Feminine discomforts

[Rosie road]

I went through the same thing, tried four different saddles, and finally spent the money for a professional bike fit and found out that I was on way too large a frame. Since I had to reach too far forward as the top tube ratio was way too long, I was putting all the pressure on my front rather than my sit bones. I broke down and got a new bike, best decision ever. Shop took my old bike in trade, gave me a great deal, and now I ride a consistent 120 miles/week without any female issues. I was having so much discomfort that it is now a whole different experience. It did take a few rides to break in my new saddle, but even that was a different kind of discomfort than what I was experiencing before I got the right frame fit and set up.

It is really important to get some pro fitting help if you don't know how to check the fit yourself, and they have several measuring tools and devices that make things very accurate to your body. Good luck!

[TrekTheKaty]

Just to add--if your seat is too narrow, your weight is on your "girl parts" and not on your sit bones. I did this recently on a friend's bike--OUCH. Combine that with the Rosie Road's explanation and I ended up standing on the pedals all the way home

[Andrea]

What exactly hurts? Feel free to use words like "vagina" or "labia" to describe. If could be a fit, shorts, or saddle issue.

[Ann G]

For me it's mostly been chafing of the inner labia. As I said in the original post, trying that sample of chamois butt'r helped. I bought the bike from a shop where the owner is REALLY into proper bike fit, where he has equipment to set things up and makes adjustments involving a millimeter here, a millimeter there, etc. However, I wonder whether the angle of the seat might be an issue. Maybe it's slightly too high in the front or something. Thanks for all of the responses. This has been very helpful.

[maryellen]

+1 for chamois butt'r and i'm extravagant w it. worth every penny.

[jodz1984]

hi, i just wear knicks, but i was having an issue with pain there, and i was thinking the angle of the seat was wrong and stuff like that but i had a proper bike fitting from the owner of the shop that has represented the country, so been into cycling forever, so i figured that wasn't the problem. but i got a new pair of knicks and it feels much better, and they aren't even women specific ones either, i bought them because they were the matching set for my LBS jersery. when i wear my female specific knicks which was the first ones i had i can feel the difference after about 15kms with them.

[GmaJill]

what type if any underwear is worn with riding pants or shorts....sorry new rider not sure.. thanks for helping me with this.

[Groundhog]

For me it's mostly been chafing of the inner labia. As I said in the original post, trying that sample of chamois butt'r helped. I bought the bike from a shop where the owner is REALLY into proper bike fit, where he has equipment to set things up and makes adjustments involving a millimeter here, a millimeter there, etc. However, I wonder whether the angle of the seat might be an issue. Maybe it's slightly too high in the front or something. Thanks for all of the responses. This has been very helpful.

I'm a n00b - not an expert - but I've read that men like the tip of the saddle pointing up, and women like it pointing down. My DH keeps telling me to point my saddle up, but it definitely feels better down.

So I guess I'm saying that if you think you have proper fit/size otherwise, just nudge the front tip of the seat down a bit. Always easy to put it back if it doesn't help.

[Biciclista]

sometimes tipping the saddle down puts excessive force on your hands.
My saddle is tipped up just the tiniest bit.