saddle for a large lady?

[Middleton Mouse]

Hi all,
I've pledged to do a charity bike ride in the summer, a distance of around 60 miles (along a canal towpath) and I'm trying to build up to this. I have done similar distances before but over the past few years have allowed myself to become very overweight and very very unfit.

I have a rather heavy Trek mountain bike that I bought about 10 years ago and has served me well. My problem is I'm experiencing a very sore behind after buying one of these very wide and very padded saddles and I think the saddle is to blame.

To give you an idea I went out for a 3 mile cycle antipating this problem a week ago. I took my dog along the canal by my house so had to do a steady 5mph or so. I thought this was gentle enough that I wouldn't be bothered much but it was a good 4-5 days later before I felt up to getting on the bike again. When I did go out again I cycled 12 miles and it is still extremely painful 3 days later. There are no visible sores or such.

Are there any other types of saddles that might be better? I could maybe buy cheap second hand just to try.

Thank you

 

[Bobby Mhor]

I'm rather portly (chubby) myself and now use a mixture of padded lycra (mmmmm)shorts and a gel seat, I'm more comfy now...
Try padded shorts, I laughed once
but I go nowhere without them.
Good luck on your charity ride

 

[Dangermouse]

Hi Middleton Mouse, welcome to CC.

The large padded saddles are really rubbish, what you may find a lot more comfy is a narrower, lightly padded saddle and get some padded under shorts.

 

[simon.r]

The general consensus is that very padded saddles aren't comfortable and that you're better off with a relatively small amount of padding on your saddle used in combination with padded shorts (with nothing underneath).

Specialized are often mentioned in threads like this - they have a range of saddles that you can be measured for by their dealers.

Personally I use Brooks saddles (no padding at all) and get on very well with them, but if I don't ride for more than a couple of weeks I have to admit that my backside can be a bit tender on the next ride.

I'd suggest a combination of a less padded saddle, padded shorts and more riding to toughen your bits up a bit!

 

[Pale Rider]

The general consensus is that very padded saddles aren't comfortable and that you're better off with a relatively small amount of padding on your saddle used in combination with padded shorts (with nothing underneath).
!

This really applies more to road bikes where the weight of the rider is more evenly distributed between feet, hands, and backside.

The OP is riding a mountain bike, and I doubt she is riding in the attack position, so more weight on the saddle.

A cheap solution could be a padded seat cover - I've seen them in supermarkets for under a tenner.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I don't think he mentions any specific saddles, but I may have missed something TBH, so have a look at @gb155 's blog HERE about his weight loss journey and what cycling has done for him, it might give you some hints and tips.

My only advice about saddles is to get your bum measured by a competent bike shop who can then recommend a suitable perch.

Congratulations on making the commitment and very best of luck with your training and the ride itself.

Going off your username it wouldn't be the Manchester to Blackpool ride would it by any chance?

 

[Middleton Mouse]

Hi smokeysmoo, the ride I want to do is from Edinburgh to Glasgow. The Middleton Mouse is a tune I'm fond of.

I seem to have been given loads of great advice so will invest in some padded shorts. We have two Recykea-bikes near our flat so I can maybe pick up a few cheap saddles to try. Not sure I fancy having my bum measured.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Hi smokeysmoo, the ride I want to do is from Edinburgh to Glasgow. The Middleton Mouse is a tune I'm fond of.

I seem to have been given loads of great advice so will invest in some padded shorts. We have two Recykea-bikes near our flat so I can maybe pick up a few cheap saddles to try. Not sure I fancy having my bum measured.

Hi Middleton Mouse and welcome to CC!
If you are trying to ride the canal from Edinburgh to Glasgow without padded shorts no wonder your behind is sore!
Never rode a rougher path thanks to them wee sharp red stones (till the Wheel, after it's much better).
Also familiarize yourself with fixing punctures and keep your tyres well pumped up. Hard tyres a a bit more uncomfortable but them stones are lethal. Notice I'm not a fan of that stretch of canal
Good luck!

 

[fimm]

@Middleton Mouse, if you are in the Glasgow area, @Pat "5mph" is involved with a group called "Belles on Bikes" who are a women's cycling group in Glasgow - I don't know much more about them, but I understand that they do a real range of rides so if you'd like to go cycling with a group sometime they'd probably have something to suit you.

On the subject of saddles you've had good advice already, but I'd just echo User13710's point about little and often, which will help your muscles to get used to the saddle. (I am assuming you are getting discomfort in your sitting area and not in more intimate places!)

 

[rvw]

Hi there! I can only second all the comments about padded shorts - and do get some which fit really snugly and don't move around. It's sometimes worth buying the ones which are a fraction too small.

Not sure I fancy having my bum measured.

Do get properly measured for a saddle. It only involves sitting for some few minutes on a pad, which then leaves an impression of your bones on it. That impression is what is measured! So it's not as kinky as it sounds.... I'm on the wider side, and had various attempts with standard width saddles including Brooks - which my husband swears by. Then I got properly measured* and it turns out my sit bones are actually quite narrow: the saddle I have now is narrow, without a huge amount of padding, and is the most comfortable I have ever been. So don't assume that you need something wide!

Hope you find something that works well for you, and enjoy the cycling!

 

[jujubi]

I read the first post and thought "This is me" - large, female, training for a charity ride for the first time and suddenly realising that I've probably got the wrong saddle.

I take the point about going for padded shorts instead (or additionally to a new saddle), but frankly, women's specific padded shorts seem to go up to a small size 18, and that's it. My bum is a generous size 20 and the only shorts I could find that fit, are unisex and bulge in all the wrong places.

Any thoughts? Are there any brands or plus size retailers that do this?

 

[vickster]

I am on the larger size too. I find that Altura clothing in an 18 is fairly generous - they certainly used to do an 18. Also, XXL from Gore (or 44) and Pearl Izumi.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pearl-izumi/womens-quest-shorts-ec050157
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/gore-bike-wear-contest-womens-cycling-shorts/aid:616607

You could also try Corinne Dennis who go up to a 20, no personal experience. Call and have a chat

http://www.corinnedennis.co.uk/shorts.html

It is trial and error though, buy from a retailer with free returns (links just examples)

Saddle wise - for me, the best are the inexpensive Bontrager SSR WSD http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/1311...f11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0

and the more costly Selle Italia Diva http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/selle-italia-diva-gel-flow-saddle/rp-prod56155

@ScotiaLass how did you get on with the saddle? If not using, perhaps you could pass on the karma to @jujubi

 

[ScotiaLass]

@ScotiaLass how did you get on with the saddle? If not using, perhaps you could pass on the karma to @jujubi

I didn't use it in the end as the one I got from @SatNavSaysStraightOn is great for me.
It's sitting here and I will certainly pass it on!
@Middleton Mouse where are you? Maybe we could meet up, save the postage!

 

[jujubi]

Thank you, Vickster! Great links. I'll try some of those.

 

[ScotiaLass]

I didn't use it in the end as the one I got from @SatNavSaysStraightOn is great for me.
It's sitting here and I will certainly pass it on!
@Middleton Mouse where are you? Maybe we could meet up, save the postage!

Sorry have I got the wrong person? lol