Perineum Pain - Reasons?

venster

Recently started to suffer from some serious pain in the perineum area which starts after about an hour in the saddle. Very tender chafing/swelling in the soft tissue area.

I'm not new to cycling and have used the same set up for my bike for years - whether it's the optimum setup I don't know, but I've either got it spot on or my body has adapted to it. So ruling that out.

Saddle is quite/very old, not sure how many miles but over 5 years old - a Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow and have kept it so long because until recently I've never had any real problems with. So old that I cant find it online anymore - the model has been changed I think.

Only thing that I have changed, and is coincidental with the soreness, is the seat post. I did have a carbon fibre one but replaced it, for cost reasons, for an alloy one. Is it possible that the change in material has caused this to happen? Has anyone experienced this too?

I'm going to try some Assos chamois cream, but think it needs more than that - there's an underlying problem that IMO won't be solved with cream.

I'm considering going for a saddle fit, but interested in other's views before I shell out on possibly an unnecessary and potentially expensive purchase.

marshall_a

have you got the saddle positioned at the same angle as before?
If not or unsure get a spirt level out and start off level. I used to suffer when I had the nose pointed down abit, because you tend to slide forward so push yourself back onto the saddle to try and stay stable, increasing the pressure in that area. I now have it nose up slightly and don't have the problem anymore.

venster

Yes - I have it level, using a spirit level.

I've tried it slightly nose down, but found myself having to keep sliding back. Nose up does go against the idea of reducing pressure on the area by poking up into it, so I've never thought about trying that. Worth a go I suppose..

wishitwasallflat

I used to use Specialized Avatars and after a year or so (about 4k miles at the time) they would sag in the middle leading to perineal pain BUT I never had chafing. Chafing I think would have to involve your moving and rubbing the pain I had was just from pressure. Now using an SQLab 611 and it certainly relieves perineal pressure but sometimes I feel I catch and nip some soft tissue around left sit bone.

Anyway I reckon your old saddle may well be sagging.

venster

When I say chafing, it's not actually from friction but from what seems pressure on the area. I guess a new saddle is a good starting point...

drlodge

Worth trying some different saddles. A lot of modern saddles have a cut out in the middle which obviously relieves pain in that area. My saddle (Selle SMP Lite 209) has a massive cut out and the whole area is pretty much suspended - I got no numbness at all.

night_porter

I believe your problem may be caused because your saddle is now slightly higher than it was before you changed the seat post.

Without seeming to state the obvious changing your seat post for an alloy one should not cause pain if the saddle is returned to the previously comfortable position but (and here's the rub) the saddle may appear to be in the same position but there are so many adjustments that could be slightly out e.g. height, fore-aft position, horizontal angle, slightly right or left of centre, even head angle may not be exactly the same so the same angle cannot be achieved.

One thing you can guarantee and that is if it was comfy before it can be comfy again you just need to adjust it properly.

venster

I think you're right, the same thought occurred to me, so I checked a few videos on YouTube and I was rocking side to side at the bottom of the pedal stroke. I lowered the saddle by 10mm and it seems to have improved things 1000% today - I can actually feel that I'm sitting back on the sit bones again. I'm going to bring the saddle forwards by 5mm so I'm even more more seated towards the rear rather than on my soft bit !

Happy Days again !

giant_man

it's the saddle, check the gel hasn't hardened, sometimes that happens ..