Tell me the truth about pain

[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]

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...

Can you post a picture of a performance high racer bent? I've never seen one.

[TsPoet]

Can you post a picture of a performance high racer bent? I've never seen one.

Um, no, that requires an (albeit tiny) amount of technical savvy that I've never bothered to figure out.
Here is a link to the Bicycle Man - showing the brand I really like (and own) with the "developer" of the modern high racer.
http://www.bicycleman.com/recumbents...ta_aero_ti.htm
Mine is the "inexpensive" aluminum Corsa - love it.

The dual 26" high racers are being accepted in some of the longer races, such as race across Florida
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road.php?...apr04/apr20baf
which was won by someone on a Bacchetta (a co-owner of the company). In fact, a Bacchetta rider has finished in the top 3 places in that race the last 3 years, John Schlitter won in 2004 and 2006 and (I think) 5 of the top 6 finishers in 2006 were riding high racers.
The winner at Seabring was also on a Bacchetta (he just had to drop out of RAAM due to lung illness)
I'll be crewing for the Race Across Oregon Bacchetta team next month.

TS

[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.

[Kathi]

Do you know if your bike really fits you? Find a reputable fitter and find out for sure. You can read books about fit and use online fit systems but they won't spot individual differences like a fitter can.

When your sure you have a properly fitting bike then seek a good saddle.

An almost good enough fit won't do it. Sometimes a small adjustment makes the difference between a comfortable bike and one that is miserable.

[MomOnBike]

Here:

http://photos.jefforlowski.com/galle...26733446/Large

is another high-performance 'bent. From last year's RAAM.

[pooks]

Do you know if your bike really fits you? Find a reputable fitter and find out for sure.

How do you find a reputable fitter?

[Aint Doody]

Back on the pain front--y'all might check out my post on the Falcon X saddle about a new "strategy" I have..............

[ellenclary]

Years ago I stopped biking much due to hand and crotch pain.
The hand pain I've addressed but was never successful at solving the crotch pain. I went through about 10 saddles and still routinely buy them though one of my bikes was stolen so not so much any more.

I've since bought a recumbent and happily ride without crotch pain but I miss climbing hills as climbing in a recumbent is doable but tough.

Enter the internet and this forum. (I should have looked here a long time ago but was obsessing on mountain climbing and dog agility). I'm following this thread with much interest. The person that pointed out that you don't sit on your "girlie bits" when you're sitting in a chair got my attention and also that over reaching may also cause problems.

Does this mean that you're only supposed to sit on your butt and never on your pubic bone? (Even with a saddle that has a hole cut in it?) When sitting in a chair I sit on my butt and thighs. Since on a regular bike I don't have the use of my thighs is there any pressure on the front at all (in a perfect world?)

Still pondering this,

Ellen

[KnottedYet]

Nope, no pressure at all. No (NO) weight bearing on the pubic bone. It's all on the ischial tuberosities (sit bones). You need a saddle with the right shape for you, and it will allow your thighs to do their work unhindered.

Adjust the bars so you don't reach too far.

Get a seat that matches your pelvis and thighs in your riding postition.

I used to ride a recumbent. Nice seat. No weight on the soft tissue or the pubic bone. Before that I was on a Trek FastTrack (570?) in drops with a Terry Sport. No weight on the soft tissue or pubic bone. My new bike I was on a Serfas Niva (i think, but don't quote me on that). Cut out. No weight on soft stuff or pubic bone. Now I've got a Brooks B67 on the same bike. Oh, my goodness, what a great saddle for me! It's shaped like a "T" instead of like a pear and is wide enought for my sit bones. Wonderful. No weight anywhere it shouldn't be, and my thighs are free to pedal! It's just so cool.