Question about Saddles???

Hi Galley, if you are new to riding, this is just the "break in" process. Your body isn't used to being on a saddle. After a couple weeks the problem should subside.

If, however, the problem does not go away in a few weeks, the saddle may not be the one for you.

I realized after 3 years (yes, I'm an idiot, but at the same time, I didn't know any better) that my seat was tilted too high, so I would check the tilt first. But also, just realize, your body is adapting.

Your local bike shop should be helping you too.

Regarding more or less of an incline... IMO you can eliminate this as a variable right away. The saddle should always be level. Lay a level on it and adjust accordingly. Done.

Look around. You won't find many, if any at all, experienced bicyclists who ride with saddle pitched up or down. A low nose puts pressure on your hands. A high nose puts in on your perineum, and induces you to slide aft when you're climbing.

TD is right on about adapting. It takes time. The right saddle for you will feel good the moment you mount up. Ten minutes later, maybe not. Until you adapt to more saddle time no saddle will be comfortable for very long.

My original Litespeed saddle gave me similar problems. I changed to a saddle with a cut out. Also think the a channeled saddle would work. What you need a a spot on the saddle where you give the pressure on the perenial region a rest.

I tried messing with the height and tilt of the saddle, but nothing helped until I replaced with the cut out.

Galley22 said:

I recently just got into road biking in order to bike in competition in 2007. I bought a Felt 90 with a Felt Gel-Like saddle. In my first few rides I have experienced some problems with the horn on the saddle. It is causing great discomfort in the perenial region during the ride and for a couple hours after I finish the ride. I have done some research on the problem and have been told to...

1) Get a longer horn on the saddle
2) Get a shorter horn on the saddle
3) Get a wider saddle so I position my sit bones on it
4) Lower the saddle
5) Angle more at less of an incline.

Anyone experience similar problems and what did you do to correct said problems?

Galley22 said:

I recently just got into road biking in order to bike in competition in 2007. I bought a Felt 90 with a Felt Gel-Like saddle. In my first few rides I have experienced some problems with the horn on the saddle. It is causing great discomfort in the perenial region during the ride and for a couple hours after I finish the ride. I have done some research on the problem and have been told to...

?

I didn't like my Felt Gel Lite. The horn or nose of the saddle is too flared and will irritate inner thigh muscles, you will probably have more problems with that down the road than with with perenial area.

IMHO, all the suggestions above are very good and you can't go wrong.

I switched my Gel Lite for a Fizik Pave CP..... Great saddle and great reviews..

fizik.itcatalog.aspxOpen ↗

lw

Thanks for the feedback and help. I lowered the height of the seat a little bit, seeing if maybe it was a height problem. It took away a little from the pain since it allowed me to position myself a little further back on the saddle, so I sat a little on my sit bones. I am probably going to give it two or so weeks, if it doesn't change than I more than likely buy a new saddle.

I'm new to road biking as well. Have been cycling on roads with a mountain bike for years that I was trying to transform into a racer when I finally gave up and got a racer. After 3 rides I noticed a lot of numbness in the old fellow which would last for days. I accept my inexperience would not help, but have played with saddle height, tilt and length without feeling I was getting anywhere. I enjoy cycling but when you are lacking sensation with the wedding tackle for days after a cycle it detracts from the experience. I accept there probably is a "toughening up" involved, but I don't think nerves toughen up. Anyway I have tried a Selle SMP saddle and although it is early days my family jewels are much happier. There definitely seems to be less pressure on the perenial region and more on the sit bones. The SMP is the same width as the original saddle so I think it is just the modified shape of the SMP that works better for me.

Galley22 said:

I recently just got into road biking in order to bike in competition in 2007. I bought a Felt 90 with a Felt Gel-Like saddle. In my first few rides I have experienced some problems with the horn on the saddle. It is causing great discomfort in the perenial region during the ride and for a couple hours after I finish the ride. I have done some research on the problem and have been told to...

1) Get a longer horn on the saddle
2) Get a shorter horn on the saddle
3) Get a wider saddle so I position my sit bones on it
4) Lower the saddle
5) Angle more at less of an incline.

Anyone experience similar problems and what did you do to correct said problems?

Heh. I rode for about 17 miles last night and am starting to adjust. I made the seat completely level and lowered it slightly. I may have to increase the height a little more since I am experiencing some minor back pain (tore a muscle running last year). I figured out it isn't putting much pressure on the nerves or the artery but is hurting more of my inner thighs.

blight23 said:

I'm new to road biking as well. Have been cycling on roads with a mountain bike for years that I was trying to transform into a racer when I finally gave up and got a racer. After 3 rides I noticed a lot of numbness in the old fellow which would last for days. I accept my inexperience would not help, but have played with saddle height, tilt and length without feeling I was getting anywhere. I enjoy cycling but when you are lacking sensation with the wedding tackle for days after a cycle it detracts from the experience. I accept there probably is a "toughening up" involved, but I don't think nerves toughen up. Anyway I have tried a Selle SMP saddle and although it is early days my family jewels are much happier. There definitely seems to be less pressure on the perenial region and more on the sit bones. The SMP is the same width as the original saddle so I think it is just the modified shape of the SMP that works better for me.

Galley22 said:

Thanks for the feedback and help. I lowered the height of the seat a little bit, seeing if maybe it was a height problem. It took away a little from the pain since it allowed me to position myself a little further back on the saddle, so I sat a little on my sit bones. I am probably going to give it two or so weeks, if it doesn't change than I more than likely buy a new saddle.

You should be sitting on your sit bones, but seat height and the fore/aft position of the saddle should be adjusted separately. I am sure that if you were sitting too far forward on the saddle, sitting further back will go a long way to relieve the pain, but if the seat was in the proper position for the length of the legs, then you should slide the seat forward on the rails instead of lowering the seat. If the seat is already as far forward as it will go, then you need to look into a zero offset seat post. If you ride with the seat too low, you will end up with knee pain.

Dropping saddle moved the saddle both down and forward. It's likely the increased comfort comes from the slightly more upright position, which shifts more weight to the sit bones.

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/reviews/saddle06.shtml
review of several saddles...

The softest gel you can find is the best. You might need the opening. All of the body weight goes right to the center where you sit. Yeah you kind of have to try a few out to see what you like best.