When will my arse stop hurting?

[mootaineer]

All good advice!

I've tried a Brooks but didn't get on with it at all, so sold it at a loss before it even got a second chance!

I only seem to get on with saddles with cutouts.
My sitbones aren't that narrow but too wide and I get chafed, so I tend to sit on the nose a lot and pick a slightly narrower (130mm) design.
My current favourite is the Specialized Avatar 130mm...not expensive but very comfy and taken me all the way down to the south of France...

I've also tried Fizik, Selle Italia (I like them too) but find consistency with Specialized.

Horses for courses I suppose...!

 

[Rhythm Thief]

All good advice!

I've tried a Brooks but didn't get on with it at all, so sold it at a loss before it even got a second chance!

I only seem to get on with saddles with cutouts.

Just to emphasise how personal saddles are, I've never ridden anything more comfortable than my Brooks.
When I built my girlfriend's bike, I treated her to a Terry Liberator, on the recommendation of a former girlfriend and touring partner. She hates the thing - despite endless tweaking she can't get comfortable on it, and would much rather go back to the truly horrid cheap gel saddle which I injudiciously threw in the bin. I'm on the lookout for a Brooks for her to try next.
Sorry, OT. Keep at it Mmace, it does go away as you do more cycling.

 

[mmace]

cheers guys, it's the only thing holding me back, my journey to work is all uphill, the first half mile being the steepest and it's just putting me off at the moment, it's the only unpleasant part of the journey knowing how much I'm going to hurt. The burning legs and knackeredness I can cope with and quite enjoy, the feeling like I'll never be able to have any more kids is just far too painful at the moment! (am still getting up early and doing it though! it's just not a nice cycle anymore and I want to go a long way round but am putting it off!)

 

[gambatte]

the feeling like I'll never be able to have any more kids is just far too painful at the moment! (am still getting up early and doing it though!)

Would you like to rephrase this?

 

[BentMikey]

Go slower mate, there's no need to race up the hill. Low gear and spin the pedals whilst going slowly, you should still be able to hold a conversation without sounding like a dirty crank phone call. If you're getting out of breath slow down some more.

Oh, and if your bottom end hurts that much, go get a new saddle right away, because that's not right.

 

[squeaker]

Commando stylee

I bought padded shorts with the bike and have been using them each time

and you are wearing the padded shorts 'commando stylee' (nothing underneath)?

 

[Brock]

Are you sure the saddle is positioned correctly for you?

 

[4F]

Oh, and if your bottom end hurts that much, go get a new saddle right away, because that's not right.

I wouldn't be so sure. When I started 2 weeks seemed to be about the time my arse muscles started to become friends with the saddle. Any period longer than this then withoubt doubt look at changing the saddle, which of course is a minefield in itself. I recently changed to a specialised toupe which is an absolute joy to sit on and had tried a brooks B17 before that which was still unbearable after 1000 miles

 

[BentMikey]

AFAIK he's talking about numb man bits, FFFF, not just a sore arse. That's something I'd want to sort out right away, personally.

 

[mootaineer]

I wouldn't be so sure. When I started 2 weeks seemed to be about the time my arse muscles started to become friends with the saddle. Any period longer than this then withoubt doubt look at changing the saddle, which of course is a minefield in itself. I recently changed to a specialised toupe which is an absolute joy to sit on and had tried a brooks B17 before that which was still unbearable after 1000 miles

I once had a Specialized saddle (from before the anatomical cut-out became vogue) and after every ride it hurt to pee...
Ever since I've used saddles with a cutout I've had no problem whatsoever. I've occasionally been forced to use a standard saddle (hiring bikes for a daytrip abroad, etc) and the problem persists.

Definitely worth trying if it's not "just a sore ass"

 

[MERV]

I normally have a numb botty when im riding in primary because normally there is a car right up it.

That was a joke BTW.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

am i correct in assuming that mmace is not a girl suffering on a gents' saddle?

 

[llanberispass]

If my experience is anything to go by when you invest in a Fizik Arione saddle.

I have wasted so much money on other saddles, none being particularly comfortable. My problem was on the sit bones, mine must be pointed or something because most saddles felt too hard. Always ended up with infection over the bones, despite copious use of Savlon.

So my ultimate combination:

Fizik Arione saddle set level or slightly down by a few mm at the nose.
De Marchi padded shorts (not the really expensive or the really cheap) - £38 a pair. Buy 3 pairs and wash on low temperature wash, low spin every time worn.
Copious Savlon

Who said cycling was cheap transport!

To give an idea of my miles: 95 last Monday, 12 Tuesday, 125 Thursday, will probably be well over 100 tomorrow and no soreness whatsoever. Before the Arione would have been a wreck down below.


Now to fix the bad back............

PS Just read another post where they didn't get on with Arione! Just shows......

 

[mootaineer]

If my experience is anything to go by when you invest in a Fizik Arione saddle.

I have wasted so much money on other saddles, none being particularly comfortable. My problem was on the sit bones, mine must be pointed or something because most saddles felt too hard. Always ended up with infection over the bones, despite copious use of Savlon.

So my ultimate combination:

Fizik Arione saddle set level or slightly down by a few mm at the nose.
De Marchi padded shorts (not the really expensive or the really cheap) - £38 a pair. Buy 3 pairs and wash on low temperature wash, low spin every time worn.
Copious Savlon

Who said cycling was cheap transport!

To give an idea of my miles: 95 last Monday, 12 Tuesday, 125 Thursday, will probably be well over 100 tomorrow and no soreness whatsoever. Before the Arione would have been a wreck down below.


Now to fix the bad back............

PS Just read another post where they didn't get on with Arione! Just shows......

If anyone finds Savlon/chamois cream a hassle then I've been using Reskin bike patches for the past year and it's cured most of my saddle sore issues.
I tried Assos chamois cream but apart from being messy, it didn't work for me.
I've also just bought a bottle of "Crotch Guard" to see if this is any good. if it is then it should be even easier, since it's just a spray!

Sorry if the subject is a bit below the belt ...

 

[ColinJ]

I've been using Reskin bike patches for the past year and it's cured most of my saddle sore issues.

I'd never heard of them - but they sound like a great idea, though pricey at about £5 a time. I read that the patches are washable and reusable. Do you reuse them and if so, how much use do you get from each patch? I.e. how use/wash cycles, and/or how many hours of riding?