the nose up), but not all of us. Many of us prefer Brooks leather saddles (I ride a Brooks Finesse) but the issue is we are all diff., and we each need a saddle that is well suited to our individual anatomies beyond even being male or female. I would take that gal up on the offer of sending you her lady gel flow. That is identical to the terry butterfly, a very popular saddle.

I strongly urge you to visit the shop where DH bought the bike, and ask to have them fit YOU to the bike. Tell them the problems you are having, and let them work with you to solve it.

[PinkBike]

+1 on what flybye said.

also, just to emphasize -- choice of saddle is a very personal preference. maybe he's heard from other women that the saddle you have is great, but that doesnt mean it will be great for YOU.

for example, i have seen ladies post on here that they just love their fizik arione and yet when i sat on one i thought my "twinkies" were on fire! i love terry firefly and damselfly but cant ride on the butterfly. it takes a lot of trial and error to find "YOUR" saddle. when i got my first road bike i almost quit the sport completely after my first long ride because the saddle was so uncomfortable -- and it was one recommended by other women. so its a personal thing, not even necessarily a woman thing. DH was never satisfied with his saddle and kept switching out until we FINALLY found "HIS"- the specialized alias.

theres one out there for you. you'll know it when you seat it. dont give up.

[bouncybouncy]

NOW...before you get discouraged or overwhelmed (like I did) take the time to search saddle threads and read a few...here is a recent one on girly parts and all

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ghlight=saddle

One of our local shops lets you lease saddles (they have a basket full of them) you can try out and get an idea of what you like. Maybe you have a shop in your area that does the same.

...and keep reading here!!! These gals are full of knowledge and always there when you need them regardless of the topic!!!! Lean on TE...we will keep you upright!!!

[GLC1968]

How is it that your hubby can post on this forum but yet not immediately get that cycling for women is different than it is for men?? If he did the research necessary to find and purchase your bike, you'd think he'd have gotten at least a small clue that female anatomy affects bike set up and comfort??!!

I agree with others that reading the saddle threads on this forum and going to your LBS (probably without him in tow) is your best bet. It is possible to find a saddle that will work for YOU...so don't get discouraged! Good luck!!

[mimitabby]

Don't worry too much about downhills yet, let's get the saddle issues taken care of first. As you ride more; you'll get braver on the downhills.

Get thee to a bike shop!