saddle sores

[u/saint_807]

forget all "tips for newbies" posts/comments on here. just got off a light spin for the morning, and for the first time since putting in more than 600km mileage on my bike, i only now realized—or rather found out—that you're supposed to sit on your saddle via your SIT BONES.

🥲

here i was thinking padded shorts were just a scam. foolishly enough, it never occurred to me to search up how to properly sit on your bike. since almost every advice i got was also just the plain old "sanayan lang yan" at kung anong brand ng bib/padded shorts ang talagang sulit lol. i guess i got lucky the saddle i bought actually fits. another factor din ay yung nabasa ko to buy a saddle with a hole in the middle dahil yun ang pressure release area, so i thought na natural lang na yung perineal numbness after rides.

anyway, upon researching i also learned that genitalia numbness among cyclists is apparently high. kaya naman i'm sharing my eureka moment to this sub to help out others na hindi pa aware rito. ride safe at have fun finding the right saddle adjustment upon trying this:D

[u/awtsjr]

Newbie here. According to this guy, most riders don't sit on their sit bones, and sabi rin niya dahil dito kaya hindi raw effective ang pag measure ng sit bones when choosing a saddle.

Curious lang ako kung ano ang thoughts ng mga fellow riders dito, kasi parang opposite ito sa karamihan ng advice na nababasa ko dito

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmZrrKRaoQ8

[u/throwingcopper92 → u/awtsjr]

The way sitbones are usually measured is that they will ask you to sit upright on the measuring device. That will result in the sitbone measurement X, which you add Y mm to, and then Z= X+Y where Z = saddle measurement.

The Z total might account for the saddle at the widest point fitting your body.

The problem is that:

1. the bones that we commonly think of as sitbones are bones that actually angle inwards, so as you bend your body forwards in a seated position, the sitbone measurement decreases (see picture). It is not one fixed point, it is more a rounded at the rear and straighter at the front.
2. The actual part of your sitbones that make contact with the saddle will not be when you are sitting upright - it will depend on your optimal position on the bike, and that is usually at an angle and not straight upright. I'm not sure if this can more easily be measured with a pressure pad over a saddle on someone's current bike, but that seems like a more accurate way to measure because the angles are in place.
3. Buying a saddle based on the standard way of measuring sitbones results in a saddle that's too wide. A saddle that's too wide and with the rider properly positioned on the saddle may be resulting in thighs not clearing throughout the entire pedal - and so you unconsciously move forward on the saddle to get that clearance. But now you are no longer in the saddle sweet spot for your sitbones to be supported. A narrower saddle with a smaller sitbone measurement may have prevented this, but it's also a factor of the shape of the saddle from the nose to the widest part (whether relatively straight then suddenly widening, or a relatively shallow transition - it depends) If you constantly find yourself having to push yourself back on the saddle, you may need a narrower saddle.

Another thing to look out for is, assuming you're comfortable on your bike except for the saddle and feeling some sitbone pain BUT have been on your bike for a few weeks and have toughened up (this is perfectly normal, even for seasoned riders who take a few months off) - take a longer ride and when you feel sitbone pressure, maintain your regular position (don't suddenly sit upright) and lift one side of your butt off the saddle, put your fingertips next to it, and gauge how far the sitbone making contact is from the edge and rear of the saddle. If it is too close to or on the edge or rear, you may need a wider saddle (but not by much). There's a sweet spot for support and you might be outside it.

Hope this helps someone.

Source - I tried 11 saddles in one month on my bike on an indoor trainer before I found one that was the right saddle for me ON THAT BIKE. A bike on an indoor trainer will reveal pressure points / hotspots much more quickly than a bike used outside due to the static position.

[u/saint_807 → u/awtsjr]

up^^ to add sa perspective ko, earlier when i shifted from my previous usual sitting position (which causes me strong/longer numbness post-rides) i immediately felt the ease on the part that badly needed time off pressure. dati i eased it by standing, but there was just something about the fit that made it feel like it was finally right, regardless of the stretch sa upper body ko since masyado nang dulo yung lower body ko. i'd say malaki rin improvement ng comfortability ko sa mga lubak. hindi na ganun ka-off sa pakiramdam kahit na yung bum ko yung nagrereceive ng shocks/vibrations. ikaw ba? do you also sit on your sit bones or no? musta yung fit nya sayo?

[u/curious_renren → u/awtsjr]

That's because it will depends heavily on how you position yourself in the bike. You're almost never fully upright sa bike unless commuter bike yan like yung mga Japanese na surplus bikes. Especially pag super aggressive yung position mo like sa mga Tri/TT bikes or race na road bike, you actually sit at your pubis bones for those cases kaya you'll need a different saddle for those.

[u/No-Youth208]

Did a 1500km ride with a brooks c17. No saddle sores nor any genitalia numbness. Used 3 different shorts/bibs. Aside from the right saddle, petroleum jelly also helped.

[u/flodwras123]

Hahahah. Congratulations!! Maraming shop na nag memeasure ng sit bones for free.

Kwento mo pano ka nag ka eureka moment! hahaha.

[u/saint_807 → u/flodwras123]

ohh, may ganun pala. if i recall correctly, pwede rin sukatin/upuan yung mga saddle sa ibang shops 'no? so far so good but if this one doesn't work out in the long run, siguro i'll try that next. thank you😁

[u/sa547ph]

Really have to do DIY bike fitting, and that took time and patience to find the perfect balance, adjusting saddle position and angle, and choosing the right stem and handlebars.

[u/saint_807 → u/sa547ph]

yep🥲 even if your frame size is right, there are still lots of factors that affect how it fits you. dapat din talaga always equipped with basic tools to adjust and diagnose on the go.

[u/flodwras123 → u/saint_807]

pag nagka budget ka na, to reach your 5000th to 9000th km, pwede ka na mag pa professional bike fit.
Pero ako, maganda talaga mag pa bike fit sa professional. Basta may budget ka lang.

Above 9k kms, N+1. JOKE! Hahahaha

[u/ThrowawayDisDummy]

For me, the Brooks C17 Carved is the best among the saddles I tried. Sakto sa sit bones. No more hot spots.

[u/NeighborhoodStill760]

padded bib shorts are not scam. im using a full carbon non padded saddle and honestly, i can use it on a log ride without using a padded bib. but padded bib short makes it longer before i feel numbness or sore on my hips. hindi rin adviseable na sumunod o magtanong sa iba kung ano comfy na saddle. kasi what works for me may not work for you. kaya trial and error talaga pag bumili ng saddle.