Embarassing Saddle Issues...

[Kathi]

Nope, you don't have enough weight and too much air will toss you around more. Actually, I thought the same thing as you, but I tried it and couldn't believe the difference. I've been running 100 psi about 4 yrs without issue even on city streets. I also do this on my mtn bike, have ridden 30-35 psi with no problems. I weigh 105 so you might be able to go lower. Experiment and see.

Handlebar height can also contribute to this problem. My very well thought of male bike fitter missed the fact that I have short arms. No matter what saddle I tried I was miserable without tilting the nose down. Consulted a different fitter and it turned out my handlebars were 4cm too low for me.

I just checked the package for my tires, Michelin Pro3 race and it for a rider below 110 lbs the recommened bar is 6 or a psi of 87. Hmmm, guess I'll try going lower, too.

[alexis_the_tiny]

Kathi, wow, I'm going to have to try that. If anything, it'll save the useless 'ladies friendly' floor pump the bike shop sold my dad from being violently dismantled and thrown out.

[marni]

oh goodie, let's teach another pump to fly. DH who is a more casual rider boght me the latest greatest floor pump which sucks, literally, and is nearly impossible to use since it is not now, nor was it ever a "ladie friendly" pump but might work for Arnold (I'll be back) the gubernator of CA.

marni

[Biciclista]

yeah i weigh more like 130 and I keep my tires at about 90 lbs. I have not had a lot of problems with flats.

[XMcShiftersonX]

You may start to lose in performance though, don't you think? I'm 110 pounds and have my tires pumped to 120 PSI before every ride. Any less and I notice the drag and increase in effort, which will lead to other discomforts, at least on the long distance rides I do.

I also have to disagree with some of the opinions of earlier - I don't think the Chamois is just to protect against sores resulting from seams, but also to add some cushion against a hard surface. No matter how comfortable a saddle you get, sitting on it for 2-8 hours can cause problems. In addition to building that area up over time and getting used to it simply by spending time on the saddle, I wear Assos shorts, which have the best Chamois ever created. I wouldn't say it's a fashion statement, it actually serves a purpose. I can't last on any seat for even a short 20 mile ride without a pad, I've tried and the pressure hurts too much. Of course proper fitting of a saddle is important too. That, along with a good Chamois cream like DZ Nuts, seems to take care of the pains, for me.

As far as floor pumps goes, we just got the best one ever invented, in addition to being an art piece, it actually works, and really easily! Check out the Lezyne pumps: http://www.lezyne.com/products/floor...r-drive-4.html (this is the one we have)

[alexis_the_tiny]

Pump-wise, I tend to favor the Topeak Joe Blow. Used it before, loved it, would have bought it again if the bike shop hadn't sold my dad that useless piece of ______.

I think as for padded shorts, I'll try them if everything else continues to fail. So far tweaking the fit seems to be working. I've finally found the local distributor for the saddle I want, universe-willing, they'll let me try it out.

[KnottedYet]

"Remember, a chamois was originally simply that: a piece of chamois leather sewn over the area of the knitted shorts where all the seams met. It was there to protect your skin from rough seams, not to protect your tush from a poorly fitted saddle."

I also have to disagree with some of the opinions of earlier - I don't think the Chamois is just to protect against sores resulting from seams, but also to add some cushion against a hard surface.

Awwww, and here I thought it was a historical fact....

(all those sad little chamois goats. how will I break the news to them?)

[OakLeaf]

Some of us are old enough to have actually ridden on those things.



Shorts with natural chamois, not the goats.

[KnottedYet]

Some of us are old enough to have actually ridden on those things.



Shorts with natural chamois, not the goats.

Bwaaaa-ha-ha-ha!
Girl, I need to buy you a beer!

[XMcShiftersonX]

I feel like I'm stating the obvious here, but things can be created for one reason, and continue to be used, or further developed for other reasons.

[KnottedYet]

I feel like I'm stating the obvious here, but things can be created for one reason, and continue to be used, or further developed for other reasons.

Yes, we know that. I'm not sure what you are driving at?

You seem to have an issue with my post. I stated the history of chamois. I made a conditional statement (those are the ones that start with "if") that if the modern fashion of padded chamois was miserably uncomfortable for someone, they should try riding in unpadded shorts. The second phrase only applies to those for whom the first phrase holds true. Conditional.

The world didn't end when we rode on flat bits of leather, and it won't end now if someone eschews modern padded chamois.

[XMcShiftersonX]

I was just presenting another point-of-view to your "those who wear the current chamois are either 1) on a poorly fitted saddle or 2) following a fashion trend" opinion. I actually have found a purpose to padded chamois, along with most other cyclists out there, apparently. Why you got defensive, when I never denied the historical aspect, is beyond me.

[KnottedYet]

I was just presenting another point-of-view to your "those who wear the current chamois are either 1) on a poorly fitted saddle or 2) following a fashion trend" opinion.

Nope, that's not what I said.

Remember, "conditional statement." Not "sweeping statement."

[holly_golightly]

Alexis,
I had this same problem last year with the pressure being "up front". I tried 3 different saddles until I found one that was good for me and did not put that pressure on my girlie parts. The advice about trying different saddles was good advice. Everyone's body is differnt so what works for one woman, may not work for another. I know you may feel a little like Goldilocks but you will be so happy once you find a saddle that fits you properly. Terry is a bike company that makes a lot of gear for women. Go to www.terrybicycles.com . They have a 30-day guarantee on their saddles, so if you try one and it does not work, you can exchange it for a different Terry saddle or get a refund. This is what I did and I found happiness with the Falcon X. You can get these saddles at your LBS and they should also honor the Terry guarantee. I would just check before you purchase. Good luck with your hunt. You will find your perfect saddle, just don't give up.
Holly

[Blue_Fedora]

So far in my attempt to find the perfect saddle that does not smash the girly bits, the only one that fits the bill is the Selle SMP. The design absolutely takes 100% of the pressure OFF the girly bits no matter what position I find myself.

I used to have a tremendous amount of pain there but with the Selle SMP saddle, I no longer have a problem with smashed/numb/burning girly bits