numbness

becs p

Just brought myself a bike for the first time in years (a hardtail).

Am reasonably fit as I can run half marathons and know about building up time in saddle etc before worrying about intervals etc. Have brought myself a turbo trainer which is excellent in these winter months to help get used to the time in the saddle.

What I want to know is that I did 25 mins last night and I came off the saddle absolutely numb. I was wearing proper cycling shorts with the padding. Does this get any better i.e. do you evenuitally get saddle hardened?

smackmypitchupǃ

What was numb? Your perineum? There are people who have become permanently or partially crippled by bike seats. Amazing that magazines never seek to explore this. Serious complications are rare but they happen. There's now a team in France and America devoted to undoing the damage caused by things like conventional bike seats and difficult childbirth. I am referring to conditions like pudendal nerve entrapment.

Thankfully, there are seats out there that should avoid these serious pudendal issues. Try a cut out seat from the likes of Specialized, WTB, or Allay. Try to spend as much time out of the saddle as you do in it.

ride_whenever

You want to make sure your saddle is wide enough to support your sit-bones, if not then the saddle will sink between them and cause numbness. The ladies charge spoon is a popular saddle for the ladies.

smackmypitchupǃ

But that's the point I am making. The conventional saddle is not a good design, since it doesn't sit the human being on his or her Sit (Sitz?) bones. Much of our weight on a conventional saddle is concentrated on the perineum, not the sit bones. Only cut out/sculptured saddles and sit bone saddles (no nose perches) address this issue.

becs p

Hi,

The numbness is from the front nmot the bones where you sit. I also have the saddle set up so the nose points slightly downwards. Should I move it downwards a bit more?

becs p

Just for info my saddle is a WTB Speedshe.

batch78

Worth a try, do you have a riser block on the front wheel so the bikes level?

Good thing about setting the bike up whilst on a turbo is you can stop as often as neccessary and tweak settings, sometimes its as little as a couple of mm adjustment thats required.

Also make sure your not overstretching to reach the bars, shorter stem might help there.

If this doesn't solve the problem then your looking at a new saddle.

ride_whenever

a traditional saddle will support the sit bones, and doesn't necessarily require a cutout to prevent blood flow restriction. A saddle that is too narrow will restrict the bloodflow and cause numbness further forward as the OP has demonstrated.

Traditionally the saddle should be set up completely level, if the width is correct then you might need the nose slightly down. You can replicate a riser block with an old book, then, once the bike is level try making small adjustments to your position and keep notes!!!!

smackmypitchupǃ

and by front you mean perineum i presume.

becs p

I have my bike front wheel propped up on some yellow pages!

I think I just need to play around with adjustments first before rushing ahead for a new saddle. Like to say keep track of exactly what is changed.


yes I mean perineum (everyday you learn a new word!)

Thanks everyone for the advice.

coppirider

Hi Becs,

If you do go on to get a new saddle, look at the Specialized Jett saddle, really light weight and lovely looking and very very comfortable (for me anyway) and I know that it is an individual thing. 8)

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec007464

The only thing you have to get used to is that it has less padding where your sit bones are but because you need to go to a spec dealer and have your sit bones measured it supports where it needs to support and leaves areas free that don't need support hence on a conventional saddle will cause the numbness, don't think that just because it is female specific saddle it will be comfortable for you, I'm afraid that it is the only thing that you might have to shell out on and not know immediately if it is right for you. I use it on my mtb and my road bike and will definately go for another when I need a new one.

If you are new to mtbing can I suggest coming along to the lady specific course that is happening at Bedgebury neat Goudhurst in March. Look at this link for more info.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12599312


Ali

TrekChris

Becs,

Saddle issues are common, and unfortunately there is no ideal way to provide saddle advice. However, I'd like to clear up some misinformation that has been mentioned previously, and provide some suggestions that might help.

1) The perineum in women does not come into play nearly as much as it does for men
2) It's not the 'sit bones' that are what feels the pressure when we sit on a saddle. What we call the sit bones are actually part of the pubic rami, or the bottom of the pelvis.
3) When you are seated on the saddle, in a typical riding position, it is actually the pubic arch that is pressed to the saddle, not the sit bones. For women, we feel the pressure higher on the pubic arch than men, and hence exert different pressure in different locations on the saddle than men (which can be seen when doing pressure mapping between male and female riders).

Finding the width of your sit bones is important, because the varying width of saddles will determine where the support falls in accordance with where your body needs it to be.

4) Pressure mapping actually shows that cut out saddles place more pressure, with more intensity on the rider than saddles with a cut out, and have minimal impact on bloodflow.

Now, on to the saddle:

The formula for being comfortable on your saddle consists of 3 variables:

1) Bike shorts-which you already wear. However, since you are on a new bike, the shorts you are used to might not perform the same way on the new saddle. If you've already tried wearing different shorts, then move on to #2.

2) The saddle: finding the right saddle is horribly trial and error, and many times the brand/type of saddle that a person will recommend as 'the best saddle ever', may for you feel like a medieval torture device. Find a shop that has a saddle exchange policy which will allow you to try saddles out for a period of time and then exchange them if they don't conform to your body. At Trek, we manufacture Bontrager saddles, and it is a company policy to offer a 90 comfort guarantee. This means that at any Trek dealer, you have 90 days to try out a Bontrager saddle that you purchase. If after about 30 hours of riding, the saddle isn't comfortable, you can exchange it for another. Often, you will need to try a couple of saddles before you find the one that is right for you.

3) Chamois cream-this lubricant will change your life. Put on a couple of tablespoons worth directly on to your chamois. Hear me now, believe me later.

becs p

Everyone, thank you so much for your contributions.

I have since straightened up the saddle so it is not so much nose down. It has been a little comfortable as before with the nose down slightly it was pulling the skin more against the pubic arch.

Will look for this cream.

I only have one pair of cycling shorts as I am new and have not yet built up a collection.
Anyone have any suggestions for makes that are particularly padded?

becs p

Also tempted with Bedgebury as I am new to the whole thing. Not too far from me but feel its too soon to be seen in public as I don;t really know what my bike fitness is like compared to others.

coppirider

becs p wrote:

Also tempted with Bedgebury as I am new to the whole thing. Not too far from me but feel its too soon to be seen in public as I don;t really know what my bike fitness is like compared to others.

Becs, no worries! Then again it isn't until March, lots of weekends out on your bike until then. You can even leave it until a couple of weeks before to decide. But I am pretty sure that it would not matter what your fitness is like, the main thing is that you like being out on your bike and want to improve, nothing else matters!

Ali.

becs p

Hi guys,

Got out on the trails at the weekend. Did the crab and winkle from Whitstable up and round CLowes Wood and back. Was out for an hour and my fitness seemed fine.

Consequently I've sent off my application for the Ladies weekend at Bedgebury.