Commando and Sit Bones

ZiabR

As the title says, I am deep into my training for the RoK. You may remember some of my posts earlier this year when I mentioned that I do not have any natural padding. I am only 10 stone so I find climbing easier than powering along on the flats.

I have an issue with rides over 100km though. My sit bones... they get quite sore as it is literately bone on saddle if you get me.

I have ordered some tubs of Assos Chamois Cream to try and help with the distance cycling. I also see alot of people removing underwear to stop chaffing. My issue is not with chaffing, never has, it is simply pain around the sit bones.

Now, I don't intend on doing the RoK in one ride, I will be stopping every 60km for a break and some lunch/food but I want to enjoy the day and avoid the pain if I can.

Thoughts?

quozl

Well for one thing, if you're wearing underwear on long cycles then stop it! They'll just get in the way of the padding on your bib-shorts.

I had similar problems with a Specialized Romin Evo but don't have it with a Specialized Toupe Pro or with a Fizik Arione (which had worse problems for me). So I think a lot of it is down how well the saddle suits your particular arse. Maybe try a different one. I doubt you're skinnier than many of the pros and they do crazy mileage, day after day.

Also, do you spend all your time in the same position on the bike? IE live on the hoods perhaps?

Moving between the drops and the hoods a good bit - even spending plenty of time in the drops on the flats or while climbing relieves the exact part of your arse bearing the brunt of things as your pelvis will be rolling forward more in the drops.

Same with regularly standing up for a couple of seconds, even while free-wheeling or whatever. Move around a bit before you get into pain and you can push back when you start getting into pain by quite a lot.

Though for me, all that just helps delay the inevitable by a fair bit. Changing saddle solved it. Though it's way better than too much pressure in your soft tissue. So whatever you do, don't swap pain where it doesn't really matter for milder discomfort where it does...

Lumen

You don't need any special equipment just because you are light. Pro cyclists are no doubt skinnier that you and they use conventional saddles and shorts.

If it isn't getting any easier after a few 100km cycles and assuming you've done all the obvious stuff (e.g. levelling the saddle, not wearing underwear) then consider changing the saddle.

ZiabR

Thanks for that, yes, I do make a point of getting out of the saddle for a few turns to help blood flow and change position on the bars, it does work and has helped. I will try commando for my next long ride with some Assos cream and see how I get on.

Brian?

I'd imagine you may want to change saddle or spend good money on new bibs.

Have you measures your sit bones to get a general idea if the saddle is around the right width for you?

Raam

The cream is to help with chaffing. Probably it will do nothing for your sit bones.

shedweller

Brian? wrote: »

I'd imagine you may want to change saddle or spend good money on new bibs.

Have you measures your sit bones to get a general idea if the saddle is around the right width for you?

What would be a good brand in that regard? I'm getting going on the bike after years off it and my weight is kinda high (95kg) so my arse gets sore. Try doing a spin with a 20kg bag of coal on your back and you'll feel my pain!! I know i need to put mileage on it to toughen it up but a little more padding would be nice!

Brian?

shedweller wrote: »

What would be a good brand in that regard? I'm getting going on the bike after years off it and my weight is kinda high (95kg) so my arse gets sore. Try doing a spin with a 20kg bag of coal on your back and you'll feel my pain!! I know i need to put mileage on it to toughen it up but a little more padding would be nice!

I'm slightly heavier than you and get zero arse pain from cycling these days. My brand of choice for all cycling clothes is Castelli. They make quality stuff, it's not cheap but it's also not outrageously expensive like Assos or Rapha.

HivemindXX

Your weight is supported by your feet on the pedals, your arse on the saddle and your hands on the bars. The only way to get your feet to take more of the load is to pedal harder. You can easily change the balance between your hands and backside though by adjusting your saddle position, bar height and possibly stem length.

Other peoples points about saddle and shorts are valid too.

krissovo

I have just broken a brooks saddle in, zero ass pain or strain and I am over 100kg. Tried 5 different saddles with and lots of different bib shorts with varying degrees of success but the brooks is now like getting a hug on the bum the entire cycle. I can wear any shorts now even non padded and not feel any pain, DHB pro shorts are my goto shorts.

shedweller

krissovo wrote: »

I have just broken a brooks saddle in, zero ass pain or strain and I am over 100kg. Tried 5 different saddles with and lots of different bib shorts with varying degrees of success but the brooks is now like getting a hug on the bum the entire cycle. I can wear any shorts now even non padded and not feel any pain, DHB pro shorts are my goto shorts.

I have visions of a high nellie saddle on an uber carbon bike!!

krissovo

shedweller wrote: »

I have visions of a high nellie saddle on an uber carbon bike!!

With my fat ass you cannot see the saddle when I am on it:D

shedweller

krissovo wrote: »

With my fat ass you cannot see the saddle when I am on it:D

Actually you raise an interesting point. Any saddle is narrower than the average arse so why are some so so narrow and hard? Is it a kind of my saddle punishes more than yours thing?!!

outfox

I found that doing short spins without padded shorts helps toughen your behind. You can gradually increase the distance. Padded shorts then become a bonus.

jackstaff

I get soreness or pressure in the soft tissue between dangley bits and me rusty bullet hole haha
Seriously wat is the name of this part of my anatomy?
Also what does this indicate? Shorter stem needed or better saddle

cython

jackstaff wrote: »

I get soreness or pressure in the soft tissue between dangley bits and me rusty bullet hole haha
Seriously wat is the name of this part of my anatomy?
Also what does this indicate? Shorter stem needed or better saddle

It's the gooch in some circles, but perineum in the science-medical sense.

nak

shedweller wrote: »

Actually you raise an interesting point. Any saddle is narrower than the average arse so why are some so so narrow and hard? Is it a kind of my saddle punishes more than yours thing?!!

I find harder saddles more comfortable than big padded ones. Specialized Romin or Oura work well for me and you can try before you buy.

DaithiMC

cython wrote: »

It's the gooch in some circles, but perineum in the science-medical sense.

Much funnier to call it the barse!

Briando

Perineum! Get a saddle with a cut out in the middle and it will relieve the pressure .

shedweller

Only in cycling circles could this conversation work!

Wishbone Ash

krissovo wrote: »

I have just broken a brooks saddle in, zero ass pain or strain ...

shedweller wrote: »

I have visions of a high nellie saddle on an uber carbon bike!!

I use the Brooks B17 on both my carbon bikes. It's the narrowest Brooks saddle and looks OK. You are probably thinking of the wide ones with springs. They're a bitch to break in (approx 1,500kms) but once done, an absolute pleasure to use even on long +12 hour rides.

tacklemore

cython wrote: »

It's the gooch in some circles, but perineum in the science-medical sense.

AKA your tisn't. Tisn't at the front and tisn't at the back!

dancrowley

Briando wrote: »

Perineum! Get a saddle with a cut out in the middle and it will relieve the pressure .

I picked up a Selle Italia Max Flite Gel Flow (they could have added "Power" and "Stealth" in the title, methinks!) saddle, which has a cut-out. I'm a few weeks into using it now and it does take getting used to; more pressure is on the sit bones, obviously, so they need to HTFU. The perennial perineum pain has since disappeared, but the breaking-in continues.

For what it's worth, I currently weigh 100kg.

quozl

jackstaff wrote: »

I get soreness or pressure in the soft tissue between dangley bits and me rusty bullet hole haha

That isn't safe. You can do yourself long term damage. Really worth sorting out.
It's why I swapped to the Specialized saddles with their cutouts, from a Fizik Arione. Sit bone pain is annoying, pain in the perinium is dangerous.

torydiver

Briando wrote: »

Perineum! Get a saddle with a cut out in the middle and it will relieve the pressure .

Not necessarily,
Some saddles with cutouts can end make things worse,
I think shape/profile of the saddle is important and that is purely down to each individual to find what works for them.

jackstaff

I think I'll head into cycle superstore today think they let u try out saddles?

ZiabR

Thanks for all of the input. I will get another bike fit to be sure my saddle position is not too high and will start to take a look at some other saddles but I really need somewhere that will allow testing of the saddle before I buy it.

nak

jackstaff wrote: »

I think I'll head into cycle superstore today think they let u try out saddles?

Think you can test ride Fizik saddles. Entirely down to the individual, some people love them, others don't.

Men are lucky, so much more difficult to find a comfortable saddle if you are female.

Raam

nak wrote: »

Think you can test ride Fizik saddles. Entirely down to the individual, some people love them, others don't.

Men are lucky, so much more difficult to find a comfortable saddle if you are female.

The missus uses Selle San Marco Glamour and likes em. What do you use?

nak

Raam wrote: »

The missus uses Selle San Marco Glamour and likes em. What do you use?

Have tried many saddles, now use a Specialized Oura on the road and track and a Romin on the cross bike (they're very similar saddles). Super comfy and the Oura is proving to be very popular.

BoardsMember

cython wrote: »

It's the gooch in some circles, but perineum in the science-medical sense.

It's the "smelly bridge". Or does that only apply to the fairer sex? I'm not quite sure to be honest.

Brian?

logik wrote: »

Thanks for all of the input. I will get another bike fit to be sure my saddle position is not too high and will start to take a look at some other saddles but I really need somewhere that will allow testing of the saddle before I buy it.

I honestly feel you're overthinking it. You're not alone though, there's plenty of people overthinking it.

Measure your sit bones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7j9LUVJrjA&sns=em

Buy a saddle the right width and get used to it. Saddles should be Italian.

ZiabR

Brian? wrote: »

I honestly feel you're overthinking it. You're not alone though, there's plenty of people overthinking it.

Measure your sit bones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7j9LUVJrjA&sns=em

Buy a saddle the right width and get used to it. Saddles should be Italian.

Any particular make of saddle I should look out for? I am riding a Bontrager at the moment.

nak

logik wrote: »

Any particular make of saddle I should look out for? I am riding a Bontrager at the moment.

No one can suggest what saddle is right for you. A bike fitter could give you more advice.

Paulownia

jackstaff wrote: »

I get soreness or pressure in the soft tissue between dangley bits and me rusty bullet hole haha
Seriously wat is the name of this part of my anatomy?
Also what does this indicate? Shorter stem needed or better saddle

the taint!

fixie fox

When you are going down-hill or feewheeling, shift your weight to your thigh for a while - give your bum a rest. If the problem persists a Brooks is your only long-term answer - over time your sit-bones will 'sit' into the saddle (there will be little dimples there for them)

joxerjohn

I am in what the Yanks call the "Clydesdale" rider category i.e over 200 Ibs (91Kg), so big ass ! I have tried a number of saddles this year. I am currently using the Selle SMP TRK saddle on my road bike. It is a cutout saddle with 160mm width I am finding it very comfortable and would recommend, it's not as heavy as the Brooks but it is not light either, it is on ata good price on CRC (€45). You could also consider the SMP Extra (€70) which is narrower at 140mm width. Some of the SMP model saddles can be very expensive at €150 +.

I have also tired the Stratus Madison Endura, its a nice well made light saddle with a cut out but it was too narrow for me at 125mm may suite smaller rider such as the OP.

I recommend getting the sit bones measured (either DIY or in store) and understanding how this measurement relates to different saddles in order to make sure the saddle you choose is wide enough for you. If its too narrow it will not be comfortable.

Good quality shorts are of course also essential on longer rides.

Brian?

logik wrote: »

Any particular make of saddle I should look out for? I am riding a Bontrager at the moment.

As others have said, it's quite personal. However, a mate of mine has a Bontrager saddle tha came on his trek, he had a hard time setting it up to be comfortable. There's weird dips and rises in it.

The saddles on my 3 bikes are a Selle Italia something or other and a Prologo Nago Evo. Neither have strange bumps or rises, they're both extremely comfortable for my arse.

dakar

I got a Charge Spoon saddle based on recommendations here and customer reviews on wiggle. I find it very comfortable.

Dermot Illogical

logik wrote: »

Thanks for that, yes, I do make a point of getting out of the saddle for a few turns to help blood flow and change position on the bars, it does work and has helped. I will try commando for my next long ride with some Assos cream and see how I get on.

Why not try without cream first? If you find you need it then use some, otherwise it's a solution looking for a problem.

xebec

OP, all these saddle recommendations are great, but try out commando and decent shorts first - cheaper to go commando than buying a new saddle!

Ryath

What shorts are you using at the minute? Lose the underwear. Any chance you have to much padding and a soft saddle? I'm not much heavier than you and find a thin chamois and a firm saddle work muck better for me. What tires are you using aswell changing to 25mm tyre like grand prix 4000s can make a huge difference to comfert on the bike as well.

ZiabR

Saddle is defo not soft, it is a fairly padless saddle. I am using Endura 400 series Gel shorts at the moment, think they were around 50 euro. I used to use Foam but found they were worse than the Endura shorts.