Long rides cause brusing and rubbing raw of perineum?

[PistolSlap]

I find that on long rides, my perineal area becomes bruised and often rubbed raw from extended riding in the saddle. I have tried a softer seat but most seats have the padding at the back, not on the horn. I thought it might be because I was wearing ordinary cotton boxers underneath my leggings, and the extra fabric was causing the rubbing, so I switched to padded cycling shorts and nothing else, but still the issue persists. It becomes so painful I have to spend at least half of my time riding standing up, to relieve the pressure off this area. How have other long-distance riders come to deal with this issue?

 

[RebornBumbler]

I suspect you need a completely different shape and size of saddle, and that you probably need something significantly LESS padded.
Go to a bike shop and have the width of your sit bones measured as a first step - they can then let you try a few different basic shapes/styles.
Chances are you won't get perfection first time, but you're clearly at the other end of the scale at present!

The horn are is just there as a prop for your inner thigh really - not for being seated on...
(And don't wear anything under padded shorts).

 

[numbnuts]

This may help

 

[helston90]

Are you using any chamois cream to reduce friction in the area? also what shorts are you using?

 

[montage]

I find that on long rides, my perineal area becomes bruised and often rubbed raw from extended riding in the saddle. I have tried a softer seat but most seats have the padding at the back, not on the horn. I thought it might be because I was wearing ordinary cotton boxers underneath my leggings, and the extra fabric was causing the rubbing, so I switched to padded cycling shorts and nothing else, but still the issue persists. It becomes so painful I have to spend at least half of my time riding standing up, to relieve the pressure off this area. How have other long-distance riders come to deal with this issue?

Welcome to the world of trying to find the correct saddle.

As Helston says above - chamois cream can really help, that would be your first port of call. This will assist in eliminating friction but if the pain is coming from the saddle shape, a new saddle may be the only options (though try and alter your setup a bit if possible, make sure your sit bones rest on the widest part of the saddle etc). I now use a specialized saddle with a central cutout - these are generally well regarded. Buying saddles second hand on ebay and selling them on if they aren't right is a good way forward.

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Ensure that your saddle is not 'nose up'. Put a small spirit level across just the nose section, not all the way across the saddle, to check. A lot of saddles rise at the back therefore would give you false info by measuring across its whole length. Over time I've found the most comfort being slightly nose down, and I do mean slightly, maybe a couple of mm or so.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

On a related note, how much does sliding the saddle forward a little on the rails effect the rest of the riding position? I've recently had a bike fit which included swapping the saddle out for a Romin, as I have on my other bikes and am comfortable on. I'm not quite there with this one though and feel I'm a little foward on it. Is just sliding it foward a little likely to muck up all the rest of my angles by a large amount? Or will I just be sitting on a different bit of the saddle?

 

[albion]

As above, I can confirm a more forward seat helps, as does ensuring it is 100% in-line with the top tube.
I've learnt in moving a 'perfect saddle' onto another bike resulting in things being less perfect.
Seat height helps too so make sure its at almost higher than optimum, not lower.

My slow speed also means I spend extended time in the saddle. Strangely I'm battling a pain in my right foot on very long rides.

 

[byegad]

Easy! Buy a recumbent. Next question???

 

[Rob3rt]

Saddle doesn't fit.

Given how individual this is, there really isn't much anyone can do other than recommend you try various saddles. Many bike shops will have test saddles in some ugly colour from the brands they stock, you leave a deposit and can take the saddle for a few weeks.

 

[Rob3rt]

On a related note, how much does sliding the saddle forward a little on the rails effect the rest of the riding position? I've recently had a bike fit which included swapping the saddle out for a Romin, as I have on my other bikes and am comfortable on. I'm not quite there with this one though and feel I'm a little foward on it. Is just sliding it foward a little likely to muck up all the rest of my angles by a large amount? Or will I just be sitting on a different bit of the saddle?

Try it and see...

 

[w00hoo_kent]

Try it and see...

That is on my list :-)

If you are happy to buy Specialized then their body fit range has a good selection and you get up to a month to try it out. If you don't like it you can take it back and swap for a different saddle in the range. A decent shop should do a sit bone measurement to get a close fit so with a bit of messing around to work out what's right you should be fine. Just make sure you have some rides lined up for the period after you've bought the thing.

 

[ThaiGuy]

I end up walking around like John Wayne after riding too much, too soon. Padded shorts are the way forward, but the thickest you can get

 

[Nicola10]

Definitely chamois cream, I use assos and although a tad pricey it's my favourite one, I still get a bit sore, but that was only after 100+ miles I still think I need a new saddle

 

[montage]

That is on my list :-)

If you are happy to buy Specialized then their body fit range has a good selection and you get up to a month to try it out. If you don't like it you can take it back and swap for a different saddle in the range. A decent shop should do a sit bone measurement to get a close fit so with a bit of messing around to work out what's right you should be fine. Just make sure you have some rides lined up for the period after you've bought the thing.

I find their saddle angle sensitive - so what may appear horrible at first may be the best saddle you have ever sat on when adjusted a few degrees. It's worth spending a few rides on these saddles to really ascertain whether they are right for you. Obviously this extends beyond specialized saddles