Help saddle discomfort!

[mudmucker]

As BleekerSt_Girl says, peruse the saddles threads. Pay attention when people are speaking of T shaped saddles or pear shaped as that may effect you. Also, do a search on Knotted Yets threads/posts about sitting on a wooden chair and making a determination of whether you might need a cutout or not, and all of her other useful information on fit, position and such. This might all be a better start than from zero in understanding your bottom and honing in on the many saddles you might potentially try.

Try Specialized body geometry if sensitive tissue is really too smooshed. They are designed to effectively perch you up on your sitbones.

TahoeDirtGirl brings up an interesting point about padding. I had the Specialized Jett and Avatar (t-shaped saddle), was right up nice on the sit bones and no pressure elsewhere. But over long rides the sit bones got sore no matter what. I compensated by getting really thick padded shorts, Pearl Izumi in fact. The Specialized Avatar was still painful for me by 42 miles (although many people love them) so I went on a saddle search and found the Selle An-Atomica (pear- shaped). Love it. But, now the thickly padded Pearl Izumis are too much padding and I get smooshed. So now it's back to thinner chamois shorts, which I've found, and all is well. I tensioned the leather a bit more to perch up and I don't get any smooshing but have sit bone comfort.

Trial and error I think, with the saddle/shorts combo. Hopefully you will find this earlier in the search than later. But it is so well worth it when you get it. Don't settle for pain.

[bounceswoosh]

I'm another one who's starting to find thinner chamois better. Thinner than Pearl Izumi, anyway. It does bunch and I think leads to chafing sometimes.

[Tuckervill]

How strange! I haven't been on my bike much this year (weather weenie). I wore my PI shorts and about 3 miles in I realized I was uncomfortable because of the chamois bunching up in the wrong places! Ack! I've lost 40 lbs, and believe it or not, there is less of me "there", too, and it's making a difference in the chamois, I think. I wore these on my last big ride (50 miles) last fall, and I don't remember being uncomfortable in them. I hated them by the end of my 20 miles this morning!

Karen

[emily_in_nc]

How strange! I haven't been on my bike much this year (weather weenie). I wore my PI shorts and about 3 miles in I realized I was uncomfortable because of the chamois bunching up in the wrong places! Ack! I've lost 40 lbs, and believe it or not, there is less of me "there", too, and it's making a difference in the chamois, I think

Oh yes, if you've lost that much weight you probably need to go down, not one but two sizes in shorts! Get thee to your LBS (or order from TE!) right away! I like PI shorts/chamois, but I wear mine plenty tight (size XS).

Emily

[Kano]

Oh yes, if you've lost that much weight you probably need to go down, not one but two sizes in shorts! Get thee to your LBS (or order from TE!) right away! I like PI shorts/chamois, but I wear mine plenty tight (size XS).

Emily

Might need new gloves too -- and I needed to get SHOES as well!

Karen in Boise

[Dogmama]

The thoughts about shorts & saddles are excellent.

Look at your position on the bike. Are you stretched out too far? That might crush your "girlie bits" also.

[TheresaB]

I had same problem, and I tried everything...got a professional fitting, changed saddles, changed size of my bike, tried different shorts, chamois cream, etc. Nothing worked (I think these solutions work mostly for men, not always for women). Problem got SO painful, SO bad , went to my gyne. After she examined me, she said I was low on estrogen (menopause related) and consequently on natural moisture, which was causing painful rubbing, causing external and INTERNAL chafing. She recommended estrogen cream first, but I rejected that idea. So she said I could try using a lanolin-based (not water-based, those don't work) lotion from the local "intimate products" store. I bought the one called "Pjur Eros Bodyglide" (there are other similar products too), and before I ride I apply liberally inside and out, and on my shorts chamois. The product is allergy-tested, oil-free, non-pore blocking, safe for daily use, etc. These lotions allegedly build a barrier between you and the shorts and/or saddle. I also started using an OTC product called "Replens" vaginal moisturizer (this part was my idea ). PROBLEM SOLVED. It's a miracle, I thought I would have to give up cycling. Good luck to you.

[polly4711]

As BleekerSt_Girl says, peruse the saddles threads. Pay attention when people are speaking of T shaped saddles or pear shaped as that may effect you. Also, do a search on Knotted Yets threads/posts about sitting on a wooden chair and making a determination of whether you might need a cutout or not, and all of her other useful information on fit, position and such. This might all be a better start than from zero in understanding your bottom and honing in on the many saddles you might potentially try.

Try Specialized body geometry if sensitive tissue is really too smooshed. They are designed to effectively perch you up on your sitbones.

TahoeDirtGirl brings up an interesting point about padding. I had the Specialized Jett and Avatar (t-shaped saddle), was right up nice on the sit bones and no pressure elsewhere. But over long rides the sit bones got sore no matter what. I compensated by getting really thick padded shorts, Pearl Izumi in fact. The Specialized Avatar was still painful for me by 42 miles (although many people love them) so I went on a saddle search and found the Selle An-Atomica (pear- shaped). Love it. But, now the thickly padded Pearl Izumis are too much padding and I get smooshed. So now it's back to thinner chamois shorts, which I've found, and all is well. I tensioned the leather a bit more to perch up and I don't get any smooshing but have sit bone comfort.

Trial and error I think, with the saddle/shorts combo. Hopefully you will find this earlier in the search than later. But it is so well worth it when you get it. Don't settle for pain.

Where are the Knotted Yets posts? ((sorry, i'm new))