Saddle Sores - Sorry maybe TMI

[cmac77354]

I bought my bike a few weeks ago, had a cheapo pair of shorts that I quickly discarded!! Bought a top of the line short which is so much kinder to my hiney.....but I get horrible saddle sores. At the advise of a cycling friend I bought some Butt Butter, this did help, but did not eliminate the problem.

Saturday I rode a little over 25 miles and was fine, however last night I rode 15 miles and now I'm covered front to back with saddle sores. Could it be my shorts are not the proper fit and they move around too much? When I got them, they fit fine, but now that I've been riding I'm starting to loose weight and inches so they are a little loser. HELP

[Starfish]

Wow, not sure what to say, except that I have never had this problem, and yours sounds extreme. I have had exactly one saddle sore in about 5 years of riding.

I did recently buy a new pair of shorts, and different brand, and I think I started to get a hint of a sore on Saturday. I think it is due to the placing of this particular shorts seam right in conjunction with a particular ridge on the saddle.

I am thinking that if you are having such extreme issues, the Butt'R is probably not going to fix it. I never use lube (although some folks swear by it).

I'm not sure what to say, except that you should not accept this as normal. Some combination of saddle/shorts change? Can you associate the sores with where the seams on the shorts are, for instance? Or maybe where a certain ridge on the saddle is?

[cmac77354]

Everything (seams, saddle, etc) seam to be located ok. The first 5 - 7 miles, I'm comfy, after that "things" start getting pinched. That's why I thought maybe my shorts have become to loose fitting and are moving around.

I've rodeo'd my whole life so saddle sores aren't anything new to me, but typically I just got them on my sit bones, not everywhere else!

[Blueberry]

The fact that they're everywhere makes me almost think it's an allergic reaction to something. I know some folks reacted to a PI short a year or so ago.
Loose shorts are not good - moving shorts = friction = sores. Are they anywhere pressure wouldn't be?

Good luck - that sounds miserable! I'd be inclined to see a doc, to get that many treated...

CA

[cmac77354]

I thought about an alergic reaction too, I didn't have this problem with my cheapy shorts, but then again they had a neoprene pad not a chamios pad. Maybe that's my problem, I don't know. I'm definately going to go by a smaller size and see if that helps. Thanks for the replies.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Are these actually 'saddle sores", are they bruises, blisters, or are they an all-over rash?

[Starfish]

Everything (seams, saddle, etc) seam to be located ok.

I was just wondering if the sores lined up perfectly along a seam line, etc?

I've rodeo'd my whole life so saddle sores aren't anything new to me, but typically I just got them on my sit bones, not everywhere else!

This is also odd to me...I have never rodeo'd, but spent about 20 years riding, including very long hard days over all kinds of mountains, and never had a saddle sore.

Maybe you're a hothouse flower! (I know, I know, sores are no laughing matter!)

[Aquila]

I think you're getting great advice so far.

I just wanted to add, that NOTHING is TMI when it involves our bikes and butts! We've all been sore, and everyone here is great about helping.

[sarahlou]

I use a homeopathic silica tissue salt for "the temporary relief of pimples, boils, ulcers," etc. and find that it really works well for me. I tend to get very big, deep, hard sores and after a few days of the silica pills feel much better. The brand I use is Schuessler, but I bought them in Australia and don't know if they are available in the US.

Good luck.

[cmac77354]

Thanks for all the replies. This past weekend I didn't have the problem. I really lubed up with Chamois But'r and it seemed to work.

[koala]

Wow, that sounds really awful. A couple of things jump out. One is your shorts. Tri shorts tend to have a really thin chamois, and PI's tend to have a really stiff chamois. My guess is neither one is helping in your situation, but they can make matters worse. Second thing is that you sound like you're pretty active on your saddle when you ride, you move around a fair amount. So you end up rubbing the front area more, and irritating it more, a vicious cycle. I would suggest less is more up front for you. Your cut-out looks small. There is better out there. Check out the Selle SMP line for h-u-g-e cut-outs. If there's nothing there at all, it can't irritate. Also, Selle San Marco makes something called an Aero Saddle. It has a big cut-out in a diamond shape that might just give your bruised parts clearance. Be sure it is the Aero, and not some other models that use the "arrowhead" cut-out as there is a difference in the front end.

I don't think you gain anything by going to the Butterfly. It is a soft saddle, and if you push on the cut-out you'll see it has a tendency to fold in under pressure & pinch in front. You'd probably be better off with something firmer that has as big a hole as possible but will still keep its shape if you shift around on it.

[newridder]

i, too, have problems like seeker. i got the bike to lose weight but that area is terribly painful when ridding. t have tried diff saddles; was fitted on bike- had the problem then. fitter used butt measurer. had another fitter in diff state take look. he tilted saddle back-- helped a little. tried the wonder seat but could not stay on bike when sudden stop. losing interest in biking. thinking of trying diff shorts-- any advice.

[KnottedYet]

Newrider - try doing the self measurements for your sit bones, and the cut-out test. Tell us what you get for those (sitbone span and yes/no cutout). Tell us what saddles you tried and what you liked or didn't like about each.

Someone here has probably dealt with finding a saddle similar to your needs, and will be able to help!

(and how does the saddle you have now feel if you ride in unpadded shorts?)

[seeker]

Hi. I'm new here. I know a couple of your members from another site. They're always recommending that I come join you over here. I've lurked but never really needed to post anything. But I am now desperate for help and I've come to you.

I started biking in January and am training for a triathlon. My first sprint is in July. I have had saddle issues from the get-go. I've changed saddles. I've gone over this and over this with my LBS. They have been very supportive. We put my bike on the store trainer and tried several saddles. They sold me my bike and I was properly fitted.

So here's my problem and it is way tmi. I've tried to describe this to both the LBS and my coach but no one seems to appreciate my problem. When I sit on the saddle it splits my labia apart and all the pressure rubs right on my clitoris. I wear Peal Izumi bike shorts and I've also worn Sugoi tri shorts. I rode 30 miles today and it almost looks like I have 2 blisters on the lower part of my clitoris. I am constantly having to shift my weight to the back of the seat. When my saddle was completely level it was even worse. My coach tilted it slightly back and it took some of the pressure off and it was manageable. But my rides are getting longer and it has become unendurable. I currently have this saddle on my bike. I don't know whether I need a wider seat or a more narrow seat. The LBS thought maybe I need a men's seat. I'm 5'4" and weigh 125. I have no hips to speak of. I am starting to get a butt since I've been riding. The LBS told me I have more of a male body type than female and thought since I was narrow through the hips that maybe I should try a male saddle. But I think that will just make the labia splitting worse. I asked the LBS on Saturday if they could tilt my saddle back a little more. But they insisted it needed to go forward. But when I'm riding every ounce of pressure is on my clit. My coach coaches several women who use a Terry Butterfly seat. I asked him if I should try that seat. He's looked at my seat and feels it is a good seat.

Sex has obviously become an issue. Not only do I have the clitoral problems but my entire pubic area is bruised. It's been this way for 4 months.
Right now I'm riding between 60-90 minutes of trainer drills on Tuesday. 45 minutes of either trainer or road on Wednesday. Then 2 hours on Sat or Sun.
My time on the bike is only going to get longer. I have not been able to get any men to understand what my issue is. I've told them the exact same thing I've told you but they just don't get it.

So I've come to you in hopes of two things. One, you will understand where my pain is and two, maybe have a few suggestions.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

[mimitabby]

Hi. I'm new here. I know a couple of your members from another site. They're always recommending that I come join you over here. I've lurked but never really needed to post anything. But I am now desperate for help and I've come to you.

I started biking in January and am training for a triathlon. My first sprint is in July. I have had saddle issues from the get-go. I've changed saddles. I've gone over this and over this with my LBS. They have been very supportive. We put my bike on the store trainer and tried several saddles. They sold me my bike and I was properly fitted.

So here's my problem and it is way tmi. I've tried to describe this to both the LBS and my coach but no one seems to appreciate my problem. When I sit on the saddle it splits my labia apart and all the pressure rubs right on my clitoris. I wear Peal Izumi bike shorts and I've also worn Sugoi tri shorts. I rode 30 miles today and it almost looks like I have 2 blisters on the lower part of my clitoris. I am constantly having to shift my weight to the back of the seat. When my saddle was completely level it was even worse. My coach tilted it slightly back and it took some of the pressure off and it was manageable. But my rides are getting longer and it has become unendurable. I currently have this saddle on my bike. I don't know whether I need a wider seat or a more narrow seat. The LBS thought maybe I need a men's seat. I'm 5'4" and weigh 125. I have no hips to speak of. I am starting to get a butt since I've been riding. The LBS told me I have more of a male body type than female and thought since I was narrow through the hips that maybe I should try a male saddle. But I think that will just make the labia splitting worse. I asked the LBS on Saturday if they could tilt my saddle back a little more. But they insisted it needed to go forward. But when I'm riding every ounce of pressure is on my clit. My coach coaches several women who use a Terry Butterfly seat. I asked him if I should try that seat. He's looked at my seat and feels it is a good seat.

Sex has obviously become an issue. Not only do I have the clitoral problems but my entire pubic area is bruised. It's been this way for 4 months.
Right now I'm riding between 60-90 minutes of trainer drills on Tuesday. 45 minutes of either trainer or road on Wednesday. Then 2 hours on Sat or Sun.
My time on the bike is only going to get longer. I have not been able to get any men to understand what my issue is. I've told them the exact same thing I've told you but they just don't get it.

So I've come to you in hopes of two things. One, you will understand where my pain is and two, maybe have a few suggestions.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Seeker, i'd say you 're not set up right on the bike. If you were, you would have all your weight on your sit bones, not the front of your crotch.

I can't even imagine how you can ride that way for 5 minutes!

how about a photo of you on your bike from the side?

and here's a dumb suggestion; can't you position yourself so all your delicate parts are right over to the side a bit
so that the saddle nose isn't ON them?

And what kind of saddle is it?