what I wouldn't give for a comfortable bike seat

New bike, ready to rock and roll! Except I'm finding my rear end is getting
sore. Real sore. I have really quality bike shorts, but I'm still in pain!
The problem seems to be partly that my hip bones are riding outside of my
bike seat, and also, things up front seem to be getting the blood shut
off... Um, yeah, I'm a girl, but it still hurts! I've looked at bike seats
that have the hole in the middle, but I'm not sure if that's the way to go.
What do other people have?

determined wrote:
New bike, ready to rock and roll! Except I'm finding my rear end is getting
sore. Real sore. I have really quality bike shorts, but I'm still in pain!
The problem seems to be partly that my hip bones are riding outside of my
bike seat, and also, things up front seem to be getting the blood shut
off... Um, yeah, I'm a girl, but it still hurts! I've looked at bike seats
that have the hole in the middle, but I'm not sure if that's the way to go.
What do other people have?





Over what kind of distance is it uncomfortable? If you talking less than
40km then the saddle is probably fundamentally wrong.

What you are looking for is a saddle that will support you on your "Sit
Bones". Here's what the mighty Sheldon Brown says about Saddles:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html

A saddle that's fundamentally "right" for you should be comfy for 40km
even if you never ride that kind of distance normally. Once you get a
saddle that is basically ok, then it should be a matter of spending time
on it to toughen up your butt.

Creams and padded shorts will also help on longer distances - I'd never
use unpadded shorts on rides of more than 50km.

FWIW I use Brooks saddles. They are hard - really hard, but with good
hygiene, padded shorts and cream, I can be pain free even after a 400km
Brevet; it's just a case of experimenting to find what works for you.

HTH
Chris

I test drove two recumbent bikes yesterday.

They are superior to upright bikes in every way, more comfortable, and
much easier on your back,neck, groin.

I think you can get a better workout too. I felt my whole leg, not
just my knee area contributing to the thrust.

The only bad things is that since there are fewer of them made the
price is a bit steeper.

This article tells it better than I can:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recumbent_bicycles

On May 31, 3:30 pm, "determined" wrote:
New bike, ready to rock and roll! Except I'm finding my rear end is getting
sore. Real sore. I have really quality bike shorts, but I'm still in pain!
The problem seems to be partly that my hip bones are riding outside of my
bike seat, and also, things up front seem to be getting the blood shut
off... Um, yeah, I'm a girl, but it still hurts! I've looked at bike seats
that have the hole in the middle, but I'm not sure if that's the way to go.
What do other people have?

Your saddle should support your 'sit bones.' I assume when you say hip
bones you mean sit bones. If you aren't being properly supported, your
weight is resting on soft tissue. This is not a good thing.

Go to your local bike shop and discuss your problem with them. They'll
help you get the saddle you need. You can safely ignore the troll
promoting recumbent bikes; not that there is anything inferior about a
recumbent, but the idea you should buy a 1000K bike instead of a 50
dollar saddle is typical of the cult's thinking.

Neil, riding his 4th saddle.

"determined" wrote in message
. ..
New bike, ready to rock and roll! Except I'm finding my rear end is
getting sore. Real sore. I have really quality bike shorts, but I'm
still in pain! The problem seems to be partly that my hip bones are riding
outside of my bike seat, and also, things up front seem to be getting the
blood shut off... Um, yeah, I'm a girl, but it still hurts! I've looked
at bike seats that have the hole in the middle, but I'm not sure if that's
the way to go. What do other people have?
I switched to a Specialized Dolce after the Bontrager saddles on both Treks
gave me problems. The bike shop measured my sit bones and then sold me the
right size Dolce. I love it but as anyone can tell you YMMV.

As others have posted....go to the LBS and get help.

Beverly

determined wrote:
New bike, ready to rock and roll! Except I'm finding my rear end is getting
sore. Real sore. I have really quality bike shorts, but I'm still in pain!
The problem seems to be partly that my hip bones are riding outside of my
bike seat, and also, things up front seem to be getting the blood shut
off... Um, yeah, I'm a girl, but it still hurts! I've looked at bike seats
that have the hole in the middle, but I'm not sure if that's the way to go.
What do other people have?



First, there are quality bike shorts and quality bike shorts. I have
some shorts that are good for 30 miles, some for 50+. I like the Pearl
Izumi Ultrasensor (the microsensor is too short, imho) and some Trek
shorts (team? crit? not sure, red chamois though) for distances right now.

For the saddle, I have had both the Terry Liberator (older bike) and the
Terry Butterfly (newer bike) and I have liked them both.

--
jmk in NC

"Beverly" wrote in message
...

"determined" wrote in message
. ..
New bike, ready to rock and roll! Except I'm finding my rear end is
getting sore. Real sore. I have really quality bike shorts, but I'm
still in pain! The problem seems to be partly that my hip bones are
riding outside of my bike seat, and also, things up front seem to be
getting the blood shut off... Um, yeah, I'm a girl, but it still hurts!
I've looked at bike seats that have the hole in the middle, but I'm not
sure if that's the way to go. What do other people have?
I switched to a Specialized Dolce after the Bontrager saddles on both
Treks gave me problems. The bike shop measured my sit bones and then sold
me the right size Dolce. I love it but as anyone can tell you YMMV.

As others have posted....go to the LBS and get help.

Beverly

Hey! I got a Specialized today, and I LOVE IT! The bontrager saddles was
the one that was just killing my, um, privates. I was constantly shifting
my weight on that thing, and standing as often as I could just to allow
blood back into my bottom.

On Jun 1, 10:35 pm, "determined" wrote:
"Beverly" wrote in message

...







"determined" wrote in message
...
New bike, ready to rock and roll! Except I'm finding my rear end is
getting sore. Real sore. I have really quality bike shorts, but I'm
still in pain! The problem seems to be partly that my hip bones are
riding outside of my bike seat, and also, things up front seem to be
getting the blood shut off... Um, yeah, I'm a girl, but it still hurts!
I've looked at bike seats that have the hole in the middle, but I'm not
sure if that's the way to go. What do other people have?
I switched to a Specialized Dolce after the Bontrager saddles on both
Treks gave me problems. The bike shop measured my sit bones and then sold
me the right size Dolce. I love it but as anyone can tell you YMMV.

As others have posted....go to the LBS and get help.

Beverly

Hey! I got a Specialized today, and I LOVE IT! The bontrager saddles was
the one that was just killing my, um, privates. I was constantly shifting
my weight on that thing, and standing as often as I could just to allow
blood back into my bottom.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I hate what they've done to bikes. I am not a bike racer and much
prefer to sit more upright on a larger seat, too. They must think
everyone wants to compete in the Tour d' France. Give me a one-speed-
curb-jumping-sit-up-straight-big-seat Schwinn over these new-fangled
machines. Motorcycles are even worse. I LOVED my Suzuki 180 from 1975,
so I decided to buy another.....wrong. All the bikes have larger
engines and force you to lean forward...again infringing on your
private parts. If I wanted my private parts squeezed, I just buy a
size smaller pants for gosh sakes. dkw

wrote:

I hate what they've done to bikes. I am not a bike racer and much
prefer to sit more upright on a larger seat, too.

I'm not a cyclist, but I'd probably agree with you. However, this is the
image that popped into my head when I read your post
http://tinyurl.com/yw2pjj No offense intended. ;-)

--
Phil M.

On Jun 2, 3:42 pm, "Phil M." wrote:
wrote:
I hate what they've done to bikes. I am not a bike racer and much
prefer to sit more upright on a larger seat, too.

I'm not a cyclist, but I'd probably agree with you. However, this is the
image that popped into my head when I read your posthttp://tinyurl.com/yw2pjjNo offense intended. ;-)

--
Phil M.

Yes, that's it. Those were the good old days. I prefer the basket on
the front though, and the dog can just run BESIDE the bike.

My image is the old substantial German Fraus that ride around on those
black, heavy duty bikes still today. dkw