New here with a saddle question

[SusanK]

Hi, I'm new to the te discussions boards but, not so new to cycling.

A little background info on me.... I'm 35 years old, 5'5" and 158 lbs. In high school and college, I rode my Trek 950 mtb quite a lot. Worked up to 17-20 miles per ride 2-3x a week. Obviously, my butt has changed dimensions since that time.

I no longer ride outdoors due to living in a larger city and increased traffic. So, my Trek is now hooked up a Cycl-ops trainer. Alas, over the years, I've spent less and less time on the bike due to "squished, girl bits syndrome". Recently, I'm really making an effort to get back on the bike as I would like to drop 10-15 lbs. The bike originally came with a "Vetta Gel" saddle and I used it through HS and college. A few years ago, switched to a couple of different Serfas saddles. Both of which have been too squishy, allowing my hind end to sink into to saddle which crushed everything from the "bits" to my tailbone.

A few days ago, I picked up two Terry saddles (Liberator and Cite X). The Liberator seemed awfully hard on my sit bones but was much easier on the soft tissues. The Cite X is easy on the soft tissue but, my tailbone is still quite sore after only 20 min. on the bike. I should add that, I like to read while I ride so, I'm holding a book in my hands and sitting at a 90 degree angle to the saddle. I've read everything I can find re: saddles here on your discussion boards. Lots of great advice ! And I've tweaked the Cite X angle as well as fore/aft positions according to what I've read here. I think I've got it positioned about as well as possible.

Can anyone think of any other suggestions...? I envy those of you who can put in 45 min rides. I'd love to do that but, my tailbone just won't allow it yet.

Thanks for the help,
SusanK

[annie]

Hi, Susan!

Welcome! These boards are an awesome place. You can feel at home really quickly.

Congrats on deciding to get back into biking. Once you get the discomfort part figured out, you'll love it!

Riding a bike on a trainer is so different from on the road....... On the road, you are moving your butt around and getting in different positions, without even thinking about it. But on a trainer, unless you consciously do the same thing, its a static position. You sit and you pedal. OUCH! After thousands of miles on my bike during the riding season, I STILL get sore after the first few sessions inside unless I remember to change positions as I ride. You can sit straight up, you can lean forward on the bars in an aero positions, but most importantly, make sure you stand up frequently. Get all the weight off those bits and pieces, off the rear end, too. Let the blood flow be restored. It only takes a matter of seconds. Stay standing longer, occasionally. It makes for a nice variation in the routine of trainer riding.

Good luck! Have fun!

annie

[SusanK]

Annie,

I appreciate your time. So, do you think the saddle choice is okay ? I'm happier with the Terry saddle than with my previous Serfas. Sure is nice to be able to pee after a 20 minute ride. I began to wonder if I needed a saddle shaped like a frying pan. Boy, do those ever look stupid on a road/mtb bike?!? Save 'em for the stationary bikes at the gym.

I tried running for a while when the bike became too much to bare. Running is just quite a bit harder on the joints. Biking has always been more enjoyable. Just need to get the butt pain problem solved.

BTW, where in Iowa are you ? I'm in DesMoines... haven't bothered to completely fill out my profile yet.

SusanK

[SadieKate]

Susan, welcome to the board and introduce yourself in our thread, "Getting to Know You."

I agree with Annie. Sitting stationary reading a book is probably your bigger issue. You don't move! Even when you are outside for an easy 20 min ride, you'll move around more on that saddle than you ever do with your nose buried in a book. And I love books! Also, by reading you lose track of your heart rate and effort. You'll get a better workout and be kinder to your nether regions if you either invest in a few spinning tapes or just make-up a workout. During commercials, some people shift into a harder gear and stand or do superspins. Some people do it to music. Everybody has their own take. The point is you need to focus on the 20 minute effort; your legs, lungs and butt will thank you. I bet you'll find that you can last more than the 20 minutes in no time.

[SimpleCycle]

Susan, are you wearing padded cycling shorts? I used to do Spinning classes and they were really hard on my girly bits because you have all your weight on the saddle.

SadieKate, what's a superspin? I'm just getting going with my trainer and I need things to do other than just sit there and spin the pedals.

[SusanK]

SimpleCycle ~ Ah yes, I forgot to mention that. Indeed, I am wearing padded bike shorts. Not the overly expensive kind. I've read about the shorts in the forums also, and am looking at getting a less expensive pair of Perl Izumi (sp?). But I remember reading a post that said, one should be able to ride 20 min without needing a pair of bike shorts.... Maybe my backside just isn't broken-in yet.

[SusanK]

Hmmmm, I bought the best pair of perl izumi (sp?) shorts I could afford. Paid about $80. Great chamois pad that is wide enough to cover both sit bones (the others I tried, PI as well as other brands, had chamois' that weren't wide enough and not very well padded). Put in 20 min. on the bike with my new shorts, and.... my sit bones felt great, but the "bits" are getting squiched again. Felt as if whatever ground (space) I'd gained by buying a cut-out saddle was negated by thickness of the shorts in "that" area. Darn it.

Wish bike shorts came with a chamois that was thick at the sit bones, and thin to none-existent at the crotch.

Susan

[snowtulip]

Hi Susan,
I'm glad you are making progress on finding the right mix for you. I have been battling with squished girly bits for so long and tried so many things. I found that the thick chamois pads did more harm than good (it would bunch and end up pushing up on the area).

I bought some PI microsensors (very expensive) and they were so uncomfortable and painful, through this board someone had recommended the PI sugar shorts (the cheapest PI short there is) and it was amazing the difference.

Good luck!

[SusanK]

What a "pain in the privates" this is turning out to be. Cruising through the shorts on TE, I found a Primal Wear short (blue moon model) that has what they call and "Azura" contoured chamois. This looks similar to a cut-out saddle.... the chamois pad has a small cut-out area in the crotch that would seem to eliminate the pressure where I don't want it. Maybe I'll try those next. Unfortunately, I've already sweat all over the PI shorts... so, I am now the unlucky owner of a pair of $80 shorts that won't do me any good.

*sigh* If there's one things I really dislike, it's wasting money due to trial and error.

[mtbdarby]

Snow tulip and Susan, care to sell your PI shorts? I've been eyeing up the microsensors. Email me if you are with size and price or post on the want ads sections. Thanks!