Don't forget that if you are new to cycling or just getting back onto the bike after a break; your butt needs a few rides to get back in the habit before it'll feel right.
Yep, I did that, first ride of the year, coming home on the bumpiest road in the universe. Next time I used the wife's saddle cover and borrowed her suspension saddle. Now I binned that and I'm back to normal.
k1dicarus I remember a guy was riding his bike opposite direction as me in the middle of no where. I just stared at him for a long time Wondering what it must feel like to ride sitting down. LoL
The suggestion to get out of the saddle every once in a while has made such a difference for me. I've been standing up every 10 minutes for 30s or so and it's really helped.
Please don’t think I’m sexist, but he should’ve mentioned that Male and Females typically need different sized saddles. Handel Bars are the same way. Males and Females have different body shapes typically. Happy Riding Eva
Contrary to what is said, you do not sit on your sit bones, but on the muscles attached to the sit bones. This means that if you use a wide seat, it distributes the pressure over a larger area of those muscles and reduces the high pressure created by thin saddles. In other words, saddles are just too thin for the non-professional and weekend rider. I tried at least 10 different saddles and the day I tried a 20cm wide saddle, NOT soft but just wide, I realized how fooled everyone is in using thin saddles. I used to need cushioned shorts and cream and still got boils, but not any more. I have even done tours of thousands of km's, with regular shorts and in all kinds of weather and no pain whatsoever. To me, one of the reasons why people have boils is because they want to look cool with a thin professional seat, only suitable for vigorous cycling in an aggressive horizontal position.
I just started cycling, well ok to be honest I bought a pretty mountain bike that I have been riding on a trail everyday to get out of the house but a lot of your videos are very helpful for even me. Thanks very much cheers!
Change position. While coasting, straighten the left leg and slide off the saddle to the left. Rest your right hamstring on the saddle. Repeat other side. Saw pros do this on TV. WORKS!
Yes!! As a "slow" commuter/recreational cyclist I sometimes resort to this at the end of a long ride or week, and have to say it hasn't felt like a very pro thing to do. This changes everything.
I'm fortunate, I guess, because I've rarely had saddle problems even when I was clocking up 8/10k miles/ year on a regular basis. However, my saddle of choice was a good old-fashioned Brookes B17 narrow that was well run-in. My daily commute for years was 12/13 miles each way (about 1.5 hours/day - more in summer when I could ride home a long way round) so ideal for running in a new leather saddle. I know they're heavy compared to modern road bike saddles but I found them perfect for me even on rides as long as 20 hours (400km). Women often have more serious saddle issues. My wife has one she's using now which is divided down the centre which she finds to be OK. But neither of us do very long rides now (we're 80 this year) so even less of a problem. However you ride, stay safe and healthy in these worrying times and thanks for the light relief in our 12 week shut-down.
Lenny Da Voonci Productions a lot of younger people aren’t motivated a lot not saying you aren’t and I guess older people are more experienced if they’ve been cycling all their life
Thanks GCN...last year I learned the importance of proper saddle fit. Last summer I logged the most miles I have ever ridden(primarily gravel...lots of vibration). I developed a significant discomfort in my pelvic floor and nether region. This led to a trip to the urologist who prescribed pelvic floor physical therapy(useful but not pleasant!) and getting a proper measure of the sit bone width at a reputable local bike dealer. Getting a proper saddle(for me this was a Selle Italia model with a cutout for the perineum) as well as a high quality thicker chamois(Assos Cento game changer) literally made the difference between not riding a bike and enjoying longer rides again. While not cheap, the products were worth it. Once again, thanks to GCN for bringing this important and uncomfortable topic to the viewers. Cheers.
I just started a spin class and I'm going to look for these type of shorts tomorrow. I got alot of junk in my truck and don't want no calluses or sores. I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT. I'm trying to get fit. Thank you!!
One more point, which no one ever says. Correct posture! On bike you should bend your back, not tilt. So your most-loaded-contact-point doesn't moveand always has the best (flat) contact with the saddle.
On a MTB, we hinge at the hips rather than curling the back. It puts less stress on the lower back and opens the lungs for more oxygen. More O2 means more power and stamina. Give it a try, see if it works for you.
I experienced this last week when we went for a fairly long ride. I kept standing up to reduce some pain. It was killing me on the way back, along with some other mates! 😄
On long flat rides (i.e. more than 50 miles or so), I get up and stand for 1/2 mile, for every 5 miles that I ride. On hilly rides, this problem takes care of itself on the climbs!
I live in Hungary, and in September I was planning on cycling down to a very nice looking lake in Austria that I saw on a picture. Then, on a Saturday night my father told me that the borders will be closed at Tuesday 0:00, and if I cross the border after that, then I will get into quarantine as well as my family I live with- meaning that he wouldn't be able to go to work, so he was basically telling me to delay this plan for when this whole thing is over. It might have seemed as a sensible idea, even more so because I was working the whole day on Sunday, and since it was a manual labour at a farm, that's not something after which you want to do anything else than go to bed. I was very angry inside though for this to happen, so I thought that I don't care, I will get there somehow and come back before it would be too late. So I went to work on Sunday, and then after I came home I got ready, making a move at about midnight. I was very determined to get to this lake, or at least pass the border, once I went on a 300 km trip instead of sleeping after a whole day of hard work. So the first 100 kilometers was alright, but after then I started to have a saddle sore. I went about 30 kilometers more, but it was getting more and more unbearable, and after I arrived to Győr and sat down I realized that my head is aching as well as barely being able to sit on the saddle because of the pain. So I thought that there was no way I could go another 200 kilometers and my plan is f*cked up anyway, so I decided to take a train home instead. If I saw this video earlier, I might have managed to complete this challenge after preparing myself to a longer ride (I have only done an 80 km trip once before, other than that I usually stick with 30-40 km rides). Hopefully it will help me next time.
That was me ten yrs ago. I rode from LA to San Diego and back the same day. LA to Santa Barbara the same day many of times. I never bothered to look into it, till years later.
When I did ride a diamond frame bike, the best seat I ever used was an Infinity seat with a Fox foam cover. They are pricey but worth it. By far the best option for zero seat issues (ever) is a good quality recumbent two-wheel bike. You cannot ride on a recumbent inside the peloton unless they are going real slow and so drafting does not matter, but you will be ~33% faster at all speeds above 15-20 mph and nothing will hurt again. If you are getting older, like me, it will be good for your brain and balance as you have to learn new balance skills. It is also a lot safer on falls because your body is closer to the ground during falls and you cannot go over the bars on panic hard stops. You have to watch out for bikes behind as they will smash into you on hard stops.
Something I’ve discovered recently for indoor trainer rides is the Wahoo Kickr Climb. Not only does the up and down movement make a better simulation of climbing, and recruit muscles like an actual hill, but apropos to this video, it moves the pressure on your undercarriage back and forth slightly as your bike angles up or down, just like on an outdoor ride. Being on a trainer without this artificially puts all of the pressure on the same point(s) of your saddle continuously. The pressure never changes or moves, unless you stand up. With the Climb, the pressure is constantly moving, albeit slightly. Make sense? I have no financial interest in Wahoo, this was just an unexpected and pleasant bonus of using the Climb.
Choosing a good material of your short.before this,i used the sponge pad material on the short.after 1000km++,the sponge get thinning and cause sore.after that,i try the silicon pad,and i would say,never turn back to sponge type.it maybe little bit pricy for silicone,but it's worth.just my 2cents.
Great tips overall! As we all know, getting sore in the saddle is just the body's way of telling us to stop what we’re doing. Let’s listen to our body. I plan my mini tours so I can stop riding before it gets tender down there. As an ordinary urban cyclist, anything more than an hour/hour-and-a half, round trip, is too long. I could ride longer but then the soreness would kick in. According to the American Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," meaning it's easier to stop something from happening in the first place than to repair the damage after it has happened.
I rode 30 miles yesterday on my thin pro seat. No padded shorts. No pain, lovely. Possibly my 28c tyres and carbon frame, or that I’m just used to it. I do get the old coccyx bone pain on longer rides in padded gear. My old bike a fitted a fatter gel seat. Used to nip my ass on the side really painful. I think the more you cycle the easier it gets, but bigger tyres help.
@@stevec2739 unless you're in a major race like Tour De France, I'd argue you can ride whatever you choose. It's like the difference between a crotch rocket, cruiser or adventure touring motorcycle. Same idea, different posture.
Questioner I think all bikes are great but recumbent riders come across like vegans and try to shove their choice down everyone else’s throats. Riding a full sus mtb is miles comfier but you don’t hear mtbers banging on about it. It’s a personal thing and each to their own, mtb are miles too dangerous in traffic for me so will stick with what I prefer.
One thing you didn't mention is that specific type of saddle should go with specific type of shorts ( the padding ), that also makes a big difference. 👍🏻
Measure your sit bones at home. Put a damp paper tissue on a hard surface, put a dry one over it. Sit in your cycling position (legs up pretty high) and measure the wet spots.
@@bigdiesel6912 put the damp paper (spray a sheet or two of kitchen roll lightly with water) on a hard chair, sit on it, put your hips in the angle like on your bike, sit forward as on your bike, move the legs up as the high point on your bike. Look at where the paper has been pressed down and measure the middle of these spots. Now you can pick the right saddle.
My weekday morning ride is short (half an hour to an hour), and I ride it with regular shorts and boxers, saving the padded shorts for the longer rides on the weekends. This gives my rump a chance to gradually toughen up.
Def the saddle! I bought a use road bike from a man and the saddle was way too narrow for me. I sit on top of all my soft tissues and it was so painful I thought I had a UTI. I rode the bike in total 3 times only and was worried that it was just not for me. Luckily I decided to research online and found out it was the saddle! Got measured and got myself a power comp with mimic and it was the best purchase I made in my life lol
After 60 years of regular cycling I don't often get sore even on week long tours. Fit a Brooks saddle and use a bit of niven type cream, that way you should avoid having to wear those very silly big nappies!
Getting the right saddle material ( how much it compresses) is even more critical to the key of having less saddle sores. The size is the next critical piece which needs to be a little more over your size so your sit bones are comfortable. The padded shorts of course help out but only after getting things right.
I have found Brooks saddles to be the best (use the B17 imperial). They take a few days of riding to "break in" the saddle but then you want to keep the saddle firm, I.e. never let it get wet since they are leather. They weigh more than the fancy racing saddles but if you want to spend hours on the bike and are doing day in and day out bike touring they are the best! I have no association with the Brooks company, but I have been riding bikes with Brooks saddles for decades, and my saddles have lasted decades too!
@@malcolmtaylor518 it’s weird I have had five leather saddles, and they each broke in a little different. I cursed my Brooks Champion Flyer the first 1500 miles. My two Selle Anatomicas felt ok out of the box, and got better. My Brooks Imperial was decent. But I swear my Brooks B17 was a Masonite hatchet from hell, with which I tried everything before I just gave it away. Others swear by them.
Nothing helps more than a good bike fit. At age 50 during a bike fit I learned my right femur was shorter. Moving my right clear forward so I didn’t have to slide forward every pedal stroke as the crank went around the front eliminated the resulting chafing and the perennial saddle sore
Bought a good saddle that just didn't work for me. In fact, I can see the exact model on the table at the 1:05 mark. Rode 100 miles and was numb for three weeks. It was very unpleasant. I also bought some good cycling bib shorts. The exact one that is shown on the screen. Love them! Which goes to show that price and name brand aren't everything so it pays to look to find what works for you.
When I first started cycling (I’m talking the walmart bicycle shaped object days) my ass would get destroyed after 30 min and I hated the idea of cycling. Now, with proper fit, shorts, saddle, and technique, I almost never feel sore (unless I overdo it) even after 60, 80, even 100 mile rides. As a matter of fact my saddle is the last thing to be sore, usually quads and calves only, maybe arms if I’ve been sprinting a lot. Non-cyclists usually comment on my saddle (Specialized Romin Comp ftw) saying it looks painful! Nope! Most comfortable thing ever! It’s almost 10 years old at this point too. Videos like these totally helped over the years! Thanks GCN
Thank you! For the definitive answer on wearing underwear. I even hid the fact I didn’t wear any even from my wife! I use a good Mtn. bike saddle on my touring setup. An MTB Pure.
I went for a 4mi ride today on my new-to-me used MTB. Mostly flat terrain, into town and back. Wore cargo shorts and t-shirt. I'm 40 now. Haven't ridden since I got my driver's license at 16. I do NOT remember it hurting this much when I rode EVERYWHERE (wasn't unusual for me to ride over 10mi or more daily round trip in the summer to get around because I couldn't drive yet) and it didn't matter what I had or didn't have on my feet or that I was wearing swim trunks or shorts and boxers. My legs burned at times from the exercise, but I don't remember saddle sores at all. Riding with my daughter is SO beneficial long term to my health, and she is getting a huge encouragement to learn to ride since I've gotten a bike too. But, MY GOODNESS, the PAIN. Is there any way to get over this without having to dress like I'm Lance Armstrong for Halloween?
"You have only 3 contact points with your bike" Ok, ehm...do you cycle with only one hand and one leg, or is it two hands and no legs, or what is it...? :D
On rides of less than 40k I usually skip the chamois cream and put a bit of cornstarch or body powder where it counts. Keeps things dry and provides some short term lubrication.
PNW components makes the Coast Dropper post. This post has 40mm of suspension that can save your undercarriage when you grind gravel or hit a pothole, or hit a bit of a rough patch. It's like cycling shorts, you don't know why you need it, until you have one. Once you do, you can't imagine riding without one.
I suggest trying a noseless or hornless, bench style saddle. I've used such a saddle for three trips across Canada plus another shorter 2700 km ride around the Gaspe. Using this saddle allows me to change pressure points easily and protects the pudendal nerve. I also use carbolic acid salve for skin irritation if it occurs; this is the "cow salve" that we used on farm animals containing 0.5% carbolic acid.
LMAO! Hilarious video. I just got back into cycling a few days ago on my new gravel bike and while I haven't had any sores, my arse sure is sore from my uncomfortable stock saddle. Growing pains I suppose and I have since ordered a new saddle
Cycle shorts I want to try but as a larger gentleman there's a lot less choice out there and most would be on the tight side 😂 here's hoping my cycling will improve that.
A level saddle is very important. I use a 6-inch level, place it on top of the saddle and determine whether or not it is level and make the appropriate adjustments if needed.
My experience points to 2 im2portant issues ; 1) correct saddle choice , Fyzik Arione is my only saddle and 2) low body fat percentage as compression of fat cells is a culprit here
For everyone hitting Zwift hard who might find themselves losing 10-15 kg over the next months, remember to get a smaller size of bibs. I kept getting saddle sores in good bibs that were a size large (right when I was 80 kg), but I had to size down to a medium to avoid chafing when I got down to 72kg. Fit matters more than I thought. For the record, I'm sore free in the snugger bibs with 3 rides each week over 2 hours.
I just did 46 miles on a Mongoose 'Saddle' and yeah... As soon as I got home I finally ordered a pair of padded cycle shorts rather than my swim jammers or regular shorts I had been wearing. Mile 30 onward with this single speed fat tire was the most brutal biking experience of my life, but I wanted to prove I could do it. Still walking funny ;-)
The seat that came on my Giant Anthem is absolutely horrid! I start to feel pain after just half an hour. So for my next ride, I didn't want my butt to hurt too much so I took my seat completely off and sat directly on the pole.
After riding a bike again after a few decades I could tell a difference in my muscles. They just felt different and at 66 I'm sure my age has something to do with it. Now when I get in my Camry. After just minutes I'm in agony. The main thing I think I need is to stretch my hamstrings. I just didn't do any stretching before I rode. I see my doctor regularly so I'll see what he says. He's a bicyclist.
Brooks saddle with good applications of saddle cream. (On the saddle!) In very little time mine was great and I had no problems at all. I was regularly doing 100+kms a day, fully loaded with tent, stove, food etc. etc., total weight 50-60kgs You just have to put the miles in, eat lots of ice cream and drink lots of craft beer.
WTB has found a correlation between the size of your wrists and your sit bones. If you visit their website, you can calculate your sit bone size and select the correct saddle size for you. This is useful to have if your bike shop doesn't have a way to measure your sit bones.
Go out and try on various padded cycling shorts and find what fits??? Is that commando too??? I guess it's time for Innovation on fitting these without having to go out or trying many and putting them back on shop shelves to be tried on by others.
Wicked! Little tip, after you get them and you’re on a long many weeks ride, DON’T use the ultra sticky felt pads for blisters and calluses on them… oooo baby.
This video neglects the bike itself as a source of pain. First, the tires are the first line of defense against saddle pain because it's important to reduce vibration that reaches the rider's rear end. This is where wider tires and the lower tire pressure they permit comes in. When the rider encounters a bump in the road, a proper tire conforms to the bump and doesn't transmit near as much shock to the rider. The fork is the second line of defense against vibration so the blades should be as flexible as possible while still being safe to ride. This is where carbon fiber forks fail because they can't flex very much because that will cause delamination. A good properly built steel fork is best here. I rode carbon fiber forks for years but I doubt I'll ever go back. Finally, it may be worth investigating a good leather saddle. While the break-in period isn't very pleasant, there are ways to accelerate the break-in period and in the end, the ability of a leather saddle to conform to the rider's anatomy means that many riders to prefer leather saddle to nylon-based saddles. It's a shame that measuring the amount of vibration the bike transmits to the rider isn't a part of the tests published in the bike magazines.
Are you comfortable with your handlebars so much lower than your saddle ? It looks like about a 6' drop to me. I used to have a set-up like that but last year I added a 3.25" stem riser. I find this more comfortable even though it is less aerodynamic.
In 🇨🇦 (Western) I do about 3,000 - 4,000 km in 4 -5 months ... (On a rigid mountain bike ) And yes every year the same thing happens, So it comes ...and it goes away ...goes where ! What makes it better or tougher ... I guess if I live on a . British Columbia or California I would never get pain Because there wouldn't be a pause between our seasons and yes we have four of them . I just wanna say thank you for your video
Yesterday I got my bike back and decided to go for a sizable ride over to a nearby city to go hang out with my friends. I hadn’t ridden in a long time but I’m in pretty good shape 20 miles with only like 800ft climb (round trip so with a nice big break in the middle) wouldn’t be too much of a problem. Athletically it wasn’t much of a problem my legs got a bit sore but I took it pretty easy in the climbs and it was fine. But I neglected to think about the fact that I had a weird fall at the skate park a few days before and fell right onto my sit bones. The way there wasn’t too bad but holy fuck the way back was misery. Just lifting my butt off the seat was super painful as the blood rushed back into the sore parts, and every single stupid little bump was excruciating, and the big ones were like Satan’s pitchfork right up my ass. As I’m writing this I literally can’t sit in a chair normally and even moving certain ways makes me jump.
No mention of leather saddles ? Or Brook's Cambiums ? I use a Brooks B17 for my commute, and i'ts amazingly comfortable. I used to ride with cycling pants but now i don't use any at all. And i'm just back from a 6000 km trip, i never had any pain with my B17. The only downside is the width of the b17 wich is not adequate when you want to push hard, but i guess that the narrows saddle are good for that :)
I have never had saddle soreness, but I do put Vaseline on the inside of each leg at the very top. Works wonders, costs nowt! Also, are some modern saddles - too narrow?
Have you ever ended up with a saddle sore?
Yes all the time
Don’t care anymore
You need to have a butt to get a saddle sore 😆
Thats why I switched to Recumbents
Never. What sort of cameras do you guys use? Do a behind the scenes episode!
Don't forget that if you are new to cycling or just getting back onto the bike after a break; your butt needs a few rides to get back in the habit before it'll feel right.
It's my first time after about 18 years!!!!!!! I don't remember being sore .. .but I want to quit with this pain. 😫
@@elisacampos9532 facts
Yep, I did that, first ride of the year, coming home on the bumpiest road in the universe. Next time I used the wife's saddle cover and borrowed her suspension saddle. Now I binned that and I'm back to normal.
Thanks for this. I just got back into cycling and my rear end is on fire!!!!
Boy did I learn this the hard way 😂 what i don’t understand is, I rode my bike all the time as a kid and never got a sore bottom so why now? 😝
There's no one better to illustrate butt pain than this guy.
🤦🏾♂️😂😂😂
Don’t make him the butt of your jokes please, it doesn’t sit right with me.
@@guptraj9181 These jokes are a pain in the ass
In the world of but pain this guy is a super spreader...if you know what I mean.
@@alanroberts7916 I’m afraid I do know what you mean.
I rode my bicycle across Australia
6000km In 60 days.
I had to ride standing up for one week
Because of saddle sores
I salute you sir
That is detication!
k1dicarus I remember a guy was riding his bike opposite direction as me in the middle of no where. I just stared at him for a long time
Wondering what it must feel like to ride sitting down. LoL
Him Bike haha 😂
im afraid you need a mechanic to tight up ur bolts a bit.
The suggestion to get out of the saddle every once in a while has made such a difference for me. I've been standing up every 10 minutes for 30s or so and it's really helped.
Started cycling to work because of corona. I actually look forward to red traffic lights so that I can get out the saddle lol.
"Stand up"
The sheer genius of this channel. They harness the knowledge of God and the universe in harmony.
I had to get a padded/gel seat cover and cycling shorts. The combination saved my life!
Gonna order all of this on Amazon. Another good tip is change the saddle all together to something more comfortable
Please don’t think I’m sexist, but he should’ve mentioned that Male and Females typically need different sized saddles. Handel Bars are the same way. Males and Females have different body shapes typically. Happy Riding Eva
I know that right girl.... LoL my ass was hurting for a week....
thnx for the tip. gonna order mine now.
A seat cover can be bad for some due to more friction. Best way for most riders is a hard sattle and a good pants with padding.
Contrary to what is said, you do not sit on your sit bones, but on the muscles attached to the sit bones. This means that if you use a wide seat, it distributes the pressure over a larger area of those muscles and reduces the high pressure created by thin saddles. In other words, saddles are just too thin for the non-professional and weekend rider. I tried at least 10 different saddles and the day I tried a 20cm wide saddle, NOT soft but just wide, I realized how fooled everyone is in using thin saddles. I used to need cushioned shorts and cream and still got boils, but not any more. I have even done tours of thousands of km's, with regular shorts and in all kinds of weather and no pain whatsoever. To me, one of the reasons why people have boils is because they want to look cool with a thin professional seat, only suitable for vigorous cycling in an aggressive horizontal position.
LOL
That makes sens why most biketouring cyclists use large saddles
Can you share the name of your saddle. I have a fairly big ass :D
Idk if your using the term “boil” correctly
@@seanburke4622 saddle sores, you know what I mean.
I just started cycling, well ok to be honest I bought a pretty mountain bike that I have been riding on a trail everyday to get out of the house but a lot of your videos are very helpful for even me. Thanks very much cheers!
Change position. While coasting, straighten the left leg and slide off the saddle to the left. Rest your right hamstring on the saddle. Repeat other side. Saw pros do this on TV. WORKS!
Yes!! As a "slow" commuter/recreational cyclist I sometimes resort to this at the end of a long ride or week, and have to say it hasn't felt like a very pro thing to do. This changes everything.
Is there a how to video on YT?
I'm fortunate, I guess, because I've rarely had saddle problems even when I was clocking up 8/10k miles/ year on a regular basis. However, my saddle of choice was a good old-fashioned Brookes B17 narrow that was well run-in. My daily commute for years was 12/13 miles each way (about 1.5 hours/day - more in summer when I could ride home a long way round) so ideal for running in a new leather saddle. I know they're heavy compared to modern road bike saddles but I found them perfect for me even on rides as long as 20 hours (400km).
Women often have more serious saddle issues. My wife has one she's using now which is divided down the centre which she finds to be OK. But neither of us do very long rides now (we're 80 this year) so even less of a problem.
However you ride, stay safe and healthy in these worrying times and thanks for the light relief in our 12 week shut-down.
So, you're eighty and still ride constantly? Impressive! You outclass me, and I'm not even twenty!
Lenny Da Voonci Productions a lot of younger people aren’t motivated a lot not saying you aren’t and I guess older people are more experienced if they’ve been cycling all their life
Hats off! Lovely hills by u Belper.
I also use a Brooks saddle, it's the best I've ever had.
Wash your shorts and have a shower after every ride. Don’t sit around in sweaty shorts. I find this helps prevent sores.
@Cian MacGana 😂😂😂😂😂😂
@Cian MacGana Soldiered through or stopped? :P
Thanks GCN...last year I learned the importance of proper saddle fit. Last summer I logged the most miles I have ever ridden(primarily gravel...lots of vibration). I developed a significant discomfort in my pelvic floor and nether region. This led to a trip to the urologist who prescribed pelvic floor physical therapy(useful but not pleasant!) and getting a proper measure of the sit bone width at a reputable local bike dealer. Getting a proper saddle(for me this was a Selle Italia model with a cutout for the perineum) as well as a high quality thicker chamois(Assos Cento game changer) literally made the difference between not riding a bike and enjoying longer rides again. While not cheap, the products were worth it. Once again, thanks to GCN for bringing this important and uncomfortable topic to the viewers. Cheers.
I just started a spin class and I'm going to look for these type of shorts tomorrow. I got alot of junk in my truck and don't want no calluses or sores. I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT. I'm trying to get fit. Thank you!!
1:14 typo there; it's Ischial not Schial Tuberosities
Woulda loved his attempt at pronunciation...even if spelled correctly!
xcatly what I was going to type 😁
This the type of kid that reminds the teacher that there is homework due.
Yeah, I peeped that too.
@@Masmasini21 So you knew it was Ischial not Schial but not how to spell "exactly?"
An invaluable video for Old and New cyclists alike. *THE SADDLE IS EVERYTHING*
When you're comfortable, you enjoy the ride so much more.
Its "ischial tuberosities" .
Love the videos you make GCN. Inspires me to keep cycling everyday.
I haven't felt my ass for years
Don't know if that means your Top is good or bad :/
@@nielsf GOOD GRIEF SIS
hilarious oxy
Lemme feel
Tip number 6: Always use enough lube.
Oh, never mind, didn't realise this was about bicycles.
It’s all about the aftercare
LOOL
😂😂😂
Come along.
Tried too hard to be funny
Why didn’t I have this problem when I was a kid? I rode endlessly and never had a sore ass or chafed.
You sir have the most comfortable ass
As a kid you weighed like 70lbs lol
Haven't watched a video this informative and humorous for quite a while. Dude comes across so naturally too, very well done vid!
Now I know what I can do other than ride indoor during isolation. Bring out all my cycling shorts and have chamois puppet show.
One more point, which no one ever says. Correct posture! On bike you should bend your back, not tilt. So your most-loaded-contact-point doesn't moveand always has the best (flat) contact with the saddle.
My belly doesn't agree with bending :(
@@sterby1 Yeah, known problem. I had it too. Less food intake => flatter belly => more fun on bike!
Yes, get back pain also
On a MTB, we hinge at the hips rather than curling the back. It puts less stress on the lower back and opens the lungs for more oxygen. More O2 means more power and stamina. Give it a try, see if it works for you.
Yes I have and I wish I had seen this video earlier in my life. Great video and thanks GCN!
Horrible horrible pain!!! Wish I had this video a while back. Great info!!
GCN always knows what we need
New to cycling!! 🤗😊 Your channel has been extremely beneficial. Thanks guys!!
I experienced this last week when we went for a fairly long ride. I kept standing up to reduce some pain. It was killing me on the way back, along with some other mates! 😄
OMG /M C u have HEMORRHOIDS ! its hopeless "M" ur ruin MC ur ruined!!!!!
Picked up cycling again after 7 years... Ouch... The pain... I don't remember getting sore before, this will take some getting used to
Best solution ... recumbent. 🙂
No pain anywhere, and the natural line of sight is to the horizon. No crick in the neck. Very sweet.
On long flat rides (i.e. more than 50 miles or so), I get up and stand for 1/2 mile, for every 5 miles that I ride. On hilly rides, this problem takes care of itself on the climbs!
I live in Hungary, and in September I was planning on cycling down to a very nice looking lake in Austria that I saw on a picture. Then, on a Saturday night my father told me that the borders will be closed at Tuesday 0:00, and if I cross the border after that, then I will get into quarantine as well as my family I live with- meaning that he wouldn't be able to go to work, so he was basically telling me to delay this plan for when this whole thing is over. It might have seemed as a sensible idea, even more so because I was working the whole day on Sunday, and since it was a manual labour at a farm, that's not something after which you want to do anything else than go to bed. I was very angry inside though for this to happen, so I thought that I don't care, I will get there somehow and come back before it would be too late. So I went to work on Sunday, and then after I came home I got ready, making a move at about midnight. I was very determined to get to this lake, or at least pass the border, once I went on a 300 km trip instead of sleeping after a whole day of hard work. So the first 100 kilometers was alright, but after then I started to have a saddle sore. I went about 30 kilometers more, but it was getting more and more unbearable, and after I arrived to Győr and sat down I realized that my head is aching as well as barely being able to sit on the saddle because of the pain. So I thought that there was no way I could go another 200 kilometers and my plan is f*cked up anyway, so I decided to take a train home instead. If I saw this video earlier, I might have managed to complete this challenge after preparing myself to a longer ride (I have only done an 80 km trip once before, other than that I usually stick with 30-40 km rides). Hopefully it will help me next time.
as someone that didn't know about the cushy shorts I feel mesmerized
how
@@emilema5445 exactly my thought.
That was me ten yrs ago. I rode from LA to San Diego and back the same day. LA to Santa Barbara the same day many of times. I never bothered to look into it, till years later.
Ohh my butt's been waiting for this video! Thank you! :D
When I did ride a diamond frame bike, the best seat I ever used was an Infinity seat with a Fox foam cover. They are pricey but worth it. By far the best option for zero seat issues (ever) is a good quality recumbent two-wheel bike. You cannot ride on a recumbent inside the peloton unless they are going real slow and so drafting does not matter, but you will be ~33% faster at all speeds above 15-20 mph and nothing will hurt again. If you are getting older, like me, it will be good for your brain and balance as you have to learn new balance skills. It is also a lot safer on falls because your body is closer to the ground during falls and you cannot go over the bars on panic hard stops. You have to watch out for bikes behind as they will smash into you on hard stops.
Something I’ve discovered recently for indoor trainer rides is the Wahoo Kickr Climb. Not only does the up and down movement make a better simulation of climbing, and recruit muscles like an actual hill, but apropos to this video, it moves the pressure on your undercarriage back and forth slightly as your bike angles up or down, just like on an outdoor ride. Being on a trainer without this artificially puts all of the pressure on the same point(s) of your saddle continuously. The pressure never changes or moves, unless you stand up. With the Climb, the pressure is constantly moving, albeit slightly. Make sense? I have no financial interest in Wahoo, this was just an unexpected and pleasant bonus of using the Climb.
Thank you guys ,since i started watching your videos i have improved my cycling a lot 👌☺️✌️
Choosing a good material of your short.before this,i used the sponge pad material on the short.after 1000km++,the sponge get thinning and cause sore.after that,i try the silicon pad,and i would say,never turn back to sponge type.it maybe little bit pricy for silicone,but it's worth.just my 2cents.
Great tips overall! As we all know, getting sore in the saddle is just the body's way of telling us to stop what we’re doing. Let’s listen to our body. I plan my mini tours so I can stop riding before it gets tender down there. As an ordinary urban cyclist, anything more than an hour/hour-and-a half, round trip, is too long. I could ride longer but then the soreness would kick in. According to the American Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," meaning it's easier to stop something from happening in the first place than to repair the damage after it has happened.
I rode 30 miles yesterday on my thin pro seat. No padded shorts. No pain, lovely. Possibly my 28c tyres and carbon frame, or that I’m just used to it. I do get the old coccyx bone pain on longer rides in padded gear. My old bike a fitted a fatter gel seat. Used to nip my ass on the side really painful. I think the more you cycle the easier it gets, but bigger tyres help.
The best advice I've tried is switching to recumbents. Also fixes neck and shoulder pain. 14 years and counting!
Exactly my experience. If you want pain free riding, go with a recumbent.
Yep, I ride one. My back and ass feel BETTER after a ride, not worse.
Or walk as it’s also a completely different sport, or fly, not the most helpful comments guys
@@stevec2739 unless you're in a major race like Tour De France, I'd argue you can ride whatever you choose. It's like the difference between a crotch rocket, cruiser or adventure touring motorcycle. Same idea, different posture.
Questioner I think all bikes are great but recumbent riders come across like vegans and try to shove their choice down everyone else’s throats. Riding a full sus mtb is miles comfier but you don’t hear mtbers banging on about it. It’s a personal thing and each to their own, mtb are miles too dangerous in traffic for me so will stick with what I prefer.
Entertaining and very informative thank you very much for your help
My ischial tuberosities get sore in about an hour and unfortunately it really limits how much riding I can do. And I did get a pro bike fit.
One thing you didn't mention is that specific type of saddle should go with specific type of shorts ( the padding ), that also makes a big difference. 👍🏻
Measure your sit bones at home. Put a damp paper tissue on a hard surface, put a dry one over it. Sit in your cycling position (legs up pretty high) and measure the wet spots.
Whatttttt?
@@bigdiesel6912 yes. That's how you measure your sit bones to pick the right saddle
@@bigdiesel6912 put the damp paper (spray a sheet or two of kitchen roll lightly with water) on a hard chair, sit on it, put your hips in the angle like on your bike, sit forward as on your bike, move the legs up as the high point on your bike. Look at where the paper has been pressed down and measure the middle of these spots. Now you can pick the right saddle.
If you got a lot of cushion back there can you still measure them?
My weekday morning ride is short (half an hour to an hour), and I ride it with regular shorts and boxers, saving the padded shorts for the longer rides on the weekends. This gives my rump a chance to gradually toughen up.
Def the saddle! I bought a use road bike from a man and the saddle was way too narrow for me. I sit on top of all my soft tissues and it was so painful I thought I had a UTI. I rode the bike in total 3 times only and was worried that it was just not for me. Luckily I decided to research online and found out it was the saddle! Got measured and got myself a power comp with mimic and it was the best purchase I made in my life lol
I love how they didn’t stoop so low to even go and buy the dreaded squishy saddle, they just threw up a PNG of it. Epic.
yes.. i like the saddle tilt to be at level position too!!
After 60 years of regular cycling I don't often get sore even on week long tours. Fit a Brooks saddle and use a bit of niven type cream, that way you should avoid having to wear those very silly big nappies!
Getting the right saddle material ( how much it compresses) is even more critical to the key of having less saddle sores. The size is the next critical piece which needs to be a little more over your size so your sit bones are comfortable. The padded shorts of course help out but only after getting things right.
Ironically I bought a new saddle to try just today!
I have found Brooks saddles to be the best (use the B17 imperial). They take a few days of riding to "break in" the saddle but then you want to keep the saddle firm, I.e. never let it get wet since they are leather. They weigh more than the fancy racing saddles but if you want to spend hours on the bike and are doing day in and day out bike touring they are the best! I have no association with the Brooks company, but I have been riding bikes with Brooks saddles for decades, and my saddles have lasted decades too!
My Brooks took 1000 miles to adjust to my sit bones, so you have to persist with a leather saddle to get the best from it.
@@malcolmtaylor518 it’s weird I have had five leather saddles, and they each broke in a little different. I cursed my Brooks Champion Flyer the first 1500 miles. My two Selle Anatomicas felt ok out of the box, and got better. My Brooks Imperial was decent. But I swear my Brooks B17 was a Masonite hatchet from hell, with which I tried everything before I just gave it away. Others swear by them.
Nothing helps more than a good bike fit. At age 50 during a bike fit I learned my right femur was shorter. Moving my right clear forward so I didn’t have to slide forward every pedal stroke as the crank went around the front eliminated the resulting chafing and the perennial saddle sore
You guys are amazing always😊
Great video! What brand of saddle shorts do you prefer?
Also, the correct size shorts could prevent problems with your corculation system
I understand the pain all too well. The search for a new saddle is always on going.
Bought a good saddle that just didn't work for me. In fact, I can see the exact model on the table at the 1:05 mark. Rode 100 miles and was numb for three weeks. It was very unpleasant.
I also bought some good cycling bib shorts. The exact one that is shown on the screen. Love them!
Which goes to show that price and name brand aren't everything so it pays to look to find what works for you.
Enjoyed. Very important topic.
This advice will be informative when the quarantine done. #coronasuck
When I first started cycling (I’m talking the walmart bicycle shaped object days) my ass would get destroyed after 30 min and I hated the idea of cycling.
Now, with proper fit, shorts, saddle, and technique, I almost never feel sore (unless I overdo it) even after 60, 80, even 100 mile rides. As a matter of fact my saddle is the last thing to be sore, usually quads and calves only, maybe arms if I’ve been sprinting a lot.
Non-cyclists usually comment on my saddle (Specialized Romin Comp ftw) saying it looks painful! Nope! Most comfortable thing ever! It’s almost 10 years old at this point too.
Videos like these totally helped over the years! Thanks GCN
Thanks mate! Very hellful imma try next ride
Selle Anatomica are wonderful saddles. Granted they are not the lightest but they are extremely comfy!
Thank you! For the definitive answer on wearing underwear.
I even hid the fact I didn’t wear any even from my wife!
I use a good Mtn. bike saddle on my touring setup. An MTB Pure.
I went for a 4mi ride today on my new-to-me used MTB. Mostly flat terrain, into town and back. Wore cargo shorts and t-shirt.
I'm 40 now. Haven't ridden since I got my driver's license at 16. I do NOT remember it hurting this much when I rode EVERYWHERE (wasn't unusual for me to ride over 10mi or more daily round trip in the summer to get around because I couldn't drive yet) and it didn't matter what I had or didn't have on my feet or that I was wearing swim trunks or shorts and boxers. My legs burned at times from the exercise, but I don't remember saddle sores at all.
Riding with my daughter is SO beneficial long term to my health, and she is getting a huge encouragement to learn to ride since I've gotten a bike too.
But, MY GOODNESS, the PAIN.
Is there any way to get over this without having to dress like I'm Lance Armstrong for Halloween?
And if you’ve done all this and still get saddle sores, it may be time for a professional bike fit!
And there is also the consideration of crank length. An overly long crank length can have the same effect as a saddle height that is too high.
"You have only 3 contact points with your bike"
Ok, ehm...do you cycle with only one hand and one leg, or is it two hands and no legs, or what is it...? :D
Saddle, handlebars and pedals is what he meant.
@@kiransreenivasan9878 it was a joke...
pilosopo
Shit joke 🤣🤣🤣
On rides of less than 40k I usually skip the chamois cream and put a bit of cornstarch or body powder where it counts. Keeps things dry and provides some short term lubrication.
Never did I ever, think I'd look up about preventing a sore butt
Cycling can be a strange old sport to get into!
PNW components makes the Coast Dropper post. This post has 40mm of suspension that can save your undercarriage when you grind gravel or hit a pothole, or hit a bit of a rough patch. It's like cycling shorts, you don't know why you need it, until you have one. Once you do, you can't imagine riding without one.
I suggest trying a noseless or hornless, bench style saddle. I've used such a saddle for three trips across Canada plus another shorter 2700 km ride around the Gaspe. Using this saddle allows me to change pressure points easily and protects the pudendal nerve. I also use carbolic acid salve for skin irritation if it occurs; this is the "cow salve" that we used on farm animals containing 0.5% carbolic acid.
I’ve been dealing with sores for months and just bought a new seat. I’m also going to look into some new shorts....
Shorts are a big factor. I can’t stress that enough.
£1.50 spent on every mile you intend to spend in the saddle is a good marker for a price point.
LMAO! Hilarious video. I just got back into cycling a few days ago on my new gravel bike and while I haven't had any sores, my arse sure is sore from my uncomfortable stock saddle. Growing pains I suppose and I have since ordered a new saddle
SAME im like i cant be the only one😭 i even checked myself into a doc appointment because i thought something was wrong with my legs
Cycle shorts I want to try but as a larger gentleman there's a lot less choice out there and most would be on the tight side 😂 here's hoping my cycling will improve that.
A level saddle is very important. I use a 6-inch level, place it on top of the saddle and determine whether or not it is level and make the appropriate adjustments if needed.
My experience points to 2 im2portant issues ; 1) correct saddle choice , Fyzik Arione is my only saddle and 2) low body fat percentage as compression of fat cells is a culprit here
For everyone hitting Zwift hard who might find themselves losing 10-15 kg over the next months, remember to get a smaller size of bibs. I kept getting saddle sores in good bibs that were a size large (right when I was 80 kg), but I had to size down to a medium to avoid chafing when I got down to 72kg. Fit matters more than I thought. For the record, I'm sore free in the snugger bibs with 3 rides each week over 2 hours.
I just did 46 miles on a Mongoose 'Saddle' and yeah... As soon as I got home I finally ordered a pair of padded cycle shorts rather than my swim jammers or regular shorts I had been wearing. Mile 30 onward with this single speed fat tire was the most brutal biking experience of my life, but I wanted to prove I could do it. Still walking funny ;-)
Padded shorts and a wide Cloud 9 seat. Your backside still gets soar on long rides, but it's not bad.
Thanks for the advice.it will probably work.
We hope so!
The seat that came on my Giant Anthem is absolutely horrid! I start to feel pain after just half an hour.
So for my next ride, I didn't want my butt to hurt too much so I took my seat completely off and sat directly on the pole.
I do this all the time on my Trek Domane. Thankfully, the Isospeed decoupler makes it even more bearable
really u sat directly on the pole yeah really how did that work for ya.Did it get stuck !! ha hah ha
Forget the expensive creams. The best cream I've used is sudacrem. It's antibacterial and cheap.
Vaseline works for me. Just need something to stop the friction
After riding a bike again after a few decades I could tell a difference in my muscles. They just felt different and at 66 I'm sure my age has something to do with it. Now when I get in my Camry. After just minutes I'm in agony. The main thing I think I need is to stretch my hamstrings. I just didn't do any stretching before I rode. I see my doctor regularly so I'll see what he says. He's a bicyclist.
Brooks saddle with good applications of saddle cream. (On the saddle!)
In very little time mine was great and I had no problems at all.
I was regularly doing 100+kms a day, fully loaded with tent, stove, food etc. etc., total weight 50-60kgs
You just have to put the miles in, eat lots of ice cream and drink lots of craft beer.
Great Video. Cheers
WTB has found a correlation between the size of your wrists and your sit bones. If you visit their website, you can calculate your sit bone size and select the correct saddle size for you. This is useful to have if your bike shop doesn't have a way to measure your sit bones.
Go out and try on various padded cycling shorts and find what fits??? Is that commando too??? I guess it's time for Innovation on fitting these without having to go out or trying many and putting them back on shop shelves to be tried on by others.
Decided to get back into it but due to health issues, I am having stress incontinence! Any information would be appreciated.
Respect for Hank and the pain he endured during the Penny Farthing hour attempt.
Well, I'd rather say, that was a bit stupid. Had no real chance of succeeding that way, so the suffering was pretty useless.
Wicked! Little tip, after you get them and you’re on a long many weeks ride, DON’T use the ultra sticky felt pads for blisters and calluses on them… oooo baby.
This video neglects the bike itself as a source of pain. First, the tires are the first line of defense against saddle pain because it's important to reduce vibration that reaches the rider's rear end. This is where wider tires and the lower tire pressure they permit comes in. When the rider encounters a bump in the road, a proper tire conforms to the bump and doesn't transmit near as much shock to the rider. The fork is the second line of defense against vibration so the blades should be as flexible as possible while still being safe to ride. This is where carbon fiber forks fail because they can't flex very much because that will cause delamination. A good properly built steel fork is best here. I rode carbon fiber forks for years but I doubt I'll ever go back.
Finally, it may be worth investigating a good leather saddle. While the break-in period isn't very pleasant, there are ways to accelerate the break-in period and in the end, the ability of a leather saddle to conform to the rider's anatomy means that many riders to prefer leather saddle to nylon-based saddles.
It's a shame that measuring the amount of vibration the bike transmits to the rider isn't a part of the tests published in the bike magazines.
Are you comfortable with your handlebars so much lower than your saddle ? It looks like about a 6' drop to me. I used to have a set-up like that but last year I added a 3.25" stem riser. I find this more comfortable even though it is less aerodynamic.
@GCN what are the warmup excercise we need to do before we ride cycle/long rides. !!
In 🇨🇦 (Western) I do about 3,000 - 4,000 km in 4 -5 months ... (On a rigid mountain bike )
And yes every year the same thing happens,
So it comes ...and it goes away ...goes where ! What makes it better or tougher ...
I guess if I live on a . British Columbia or California I would never get pain Because there wouldn't be a pause between our seasons and yes we have four of them .
I just wanna say thank you for your video
Yesterday I got my bike back and decided to go for a sizable ride over to a nearby city to go hang out with my friends. I hadn’t ridden in a long time but I’m in pretty good shape 20 miles with only like 800ft climb (round trip so with a nice big break in the middle) wouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Athletically it wasn’t much of a problem my legs got a bit sore but I took it pretty easy in the climbs and it was fine. But I neglected to think about the fact that I had a weird fall at the skate park a few days before and fell right onto my sit bones. The way there wasn’t too bad but holy fuck the way back was misery. Just lifting my butt off the seat was super painful as the blood rushed back into the sore parts, and every single stupid little bump was excruciating, and the big ones were like Satan’s pitchfork right up my ass. As I’m writing this I literally can’t sit in a chair normally and even moving certain ways makes me jump.
Lol, we've all been there. Thnx for the story and hope you're better now.
Very true it is very sore. I feel it right now
advice on sore back and kneck?
No mention of leather saddles ? Or Brook's Cambiums ?
I use a Brooks B17 for my commute, and i'ts amazingly comfortable. I used to ride with cycling pants but now i don't use any at all. And i'm just back from a 6000 km trip, i never had any pain with my B17.
The only downside is the width of the b17 wich is not adequate when you want to push hard, but i guess that the narrows saddle are good for that :)
I have never had saddle soreness, but I do put Vaseline on the inside of each leg at the very top. Works wonders, costs nowt!
Also, are some modern saddles - too narrow?
Yes, way, way too narrow.
Any ideas for a sore tailbone? Tried a soft and a hard saddle.