New to cycling, sore bum

LimerickCity

Hi all,

Sorry if this topic is posted elsewhere but i could not find it.

I have recently take up cycling and on Wednesday last i cycled aprox 25 miles. After a few miles in the saddle my backside was very sore, this become much worse as i went on with the cycle to the point that i could barely sit on the saddle. After a few day it more or less went away so i went for another 20 mile cycle on Saturday last. Same thing, my backside is real sore.

I have a giant rapid 4 which has the standard saddle that comes with the bike. I wore padded shorts on both trips.

It terms of the cycle the only pain i felt was from my bottom, legs back etc all fine and in fact i could have went much further was it not for the bottom pain.

I got a gel saddle cover from a mate of mine that i am thinking of using later this evening.

Will the pain go away over time? Is there something that i should be checking on the bike?

I am 14 stone with slim build. Should i look at changing the saddle perhaps?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

saccades

I doubt the gel cover will help.

I'd imagine that it's a combination of things.

Not used to cycling, takes a little while to toughen up (use witch hazel to toughen up, chamois creme on a spin to smooth everything out and sudocrem afterward to heal up as required).

Your not wearing pants under the lycra are you? Common beginner mistake, the chamois is there as a hygienic barrier which doesn't wrinkle. You don't wear anything else with it.

Saddle might be really uncomfortable - everyone has a bum shape and it can literally be a PITA finding the type that suits you.

Charge spoons are often rated as v comfy for most arses.

Missus had a similar problem and tried a gel cover, just made the surface area being rubbed bigger - I sorted a race looking saddle that fitted (and was female anatomy friendly) and she hasn't had any bother since. Bigger padding does not mean more comfy, full on race saddles are surprisingly nice to sit on - the thin seat part moving to provide cushioning.

dahat

I recently changed to a Giant saddle from a narrower one that came with my Thompson and found it brilliant. The Giant saddles are wider at the back so maybe a narrower saddle could suit you being of slim build etc. (I'm 16 st 7 and a heavy set lad).

Yo could get fitted to your bike in your LBS but if its new they should have done that before you left the shop.

magicbastarder

was the 25 mile cycle your first since taking up cycling?
if so, that's a long old haul when you're not used to being in the saddle.

LimerickCity

Thanks for the replies folks.

25 mile cycle was my first time out. To be honest i would not have gone that far but there was a more experienced guy with me who kind of pushed me a little.

First time out i wore shorts under my lycra but second time out i did not.

Planning on doing a 60 mile charity cycle at the end of July so really need to get my ass (pardon the pun) in gear.

Can witch hazel and chamois cream be purchased in a pharmacy or a specialist store?

Is it applied to the sore areas of directly to the short?

Fian

Everybody goes through this, every single person starting back cycling gets a sore bum. It is a question of muscles which you don't need in ordinary life toughening up to deal with being in the saddle for prolonged periods. It goes away, gets better each time, but it takes a few months to be fully adapted.#

Get good quality cycling shorts, that helps.

Good luck and enjoy it! Bear in mind that the pain is a signal that your body is hardening up!

Pablo Rubio

Use some of this before your ride.Wont cure the muscular/skeletal soreness associated with getting used to sitting in the saddle for a while ,but will reduce friction , has a cooling effect on the skin and has antibacterial properties.Might seem dear for a small tub but it lasts a good while


free delivery
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/assos-chamois-cream-140ml/


Read up some bike set up articles, they will help you as well
http://www.kgsbikes.com/news/find-your-road-bike-setup-like-a-pro

diarmaidol

Also what can help is getting off your bum on the cycle. If you legs are good after it then use them more on the cycle. If your going over a rough/bumpy part of the road, get out of the saddle. the shock of a bad bump in the road wont' do the bum or back much good. Having said that while the distances in the time frame might be considered a bit tight but plough on. Just don't be afraid to stop if you hit your limits.

magicbastarder

LimerickCity wrote: »

25 mile cycle was my first time out.

i was saddle sore after less than ten miles on my first trip back on the bike. it's normal, you can't avoid it, just take what steps you can to mitigate it.

LimerickCity

Thanks guys.

One further questions.

As a novice how often should i be getting in the saddle and what weekly mileage should i be looking at to build up to 60 mile charity cycle at the end of the month?

Brian?

My advice is don't buy any creams or change the saddle yet. Chamois cream is primarily to avoid chaffing, which doesn't seem to your issue.

Spend money on a proper bike fit. Once your bike fit is right you'll probably notice a big difference.

I haven't used chamois cream since the early 90's when shorts actually had chamois in them and not padding covered in nice material.

Eamonnator

First things first, take the gel saddle cover and give it to somebody, that you really don't like.

nilhg

LimerickCity wrote: »

Thanks guys.

One further questions.

As a novice how often should i be getting in the saddle and what weekly mileage should i be looking at to build up to 60 mile charity cycle at the end of the month?

The rough rule of thumb is to do your 60mile (100km, we're all euro here:)) cycle you should be doing that distance during the week, which shouldn't be a problem to you.

As to how often, since you are having saddle issues, probably more short rides would be better than just 2 bigger ones, even short 15 20 minute spins will help your backside adapt without making you so sore you can't ride for a few days.

Tigerandahalf

Check to make sure that your saddle is horizontal.
I had a problem like that previously where I was getting sore 20/30km into a ride. Turned out that the front of my saddle was pointed down and thus not supported properly.

Good advice above about lifting your bum slightly out of saddle when going over bumps. Also move your backside around a bit every now and then to aid the bloodflow.

It takes a while to get comfortable.

diarmaidol

As much as you can really. If you go looking for plans on line for making it up to that distance then you will see they are usual over 6 weeks or more. And in them they will involve 2-3 spins @1hr mid week and a long cycle or 2 at the weekend.

Bloggsie

LimerickCity wrote: »

Hi all,

Sorry if this topic is posted elsewhere but i could not find it.

I have recently take up cycling and on Wednesday last i cycled aprox 25 miles. After a few miles in the saddle my backside was very sore, this become much worse as i went on with the cycle to the point that i could barely sit on the saddle. After a few day it more or less went away so i went for another 20 mile cycle on Saturday last. Same thing, my backside is real sore.

I have a giant rapid 4 which has the standard saddle that comes with the bike. I wore padded shorts on both trips.

It terms of the cycle the only pain i felt was from my bottom, legs back etc all fine and in fact i could have went much further was it not for the bottom pain.

I got a gel saddle cover from a mate of mine that i am thinking of using later this evening.

Will the pain go away over time? Is there something that i should be checking on the bike?

I am 14 stone with slim build. Should i look at changing the saddle perhaps?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

I can tell you that when I started cycling I thought my backside was going to fall off, I was in tatters. I was told by a few mates that I had to suck it up & after a while(four or five spins) my rear got used to it.

Regarding the charity spin, just get out & if possible cycle in a group to get used to it as there is a big difference in solo & group cycles.

most of all enjoy it.

uck51js9zml2yt

Is it recommended to wear nothing under the cycle shorts?

Got a brooks saddle a few months ago and getting used to it doing 20km spins.

07Lapierre

If your uncomfortable check the following:

Saddle height : is it too high or too low?
Saddle tilt: ideally the saddle should be level
Saddle position: too far forward, too far back?

Also wear cycling shorts and Do not wear underwear.

saccades

Amayah Shy Battalion wrote: »

Is it recommended to wear nothing under the cycle shorts?

Got a brooks saddle a few months ago and getting used to it doing 20km spins.

Correct - the pad is designed to be hygeneic and to not wrinkle which might cause friction/irritation.

Chuchote

So do you wash them overnight, every night?

shamrock2004

Chuchote wrote: »

So do you wash them overnight, every night?

I wash my shorts after every cycle. I hand wash all my cycling gear (although it may not be necessary).

saccades

I've many pairs of bib tights - short ones for wearing under baggy shorts when I'm mtbing, I normally wear 3/4 on the road bike and then full length winter jobs in, er, winter.

I always put a fresh set on (except when commuting on the way back) as when you sweat the salt will dry and turns into tiny crystals a bit like sand paper and you don't really want sand paper moving around your nethers. Least I don't, I get away with it when commuting as I lash chamois cream on for the journey out, I have showers at work and it's only 50 minutes and I'm quite used to it.

Mine get washed in the washing machine generally with everything else on a dark 40C wash, I don't use fabric softener (spesh with anything "waterproof" but I suspect the wife doesn't pay attention to that) and I've not noticed any problems and some of the ones I wear under mtb shorts are ~10 years old.

tomasrojo

saccades wrote: »

I don't use fabric softener (spesh with anything "waterproof"

I've taken to washing waterproofs with soap powder, as I read this was about the cheapest approach to avoiding degradation of the waterproof layer. Since I can't buy actual boxes of this, I use a nutmeg grater and a cheap bar of soap. I have turned into Mr. Bean.

saccades

Have you looked in Tesco? They have liquid soap flakes (ironically enough i think they are stored in among the softeners).

Presume you hand wash or do you clean the washing machine of the old stuff first?

tomasrojo

I did check, but didn't find it. Will look again, thanks!

Machine wash at 30 degrees. I should flush out machine first, but I never use Bio washing powder (makes my skin rashy), so assuming non-Bio residue is minimally harmful. Think the extra step of flush-out just beyond my reserves of will power.

LimerickCity

Thanks all for the response. On the advise on a friend i went and got refit for the bike.

Moved the saddle forward slightly and also dropped in about one cm.

Problem solved.

Did 50km last night and absolutely fine this morning.