Postlady needs advice

[alabama12]

I was very relieved to find this forum after searching for help everywhere. I dont cycle for pleasure or sport, I cycle for my job as I'm a postlady in the UK. The bikes and saddles i am expected to use are old, heavy and uncomfortable, but there are no options. I've been struggling for four years with the discomfort in the 'girl parts' area and having just had a break of four months due to illness, I have returned to work and after three days i am blistered and chaffed and in huge discomfort. There are no saddle options, I have to use the one on whatever bike I am allocated. I have looked for gel or padded underwear, but can't find anything but shorts and even those are too small for me as I am a size 16/18 (UK) ...yes a fat, but fit postlady! Also I have to wear whatever I manage to find under the regulation uniform shorts or trousers. Please can someone tell me why no one has invented padded underwear for cyclists, I dont understand. I would love to cycle for pleasure, but there is nothing but pain associated with it for me. I love my job, but if you ever wondered why the postlady looks miserable doing ' the best job in the world' as many people seem to think it is... Its because she's struggling with the pain! Please help.

have you tried those http://www.siliconebody.com/Unforbuttable ? Supposively they are made for bikers. As a person who recently has lost 75 pounds, I applaud you!

[Susan]

I use padded bike underwear (like this one: http://www.loeffler.at/de/Produkte/U...ERHOSE-ELASTIC) the one shown in the picture is for men, but there is a womens version too. They have a thin but comfortable pad.

I would also second the recommendation to swap the saddle (saddle and seatpost) before riding. This would only take you a minute to set up your bike and would save you so much pain and discofort.
There are different seatpost diameters, but it's easy enough to find the right size. After work you can just put the original saddle and seatpost back on.

[lph]

Oh please, for the sake of eco-friendly post delivery everywhere, do try and get a good saddle and seatpost to switch to! You'll find plenty of good advice on picking a saddle, here on TE. For starters you can check out which saddles we use, many of us have them posted in our signature. Make sure that the seatpost you get is the right diameter to fit the bikes you use, there are a few different sizes.

I wish you could get good bikes too, no-one expects post delivery people driving cars to drive ancient beat-up cars, do they?

Wishing you lots of luck!

[Trek420]

For starters you can check out which saddles we use, many of us have them posted in our signature.

This is a good place to start on fit:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=25954