Like a Steam Locomotive....

[Bariton]

.... I have a tender behind! I've been trying to get used to my saddle, but after 4 weeks and over 100 miles I've had enough of the pain. One of my workmates brought a saddle for me to try today; the pressure is now spread out and in different places, but I'm still too sore to ride. Hopefully be fit enough to ride on Sunday.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Its counterintuitive but squidgy saddles like that are often the worst for comfort, they tend to stick you in one place and don't let your bum slide around a bit to ease pressure points as your pedalling efforts change.

 

[Bariton]

[QUOTE 4491289, member: 259"]Your bum does get used to it [/QUOTE]

How long would you say is a realistic time for me to get used to it? My behind is so tender I have to be careful lowering myself onto my office chair.

 

[Cuchilo]

How long would you say is a realistic time for me to get used to it? My behind is so tender I have to be careful lowering myself onto my office chair.

About 2 years

 

[mjr]

Its counterintuitive but squidgy saddles like that are often the worst for comfort, they tend to stick you in one place and don't let your bum slide around a bit to ease pressure points as your pedalling efforts change.

Do you know the particular saddle and know it's squidgy? There's gel and then there's gel. If it's structured so it offers firm support under the sit bones and doesn't chafe elsewhere, it can be much better than a hard saddle putting pressure on the wrong bits.

(My current saddles: two are gel, two are classic shapes with a few mm of padding and one's an old-style mattress.)

 

[raleighnut]

Get a Brooks.

 

[Cycleops]

Saddles are a difficult subject, well difficult to get right. In my experience gel saddles are not that comfortable. The one that will be comfortable will fit your bones like a glove. I can't say get this or that because your backside is different to mine. I was having trouble finding a comfortable one and happened to buy one here, a rather cheap nasty thing I bought for about £4. It had a fake carbon fibre finish, but when I sat on it I was in heaven. It's like the fairytale Princess trying to find her prince, you've got to kiss an awful lot of frogs before you find the one. Sorry, but I can't offer you an instant solution.

A lot of people swear by, or at, Brooks but it might take you a year or two to break in.

 

[TheDoctor]

There is no easy solution, sadly. I have saddles I swear by on one bike, and swear at on another. The Brompton saddle, frinstance, is sh!t on a Brompton IMHO, but I love it on my road bike.

 

[MontyVeda]

I had a San Marco gel saddle for years. It was great but eventually the vinyl split and i had to chuck it. I would have replaced like-for-like if i could find another just like it, but alas, i'm on a 'normal' saddle with additional padded undies for longer rides.

You don't have to spend a fortune but be prepared to go through a few designs before you find something that suits... and wider/softer isn't necessarily more comfortable in the long run... ride

 

[Nigelnaturist]

How long would you say is a realistic time for me to get used to it? My behind is so tender I have to be careful lowering myself onto my office chair.

It can take a while, and has been mentioned what can seem comfy at first is not always the best.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

As already mentioned, saddles are a really personal thing so are incredibly difficult to recommend. I racked up a fair few miles on the model pictured back when I first started looking for a better saddle and didn't like it.

I'd be interested to hear what you think of it.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

@Bariton have you tried pointing your saddle a tiny bit downwards?

 

[Bariton]

Lovely day today, so after a week off the bike and a different saddle I decided to head out for a ride. I lowered myself precariously onto the seat and set off. I was in a little discomfort at first, but after a few humps and bumps it was like being hit from the rear with a sledge hammer. Pedalled over the railway bridge out of the saddle but could not bare to sit down again. This is no longer fun or pleasure; I rode round the block and freewheeled home

 

[dim]

if you still have issues with the saddle, try a Brooks Cambium C17 Carved (the one with the cutout slot ontop) .... I have one of these on my Giant TCR .... comfy straight out of the box and no break in needed (and 100% waterproof) ... if you register the serial number online on the Brooks website, it's guaranteed for 10 years .... these are designed for touring/long distance rides

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Lovely day today, so after a week off the bike and a different saddle I decided to head out for a ride. I lowered myself precariously onto the seat and set off. I was in a little discomfort at first, but after a few humps and bumps it was like being hit from the rear with a sledge hammer. Pedalled over the railway bridge out of the saddle but could not bare to sit down again. This is no longer fun or pleasure; I rode round the block and freewheeled home

Oh! Sorry to hear that. I didn't like that saddle but it sounds like it suits you even less. This could be a tricky one.

For what it's worth I like leather saddles, BUT mine have all needed breaking in. Todays ride was 89 miles on a Brooks Team Pro which I like now but was worried I'd made a horrible mistake when I bought it this time last year.