Saddle - inconsistent discomfort

[OakLeaf]

I'm going to take a wild guess and speculate it's your core strength. You start getting tired, your lower back sags in, your pelvis tilts forward, and your soft tissues pay the price. Sometimes you can rearrange yourself and be okay afterwards. Other times you're just too tired.

Does that sound right?

[Catrin]

I'm going to take a wild guess and speculate it's your core strength. You start getting tired, your lower back sags in, your pelvis tilts forward, and your soft tissues pay the price. Sometimes you can rearrange yourself and be okay afterwards. Other times you're just too tired.

Does that sound right?

This sounds reasonable - but sometimes it is backwards At the Tour de Cure last weekend the first 10 miles was very uncomfortable, but the last 15 miles (after I took a break) was fine. Then again, I had someone riding with me those first 10 miles who is a slower rider than I, and I do not think that I was in my usual riding position. After the break I was by myself and picked up speed/cadence.

This does make sense though - and will pay close attention to it tonight when I go for a longer ride. I also had a hard lower-body workout with my trainer right before riding last night so I may have been more tired than I realized - lots and lots of squats last night with some pretty heavy weights. I had not considered that - and while my core strength is improving I am sure it has a long way to go.

Thanks, I will pay attention to this tonight.

[JennK13]

Could it be your shorts - does it hurt when you're wearing specific ones, or not when you're in specific ones? I have some that bother me and some that dont, and of the irritating ones, if I move around i might find a "sweet spot" where I'm comfy....just a thought....

[Catrin]

Could it be your shorts - does it hurt when you're wearing specific ones, or not when you're in specific ones? I have some that bother me and some that dont, and of the irritating ones, if I move around i might find a "sweet spot" where I'm comfy....just a thought....

Good thought, but it doesn't seem to matter. Of course I only have two pair, and both are PI shorts - 1 pair of regular lycra and one pair of baggies. I think the liner on the baggies might be getting too large for me... though I didn't have them on last night.

Am trying to save up for a lovely pair of non-PI bib shorts that TE sells, so far the only chamois I've worn have been PI.

Of course, if I get used to shifting around as much as I have these last couple of rides, I MIGHT be able to eventually lift myself out of the saddle a bit

[ny biker]

I know nothing about Brooks saddles.

I used to have problems where sometimes my saddle was uncomfortable and other times it was fine. The difference was in the terrain of the ride -- flat rides were uncomfortable. I figured it was because I slid forward and back more on hilly rides to account for climbing, but for flat rides I was always in the same position.

Then I went for a fit update at the LBS and they lowered my saddle, and now it's so comfortable I don't even think about it. They also put a shorter angled stem on the bike so my handlebars are closer and higher, which was to solve a problem with my neck and shoulders but could also affect my position on the saddle.

[Catrin]

I know nothing about Brooks saddles.

I used to have problems where sometimes my saddle was uncomfortable and other times it was fine. The difference was in the terrain of the ride -- flat rides were uncomfortable. I figured it was because I slid forward and back more on hilly rides to account for climbing, but for flat rides I was always in the same position.

Then I went for a fit update at the LBS and they lowered my saddle, and now it's so comfortable I don't even think about it. They also put a shorter angled stem on the bike so my handlebars are closer and higher, which was to solve a problem with my neck and shoulders but could also affect my position on the saddle.

This is a good thought - we do know that my saddle is the proper height though - we just went through all of that

The more I think about it - and I do tend to over-think things - I do wonder if my shorts might be getting a little big on me and that is starting to cause problems. I've already "undergrown" a larger pair of shorts so I hope it is something else. Shorts are expensive to keep replacing!

I will see what it feels like tonight - I don't work out again until tomorrow so if it doesn't repeat itself then perhaps it was a core and tiredness combination that Oakleaf suggested. My legs aren't sore from all of those squats which I find somewhat amazing as my trainer really poured it on yesterday...

[Biciclista]

do you use lubrication?

I've noticed that sometimes when climbing up a bunch of hills, I get a little sore. I end up scooching up on the saddle because I'm working so hard. So pay attention to your posture as well.

[Blueberry]

Sounds silly, but I have to double check to make sure my shorts are all the way pulled up (i.e., the chamois is settled in the right place, up against my skin). Otherwise, the wrong parts of it hit the wrong places. Wonder if that would be part of it? Of course, this does get worse with too large shorts.

[KnottedYet]

I'm going to take a wild guess and speculate it's your core strength. You start getting tired, your lower back sags in, your pelvis tilts forward, and your soft tissues pay the price. Sometimes you can rearrange yourself and be okay afterwards. Other times you're just too tired.

Does that sound right?

that would be my guess, too. Saddles don't magically fit, then magically not fit, then moments later magically fit again. But posture/core can be good, then bad, then moments later good again.

[Catrin]

that would be my guess, too. Saddles don't magically fit, then magically not fit, then moments later magically fit again. But posture/core can be good, then bad, then moments later good again.

Thanks for your take on this. My last two rides was uncomfortable the entire time - but from what others have said from their experience I probably need to start using lubrication - I have not done that prior to yesterday.

My girly bits are sore today - my labia to be specific... however the cream I used tingled a LOT, so it could be that rather than my saddle, depending on what might be in the cream.

Tomorrow I have a Traffic Skills 101 class, and if there is a chance I will ask the instructor about my posture to see if I am missing something here. I need to get this worked out sooner rather than later, thanks to all!

[withm]

I'd try tilting your saddle down about 1/16 to 1/8 inch or so. Just a bit to ease off the pressure.

[Catrin]

I'd try tilting your saddle down about 1/16 to 1/8 inch or so. Just a bit to ease off the pressure.

I will try this - I have a 30 mile ride planned Sunday so hope this helps I also have a bike traffic skills class all day tomorrow and am going flask the instructor if he sees anything wrong with my riding position.

[Catrin]

I had problems loosening the bolt on my saddle, so visited my fitter after my Traffic Skills class this afternoon (much less riding because of the class but there was still noticeable discomfort). After discussing the problem, I am going to see what it is like after he altered the tilt just a hair (between .5 and 1 degree). He said this might cause more hand problems because of weight distribution, but it is worth the experiment. If it doesn't help I may test another kind of saddle - we will see. I am hoping this works though.

My 30 miles tomorrow will be a good test Now if the thunderstorms will just stay away...

[TrekTheKaty]

Catrin,
Are you moving your hands around while you ride? I started having problems at the end of last year, and then I realized I was riding with my hands more forward on the hoods than I used to. I had to tweak the nose down a hair to compensate. Of course, this didn't feel right this spring when my core was weak from the winter, but I built back into it.