Newbie who is Very Sore

[Wolf]

Hi all, I just joined up. I am very, very new to cycling. I started cycling a few months ago and had to stop because of an accident I had on my bike. To be honest, I did not get hurt, but the accident had left me very much afraid of my bike. While riding, the handlebars gave out and fell forward, almost throwing me off the bike (I've been advised to have the whole bike checked out, and that will be happening next weekend).

Anyway, I missed it horribly, so a few days ago I took out a wrench and put a death grip on those handlebars. I was very scared going out, but had such a good time I soon forgot about it.

So my issue. This happened the first time I tried, too. Cycling makes my rear end hurt really badly. And I don't mean something I can walk off, it hurts for days, like I got kicked by a horse in the tailbone. Walking with it is fine, but sitting is almost impossible (I cannot even describe the amount of pain I am in right now) and getting out of the chair after sitting is like the end of the world. Obviously, this also makes getting back onto the bike extremely difficult. Like I said, this happened the first time I began, too, and eventually passed. But this time I hurt it, sat out a day, thought I was good enough to go, and went out tonight. The pain is unbelieveable.

I have changed the seat on the bike from the original to a much softer and wider seat. This did, actually, fix the problem before. But when I started back it didn't make much difference. The pain seems to be right at the tailbone, which I don't understand at all. Does anyone have any advice about getting over this issue? I don't want it to deter me from getting on that bike. I'm biking for weight loss and health as well for the fun of it. So I don't want to lose it. Thanks!

[Kano]

When I started riding a few years ago, I had a "wide, soft, cushy" seat on my new bike. I had a MISERABLE time of things -- like you describe. Sitting on anything was HORRIBLE, and it was a tailbone thing like you describe.

My solution was a smaller, firmer saddle. That one hurt for a while too -- there's a certain amount of getting used to being on a bike for any distance, but it was a whole different kind of ache, and I toughened up after bit. Maybe that will work for you too!

Karen in Boise

[CyborgQueen]

I agree with above poster - I am too going through some newbie pains as well, more of the sides of my leg than the tailbone area.

If you're serious about this, you will be much better buying a new saddle made to fit for you over a stock type of saddle.

There are some LBS that offer measurements of sit bones for free, that way you can tell what width to look for.

I have the Terry Butterfly Ti currently, and so far, I've only had two rides, and I need to put more time in the saddle before determining whether the saddle is a perfect fit or not...

Hope you feel better!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

A less puffy/cushy saddle will get your weight onto your sitbones where it should be, and OFF your soft tissues and tailbone area. You are sinking in too much and putting weight on the wrong places.
A harder saddle might make your sitbones sore for the first few rides, but that will fade and it will likely alleviate your tailbone.
The most painful saddle experience I ever had was 2 hours on a soft puffy foam saddle. The PAIN!!!

[Wolf]

The saddle isn't really all that puffy. I know the original seat made my issues much worse, it was smaller and very hard. I couldn't even walk after using that one. The current one is slightly softer, but it's not puffy or ultra soft. I've got a little more junk in my trunk than I'd like, so I have to be careful of smaller seats, at least until I get my rear end down to a size I want it to be at. Since I enjoy riding so much, I figured it was one excersise I could really stick with to help lose the weight. And unfortunetly, I've got a ways to go to get my rear end down. So I can't go much smaller with the seat than I've gone already (I don't want to lose the thing up in there! LOL!).

[Biciclista]

like Bleeker said, no matter how much "junk in your trunk" if your tailbone is hurting, this saddle is NOT working. you shouldn't have any weight on your tailbone, only on your sitbones.

That saddle is allowing you to sink down to your tailbone. Bad saddle.
Good luck. A lot of very large women are riding bikes without tailbone issues. You can be one of them; change your saddle!

[PscyclePath]

So my issue. This happened the first time I tried, too. Cycling makes my rear end hurt really badly. And I don't mean something I can walk off, it hurts for days, like I got kicked by a horse in the tailbone.
I have changed the seat on the bike from the original to a much softer and wider seat. This did, actually, fix the problem before. But when I started back it didn't make much difference. The pain seems to be right at the tailbone, which I don't understand at all. Does anyone have any advice about getting over this issue? I don't want it to deter me from getting on that bike. I'm biking for weight loss and health as well for the fun of it. So I don't want to lose it. Thanks!

From your description, you may be bearing your weight on the saddle a little too far back on your rear end.

First issue, bike fit. Your bike needs to fit you like a comfy old pair of jeans. Frame or standover height, saddle height, reach, and several other measurements come into play here, and if you're having to stretch out or scrunch up anywhere, that shifts where you're bearing your weight on the bike, and almost any saddle is going to hurt under those conditions.

Next step, after the bike gets fitted to you, check the saddle. A medium to firm saddle will usually ride better because it lets the load go to your sit bones and not your tender parts. The wide, cushy saddles aren't always the best solution. You might also look into getting a good pair of bike shorts with a good chamois... because on a bike oftentimes the padding isn't on your saddle, it's in the seat of your britches.

If there's a local bike shop that you trust, ask them for a bike fitting session. It's well worth the cost, and you may have to change out some parts (stem, seatpost, etc.) to get all the parts in alignment with your body.

[Wolf]

From your description, you may be bearing your weight on the saddle a little too far back on your rear end.

First issue, bike fit. Your bike needs to fit you like a comfy old pair of jeans. Frame or standover height, saddle height, reach, and several other measurements come into play here, and if you're having to stretch out or scrunch up anywhere, that shifts where you're bearing your weight on the bike, and almost any saddle is going to hurt under those conditions.

Next step, after the bike gets fitted to you, check the saddle. A medium to firm saddle will usually ride better because it lets the load go to your sit bones and not your tender parts. The wide, cushy saddles aren't always the best solution. You might also look into getting a good pair of bike shorts with a good chamois... because on a bike oftentimes the padding isn't on your saddle, it's in the seat of your britches.

If there's a local bike shop that you trust, ask them for a bike fitting session. It's well worth the cost, and you may have to change out some parts (stem, seatpost, etc.) to get all the parts in alignment with your body.

I had to stop to think, but now that you mention it, I don't scrunch up much or often... except when I first start peddling. I'm at a stop and go stage right now, building my stamina, so I'll bike about a mile or two, but I'll stop a few times during that period. When I first start peddling to get it going I do scrunch up a bit, it almost feels like my thigh is hitting into my lower torso. I kind of assumed that would just happen until I lose some of the belly.

I'll be heading out Sunday or Monday to talk to the guys at the local shop. Thanks!

[LoriO]

Good luck at the bike shop, I'm sure you'll get a lot of good help there. It will be worth it, when you have a bike that fits it is like night and day! Suddenly you will find that biking will be just a little bit easier and a lot more enjoyable!

[Wolf]

Thanks for all the help! I'll let you all know how it goes at the bike shop if I get there this week. Thanks!

[emily_in_nc]

There are saddles that are split in the back to take all pressure off the tailbone area. I ride with a gal who injured her tailbone badly in a bike accident years ago, and she needs this type of saddle.

Here's just one example:

http://ridingbicycles.com/itemdetails.cfm?LibId=29722

Warning, tho, a lot of these saddles cost more than the bike you are are currently riding!