Being saddle sore just isn't funny........

[Pete]

Unless it is somebody else suffering! I am recently back in the saddle after 40 years, and realising swiftly that I need an assisted bike. BUT my nether regions are very painful after every ride, even a couple of miles, in fact the most I have worked up to so far is 8 miles. Seriously it is spoiling the pleasure. What I want to ask is does it get better, and if so after how long? The saddle is a gel thing MB style and feels soft enough but obviously is not good for me. I have read in this forum I think, and elsewhere, that a new saddle has worked miracles for some people. I have read about Brookes saddles being the bees knees but I had a look at one and although it was a beautiful object of desire it felt awfully hard to me.
Can anyone give me some hope?
Is the riding style anything to do with it? The bike I have I was given and it is a decent quality MB (Dawes Acoma) The riding position is therefore leaning forward, straight armed onto the bars, which from the point of view of efficiency seems good. Would I benefit in a more upright style when I get an e bike, which I want to do as soon as I can make my mind up, and if so should this be a significant factor in my choice? Any particular bike spring to mind?
Many thanks

Pete.
If anyone has any advice I and my nethers would be very grateful.

 

[Pete]

My apologies

Just noticed a thread on a similar subject had recently been posted.

Pete

 

[flecc]

It usually takes a couple of weeks of daily riding at least 10 miles to get one used to a saddle and harden up so that pain is no longer felt. The saddle material often makes little difference in practice, when returning to riding even the softest of gel saddles can cause soreness since ultimately it's the small contact area with the body that is the problem.

With regular cycling that body area hardens to the pressure and it also seems the nerves desensitise so that pain is no longer felt. That's partly why even the rock hard leather of a Brooks can seem ok after a "running in" period.
.

 

[Pete]

So there is hope

I am heartened, it will come right in time, thats all I need to know! In fact I am obviously well short of the sort of the saddle time you suggest Flecc.

 

[barrycoll]

flecc's right Pete, you do need 'running in ' time for your bum and particularly for a leather saddle..
for country rides I wear a pair of lycra shorts under a pair of cycling 'longs', and both have a chamois pad around the nether region, and the additional cushioning for my slimmish frame is appreciated...
as for gel saddles, well they do have an inbuilt problem compared with a initially over hard Brookes leather...the anatomy of rear end is organised around the 'backside bones' or ischia, which you can feel clearly by sitting on your hands...these are designed to take your weight and pass it into the surface underneath, and to sort of raise you off of the more 'sensitive' bits in the centre between the boney bits....so with a Brookes you perch on your ischia, but with gel saddle, you compress the bits that would prefer otherwise...
the Brookes needs to be softened up by painting "neatsfoot oil" on the underside of the saddle (available from a horsey type place), and it gradually adapts to your unique shape...
I had a Brookes for 20+years, before the bike was finally stolen by some toerag....at least the saddle wont fit his bum!!!
you can also opt for a suspension seat post, to take some additional pressure off of the painful bits

 

[Pete]

Thanks Barrycoll

...these are designed to take your weight and pass it into the surface underneath, and to sort of raise you off of the more 'sensitive' bits in the centre between the boney bits....so with a Brookes you perch on your ischia, but with gel saddle, you compress the bits that would prefer otherwise...

Well that is clear answer about gel saddles, when intuitively you would think soft = comfortable.

you can also opt for a suspension seat post, to take some additional pressure off of the painful bits

Thats useful, was going to ask about those in my original post but forgot.

 

[Andrew harvey]

People ask about the big fat saddles all the time, my advice is to try altering the angle of the saddle before spending your money. Often the saddles aren't set properly, start by getting them horizontal then if needed lower the nose a touch you'll soon find the compromise that feels best, then just persevere for a good few rides.

 

[glenn]

sore bum

I too found that riding to work gave me a very sore bum
and i did get used to it some but was still not good i then talked to a friend and went on ebay and found this:

top quality memory foam big bum bike/cycle saddle/seat
the best large saddle on the market

it cost me 20.99 plus 2.95 for shiping and came the next day but that was before the postal strike. it is oversized a little and cut out in the right spots for comfort. since ive gotten it i dont feel sore when i get home in the evenings.
i tried for almost a 1000 miles to get used to the one that came on my bike so worth a look. the seller is
angpatten357.

 

[fishingpaul]

I think the saddle has a lot to do with it,my torq saddle is very comfy for me but my wisper one can make me sore,i must get round to changing it im not sure if it is the saddle itself, which by the way also has one of those gel cushion things added to it or the fact that its rather worn(as it was when i purchased the bike second hand),anyway generally i have always found the rather big spongy sprung assist type saddles as fitted to the torq 2 and giant suede cause the least discomfort and the thinner and harder type to make me saddle sore even after fairly regular short distance riding on a bike.