Suggestions on Bike Shorts?

[Catrin]

.... Does anyone have any suggestions on brands/models? I'm 5'6", about 120lbs, so I don't need something with a lot of surface area......

Height and weight doesn't really matter for a saddle. The right saddle FOR YOU needs to support your sit-bones properly and that differs from woman to woman. Search this forum for how to determine the width of your sit bones, there are assorted methods. I have to run right now so I can't provide the link. Once you have determined the width you need, that will help narrow your choice. Saddle choice differs wildly from woman to woman, what is the perfect saddle for one woman can be a torture device for another.

[Geonz]

When I bought my first hybrid about 15 years ago, I asked the bike shop guy what I should pay attention to, comfort-wise, that might be fine in these test drives around the parking lot but would cause aches and pains for longer rides. I was thinking about my back.
He gave me a clinical lecture about making sure that I was sitting on my bones and not putting pressure on the soft vaginal tissues. (The young sales guy who had been approaching walked away quickly )
My seat height can be adjusted but I can also slide it forward and back onits rails. This makes a big difference in exactly where the weight and pressure are going. That bike shop also swapped out the stem of that bike for one from a Bianchi because it had a different angle that put my arms just a little further forward, which I liked. (Alas, I sent some friends to them and they got a guy who tried to tell them exactly what they wanted -- nobody should want a hybrid! -- and wouldn't listen to a word they said. I suspect they got that young guy who couldn't handle talking about girlie parts.)
It could be the angles of that bike -- but a different seat & adjustment could also really help.

[Biking Bella]

Height and weight doesn't really matter for a saddle. ...support your sit-bones...

Never heard of this before. I'll have to do some research.

[RidingBuddy]

My general rule for bike shorts is, that they should cost at least as much as the number of miles you will be riding in one ride. For example, if you are going to ride 50 miles, you should spend at least $50. Century ride.....$100

Now that comment is a little in jest and doesn't really address the other issues about which you have gotten great advice, but thought it did answer your original question.

Sounds like a saddle fit issue to me, but let us know what you find that works.

[Biking Bella]

...bike shorts should cost at least as much as the number of miles you will be riding in one ride.

This is good advice. I picked up a set of bike shorts that were about $40 (on sale, so I would figure $50 or so retail?). I have noticed that the padding as of late has shown some wear. The back part of the pad in the shorts seems to be holding its own, but the front part is thinning out. Another reason why I thought something was wrong.

I just called the bike shop (Performance Bikes) that I bought the bike from originally. They are about an hour and a half away, but they seem to provide some good information. The sales clerk on the phone apologized that they didn't fit me for the bike better when I originally bought it, but offered to put the bike on the trainer, check out my measurements, and try to match me with a better saddle. 30 day money back guarantee, even if I use it daily, helps with the decision process I suppose.

Any other tips I should know before I head up this evening for this "fitting"?

[Biking Bella]

Ladies -

I went to the LBS with my ride and tried a couple saddles. After they put me on a trainer and raised my seat post height, I did some basic spinning on a few of the saddles they had - purchased one, and took it home.

I rode on it yesterday and could only get 8 miles into the ride before I had to turn back. Usually I can push a 25mile RT without an issue, but within 5 miles in I was in some serious discomfort.

I ended up calling my chiropractor once I got my bike back into the car and started off of the mountain. My lower leg and foot on my left side were numb. Lower back was yelling at me. Girly bits still on the painful side. It was ridiculous! After the chiro adjusted my hips and lower back, then put those electrodes on me for 20 mins with some ice, we went and looked at my bike positioning. He ended up lowering the seat a bit and suggested I slide it back some as well to see if that helped. Yes, he's not a biking professional, but I figured his input might be worth something since, well, he is my doctor.

I'm hoping to work on the saddle positioning a little today and hopefully take an easy 3-5 miles with it on the trainer to see how it feels without causing myself pain.

Here is the saddle I ended up purchasing -
Selle Italia Women's Diva Gel Flow Saddle

[Biking Bella]

Hoping to get back on the trainer today (stupid rain) and try some miles with different seat heights/angles. I definitely think that the LBS had me too high off of the pedals.

[Biking Bella]

So I did some research, as suggested, on how to measure your sit bones. I did it a few times to make sure the measurements were correct...and they were. My bones (center to center) are 5.5" inches apart. I rushed down stairs and measured the widest point of the seat. It was about 5".

[bellissima]

So I did some research, as suggested, on how to measure your sit bones. I did it a few times to make sure the measurements were correct...and they were. My bones (center to center) are 5.5" inches apart. I rushed down stairs and measured the widest point of the seat. It was about 5".

Now try to find a shop that has a test saddle program, that way you can try several saddles and find the one that works best.