Saddle Sore?

[mattwilkinson]

I get saddle sore after riding 20 or 30km in a group or it comes more quickly when i'm by myself.
Any ideas what could be causing it?

I ride on a Selle Italia Flite seat and it doesn't happen on my MTB. Is it just road bikes or is it my seat?

I was told it will go away after a couple of weeks but it's been 6 months.

Thankyou

[RonK]

The Flite is a good saddle, but no doubt doesn't suit everyone.
Assuming you are wearing good quality knicks and are using chamois creme, then the most likely causes are the fore and aft position of the saddle or excessive reach to the bars.
The first thing I would try I'd to move the saddle forward in 5mm increments to make sure you are sitting on the broad part if the saddle.
If the reach is too long you may need to consider a shorter stem. Sore hands or wrists are also indicators that the reach is excessive.

[mattwilkinson]

The Flite is a good saddle, but no doubt doesn't suit everyone.
Assuming you are wearing good quality knicks and are using chamois creme, then the most likely causes are the fire and aft position of the saddle or excessive reach to the bars.
The first thing I would try I'd to move the saddle forward in 5mm increments to make sure you are sitting on the broad part if the saddle.
If the reach is too long you may need to consider a shorter stem. Sore hands or wrists are also indicators that the reach is excessive.

I was told by a friend that I might need a shorter stem.
I don't get sore hands or wrists but I do not use chamois creme, Should I start using that?

[RonK]

I was told by a friend that I might need a shorter stem.
I don't get sore hands or wrists but I do not use chamois creme, Should I start using that?

Do the easy things first. Get chamois creme and apply it liberally to the chamois. I mean liberally, and put some on your body too.
Make sure you are sitting on the broad part of the saddle and don't move forward under hard riding. If you are not sure move it forward.
And your knicks - you have to pay for quality. Cheap knicks are not necessarily uncomfortable but many have an inferior chamois.

[reefer]

Saddle sore after only 20km doesn’t indicate chaffing to me. Its setup or your just not used to the harder saddle.

I recently changed to a ISM saddle, as I was going numb after 3hrs. I am by no means an elite, it takes me 3 1/2 hrs to do 100km.

I am now quite sore (pain on the sit bones) but I am still adjusting to my new saddle. I have been doing 30km rides to get used to my new saddle.

I no longer go numb however.

[mattwilkinson]

I was told by a friend that I might need a shorter stem.
I don't get sore hands or wrists but I do not use chamois creme, Should I start using that?

Do the easy things first. Get chamois creme and apply it liberally to the chamois. I mean liberally, and put some on your body too.
Make sure you are sitting on the broad part of the saddle and don't move forward under hard riding. If you are not sure move it forward.
And your knicks - you have to pay for quality. Cheap knicks are not necessarily uncomfortable but many have an inferior chamois.

I get the saddle sore in whatever I ride, I've tried my trek shorts, local bike shop bibs and high quality nalini bibs. Though it still happens.

[gistane]

I get the saddle sore in whatever I ride, I've tried my trek shorts, local bike shop bibs and high quality nalini bibs. Though it still happens.

Sounds like its time to try a different saddle. It would appear maybe your current one even though a decent saddle is not the right one for you.

[mattwilkinson]

I get the saddle sore in whatever I ride, I've tried my trek shorts, local bike shop bibs and high quality nalini bibs. Though it still happens.

Sounds like its time to try a different saddle. It would appear maybe your current one even though a decent saddle is not the right one for you.

Annoyingly I purchased this saddle because its the same one as my dads so I can't try his.

I may put the original back on and see how it goes.

Matt

[Marty Moose]

This sounds bad but do you wash you're nicks every ride? Try some high zinc nappy cream before you ride.

Sent from my MB526 using Tapatalk 2

[mattwilkinson]

This sounds bad but do you wash you're nicks every ride? Try some high zinc nappy cream before you ride.

Sent from my MB526 using Tapatalk 2

Yeah I do and I will try that thanks,
I'll put the original saddle back on and see if it feels any better.

If I were to buy a new saddle is it hit and miss or can you get fitted for one?

Thanks

[JustJames]

If I were to buy a new saddle is it hit and miss or can you get fitted for one?

Specialized have the "ass-o-meter". It's a measuring device which takes a very accurate measurement of your ischial tuberosities (sit bones). A suitably qualified BSG will then analyse the results and tell you that you need a Specialized saddle with a width of 135mm.

Some LBS's will have trial saddles (I know that Fi:z~i;k^ and Spesh have demo saddles which can be borrowed/hired until you find one that your tush can live happily with.

After 6 months you should have made peace with a saddle. If it hasn't either your shorts are lousy or the saddle is very wrong.

Oh, and check saddle setup too. It should be more or less level, and at a height that keeps your hips steady when you pedal.

[misterhorsey]

I've gone to an Selle SMP after some issues with my previous saddle - just a basic road saddle.

No numbness, no soreness. Expensive, but amazing. Here's a bit of a write up.

http://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/blo ... bout-smps/

[toppity]

Thanks misterhorsey....sort of. I read Steve's article and thought it was very interesting. I've been through the Specialised bike fit and the only thing that didn't work well for me was the saddle. The 155mm wide one I ended up on (after trying several) still isn't doing it for me after several months. So after reading the article and noting that sit bone width isn't the only factor I just bought a Selle SMP Lite 209. It's a padded version of the dynamic and going from Steve's article, it appears to suit me the best. A lot of cash for a saddle, so i hope it's worth it.

[whitey]

I've gone to an Selle SMP after some issues with my previous saddle - just a basic road saddle.

Same, the SMP saved my arse literally. The numbness used to be unbearable but am now able to ride > 5 hours with no discomfort.

[misterhorsey]

Thanks misterhorsey....sort of. I read Steve's article and thought it was very interesting. I've been through the Specialised bike fit and the only thing that didn't work well for me was the saddle. The 155mm wide one I ended up on (after trying several) still isn't doing it for me after several months. So after reading the article and noting that sit bone width isn't the only factor I just bought a Selle SMP Lite 209. It's a padded version of the dynamic and going from Steve's article, it appears to suit me the best. A lot of cash for a saddle, so i hope it's worth it.

Hope it works out for you Toppity. It is a lot for a saddle, but if it works for you as it did for me I reckon you'll get a great return for your outlay.

I also noticed a used selle smp dyanmic sell on ebay a few weeks ago for somewhere around $190. Given that you can buy one online for not much more if you look, they would appear to hold their value well if it doesn't work out.

I did create another thread discussing my search for the saddle, if anyone else is interested:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=55862

Its worth road testing the range if there's a shop near you.

[toppity]

Thanks misterhorsey....sort of. I read Steve's article and thought it was very interesting. I've been through the Specialised bike fit and the only thing that didn't work well for me was the saddle. The 155mm wide one I ended up on (after trying several) still isn't doing it for me after several months. So after reading the article and noting that sit bone width isn't the only factor I just bought a Selle SMP Lite 209. It's a padded version of the dynamic and going from Steve's article, it appears to suit me the best. A lot of cash for a saddle, so i hope it's worth it.

Hope it works out for you Toppity. It is a lot for a saddle, but if it works for you as it did for me I reckon you'll get a great return for your outlay.

I also noticed a used selle smp dyanmic sell on ebay a few weeks ago for somewhere around $190. Given that you can buy one online for not much more if you look, they would appear to hold their value well if it doesn't work out.

I did create another thread discussing my search for the saddle, if anyone else is interested:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=55862

Its worth road testing the range if there's a shop near you.

I bought mine at Cell for only a little more than that price, so at least I feel good about that. Hopefully it arrives in the next day or so.

[poohkies]

The Flite is a good saddle, but no doubt doesn't suit everyone.
Assuming you are wearing good quality knicks and are using chamois creme, then the most likely causes are the fore and aft position of the saddle or excessive reach to the bars.
The first thing I would try I'd to move the saddle forward in 5mm increments to make sure you are sitting on the broad part if the saddle.
If the reach is too long you may need to consider a shorter stem. Sore hands or wrists are also indicators that the reach is excessive.

I took your advice, and moved my saddle forward, and my god the improvement was unbelieveable. I road home in my work clothes no riding pants and had no pain at all, just making my bum sit on the seat properly, Id got to the point where i'd had tore the area down there (no idea what it's called just it hurt alot) and was clearly sitting the total wrong position! thanks again

[JustJames]

... the area down there (no idea what it's called ...)

Choose any of:

gooch
taint
scranus
notcher

...or if you want to posh and come over all anotomically knowledgeble like, perineum is the correct word.