Numb bum syndrome

[SpokeyDokey]

been there done that, my doc said it allways happens with an old fat arse and a young slim saddle, get the widest thickest saddle you can untill you get used to cycling, you dont have too but hell it helps

I'm not in agreement with that.

The saddle that will be comfiest quickest is the one that fits you properly. A fat saddle is not going to be comfy if you have narrow sit bones no matter how much bum padding you are carrying.

 

[PaulSecteur]

Okay so after getting my first bike I went on my first proper bike ride yesterday to take advantage of the weather, I went on a 4 hour....

That's ya problem, too much too soon. Its like going to your first karate class and bitch slapping the instructor. Yeah, it can be done but its going to end badly.

I found the best way to get used to the saddle was to do little and often. Even if its just 10 mins when I get in from work, and a half hour some other time during the day and do that as often as you can for the first week and build up.

Alternatively, what you have done was the "Trial by fire" method. Without getting into too much detail, use sudocreme or similar to help the sore bits heal and stay off the bike for a few days to allow recovery. Once you feel up to it plan a 30 minute ride to see how you go, if you feel ok then extend it but make sure you can get home if it becomes painful.

Padded shorts help a lot, even the Sports direct or decathlon £7 jobbies.

Sudocreme up before your ride, and after. Never during.

 

[MaxInc]

It takes a couple of weeks to get used to it, take it easy and allow for recovery, your bum / nerves will adapt to the pressure. 4h is a long time to be spending in a saddle in the beginning, regardless of distance or speed.

 

[roadrash]

That's ya problem, too much too soon. Its like going to your first karate class and bitch slapping the instructor. Yeah, it can be done but its going to end badly.

thanks for that paul ,,,,ive just choked on my hobnob biscuit laughing at that

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I'm not in agreement with that.

The saddle that will be comfiest quickest is the one that fits you properly. A fat saddle is not going to be comfy if you have narrow sit bones no matter how much bum padding you are carrying.

Agreed. The padding at the rear of the saddle (which is where you should be sitting) should sit directly under your 2 sit bones. If the saddle is either too wide or too narrow, then the padding may not be in the right place, and it will probably be uncomfortable. It's also best to keep the saddle approximately horizontal, otherwise you'll have a tendency to slip forward onto the narrow front of the saddle, which will put pressure on your perineum, causing discomfort. Finally, find a bike shop that lets you take saddles for test rides, and try some before buying one.

 

[screenman]

no same here I wouldn't like a wider saddle, I have just ordered a padded saddle cover of amazon, hopefully that does the trick.

Big bad idea, they seldom work well. Padded shorts yes padded cover no.

 

[GetAGrip]

That's ya problem, too much too soon. Its like going to your first karate class and bitch slapping the instructor. Yeah, it can be done but its going to end badly.

I found the best way to get used to the saddle was to do little and often. Even if its just 10 mins when I get in from work, and a half hour some other time during the day and do that as often as you can for the first week and build up.

Alternatively, what you have done was the "Trial by fire" method. Without getting into too much detail, use sudocreme or similar to help the sore bits heal and stay off the bike for a few days to allow recovery. Once you feel up to it plan a 30 minute ride to see how you go, if you feel ok then extend it but make sure you can get home if it becomes painful.

Padded shorts help a lot, even the Sports direct or decathlon £7 jobbies.

Sudocreme up before your ride, and after. Never during.

Seriously though, I found for the first few weeks as I increased time spent in the saddle, 1 day on 2 days off worked well. Along with becoming accustomed and having a suitable saddle (for you), I found decent padded shorts became a must have accessory.

 

[CopperCyclist]

More time in saddle = more comfortable saddle.

Your bum gets trained. When I first picked up a bike again about two years ago I rode it ten miles. My rear end hated me for it. I had to stop, I had to stand and pedal for some respite which made me feel I'll as I wasn't fit enough, and I could barely sit on the sofa afterwards, let alone a bicycle seat again!

However now, over two years later I just did a Solihull to Paris bike ride, with about seven hours in the saddle each day for four days, with no issue at all!

Position and the right seat are important, but nothing cures it more than simply getting out and getting used to it.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

More time in saddle = more comfortable saddle.

Your bum gets trained. When I first picked up a bike again about two years ago I rode it ten miles. My rear end hated me for it. I had to stop, I had to stand and pedal for some respite which made me feel I'll as I wasn't fit enough, and I could barely sit on the sofa afterwards, let alone a bicycle seat again!

However now, over two years later I just did a Solihull to Paris bike ride, with about seven hours in the saddle each day for four days, with no issue at all!

Position and the right seat are important, but nothing cures it more than simply getting out and getting used to it.

And for some reason the older you are the longer it seems to take.

 

[Devonshiredave]

Isn't it funny how when you're a kid, you ride your bike everywhere, on some crap hard plastic saddle and have no ill affects. You get out of riding for a few years, come back to cycling and your bum feels like it needs a holiday after 10 minutes on the bike? And that's on a better saddle than any kids bike ever had!
I've just ebayed my rather pricey Spesh Phenom after it fair crucified my bum and I had a go on their assometer to make sure I got the right width fit. I'm now tonking about on a Giant saddle (the make, not size!) which I think someone else swapped off their new bike. Same width, just a bit more padding. Result? No more pain. Riding with padded shorts/longs really helps too.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Isn't it funny how when you're a kid, you ride your bike everywhere, on some crap hard plastic saddle and have no ill affects. You get out of riding for a few years, come back to cycling and your bum feels like it needs a holiday after 10 minutes on the bike? And that's on a better saddle than any kids bike ever had!
I've just ebayed my rather pricey Spesh Phenom after it fair crucified my bum and I had a go on their assometer to make sure I got the right width fit. I'm now tonking about on a Giant saddle (the make, not size!) which I think someone else swapped off their new bike. Same width, just a bit more padding. Result? No more pain. Riding with padded shorts/longs really helps too.

it's took me about a year to get settled.

 

[Devonshiredave]

it's took me about a year to get settled.

And you've done some big miles Nigel by the look of it!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

And you've done some big miles Nigel by the look of it!

Yea just few, looking to pass 6,500 miles since I started June 23rd last year, tomorrow.
Again I think it's a fitness thing, the fitter your are it doesn't seem to bother you as much, but than I dont often ride more than 40 miles.

 

[Cycleops]

Saddles often take a long time to get right, it is usually a matter of trial and error. One man's meat is anothers poison! So you can't say "buy one of these and you will be comfortable". Very often the one you think will be the most comfortable is not and visa versa. My best saddle comes off a twenty five year old bike and hasn't even got a brand name, I thought it was going to be torture but the opposite is true. No easy quick solution I'm afraid.