Tell me the truth about pain

[Nanci]

My advice is don't buy a big squooshy poofy saddle, or a big gel seat cover. Anything you sink into, while maybe more comfie at first glance, will put pressure on your girlie bits.

Nanci

[mimitabby]

My advice is don't buy a big squooshy poofy saddle, or a big gel seat cover. Anything you sink into, while maybe more comfie at first glance, will put pressure on your girlie bits.

Nanci

I agree with Nanci.

Whereever you are sitting right now, do you notice your crotch hurting? if not
it's probably because the chair; soft or hard is supporting your sitting bones, which keeps your delicate parts UP OFF the chair.
m

[Kano]

OOOH! OOOH! What Nanci and Mimitabby said!

I'm new too, Wren, and had pain questions of my own the other day. My new bike (a "comfort bike," which in many ways IS very comfortable and is going a long way toward getting me hooked!) came with a big squooshy "seat," and it sure didn't take long for me to decide that was a horrible thing! It won't necessarily be girlie bits and sit bones hurting from a big squooshy -- at least in my experience! My next saddle was on my old bike, had a fairly significant amount of padding, but still lots less squooshy than the original. When I finally put it on this bike RIGHT, I discovered that it hurt the girlie bits, and wondered how I could have been content with it last year. (yup, I'm going to graduate from that hard knocks school someday!)

Right now, Wren, I'm trying a Specialized Dolce saddle. MUCH firmer and flatter than either of the two I've had on the bike so far, but I can tell it's a definite improvement, even if at some point I decide it's not quite right. I've got to admit, this is a bit of a surprise!

(I think it makes my bike go faster too! Maybe Earl SHOULD keep his big squooshy , so I can keep up with him! )

Karen in Boise

[Denise223]

I DEFINITELY need to try out some saddles, because after 10 miles I'm really feeling like the nose of my saddle is putting severe pressure on my crotch....

As I'm riding, in my head, I'm thinking...'I feel as if I'm sitting on the snout of a bottlenose dolphin' <<-- I love dolphins.........but, I don't need to have that feeling.

I know there are several threads on "saddles", and there are so many saddles out there that it gets quite overwhelming.

I will go visit my lbs and try out some saddles. What came with my Gary Fisher Nirvana is an "Oasis" saddle -- and, it does have a prominent nose, compared to some that I have looked at on this site.

Looking forward to a pain-free ride soon !!

Denise

[DebW]

I DEFINITELY need to try out some saddles, because after 10 miles I'm really feeling like the nose of my saddle is putting severe pressure on my crotch....

As I'm riding, in my head, I'm thinking...'I feel as if I'm sitting on the snout of a bottlenose dolphin' <<-- I love dolphins.........but, I don't need to have that feeling.
Denise

Have you tried changing the tilt of the saddle? Any saddle will put pressure there if the nose is tilted up too much. Try it flat, or with a very slight uptilt. But you don't want to feel like you're sliding off the front end because then your hands will hurt.

[Denise223]

Hi Deb!!

Thanks for answering my post.

Try it flat, or with a very slight uptilt. Deb W.

My saddle is flat, but I definitely will change it to a very slight uptilt, like you recommend. I'll be very happy if that helps !

By the way, "Hi neighbor!" .....

Have a great day!

Denise

[TsPoet]

I gotta ask, though, there are tons of different styles of bents out there. I will personally never go back, now that I've found performance bents (high racers, specifically), they are faster (more aero), more comfortable, more amenable to different rides...
I also have 2, one for touring/commuting/city riding and the high racer for fast road rides.
I also have an MTB with two sets of wheels, thin slicks and hobbies. I've ridden it twice this year. If I decide to do more off-road riding like I used to, I'll look into one of the few off-road bents.
The view is better, they are just plain fun. Even a bike that fits you right is hard on the neck, hands, butt, and back. All you have to do is get over the geek factor. Used to ride my MTB ~1000 miles/year - since going bent, I'm now riding 2500+ very happily - hope to get in close to 4000 miles this year.
I have looked into a DF for racing, since I really enjoy that. But, haven't been able to get over the fun/comfort factor of a bent. Even if DFs aren't uncomfortable, a DF just isn't as comfortable.
Just my $0.02, which is free, so not even worth $0.02.

[DebW]

My saddle is flat, but I definitely will change it to a very slight uptilt, like you recommend. I'll be very happy if that helps !

Denise

The seat-to-handlebar distance also make a difference. If the reach is too great, your pelvis tilts too much and you get the saddle nose pressure. If your seat rails are long enough, try loosening the seat clamp and sliding the saddle forward. Try this for one ride and see if it makes a difference. It will change your saddle-to-pedal distance, so the better solution may be to move the handlebars back, but it's a good quick test.