Saddles - Angle important?

Jumpy

Ok I havent seen this discussed here much, for obvious reasons. But what is the best position for a racing saddle to avoid the *cough* numbness after a long cycle?
Or is it something you simply get used to?

Having googled this, most places say to keep it flat and without an upward or downward slope. But this is how I have it and its not a pleasant effect.

Before you mention padded pants, I have a rather expensive pair of gel padded bib shorts and they still have the same effect, and since I have only cycled 120km this week whereas most of you guys would probably do this in a day, I feel I am doing something wrong.

**Timbuk2**

If you feel you are sliding forward into your handlebars and you're using your hands to push you back into position, then you should angle it upwards. Otherwise, flat usually works for most people.

Experiment until you find the most comfortable position.

Lumen

Change your saddle.

Saddle tilt will just cause other problems.

petethedrummer

I personally don't like overly padded shorts. The ones I like are €35 Specialized ones sold in Cycleways. I bought a more expensive specialized pair with more padding recently, but gave up on them after two spins. The extra padding created unpleasant pressure points.

I prefer shorts welded on to me. So I err on the smaller side. If they are loose at all they move and can gather in one area, creating unpleasantness. Also I dislike the inner padded shorts that come with casual baggy shorts. They tend not to grip my legs, ride up and gather around the crotch.

As for the saddle, mine is level. Luckily its pretty comfortable for me but i'm gonna experiment with a different shape to see if I can make everything perfect. I'm sure everyone has different methods of achieving comfort. Less is generally more for me, in padding terms.

Ryaner

Found out yesterday at my bike fitting that even though my saddle looked flat (to me), it wasn't, and it was probably causing the hand numbness on me.

stuf

I went commando in my shorts last weekend and the result was amazing - much less numbness and just generally more comfortable. I suppose underwear stops the padding having it's full effect in certain crucial areas

Lumen

stuf wrote: »

I went commando in my shorts last weekend and the result was amazing - much less numbness and just generally more comfortable. I suppose underwear stops the padding having it's full effect in certain crucial areas

Assos shorts now have a perineal chamois cutout. Gel saddles are also criticised for this.

edit: sorry, quoted the wrong post. I was commenting on the "padded shorts can cause numbness" issue.

DirkVoodoo

Cotton boxers/underwear will also act like a big sponge and trap sweat, leading to discomfort and saddle sores.

Don't wear underwear with bib shorts!!

Jumpy

Lumen wrote: »

Assos shorts now have a perineal chamois cutout. Gel saddles are also criticised for this.

edit: sorry, quoted the wrong post. I was commenting on the "padded shorts can cause numbness" issue.

This being a good thing or a bad thing? Cant tell by your post.

Would getting a gel saddle with the cutout help? The trek saddle has no channel. Its solid all over.

blorg

I used go with saddle pointed slightly up as I felt I was slipping forward. Turns out it was really my reach that needed adjusting... worth bearing in mind. I now have all my saddles level and go to the extent of checking this with a spirit level.

So, may be the saddle- or may be your position on the bike.

alfalad

The numbness is more likely to be to do with the design of the saddle than the tilt. Or at least thats what i found when having a similar issue. I now have a saddle with a cut out and there is no problem!

Jumpy

alfalad wrote: »

The numbness is more likely to be to do with the design of the saddle than the tilt. Or at least thats what i found when having a similar issue. I now have a saddle with a cut out and there is no problem!

Mmm pricey.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Selle_Italia_SLR_Gel_Flow_Saddle/5360028842/

Lumen

Jumpy wrote: »

This being a good thing or a bad thing? Cant tell by your post.

Would getting a gel saddle with the cutout help? The trek saddle has no channel. Its solid all over.

Level saddle good. Perineal cutouts/channels good, whether in saddle or shorts.

Padding (shorts or saddle gel) generally reduces the effect of the cutouts. This is particularly an issue with women's saddles, apparently.

Personally I find the non-gel Spesh Toupe (with cutout) perfectly comfortable, with or without padded short, and never any numbness (which I generally suffer from with other saddles).

Position is also important - a more aero position rotates the hips on to the narrower part of the sitbones, which tend to be better supported on a narrow saddle. I think a very low position rotates off the perineum altogether.

This is probably why pros get away with non-cutout saddles without discomfort. Their position and generally better flexibility tends to give them better hip/pelvis rotation on the bike.

FrankGrimes

I went through serious hassle trying to find a saddle and shorts that worked for me. The bike fit is very important, probably more so than what saddle or shorts you have, so get that right first.

In the end I now have this saddle and these shorts. Yes the shorts are insanely expensive but they have allowed me to finally get comfortable on the bike on long rides (I used to be fine up to 2.5hours, agony after that but am now comfy throughout). Hard to say if they're worth it, but am glad I have them put it that way. The saddle is fantastic though, nice big hole, plenty of padding but still not that heavy.

Jumpy

Well these are the shorts I have.

http://www.glorycycles.com/gifrbibsh.html

Looks like I need to get a new saddle. More pocket ouch. Less lunchbox ouch.

Beasty

FrankGrimes wrote: »

I went through serious hassle trying to find a saddle and shorts that worked for me. The bike fit is very important, probably more so than what saddle or shorts you have, so get that right first.

In the end I now have this saddle and these shorts. Yes the shorts are insanely expensive but they have allowed me to finally get comfortable on the bike on long rides (I used to be fine up to 2.5hours, agony after that but am now comfy throughout). Hard to say if they're worth it, but am glad I have them put it that way. The saddle is fantastic though, nice big hole, plenty of padding but still not that heavy.

I use the Assos F1 Mille S5 Bib shorts also, and a slightly different saddle - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Selle_Italia_Flite_Gel_Flow_Saddle/5360031333/

I have got to say I find this combination remarkably comfortable. Expensive yes, but so far as I am concerned, worth it.

Lumen

The Toupe can be had for €77 from a real shop, which is not cheap but much cheaper than some of those Selle jobbies.

Jumpy

I found my new saddle. Oooh baby

lukester

blorg wrote: »

I now have all my saddles level and go to the extent of checking this with a spirit level.

How do you do this? On my saddle there's a dip from back to front so it's hard to measure tilt with a spirit level. I used a spirit level on the front flatter section, not ideal and hard to get right. It looks pretty damn straight though.

Lumen

lukester wrote: »

How do you do this? On my saddle there's a dip from back to front so it's hard to measure tilt with a spirit level. I used a spirit level on the front flatter section, not ideal and hard to get right. It looks pretty damn straight though.

I think this is normal; it's the front section that matters. If you tip the nose up you'll put pressure on the wrong bits.

Jumpy

FrankGrimes wrote: »

I went through serious hassle trying to find a saddle and shorts that worked for me. The bike fit is very important, probably more so than what saddle or shorts you have, so get that right first.

In the end I now have this saddle and these shorts. Yes the shorts are insanely expensive but they have allowed me to finally get comfortable on the bike on long rides (I used to be fine up to 2.5hours, agony after that but am now comfy throughout). Hard to say if they're worth it, but am glad I have them put it that way. The saddle is fantastic though, nice big hole, plenty of padding but still not that heavy.

Got that saddle in (not the team edition, but its the same) makes a MASSIVE difference. Chalk and Cheese.