Riding 50-100 miles a week, still getting sore backside :(
stokieshinobi
Posts: 25
Hi all, new to the forums!
I'm realtively new to cycling; started in September last year. Am now riding up to 40 miles without a break and am having trouble with the saddle. I have a Specialized Secteur with a Body Geometry Riva Plus saddle.
The problem I am having is the two bones in my backside are really bruising up after a ride. I can't get on the bike for 5-7 days. I am wondering if there is a type of saddle that alleviates the pressure a little of these two bones?
I have done a lot of reading on the subject already. I have bought some decent DHB bib tights, I stand up off the saddle every 15 mins at least to increase bloodflow. The saddle and ride position has been setup perfectly. But its just not sorting it.
I rode it out all this time because I thought it was me just getting used to it, but its just the same. I'm doing a 100m ride in July and need to get this issue resolved sooner rather than later because it is this pain that is holding me back, not my fitness which is annoying.
Do I go for even more expensive shorts - say Assos? Or would a different saddle suit my censored better
Thanks in advance for any help
I'm realtively new to cycling; started in September last year. Am now riding up to 40 miles without a break and am having trouble with the saddle. I have a Specialized Secteur with a Body Geometry Riva Plus saddle.
The problem I am having is the two bones in my backside are really bruising up after a ride. I can't get on the bike for 5-7 days. I am wondering if there is a type of saddle that alleviates the pressure a little of these two bones?
I have done a lot of reading on the subject already. I have bought some decent DHB bib tights, I stand up off the saddle every 15 mins at least to increase bloodflow. The saddle and ride position has been setup perfectly. But its just not sorting it.
I rode it out all this time because I thought it was me just getting used to it, but its just the same. I'm doing a 100m ride in July and need to get this issue resolved sooner rather than later because it is this pain that is holding me back, not my fitness which is annoying.
Do I go for even more expensive shorts - say Assos? Or would a different saddle suit my censored better
Thanks in advance for any help
0
Posts
I just sat on it there after riding 35miles yesterday and my sit bones are so sore, they feel painfully bruised
Are your sit bones naturally resting on the widest part of the seat?
Do you ride in the drops/arms bent or in the hoods or tops most of the time?
Getting the seat lined up and rotating the body forward can make a huge difference.
Having said that - nothing wrong with going for a softer saddle until you leather up a bit more.
Stretching & Workout Vids
Thanks for your reply
I ride with my neighbour who has been riding since before I was born and together he has helped me to get my bike setup correctly.
I ride mostly on the hoods because spending too much time down low gives me back pain (I had a bad back before cycling)
I tend to ride just in front of the widest point on the saddle. So my sit bones should be right at the back of the saddle on the widest point?
either move the seat forward a little or tilt the nose a little to line you up better and see what happens.
sort the back pain by stretching and working your back to get more flexible and stronger. See some example vids in my sig.
You need to get lower at the front to take the pressure off. If you struggle with back pain, chances are you are holding your upper body too high to compensate.
See if you can get in the drops more and get lower - Just 10-15% on a ride can be enough to take the pressure off. I'm probably 50/50 hoods/drops.
Stretching & Workout Vids
That Riva is probably one of the worst saddles known to human mankind... Specialized really should be ashamed of that one.
Apart from that...
do not throw away the thought that a slightly narrower saddle is out of the question... but throw away that Riva.
There are some decent Spesh saddles but my favourite is the Fizik Aliante for winter.. its like a comfort blanket... but bit of a heavyweight.
Try a 143mm Toupe Comp Gel. Sure it'll help you.
Also make sure your knee cap is directly abc the pedal spindle when the pedals are horizontal by adjusting the fore and aft of your seat to accommodate this. finally make sure your saddle is perfectly horizontal
Wattbike Atom
Garmin Edge 530
I tried a Toupe 143mm saddle and the edges were too wide.
Tried a SMP carbon and thats comfy at 129mm wide, but I ditched it due to it making you sit in pretty much one position, its little hammock bit.
Tried the SMP TRK and its too wide.
One I have not tried but want to is a Brooks B15. I just can't get to grips with saddles that rub my inner thighs and far more do than don't. :roll: When they are made from leather it solves all that and sit bones... forget it, its not even like you're sat on anything however long the ride is, unless the leather comes away from the rivets...
But as above, a proper bike fit would be a very good idea. If your saddle is too low (mine was, ridiculously so before my fit) then there will be too much weight on your sit bones. If your position is too upright then there will be too much weight on your sit bones.
This makes me giggle. Your mate could be Adrian Timmis and it wouldn't matter. The issues your describing are a combination of poor fit and wrong saddle.
People saying to make sure that your knee is over the pedal spindle, to keep your saddle horizontal, and to get a padded saddle are dispensing poor advice as there are no absolutes when it comes to fitting due to unique morphology. Fact is the only way to get this perfect is with trial and error. You need to make small changes to your position to see what works. This could be raising/lowering the saddle height, adjusting fore/aft and adjusting tilt up/down. Only make one change a few mm at a time and see if the issue is better/worse. A proper fit will help get you closer, but you'd still need to make adjustments as it isn't a magic spell that just makes everything 100%.
In regards to saddle choice, Specilaized is a good way to go as they do a 30 day fit guarantee. This means you can keep changing your saddle until you find the right one (over 30 days of course). Toupe is a good place to start and 143 is a friendly width for most. Padding/gel is individual. I, for example, find padded/flexible saddles unbearable to the point that very stiff full carbon saddles are best for anything from a 10 mile pootle to a 400 mile audax.
In regards to bibshorts, if you can afford a pair of Assos S7 T.Cento then buy them. They will be the best bike-related purchase you make. Seriously.
The shape of saddles varies - some are 'flat', 'rounded', etc. And what's best for you depends on YOUR anatomy.
Does your position on the saddle feel balanced regarding the tilt?
You should not feel that you are 'falling forward or backward' off the saddle.
Some shops have 'test' saddles that you can try for a week or so.
Also ask if they have any bargain 'old stock' saddles - you might find one that works for you.
Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA
I found this to be an interesting read...
http://www.cervelo.com/en/engineering/a ... dles-.html
This is one of my recent posting buddy, I hope this helps
I have solved the saddle sore problems now and cycling after 5 hours i receive no saddle problems.
Use a cream E45 and bought a new saddle type PHENOM Comp Body Geometry, Padding level 2, weight 260g and width 143mm
I cycled 71 miles using this saddle and cream and it worked for me.
I hope this information helps someone who has problems with their saddle soreness.
I've got hold of a few saddles to try so its very much work in progress
Like a few of you say... I think my problem is a sit too far down the saddle. I feel like I fall forward on it and my sit bones are rarely at the top/back. However - this saddle position is where my knee caps are directly over the ball of my foot on the plumb line test. So maybe I should compromise this a little and more the saddle forward?
I think like you all say, fit is trial and error. I'm still learning. I am somewhat reluctant to get a fit because there are few cycle shops near me that do them (properly with computers anyway). I have even read poor reviews of the Evans Cycles fits as the staff can sometimes be somewhat inexperienced.
Thought this was the basis to work from which is why I didn't dare go anymore forward
Thanks - will give the saddle a push forward before next ride see how we go
Check out Adam Hansen's position (similar to mine actually), doesn't slow him down. If it weren't for UCI regs governing saddle position, you'd see a lot more pros ride farther forward (more prevalent during TT's).
I'm watching a couple of the above saddles on eBay atm but am concerned about getting the right one for me, what should I be looking for?
Thanks,
Pete.
The comfiest one I have ever used is that Brooks Colt I am on now. Can't even feel I am sat on anything.
A friend lent me his Selle Italia saddle - massive difference!
I have dropped the handle bars down a spacer or two to rotate those sit bones so there's less pressure on them
I have raised the saddle and moved it forward a few mm and all feels 100% better.
Still get a little soreness on the censored after 50 miles this weekend but have found padded shorts inside out under my bib tights help that - so when I can get some decent Assos bib shorts think this will resolve all remaining discomfort
Getting there