my ass can't take a pounding - need help...
Discussion
i'm hoping someone can recommend me a saddle that will provide as much comfort as possible for long rides. eventually i need to be able to go 100+ miles. i'm building up the miles and at the moment i typically go about 25 miles and by that point my ass is crying for forgiveness...
any recommendations? it's for a road bike by the way.
any recommendations? it's for a road bike by the way.
My bottom is currently feeling a little tender after 3h this morning after a fair break off the bike
FWIW I was wearing a pair of shorts the price of which you wouldnt believe and a similarly reassuringly expensive saddle
You just need to build up and tough it out
But mostly padded shorts work better than the saddle
cheers and good luck
2seas said:
i'm hoping someone can recommend me a saddle that will provide as much comfort as possible for long rides. eventually i need to be able to go 100+ miles. i'm building up the miles and at the moment i typically go about 25 miles and by that point my ass is crying for forgiveness...
any recommendations? it's for a road bike by the way.
Saddles need to be the right shape for the individual, so getting a recommendation is not the best way forward.any recommendations? it's for a road bike by the way.
Having said that, I have tried many saddles over my 20 years of cycling, and have found that the flatter the sitting area of a saddle, the more comfortable it is.
Good luck in your quest.
Its not a case of money or styling you really just have to find the saddle to match your bones. Bike Radar had a saddle swap thread which isnt a bad idea in my opinion. I have found Selle Italia stuff ok but the main improvement has been with getting better shorts and lots of miles, eventually things just get less sore. Probably not what you want to hear!
Avoid picking a saddle with the most padding. Pick a saddle that fits relative to the distance between your sit bones.
Personally I really love the Selle Italia SLR and Flite (new and old designs). They suit me.
Lots of people like Fizik, Specialized and Prologo saddles as well.
Good shorts are also very important and when your not used to riding then chamois cream is also good and I'd recommend Udderly Smooth.
Once you are used to riding, you won't really need the chamois cream.
Personally I really love the Selle Italia SLR and Flite (new and old designs). They suit me.
Lots of people like Fizik, Specialized and Prologo saddles as well.
Good shorts are also very important and when your not used to riding then chamois cream is also good and I'd recommend Udderly Smooth.
Once you are used to riding, you won't really need the chamois cream.
Pretty much what he said ^^
Get a saddle with minimal padding and then invest some money in top quality shorts with a decent chamois to go with it.
Overly padded, gel type saddles IMHO arent really suited to longer distances.
Personally i have found the chamois in the better Shutt VR shorts and tights to be the best so far for the money - and i've tried plenty, this really is one of those things where buying cheap is a false economy.
People may struggle with the concept of paying upto and beyond £100+ on cycle shorts, but your backside will thank you for it!
Also the more miles you do the better it gets, even the most pointy looking carbon seats "break in" over time, my Sella Italia SLR kit carbon looks very painful but is far more comfy than anything i have used previously, now its got some miles on it.
Get a saddle with minimal padding and then invest some money in top quality shorts with a decent chamois to go with it.
Overly padded, gel type saddles IMHO arent really suited to longer distances.
Personally i have found the chamois in the better Shutt VR shorts and tights to be the best so far for the money - and i've tried plenty, this really is one of those things where buying cheap is a false economy.
People may struggle with the concept of paying upto and beyond £100+ on cycle shorts, but your backside will thank you for it!
Also the more miles you do the better it gets, even the most pointy looking carbon seats "break in" over time, my Sella Italia SLR kit carbon looks very painful but is far more comfy than anything i have used previously, now its got some miles on it.
Matt London said:
I like a long ride myself. After trying a few different saddles I have found that 'less is more'. It can feel like a bold move going to flatter less padded saddles but it has worked for me.
I agree with this. I've gone from a "comfort" saddle on my old bike (from the early 1990s) to a modern "lean" saddle and it's much more comfortable for much longer distances. Totally unintuitive but works for me and a lot of people.Before you go the relatively expensive route of buying new shorts/saddles, have you tried adjusting the one you've got. Start with it absolutely flat/level, and try adjusting it up or down by moving the seatpost, or forward/back along the guide rails. Finally, you can also adjust the angle of the saddle relative to the horizontal, although avoid going too many degrees nose up or nose down. Very small adjustments can make a perceptible difference to comfort, and most saddle rails are marked so that if you find a comfortable position, but decide to adjust further, you can always go straight back to a previous setting.
Incorrect setting of the seatpost height can cause a 'pain in the butt' - too high, and you are left 'rocking' your hips to reach full leg extension at the bottom of the pedal stroke, and the movement side to side across the saddle will cause friction (heat) which can lead to sores. Too low, and you should be in a little less pain, but that will cause a big reduction in your pedalling efficiency, and may cause longer term issues with knees/ankles, as you cannot properly extend your leg at the bottom of the stroke.
As has been said previously in this thread, there is no substitute for getting some miles in. I can't pass judgement on the 'chamois' creams, as I've not needed to use them, and I don't own a pair of high end, or even brand name shorts, most of my cycling shorts have been bought at the likes of Aldi/Lidl/Sports Direct. I ride the saddle that came with the bike, and because I can't afford fancy-pants upgrades and clothing, I just had to endure a little pain while I got used to the miles. I'm not saying "don't buy flash gear", because if I could afford it, I would have it. Just don't excuse yourself from riding your bike because you don't have fancy duds and a new saddle - "it's not ALL ABOUT THE BIKE, it's ALL ABOUT THE RIDING". Endure, then ENJOY!
Incorrect setting of the seatpost height can cause a 'pain in the butt' - too high, and you are left 'rocking' your hips to reach full leg extension at the bottom of the pedal stroke, and the movement side to side across the saddle will cause friction (heat) which can lead to sores. Too low, and you should be in a little less pain, but that will cause a big reduction in your pedalling efficiency, and may cause longer term issues with knees/ankles, as you cannot properly extend your leg at the bottom of the stroke.
As has been said previously in this thread, there is no substitute for getting some miles in. I can't pass judgement on the 'chamois' creams, as I've not needed to use them, and I don't own a pair of high end, or even brand name shorts, most of my cycling shorts have been bought at the likes of Aldi/Lidl/Sports Direct. I ride the saddle that came with the bike, and because I can't afford fancy-pants upgrades and clothing, I just had to endure a little pain while I got used to the miles. I'm not saying "don't buy flash gear", because if I could afford it, I would have it. Just don't excuse yourself from riding your bike because you don't have fancy duds and a new saddle - "it's not ALL ABOUT THE BIKE, it's ALL ABOUT THE RIDING". Endure, then ENJOY!
"Comfort" saddles are generally only comfortable if you're on a sit up and beg bike. The ones on Boris Bikes are really good, for instance.
But if you're doing that sort of distance I assume you're on some form of road bike, and in that case the soreness usually comes from moving too much IME, and having soft tissue stretching and rubbing against itself. Get your posture right (leaning forward puts more weight on your wrists and off your coccyx, which is fine up to a point), find the thinnest possible saddle.
And then: Rule 5 and Rule 10 in equal quantities.
But if you're doing that sort of distance I assume you're on some form of road bike, and in that case the soreness usually comes from moving too much IME, and having soft tissue stretching and rubbing against itself. Get your posture right (leaning forward puts more weight on your wrists and off your coccyx, which is fine up to a point), find the thinnest possible saddle.
And then: Rule 5 and Rule 10 in equal quantities.
I use a flite max and its very comfortable on my road bike.
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