Ouch my lady bits!

[Puffin]

I have always experienced a bit of discomfort in my lower regions when biking. I have experimented a bit with saddle postion and found that the specialised BG racing saddles are good both on and off road. On long rides I might get a bit of chafing, but nothing that Neils Yard baby bottom cream doesn't soothe over night.
However, I have recently got a road bike (riding a hybrid on the road before) and am doing some decent miles on it. Don't know if it is related to this but I have started feeling like my "lady bits" are being pressed into me with a hot iron, after only a few minutes on the saddle. Not great for performance! Is this something to do with the new riding position (I'm much more dropped on this bike) or have I developed a medical condition???
Em

[KnottedYet]

It's probably the position.

Try activating your "core" muscles more to keep your weight on your sit-bones rather than letting the pelvis flop forward so the weight is on your soft tissue and pubic bone.

If that doesn't help (or if your posture is already good) you might need a different saddle for the road bike. (one that supports your sit bones better, or one that is more "T" shaped -for the chafing-, or one with less padding, or one with a deeper/wider/softer/more magical cut out, etc.)

You said you've always experienced discomfort biking. Is it possible you've always been on a saddle that isn't quite perfect?

[Puffin]

Thanks for you reply, Knotted. I tried your suggestion of using my core muscles more on my ride home tonight. It did help but boy did it throw everything else out! Pulling in my stomach muscles and tiling my pelvis forwards means I am in a more upright postion and I need to bend my back in a higher place to be able to reach my hoods. Also, after several miles of it I felt my body dropping back into the easier bad position. 18 miles later and I think I might feel it tomorrow! I still don't feel that I am using my sit bones much, though. I will try moving my saddle forward, perhaps tilt the nose down further.
Finding the right saddle is such an expensive business, because once you've fitted it and tried it out - there's no returning it to the shop!
Anyway, thanks again for the tip.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

See if you can get a bike shop to raise your handlebars up a bit. They may even be able to put some "spacers" on to help do that. Raising your bars will help you tip your weight back more onto your sit bones.

[Puffin]

Won't that compromise my aerodynamics ? Do you have to be built in a special way to ride in a racy position?

[KnottedYet]

aerodynamics - the amount they'd likely raise your bars or rotate your bars is pretty minimal. it will change your weightbearing pattern more than it will change your aerodynamics (unless they REALLY raise them up with a new stem and such) If you are more comfortable with your bars up a bit, you will ride more efficiently and probably more powerfully. Muscle energy that is being spent "guarding" and trying to protect your sore bits is muscle energy that is NOT getting used to propel the bike!

Saddle - since your other bikes are also always causing you discomfort, my vote is leaning toward a saddle issue. Wallingford Bicycle Parts gives you 6 months, no questions asked, to try out saddles and return them. www.wallbike.com I've heard that Terry gives you 30 days. www.terrybicycles.com So, there are options that will let you try saddles and return them if they don't work right for you.

Built to race - you don't have to be built a special way to race, but your bike does! The bike needs to fit you, the components need to suit you, and such. Takes a while to fine tune the bike and your posture on it, but there's no one particular body type that one needs to be racy.

Edit: try to find a copy of Andy Pruitt's Complete Medical Guide for Cyclists. (or something like that title.) The book is great.