Bike seat comfort

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2006-10-15 6:07 PM

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2006-10-15 8:18 PM
in reply to: #569498

Master
1810
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Morse Lake, Noblesville, Indiana
Subject: RE: Bike seat comfort
How long have you been riding? To get your butt conditioned takes anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months (or more) depending on how much/long/frequency you ride. How long have you been riding on this particular seat? It could take a couple of hundred miles (synthetic seats) to a full season (leather seats) to break in a seat to your butt.

From what I understand, if you try to mask the issue (thicker padding on either the seat or the butt) you will just delay the process.

As far as fitment, make sure your sit bones are on the cushy rear section of the seat, and if the nose is causing some discomfort, tilt the seat forward just a bit...

I'm not quite up to the level I was 15 years ago, I used to be able to jump onto my bike and ride back to back centuries, ride from Indianapolis to Louisville, etc. with no issues, that was all about bike comfort, though then again at that point in time, I had a great bike and a well broken in leather seat with a gel cover. Made tri/du sprint and olympic bike rides easy work, but then again, I was used to riding up to 300 miles a week regularly.

Too bad, as now I'm lucky to survive a 30 mile ride. Getting old sucks.

Edited by tjtryon 2006-10-15 8:20 PM
2006-10-15 8:29 PM
in reply to: #569498

New user
26
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McKinney, TX
Subject: RE: Bike seat comfort
2006-10-15 9:35 PM
in reply to: #569498

Subject: RE: Bike seat comfort

Bike seat comfort,,,,, does anyone know how to spill oximoron,,,,, you know,, like the senate ethics committee?

All kidding aside, it takes a combination of getting used to it and getting everything fit properly.

I would recommend first talking to the person who did your bike fitting for you and seeing what he says.

Is the seat level? 

My S/O had a similar problem when she started getting back to riding but after a couple of weeks of riding that seemed to not be an issue.

Good luck and I hope it gets better with repition.



Edited by crusevegas 2006-10-15 9:41 PM
2006-10-16 7:03 AM
in reply to: #569498

Wife, Mother, Friend.
2457
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South
Subject: RE: Bike seat comfort

After a couple rides on my new bike with the stock seat, I had it changed back to the seat I was using on the old bike.  Going out today....

I think my cootchie prefers the vented type seats.  I have more of a comfort problem with my cootchie than my butt these days while on the bike.  

 

dang, did I just open myself up?

2006-10-16 7:16 AM
in reply to: #569722

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2006-10-16 4:24 PM
in reply to: #569498

Champion
19812
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Subject: RE: Bike seat comfort

Try and be sure you roll your hips and it makes it so you sit on your sitz bones more. If I get sloopy and not roll my hips and round my lower back instead, I can have some discomfort on my soft tissue and I ride a lot.

For rides 90+ minutes I use body glide and chamois butter on my privates & chamois and it seems to make a difference as well.

I do like Terry saddles that have a cut out...have a butterfly but opted for a smaller harder saddle Zero something that I can ride 5+ hours on. Less cushioning to smooch seems to make it more comfortable but not something I could have ridden last year.

I've yet to have a great answer and I've asked lots of women a similar question. Bike fitter guys they don't seem to get it....hope you get a great answer and share it with all of us.

2006-10-16 4:27 PM
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2006-10-16 5:24 PM
in reply to: #569498

Member
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Subject: RE: Bike seat comfort
I'll second the motions for the seat with a cutout and for using chamois butter on both body and chamois. When I found it, Assos chamois butter became my new best friend.

The one thing to be careful with on a cutout seat is that if you don't tuck tailbone & roll hips to get your sit bones on the wide part of the saddle, you put pressure on the front of your pubic bone and that can hurt. If you ever do Pilates you will be familiar with the way you should "zip your abs" to shift your weight into the sit bones. It's also good core condtioning, BTW.
2006-10-16 5:38 PM
in reply to: #569498

Veteran
203
100100
Candler, North Carolina
Subject: RE: Bike seat comfort
Bike shops have a habit to set up the bike for a man... Woman's bike seats tend to be tipped forward, nose down, where as men tend to ride a level seat. Adjust the nose of your seat down, or have your LBS do it... and Desitin makes the BEST chamois cream!
2006-10-16 6:23 PM
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Edited by SweetK 2006-10-16 6:25 PM

2006-10-18 8:53 AM
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2006-10-18 9:01 AM
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2006-10-18 9:10 AM
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2006-10-18 9:37 AM
in reply to: #571629

Expert
660
5001002525
Central New York
Subject: RE: Bike seat comfort
Pleasure is but one degree from pain


I guess this doesn't apply to your "unmentionables?"*

*Sorry for mentioning them.
2006-10-18 9:46 AM
in reply to: #571658

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2006-10-18 9:55 AM
in reply to: #569498

Mesa
Subject: RE: Bike seat comfort
Get one of these seats.... Extremely comfortable seat. Most everyone in the tri club I train with has one now.

Valdora Tri-Gel

2006-10-18 10:33 AM
in reply to: #571680

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Edited by SweetK 2006-10-18 10:34 AM
2006-10-18 6:07 PM
in reply to: #569498

Expert
686
500100252525
Lake Geneva
Subject: RE: Bike seat comfort
SweetK - 2006-10-15 7:07 PM

I have a question on how "comfortable" I should be on my bike seat. I've been fitted and as far as pedaling position I am fine, but I notice that the more I get down into an aerodynamic position, well the more the front part of the seat causes discomfort in the most unmentionable place.

Should I go back in and get re-fitted and maybe have the front of the seat adjusted downward, should I consider buying a new seat, wearing really padded shorts or just quit complaining and get used to it?

I appreciate your comments in advance.



A little bit of all three. How much time have you put into the new fit? A couple of 25-30 miles rides should let you know what is working and what isn't Also being new to aero you are going to have to "toughen up" the man in the boat and the boat. Do you use any chamois butter? Helps a lot with chafing. Does your seat have a hole in it? Very hepful. What brand of seat do you have? I love my Terry Gelissima. But when I was first fitted and in aero for a race I was in tears after mile 30 and I had to sit up. It takes a little time. If you are still not happy, then get adjusted again.
2006-10-18 6:10 PM
in reply to: #570324

Expert
686
500100252525
Lake Geneva
Subject: RE: Bike seat comfort
LynneK - 2006-10-16 6:24 PM

I'll second the motions for the seat with a cutout and for using chamois butter on both body and chamois. When I found it, Assos chamois butter became my new best friend.


  • Assos doesn't burn your girly parts? WOW. You are tough. I put it on one day and was ripping my shorts off about 10 minutes later. I only use Chamois butter.
    2006-10-18 10:27 PM
    in reply to: #571732

    Mesa
    Subject: RE: Bike seat comfort
    SweetK - 2006-10-18 8:33 AM

    I'm certainly in the market for a new seat. I will check into that particular saddle. Do women in your tri-club also prefer it.


    Actually, I am not sure if any of the women have it. I'll have to look. There are only a couple of women that make the rides and I don't know if they have it.

    I can tell you that the maker of the seat is local to Phoenix (Valdora is out of Scottsdale) and he went to the one tri-shop here and asked what the best seat was and then he developed the Valdora Tri Gel seat. It is way better than the stock Fuji seat that came with my bike. After my first 50+ mile ride on the Fuji seat I ran out and bought the Valdora seat. I have done a few 50+ since and haven't had any pain at all.



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