Sore bum and Cateye Velo

[gillelive]

a couple more questions from me....

- My ass has been a bit sore recently (from the bike!) so I have adjusted the seat position to see if this helps. My backside is small with not much flesh for padding so I was considering wearing my padded shorts underneath my padded winter trousers, is this sensible or would I just end up looking like I have an ass like a baboon? My winter trousers are from Aldi (Crane), they are padded but not sure how they compare to more expensive trousers, I presume the padding quality does differ across the clothing range?

- I have a cateye wireless velo that I bought with my crosstrail a few months bike. I have clocked up over 700 miles when this morning I arrived at work with 'ERROR' flashing on the screen. I have had to reset the velo which has resulted in my losing my overall mileage. Has anyone experienced any similar probs with the velo?

 

[HLaB]

Probably too late now but did you keep a record of your mileage; if you have I guess the velo is like most reasonable computers and lets you re enter the data. I've no experience of the velo though.

I'm not to sure about the double pad thing but that is only because I've never done it. It might be worth finding out if your saddle fits your sit bones; I find I get on better with a narrower saddle but we are all different. To answer your other question though the quality of pad does relate to price; generally the more you pay the better the pad.

 

[zacklaws]

I sometimes wear my padded shorts underneath my (slightly padded) tights if I am doing a long run as they sometimes chafe even with chamois cream. I have also seen others with there shorts outside there tights, but sometimes this looks a bit stupid, especially if the shorts are not tight fitting but a bit loose, they look like they have Mickey Mouse legs.

But as your wearing trousers, I doubt anyone would notice shorts underneath.

 

[gillelive]

I was thinking of tight shorts under my tightish trousers, I will give it a go tonight....

On the velo I have reset everything but I thought you should be able to renter the odo data, I am getting no joy and a bit of googling has not turned anything up...

 

[MossCommuter]

a couple more questions from me....

- My ass has been a bit sore recently (from the bike!)

Change the saddle - I did recently (was putting up with sore bum for a while).

I only got a relatively cheap saddle (Bontrager Boulevard) but the relief was almost instant

 

[numbnuts]

My ass has been a bit sore recently

 

[gillelive]

thanks for that numbnuts....!

now back to my ass, in terms of saddles what do you look for, or is it a case of just sitting on a few and trying them out? Prices are wide ranging, anything from £15 to £150 plus - a bit steep for my budget. Also, I know this is vain but I don't want to spoil the look of the bike - any help appreciated

This is what I am sat on now:

 

[MossCommuter]

thanks for that numbnuts....!
in terms of saddles what do you look for,

I didn't know what I was looking for either but I just took a punt on one (it was 20 quid ish).

My old one was the stock "Scott" one that came with the bike.

The new one is wider and does spoil the "look" of the bike but much improves the look of my backside

 

[Headgardener]

Have you had a look in Baggy's saddle library wich can be found at the bottom of the main forum page. There might be something in there that might help and some of them are for sale as well.

 

[zacklaws]

Just to revive this thread, I've suddenly thought of another way that you get a sore backside which I suffer from and is the reason that I am or was suffering at the moment, hair, I forgot that if I do not shave or trim the hair between the legs in the area that is called the perineum every once in a while, I feel as if I have been sat on sand paper especially on long rides. I have a feeling that on a narrowish saddle the hairs get trapped and start to get pulled leading to the area becoming sore.

Remembered at work the other day, got home quick trim and now no problems at all.

 

[Paulus]

thanks for that numbnuts....!

now back to my ass, in terms of saddles what do you look for, or is it a case of just sitting on a few and trying them out? Prices are wide ranging, anything from £15 to £150 plus - a bit steep for my budget. Also, I know this is vain but I don't want to spoil the look of the bike - any help appreciated

This is what I am sat on now:

Looking at you picture, your saddle seems a bit high, is it at the correct hight for your leg length? Also, I notice that the nose of the saddle is appears to be pointing down? Try adjusting the saddle so that is more or less level, as more body weight is on your sit bones. You may find that it is a bit more comfy level.

 

[johnr]

I always wear shorts under my Aldi tights... I'm not one for discomfort... or pride.

I replaced the saddle on my old bike with a Specialized BG jobbie for about £25. It was great (then I bought a bike costing about 5 times as much which came with a nice saddle as standard!)

Like others, I've been getting bits of soreness this winter. I try to remember to use chamois cream, which helps. I think it's a combination of all the dampness, wide variations in temperature, bulkier clothing and the constant movement in that area.

Getting the riding position right is crucial, so I'd go with Paulus' suggestions too.

Good luck getting it right. There's nothing worse than an uncomfortable bum (except finding the cake shop closed!)

 

[gillelive]

Looking at you picture, your saddle seems a bit high, is it at the correct hight for your leg length? Also, I notice that the nose of the saddle is appears to be pointing down? Try adjusting the saddle so that is more or less level, as more body weight is on your sit bones. You may find that it is a bit more comfy level.

Thanks for reviving my post - I am still having problems, last week I knackered my left Knee/calf, not sure how I did it but I wasn't in pain as such more of a pulling sensation at the top of my calf and behind my knee. I took 5 days off from cycling and all seemed well until today. On the way to work both knees and thighs suffered shooting pains which eased off after a few miles but the journey home was awful, my calf was buggered again and I had to cycle about 7 miles using mainly one leg at about 5mph, the wind was also horrific - not the most enjoyable jouney, just glad to get in and soak in the bath.

I have played with the saddle again, it's now pointing up slightly. This did seem to improve things on the journey in today but I guess I need to see how it goes on a few longer rides.

I am 5'11' and have followed all the guidance I can find for setting the saddle height, however I am now thinking that the saddle may need lowering slightly. I am hoping if I do this it may help with the other pain I was getting.

A few more pics here if anyone has any advice:

 

[Paulus]

As a rough guide to saddle height, get one pedal at the 6 o'clock position, lowest, and sitting on the saddle put your heel onto the pedal . Your leg should be more or less straight. Now place the ball of your foot on the pedal . Your knee should now have a angle of around 30-40 degrees. If not, adjust the saddle as necessary.

 

[zacklaws]

As a rough guide to saddle height, get one pedal at the 6 o'clock position, lowest, and sitting on the saddle put your heel onto the pedal . Your leg should be more or less straight. Now place the ball of your foot on the pedal . Your knee should now have a angle of around 30-40 degrees. If not, adjust the saddle as necessary.

In addition to what Paulus has said, try it with both legs and rotate the pedals, I have found that if you do it with one leg, that you can lean slightly to that side, thus in effect making your leg longer, but by rotating the pedals and checking both legs you will soon find that your hips start to rock from side to side as you stretch to try and keep your heels on the pedal. Soon as you can rotate the pedals without the rocking action, then you know both legs are in the right position, unless you have one leg longer than the other