Tailbone Pain

[Meg888]

Hi I've just started cycling again on a new Liv Rove 2 hybrid - last summer I started cycling for the first time in 30 yrs, mainly to get fit but surprised myself how much i enjoyed it. I loaned a friend's mountain bike, which I could ride mostly with ease but it was a bit too big and after about 45 mins I'd start to feel pain, so I'd slow and wrap up. Last year the tailbone pain would ease after a few hours and wasn't so bad it would stop me getting back on the bike. This year I've treated myself to a brand new bike, spoke at length with bike shop guys about getting the right fit, and it's a lovely bike, but I'm finding tailbone pain is even worse - it comes on much sooner, and is way more intense, so much that I still have it over a week later, and I don't want to get back on the bike. I know this is to do with seat adjustment, which we've changed as much as we can but seems to be making little difference. I'm also experiencing pain across my shoulder blades, yet this bike is supposed to be a much better fit and my size (I'm a shorty at 5'1"), yet I'm in a lot more pain with it. Can anyone please advise? I'm a 45 year old female. Thanks

 

[raleighnut]

Sounds like the seat is too low to me causing you to 'sit' more heavily on the saddle.

 

[Saluki]

It does sound as if the bike isn't set up perfectly for you. Can you post a pic of you on it (you can blur your head out if you like)

When you sit on the saddle, is your leg quite straight when you put your heel on the pedal (I know you don't cycle using your heels but it's a good indication of getting to the correct seat height).
Do you wear padded shorts? They are very helpful. My husband made comments about not needing any more padding in the bum department, but soon wound his neck in when he had bum pain, and I didn't.

 

[Globalti]

Yes, we need a sideways-on photo. There are some experienced eyes on this forum. Give us one of the bike and one of you sitting on the bike, leaning against a wall in riding position.

 

[numbnuts]

Something wrong in the saddle department area

 

[Globalti]

OP, what saddle does the bike have? What is the angle of the saddle?

 

[Meg888]

Thanks so much for the replies, I will get a pic taken and put on here. I wear lots of padding! Last time i was on the bike (which was the ride that caused the worst pain) I had normal pants, cycling pants, cycling shorts, leggings, and jeggings!! It was very cold that day! I was quite a nervous rider last year, convinced that the height of the bike caused me to be unsteady/unbalanced, it was also uncomfortable in other areas if you get my drift! It was quite a trauma to stop/restart - I don't have saddle soreness with new bike, just the tailbone & shoulder pain and I am a lot more balanced on this bike, I don't feel like I'm going to come flying off. Last year's bike was 17", this year's is 14". I'm still a bit nervous, can't look behind me or cycle, even for a couple of seconds with one hand!

 

[Meg888]

Globalti, I will take pics and upload tomorrow - thanks all!

 

[fossyant]

Possibly too many layers. I think you might be too upright as your tail bone should come no-where near the saddle. Have you ever injured it ?

 

[Meg888]

Hi Fossyant, no I've not injured it at all. Presently I still have it 9 days after last ride (1hr 40mins of cycling) mostly when I sit on/ get up from hard seat. I was thinking too upright as well......

 

[ayceejay]

It is possible that it is you or rather your anatomy that is the problem rather than the bike set up or saddle although you can get saddles with a coccyx cut out that may be worth a try.

 

[Globalti]

Is this the saddle?

 

[Meg888]

Yes Globalti, looks very similar - I'm not at home at the mo, but I'm sure it looks the same.

 

[ayceejay]

This one may be more money than the OP wants to spend but this is the idea. Note that this is a common problem hence the specific design

 

[Globalti]

Well before you go spending money on saddles, let's check that you've got the bike set up correctly. A bike saddle can be adjusted in three ways so it may just be a question of fine-tuning your position so as to get the weight onto your sit bones correctly. Once you've set up the saddle you can start messing with the handlebars, which also has a bearing on seat comfort.

We need those photos.