Eilis is by far my favourite presenter. So natural and a pleasure to watch. She could talk about anything and I'd watch it. I would even watch Dancing on Ice if Eilish was the presenter.
I've been cycling more than 60 years now and the best saddle I have ever had is an old school Brooks b17 leather saddle. Takes a few hundred miles to break in properly, but when you do, it is pure cycling heaven.
Hi Eilis, so nice to see you are not only testing ebikes and scooters but also all sorts of things that surround it like picking the right saddle or the importance of bike helmets...maybe someday an item regarding bike locks since so many are stolen each year? Anyway..looking forward to the next video...
I used to cycle to work everyday but started to get pain after cycling. Had a long break to relieve any bruising. And do a lot of yoga and stretching for pelvic area as that whole area was very tense according to my physio. I have an SMP saddle like the one in this video and it’s my fav saddle. Don’t cycle as much as I used to but I’m building it up again. Rest, Yoga and good saddle combo seems to have sorted me out.
Great video. Been thinking about learning more about where my saddle should be for years but never got round to it. I always feel it in my hips and feet but even the knees have a complaint every now and then. Tempted to go and see these guys. Never changed a saddle ever, I just ride the one that comes with the bike 😮.
You must have a hardy bum or the bikes you've bought have decent saddles 😂 If you cycle often I really would recommend a saddle fitting session. It's such an eye opener!
This was great video, 👍 I had Cancer and I lost a lot wait Inc fat from my bum, which made for a very sore and uncomfortable right, I tried loads of different saddles but could never get the right saddle, in the end, I ended up designing my own saddle and now feels like I'm completely happy and don't hurt my parts, and can ride for hours,I'm 66 and ride an E Bike, I love, so thanks for this video, love your show, good advice always😊
Welcome to the first steps on your saddle-sourcing/ride fit journey! Some people take years to get an acceptable fit. A note: the .883 x inseam saddle height measurement protocol is incredibly approximate (also, you should make it clear that it's from the top of the pedal at the bottom of the pedal stroke to the top of the saddle ). A better rule of thumb is sitting on the bike, measure the angle of your upper and lower legs in relation to one another (at your knee) at the point of the pedal stroke where the crank is in line with the seat tube: it should be 24-26 degrees. To measure that that you need a goniometer (or just two pieces of wood and a clamp, and a protractor) and a helpful friend.
Couldn't resist this title.. obviously. So how much did Vaughn pay to stare at your nethers for an hour? Luckiest guy in London if you ask me. This is a brilliant really necessary piece of advice for everyone. So giving of you to grasp the bull by the horns and discuss your "difficulty" for the benefit of all. Totally impressed. Not 100% sure of exactly the full range of details, and probably best, but female, frequent riders are reported to complain of desensitization, "down there" over time. This is definitely not a good thing, so hopefully, everything is working as it should for you, if you get what I mean. Please keep up the great work with your vids.
3:10 An alternative to padded shorts/bibshorts is padded innerwears like the ones from the "Vulpine" Company. Bike fit is always a must once you own a cycle to prevent unnecessary injuries/pain.
Went on the Selle SMP homepage, made an informed decision and got me a Dracon saddle. The first one with a pressure relief channel that works for me and doesn't cause chafing. Also very even pressure distribution over the bum. I'm impressed, your video helped a lot!
Fascinating video. Glad to hear you sorted out your problem. I suffer from sciatica about 6 months of the and at which times its impossible to ride a bike, but I often wonder if an ill fitted / positioned bike seat aggravates my condition when I am riding the bike !
In the past I would go off on my bike but come back with a BSA. I tried several saddles on my regular bike until I found the gel one which is perfect. Enjoy watching all your videos and not just for info on the ebikes.😉
After decades of riding my current bike is a full suspension ebike which has an ergon core saddle, 2.35 tyres. that is as good as it gets. Every saddle that comes with a new bike is worthless and I normally sell it back to the shop at time of purchase of the bike.
Great video. With saddle height. The only issue with the inseam method, it doesn't factor in the thickness of the saddle and the crank length. So it's probably worth doing both the heal method and the inseam method to make a comparison of both methods and see the difference.
Firstly, adjusting the saddle is kinda similar to adjusting car seats for driving. Each bike, each saddle, tires, even mood can get me to adjust. The kind of riding will also get me adjusting the saddle. It makes a massively huge difference when you get it right. On long road bike trips I like the saddle raised till I have to extend the foot down a bit, if I'm mountain biking, I may be off the saddle more than on and want it lower than normal. On my mountain bike I frequently will tilt more farther forward. I have ended up preferring a hard saddle over the comfy saddle type, they seem to be comfy for 5-10 miles then start burning or hurting. I also carry a gel pad saddle cover, it can be used to take a break from the hard saddle on short trip days, or even at the end of an extremely long ride. On an electric bike I would imagine a padded saddle might be desirable if your just riding and not peddling. In any event, I like to get up off the saddle and just pedal standing every now and then, I also find varying the angle you sit on the saddle helps, move front and back and side to side, all help on those long trips.
Hey Eilis...I know where you are coming from. I was a cyclist, want to get back to it once I figure out my knee issue, but in 2001 I cycled across Canada Pacific Ocean to Atlantic, over 10,000km. When I cycle I never ride without using proper cycling shorts, yes lycra ones and definitely commando as underwear will kill you. Interesting you're in the UK and you didn't use the word 'arse' in the title. Wish we had a cycle-fit here, where I live have yet to find a good bicycle shop and good bicycle mechanics particularly ones who know how to true a wheel properly. Really fantastic video that needs to be talked about.
@@Electroheads Unfortunately the metric cycling computer on one bike the battery died not long before the end so we only had the imperial one on my bike and it was between 6,000-7,000mi. Amazing trip and like an EV all about the journey not the destination. Never mind the spectacular people we met along the way.
Been using the Selle SMP [TRK] saddle for about 9 years now. Yes it is pricey but worth it for me, mainly for comfort then durability. My first SMP lasted 7 years before the leather started to crack. I bought a new one, same model and size to replace it. Cheers!
I had a shopkeeper upsell me a gel saddle for fairly expensive bike decades ago. it was by far the most uncomfortable thing I have sat on in my life, wasn't cheap either. I went back and asked for the stock saddle to be put back on (too late for a refund on the gel saddle by then) and the stock one felt fine, 100x better than the horrible aftermarket one.
Great video I see so many people out there riding with there saddle nit at the right height hope this helps them the more comfortable you are the more you will hope to see the final bike with new saddle on it.
Oh Eilis I do know what you mean! I bought an e-bike during lockdown as I'm disabled by ME/CFS and had no way to get outside and move in the air. So it's a sit up type with a beautiful tan padded saddle to match it's handle bar covers and tyre walls. Off I hurtle, barely in control and I'm soon crashing over a pothole I didn't see because I was going so fast, the bike and I kept going together but I felt like the seat post had gone where the sun don't shine, my padded seat was not so well padded after all! Needless to say I was grounded for a fortnight and in pain for a couple of months. I bought some padded drawers (too cheaply!)...the padding was as hard as a rock so I looked around for a new saddle. I should have gone back to my bike shop who had offered their seat mapping service but it was too far for me to go in my weakened state. So I looked online and spent as much as I could afford on a Rydon saddle which is ergonomically designed and flexible, paired it with a bouncy (sprung?ME brain!) seat post but still couldn't get comfy, I kept sliding backwards no matter how I positioned the saddle. Probably down to my lack of core strength and balance combined with weak legs. In a desperate and impecunious state I turned to Facebook market place. There I found a magnificently sprung saddle with a little padded back to it. Tenner. I can't be sure but I think I had to use the original seat post because the sprung one was the wrong size. Haven't looked back since...all that discomfort and money and all I needed was a saddle which came off an adult trike! Glad you got yourself sorted, sounds like a fantastic service, curious as to what sort of money it needed for such an in depth and skillful assessment...if that's not a rude question...? Thanks for sharing your botty problems with us 😄🥴🤭
Always love to read your comments, Jude! So pleased to hear you finally found a solution, even if it did take you a few tries. The fitting session costs £150, but it really did wonders and I feel so much more informed now than I ever did.
@@Electroheads ah bless you, I probably tell you the same thing every time so if it gets a bit wearing just tell me to shut up!😄 Actually that's really not bad at all, I reckon I spent at least two thirds of that, not to mention the time it took and the fact that it was just random pot luck in the end. I'll tell my chums about this method of getting comfy on their bikes. Cheers m'dear.👍😄
I got a bike fit after many years of cycling and it was a great help. I recommend them to folks in my cycling club. A bike fit is especially useful for those getting back into cycling. Cheers
Another vote up to the advice given, get a proper bike fit. As mentioned it's not just for bums, hips but everything from feet to knees, arms, shoulders, hands and heads. Numbs hands, pins and needles I struggled with for ages before getting a good, proper bike fitter to get me and my bike geometry correct. It's worth it but do find a good one.
Well, it also happened to me 6 months ago. Wow, that hurt! So indeed I played with hight, but for me, a tilt down (the rear that is) helped a lot. Unfortunately, I don’t live anywhere near a bike shop like the one you used, because I think it’s great! As we are a cycling country, most people know the discomfort, and yes, men and women tend to need different solutions much of the time it seems. Anyway, no public transport for me. I love my bike..
@@Electroheads Yes it sure was! Funny thing was, when I started asking around, MANY people seemed to experience similar problems! I never expected a bit of tilt to make such a difference! Still, if I push it, it's still uncomfortable, so I still want to find one of those bike shops that measure everything. I also have a typically Dutch bike, so I sit upright, which might require a different seat after all...
I find if I haven't cycled for a while it makes no difference what you do, my bum still hurts. Its the muscles getting used to the work. After a week or two check adjustment as you said and it's sorted.
I’m coming late to the party, but have you had a look into Manta Saddles? The design looks… scary… but it holds the weight in places that won’t hurt, and the saddle moves with the body. I’m not associated with the product (I don’t even own one because it doesn’t fit my height on my current bike)
Learned this the hard way when my prized possession on a bike tour was a tub of savlon!! Go bike touring and camping, it will be fun. Yeah, nothing screams fun like having to sort that out in a tent!!
Got all those T shirts, then moved over to a recumbent, then one stage further to a recumbent tadpole trike - no pain, anywhere, not butt, not wrists, not neck - nothing, pure comfort and even more fun and faster! PS I’m over 60.
@@Electroheads I endeavour to avoid interacting with traffic wherever possible and mostly succeed. Visibility I hope will help it takes the form of a bright yellow trike, a hi viz cycle jacket, several daylight grade rear lights and it sports a flag flapping about at eye level.
So, my Lidl inflatable saddle may not be as suitable as I thought? I swapped out the 'uncomfortable' one that came on my Btwin st520 but maybe it was just needing a proper setting up?
1cm difference between leg length normal, I had a 2cm difference from when I sprained my ankle as a kid and that gave me lower back problems. The way they found out is when I had a car accident and my shoulder wouldn't heal after suffering from whiplash. After getting special footbeds to also raise my arch and raise one leg up 1cm sorted myself out completely. No longer am I the leaning tower of Pisa, and I do share this with everyone who mentions back problems or neck problems, it could be down to your feet! Great video and thanks for sharing your discoveries. My bum hurt like mad, who designs these saddles? Those arrow-looking ones that are hard as nails? I've been searching for a new softer one. Would you recommend one with springs? Would a suspension bar be ok? I'm looking to do an E-bike conversion and travelling 32 miles a day to work and back, and need a good saddle, what would you suggest?
I'm getting more confused of which saddle fits me, not because of this video, but how my bum has reacted to them. The saddle that came with bike I at first found unbearable, switch to a padded one. That worked great for a while until not feeling so good anymore. Now I'm back on the old hard one and it now feels great. Go figure 🤷♂
If you are not a bike racer, but want a universally no-problem saddle? Look at "noseless" saddles, long proven to remove pressure on the perenium. Better yet, dump the saddle altogether and get a recumbent bike with a SEAT. Shaped but unpadded saddles...but padded shorts. That's just moved where the padding resides, and made you buy two items, each more expensive than what you bought before that was all-in-one. Excellent marketing! Proper saddle adjustment is perfectly adequate for the typical commuter, even with simple padded saddles. Bike fitting is great for professional riders, and not a bad idea for anyone that can afford it. The thing is, as you learned, it is more about teaching you about yourself, and teaching you how to ride a bike, than it is about the actual "fitting" - meaning the fitting itself is...not as important as they want it to seem. Again, great marketing...making something needed by the pros into a marketable (and not necessarily bad) product for the masses. I think the problem is having grown up not riding bikes, nor around a "bike culture" (whatever that actually is). I mean, ask the average resident of Copenhagen when they last got fitted for a bike. We are asymmetric, but there is ONE calculation (to 3 decimal places) for all inseam calculations (this reminded me of the computer from Hitchhiker's Guide that would "work out your personality problems to ten decimal places")? Sorry, but that calculation is still just a STARTING point, that sure seems like a high degree of precision. The quick method you described is all 99.99% of the population need, then make small adjustments until you get it right. It will take a little time, but it needs to fit YOU, not some theoretical "average."
Surprised that no one mentioned dropping a plum line from the patella down through the pedal when your foot is at the three o’clock position…. This was a thing in adjusting fore/aft positioning for optimum padal stroke… and best for your knees… just wondering….. haven’t revisited this in ages….
@@Electroheads Keep the videos coming, I love 'em.... Hmmm... 🤔 .... Well as I said, its been decades, and I was curious, and went back to bike fitting... The Knee 0ver Pedal System (KOPS) has been debunked.... it was popular back then, but now fitting is more focused on achieving a biometric balance so you are - simply - not putting too much pressure on the handlebars. Something bikes excel at....👍
Hey Eilish, I'd love to know more about your hip injury. I have one of my own, and I'm wondering about how you finally got diagnosed? An osteopath I've recently seen has diagnosed me with a labral tear, but he says it's healing ... but there are still pains in the front of the pevis....!
I'm so sorry to hear you've had hip problems! It can be really isolating and frustrating. Because I got my injury during lockdown and was relying on the NHS to help, it took me 2 years to get through the system, plus a lot of badgering to get an MRI scan and be diagnosed with a labral tear. Labral tears can heal on their own and you can get back to normal movement, but unfortunately mine wasn't healing. I did years of physio to get to the point where I qualified for an MRI (after being rejected twice). I don't know how long you've had your injury for, but I'd say if physio isn't helping it's okay to push for an MRI and seek further help. I finally got key hole surgery last year which has helped a lot, but the pain and discomfort is still there. Really hope you get better soon!
@@Electroheads thank you so much for your generous reply, and wow that does sound hugely frustrating and isolating. I got my tear through trying to do a pistol squat without any progression training! I was fooling around after a successful bouldering session and after trying it (and almost succeeding) I then had three separate attempts at a dynamic move (jumping for a hand hold) missing it each time and landing on the crash pad. So possibly a combination. That was end of January this year. The hip was sore but I could do most normal activities but went to see my GP about a possible hernia, and he looked at the hip and said “you’re good to climb, but no bouldering” so I went climbing the next day and....big mistake! Osteopath says it’s healing quite nicely and I’ve managed a gentle climb with no ill effects on Friday so hopefully if I’m careful, I can continue with sensible activity.
@@Electroheads Hope this might help: I had a elbow injury from throwing a frisbee(yup I know), really wound up to set a new max distance and then at full extension it went pop/snap! immediate pain, then after a few days only pain if I moved it certain ways. I never got a completely accurate MRI on it. After 4 years of carefully not using the elbow(in any way that hurt), it eventually and slowly recovered. I studied these kinds of injuries for a while to see if I could figure it out. In the end I am guessing a tendon/ligament tore away from the bone. Those things apparently heal by attaching little hooks onto the bone one at a time, So I am guessing that any further pain caused it to re-tear those little hooks again. So I figured I had to wait till enough hooks got re-attached before I could use it properly again. Anyway, the point is that pain may be an indicator of re-injuring, or preventing it to heal properly.
This year I got back into cycling (well very casual riding) and went for the Gocycle G4i, based a fair bit on your coverage, and the saddle comfort being quite important. I stopped cycling around 2019 with knee problems which I put down to a badly adjusted bike and age (let's say 30 feels like a very long time ago). I'd be interested in something like a proper fitting, but are there other places around the country that do what Cyclefit do? Is there any "acredited" type place to look out for, so you know you're not being taken for a ride? 😁
I'm sure there are! Best thing to do is have a search in your area and give them a grilling when you give them a call. If they're legit they'll be happy to answer all your questions
Thanks for the video. That bike fit facility looks pretty cool. I need a proper fit. My hands go numb at times. ☹️ Using your string trick to measure the fore and aft placement of the saddle, is the front of the saddle supposed to line up with the centre of the bottom bracket?
Hey Shane! With measuring the fore/aft you want to see how forwards/backwards the saddle is with the measurement I showed you and you can use that as a starting point. If you know that placement isn't working for you, that is your guide for how far forwards and backwards you want to move it. You then need to play around with . Another sub Zygmut gives this really helpful bit of advice which you can try: A better rule of thumb is sitting on the bike, measure the angle of your upper and lower legs in relation to one another (at your knee) at the point of the pedal stroke where the crank is in line with the seat tube: it should be 24-26 degrees. To measure that that you need a goniometer (or just two pieces of wood and a clamp, and a protractor) and a helpful friend. Hope that helps!
This is what hurts the most for me too. It stops me going further than an hours cycle. Is this because women don’t get as much attention in the saddle area as much as men? I have a Selle and it’s ok but after a while my butt hurts. Lady bits ok though.
recumbent riders call conventional bikes "ass-hatchets" ... not entirely undeservedly. I love all bikes, but for butt comfort... recumbents, recumbents, recumbents... otoh, you're on a recumbent (all kinds of tradeoffs.)
I don't quite see the tradeoffs other than price. And no thanks to the UCI for banning recumbents from bike races, that's probably a significant reason, why they're not in widespread use today.
It’s even harder for males, and specifically on motorbikes in the heat, the other bits get fried 😮 Suspension Ergonomics Cooling mesh cover Gel Memory foam Every damn machine 😂
M48, I would have been embarrassed back in the day to discuss my term, "numb bum" etc... I recently stumbled across a fellow Aussie talking about this stuff. A bike-fit physio (I think?) Road Cycling Academy ... ruclips.net/video/HT_B6BCJFNE/видео.html
Good advice for all of us common folk who can't have better solutions, but that's not you, Eilis. You are a talent wasted on e-bike material, and you should have picked up a movie or a TV series by now. Heck, you could even be a singer (just not an Elvis impersonator) with that voice. Then you could swap out your bike for a Porsche Taycan, which doesn't trouble your derriere. Or you could just marry someone who already owns one, just be sure he doesn't trouble your derriere, lol. Some sick men out there, these days. And for those who hurt on a saddle; just stand up more often and think of what else you can do with nearly 200 quid.
Whoever edits-in the reaction clips needs a raise.
+1
Eilis is by far my favourite presenter. So natural and a pleasure to watch. She could talk about anything and I'd watch it. I would even watch Dancing on Ice if Eilish was the presenter.
As a man of cyclist, I am so glad someone finally addressed my lady problems. Thanks Eilis
⚡ *Often overlooked yet so important!* ⚡
I've been cycling more than 60 years now and the best saddle I have ever had is an old school Brooks b17 leather saddle. Takes a few hundred miles to break in properly, but when you do, it is pure cycling heaven.
Savlon applied after every shower was great for me cycling 75 miles a day from North Spain to Holland
Great show
Hi Eilis, so nice to see you are not only testing ebikes and scooters but also all sorts of things that surround it like picking the right saddle or the importance of bike helmets...maybe someday an item regarding bike locks since so many are stolen each year? Anyway..looking forward to the next video...
Bike locks is a great idea! We’ve been trying to get some good ones together so watch this space 😁
I used to cycle to work everyday but started to get pain after cycling. Had a long break to relieve any bruising. And do a lot of yoga and stretching for pelvic area as that whole area was very tense according to my physio. I have an SMP saddle like the one in this video and it’s my fav saddle. Don’t cycle as much as I used to but I’m building it up again. Rest, Yoga and good saddle combo seems to have sorted me out.
Sounds like a great combo. Yoga and pilates have been a great help for me. Keep up the good work!
Okay I can tell you were buzzed when you shot this content 😊…. Awesome, helpful, funny… adorable
Great video. Been thinking about learning more about where my saddle should be for years but never got round to it. I always feel it in my hips and feet but even the knees have a complaint every now and then. Tempted to go and see these guys. Never changed a saddle ever, I just ride the one that comes with the bike 😮.
You must have a hardy bum or the bikes you've bought have decent saddles 😂 If you cycle often I really would recommend a saddle fitting session. It's such an eye opener!
Totally didn't expect to get informed about bums today :P
You are welcome 😂
😂😂 I do love Eilis.
This was great video, 👍 I had Cancer and I lost a lot wait Inc fat from my bum, which made for a very sore and uncomfortable right, I tried loads of different saddles but could never get the right saddle, in the end, I ended up designing my own saddle and now feels like I'm completely happy and don't hurt my parts, and can ride for hours,I'm 66 and ride an E Bike, I love, so thanks for this video, love your show, good advice always😊
Welcome to the first steps on your saddle-sourcing/ride fit journey! Some people take years to get an acceptable fit. A note: the .883 x inseam saddle height measurement protocol is incredibly approximate (also, you should make it clear that it's from the top of the pedal at the bottom of the pedal stroke to the top of the saddle ). A better rule of thumb is sitting on the bike, measure the angle of your upper and lower legs in relation to one another (at your knee) at the point of the pedal stroke where the crank is in line with the seat tube: it should be 24-26 degrees. To measure that that you need a goniometer (or just two pieces of wood and a clamp, and a protractor) and a helpful friend.
Great info, thank you!
Thumbs up because I was unaware of just about all that. Very valuable advice. Thanks Eilis.
My pleasure!
Couldn't resist this title.. obviously. So how much did Vaughn pay to stare at your nethers for an hour? Luckiest guy in London if you ask me. This is a brilliant really necessary piece of advice for everyone. So giving of you to grasp the bull by the horns and discuss your "difficulty" for the benefit of all. Totally impressed. Not 100% sure of exactly the full range of details, and probably best, but female, frequent riders are reported to complain of desensitization, "down there" over time. This is definitely not a good thing, so hopefully, everything is working as it should for you, if you get what I mean. Please keep up the great work with your vids.
That thumbnail though 😂 This sounds extremely helpful, great video 👏
3:10 An alternative to padded shorts/bibshorts is padded innerwears like the ones from the "Vulpine" Company. Bike fit is always a must once you own a cycle to prevent unnecessary injuries/pain.
Went on the Selle SMP homepage, made an informed decision and got me a Dracon saddle. The first one with a pressure relief channel that works for me and doesn't cause chafing. Also very even pressure distribution over the bum.
I'm impressed, your video helped a lot!
So pleased it’s been helpful! Keep that bum happy 😇
Fascinating video. Glad to hear you sorted out your problem. I suffer from sciatica about 6 months of the and at which times its impossible to ride a bike, but I often wonder if an ill fitted / positioned bike seat aggravates my condition when I am riding the bike !
In the past I would go off on my bike but come back with a BSA. I tried several saddles on my regular bike until I found the gel one which is perfect. Enjoy watching all your videos and not just for info on the ebikes.😉
Well thats brightened up the day
After decades of riding my current bike is a full suspension ebike which has an ergon core saddle, 2.35 tyres. that is as good as it gets. Every saddle that comes with a new bike is worthless and I normally sell it back to the shop at time of purchase of the bike.
Like the “ CycleFit” business model. I am an ex - Pat Londoner living in San Clemente Southern California….. I think it would do really well here! 🤗
You're the best! Love your sense of humor 🤣
😊 thank you
Great video. With saddle height. The only issue with the inseam method, it doesn't factor in the thickness of the saddle and the crank length. So it's probably worth doing both the heal method and the inseam method to make a comparison of both methods and see the difference.
Thanks for the tips!
I’m a huge fan of the Super73 seat!
Thanks exactly what I needed.
Will have to watch again.👌
Firstly, adjusting the saddle is kinda similar to adjusting car seats for driving. Each bike, each saddle, tires, even mood can get me to adjust. The kind of riding will also get me adjusting the saddle. It makes a massively huge difference when you get it right. On long road bike trips I like the saddle raised till I have to extend the foot down a bit, if I'm mountain biking, I may be off the saddle more than on and want it lower than normal. On my mountain bike I frequently will tilt more farther forward. I have ended up preferring a hard saddle over the comfy saddle type, they seem to be comfy for 5-10 miles then start burning or hurting. I also carry a gel pad saddle cover, it can be used to take a break from the hard saddle on short trip days, or even at the end of an extremely long ride. On an electric bike I would imagine a padded saddle might be desirable if your just riding and not peddling. In any event, I like to get up off the saddle and just pedal standing every now and then, I also find varying the angle you sit on the saddle helps, move front and back and side to side, all help on those long trips.
Great comment! Really informative and bolsters the point it all differs depending on what kind of ride you’ve got. Sounds like you’ve nailed it 😎
Hey Eilis...I know where you are coming from. I was a cyclist, want to get back to it once I figure out my knee issue, but in 2001 I cycled across Canada Pacific Ocean to Atlantic, over 10,000km. When I cycle I never ride without using proper cycling shorts, yes lycra ones and definitely commando as underwear will kill you. Interesting you're in the UK and you didn't use the word 'arse' in the title. Wish we had a cycle-fit here, where I live have yet to find a good bicycle shop and good bicycle mechanics particularly ones who know how to true a wheel properly. Really fantastic video that needs to be talked about.
Wow over 10,000km cycle trip?! I am mad impressed.
@@Electroheads Unfortunately the metric cycling computer on one bike the battery died not long before the end so we only had the imperial one on my bike and it was between 6,000-7,000mi. Amazing trip and like an EV all about the journey not the destination. Never mind the spectacular people we met along the way.
Been using the Selle SMP [TRK] saddle for about 9 years now. Yes it is pricey but worth it for me, mainly for comfort then durability. My first SMP lasted 7 years before the leather started to crack. I bought a new one, same model and size to replace it. Cheers!
I'm very pleased to hear this expensive new saddle should last for many years 😊
Never have I ever clicked on an ElectroHeads video faster than I did today. Crikey
I had a shopkeeper upsell me a gel saddle for fairly expensive bike decades ago. it was by far the most uncomfortable thing I have sat on in my life, wasn't cheap either. I went back and asked for the stock saddle to be put back on (too late for a refund on the gel saddle by then) and the stock one felt fine, 100x better than the horrible aftermarket one.
Great video I see so many people out there riding with there saddle nit at the right height hope this helps them the more comfortable you are the more you will hope to see the final bike with new saddle on it.
Oh Eilis I do know what you mean! I bought an e-bike during lockdown as I'm disabled by ME/CFS and had no way to get outside and move in the air.
So it's a sit up type with a beautiful tan padded saddle to match it's handle bar covers and tyre walls. Off I hurtle, barely in control and I'm soon crashing over a pothole I didn't see because I was going so fast, the bike and I kept going together but I felt like the seat post had gone where the sun don't shine, my padded seat was not so well padded after all!
Needless to say I was grounded for a fortnight and in pain for a couple of months. I bought some padded drawers (too cheaply!)...the padding was as hard as a rock so I looked around for a new saddle.
I should have gone back to my bike shop who had offered their seat mapping service but it was too far for me to go in my weakened state.
So I looked online and spent as much as I could afford on a Rydon saddle which is ergonomically designed and flexible, paired it with a bouncy (sprung?ME brain!) seat post but still couldn't get comfy, I kept sliding backwards no matter how I positioned the saddle. Probably down to my lack of core strength and balance combined with weak legs.
In a desperate and impecunious state I turned to Facebook market place. There I found a magnificently sprung saddle with a little padded back to it. Tenner. I can't be sure but I think I had to use the original seat post because the sprung one was the wrong size.
Haven't looked back since...all that discomfort and money and all I needed was a saddle which came off an adult trike!
Glad you got yourself sorted, sounds like a fantastic service, curious as to what sort of money it needed for such an in depth and skillful assessment...if that's not a rude question...?
Thanks for sharing your botty problems with us 😄🥴🤭
Always love to read your comments, Jude! So pleased to hear you finally found a solution, even if it did take you a few tries. The fitting session costs £150, but it really did wonders and I feel so much more informed now than I ever did.
@@Electroheads ah bless you, I probably tell you the same thing every time so if it gets a bit wearing just tell me to shut up!😄
Actually that's really not bad at all, I reckon I spent at least two thirds of that, not to mention the time it took and the fact that it was just random pot luck in the end. I'll tell my chums about this method of getting comfy on their bikes. Cheers m'dear.👍😄
I have leather Brooks (or similar) saddles on my bikes and my tush is the last thing to ache on a long ride.
I got a bike fit after many years of cycling and it was a great help. I recommend them to folks in my cycling club. A bike fit is especially useful for those getting back into cycling.
Cheers
Glad to hear you feel the same! Lots of invaluable, bespoke information you can take away
Great video, I learned a lot.
5:24 that's a nice Hospital Wing
Thx for topic. Yes, it is definitely an issue.
HANDY! Thanks for the info
Another vote up to the advice given, get a proper bike fit. As mentioned it's not just for bums, hips but everything from feet to knees, arms, shoulders, hands and heads. Numbs hands, pins and needles I struggled with for ages before getting a good, proper bike fitter to get me and my bike geometry correct. It's worth it but do find a good one.
Thank you!
Well, it also happened to me 6 months ago. Wow, that hurt! So indeed I played with hight, but for me, a tilt down (the rear that is) helped a lot. Unfortunately, I don’t live anywhere near a bike shop like the one you used, because I think it’s great! As we are a cycling country, most people know the discomfort, and yes, men and women tend to need different solutions much of the time it seems. Anyway, no public transport for me. I love my bike..
It can be really daunting when you first start looking into solutions. Glad to hear you found a fix!
@@Electroheads Yes it sure was! Funny thing was, when I started asking around, MANY people seemed to experience similar problems! I never expected a bit of tilt to make such a difference! Still, if I push it, it's still uncomfortable, so I still want to find one of those bike shops that measure everything. I also have a typically Dutch bike, so I sit upright, which might require a different seat after all...
Oh, yeah, the SMP Saddle is so good. I love mine. Had it for about ten years now, i think. Expensive, but, worth it.
If you know, you know 😎
I find if I haven't cycled for a while it makes no difference what you do, my bum still hurts. Its the muscles getting used to the work. After a week or two check adjustment as you said and it's sorted.
75 miles a day! You are bad ass
Great stuff 👍🏻
You don't know how uncomfortable you are on the bike until after you get properly fit.
Preach 🙏
I’m coming late to the party, but have you had a look into Manta Saddles? The design looks… scary… but it holds the weight in places that won’t hurt, and the saddle moves with the body. I’m not associated with the product (I don’t even own one because it doesn’t fit my height on my current bike)
Learned this the hard way when my prized possession on a bike tour was a tub of savlon!! Go bike touring and camping, it will be fun. Yeah, nothing screams fun like having to sort that out in a tent!!
I do not envy you 😂
Great video, make this a serie! Every video we can discus one of your other body parts.
Got all those T shirts, then moved over to a recumbent, then one stage further to a recumbent tadpole trike - no pain, anywhere, not butt, not wrists, not neck - nothing, pure comfort and even more fun and faster! PS I’m over 60.
Recumbants look so comfy! How do you feel about visibility on the roads with bigger vehicles being so low down? Would love to hear more
@@Electroheads I endeavour to avoid interacting with traffic wherever possible and mostly succeed. Visibility I hope will help it takes the form of a bright yellow trike, a hi viz cycle jacket, several daylight grade rear lights and it sports a flag flapping about at eye level.
So, my Lidl inflatable saddle may not be as suitable as I thought? I swapped out the 'uncomfortable' one that came on my Btwin st520 but maybe it was just needing a proper setting up?
Quite common to have one leg longer than the other. My left is a centimetre and a bit longer than the right one.
Hey twinny!! 👋
1cm difference between leg length normal, I had a 2cm difference from when I sprained my ankle as a kid and that gave me lower back problems. The way they found out is when I had a car accident and my shoulder wouldn't heal after suffering from whiplash. After getting special footbeds to also raise my arch and raise one leg up 1cm sorted myself out completely. No longer am I the leaning tower of Pisa, and I do share this with everyone who mentions back problems or neck problems, it could be down to your feet!
Great video and thanks for sharing your discoveries. My bum hurt like mad, who designs these saddles? Those arrow-looking ones that are hard as nails? I've been searching for a new softer one. Would you recommend one with springs? Would a suspension bar be ok? I'm looking to do an E-bike conversion and travelling 32 miles a day to work and back, and need a good saddle, what would you suggest?
Bit confused the inseam x 0.88 , what does that apply to, the stance between the saddle bottom and what?
It's the distance from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the saddle. It's called the LeMond method if you want to look it up.
I've started to like my super73 s2 seat must of worn it in because the first 3 months with it was hell
Ooh! Suit you sir! (Couldn’t resist… sorry!)
Hi guys can you do some reviews of Ribble electric bikes? They have a wide range but there’s hardly any info on them on yt! Thanks 😊
I use gel cycle shorts and got fitted at a specialised cycle fit shop
I'm getting more confused of which saddle fits me, not because of this video, but how my bum has reacted to them. The saddle that came with bike I at first found unbearable, switch to a padded one. That worked great for a while until not feeling so good anymore. Now I'm back on the old hard one and it now feels great. Go figure 🤷♂
It really is a journey, isn't it?!
it's normal
You are a hilarious and great presenter 😂
Aww thank you!
If you are not a bike racer, but want a universally no-problem saddle? Look at "noseless" saddles, long proven to remove pressure on the perenium. Better yet, dump the saddle altogether and get a recumbent bike with a SEAT.
Shaped but unpadded saddles...but padded shorts. That's just moved where the padding resides, and made you buy two items, each more expensive than what you bought before that was all-in-one. Excellent marketing! Proper saddle adjustment is perfectly adequate for the typical commuter, even with simple padded saddles.
Bike fitting is great for professional riders, and not a bad idea for anyone that can afford it. The thing is, as you learned, it is more about teaching you about yourself, and teaching you how to ride a bike, than it is about the actual "fitting" - meaning the fitting itself is...not as important as they want it to seem. Again, great marketing...making something needed by the pros into a marketable (and not necessarily bad) product for the masses. I think the problem is having grown up not riding bikes, nor around a "bike culture" (whatever that actually is). I mean, ask the average resident of Copenhagen when they last got fitted for a bike.
We are asymmetric, but there is ONE calculation (to 3 decimal places) for all inseam calculations (this reminded me of the computer from Hitchhiker's Guide that would "work out your personality problems to ten decimal places")? Sorry, but that calculation is still just a STARTING point, that sure seems like a high degree of precision. The quick method you described is all 99.99% of the population need, then make small adjustments until you get it right. It will take a little time, but it needs to fit YOU, not some theoretical "average."
Good advice! 😂
Surprised that no one mentioned dropping a plum line from the patella down through the pedal when your foot is at the three o’clock position…. This was a thing in adjusting fore/aft positioning for optimum padal stroke… and best for your knees… just wondering….. haven’t revisited this in ages….
It's because it really doesn't matter on an ebike as the motor is doing the work, so it's all about finding the most comfortable seating position.
@@Electroheads Keep the videos coming, I love 'em.... Hmmm... 🤔 .... Well as I said, its been decades, and I was curious, and went back to bike fitting... The Knee 0ver Pedal System (KOPS) has been debunked.... it was popular back then, but now fitting is more focused on achieving a biometric balance so you are - simply - not putting too much pressure on the handlebars. Something bikes excel at....👍
Hey Eilish, I'd love to know more about your hip injury. I have one of my own, and I'm wondering about how you finally got diagnosed? An osteopath I've recently seen has diagnosed me with a labral tear, but he says it's healing ... but there are still pains in the front of the pevis....!
I'm so sorry to hear you've had hip problems! It can be really isolating and frustrating. Because I got my injury during lockdown and was relying on the NHS to help, it took me 2 years to get through the system, plus a lot of badgering to get an MRI scan and be diagnosed with a labral tear. Labral tears can heal on their own and you can get back to normal movement, but unfortunately mine wasn't healing. I did years of physio to get to the point where I qualified for an MRI (after being rejected twice). I don't know how long you've had your injury for, but I'd say if physio isn't helping it's okay to push for an MRI and seek further help. I finally got key hole surgery last year which has helped a lot, but the pain and discomfort is still there. Really hope you get better soon!
@@Electroheads thank you so much for your generous reply, and wow that does sound hugely frustrating and isolating. I got my tear through trying to do a pistol squat without any progression training! I was fooling around after a successful bouldering session and after trying it (and almost succeeding) I then had three separate attempts at a dynamic move (jumping for a hand hold) missing it each time and landing on the crash pad. So possibly a combination. That was end of January this year. The hip was sore but I could do most normal activities but went to see my GP about a possible hernia, and he looked at the hip and said “you’re good to climb, but no bouldering” so I went climbing the next day and....big mistake! Osteopath says it’s healing quite nicely and I’ve managed a gentle climb with no ill effects on Friday so hopefully if I’m careful, I can continue with sensible activity.
@@Electroheads Hope this might help: I had a elbow injury from throwing a frisbee(yup I know), really wound up to set a new max distance and then at full extension it went pop/snap! immediate pain, then after a few days only pain if I moved it certain ways. I never got a completely accurate MRI on it. After 4 years of carefully not using the elbow(in any way that hurt), it eventually and slowly recovered. I studied these kinds of injuries for a while to see if I could figure it out. In the end I am guessing a tendon/ligament tore away from the bone. Those things apparently heal by attaching little hooks onto the bone one at a time, So I am guessing that any further pain caused it to re-tear those little hooks again. So I figured I had to wait till enough hooks got re-attached before I could use it properly again. Anyway, the point is that pain may be an indicator of re-injuring, or preventing it to heal properly.
Was that monkey bike thing you rode in an earlier video (with your best friend on the back) comfy? It looked a bit like a Raleigh Chopper bike.
Soooooo comfortable. Couldn’t recommend highly enough
Sawriarsetis, syndrome can be a bummer♥️🙏😲
I like this lady
Why are there no Suspension on those bikes?
This year I got back into cycling (well very casual riding) and went for the Gocycle G4i, based a fair bit on your coverage, and the saddle comfort being quite important. I stopped cycling around 2019 with knee problems which I put down to a badly adjusted bike and age (let's say 30 feels like a very long time ago). I'd be interested in something like a proper fitting, but are there other places around the country that do what Cyclefit do? Is there any "acredited" type place to look out for, so you know you're not being taken for a ride? 😁
I'm sure there are! Best thing to do is have a search in your area and give them a grilling when you give them a call. If they're legit they'll be happy to answer all your questions
Don't worry Eilis, you'll get enough people volunteering to rub it better :)
What did she do with her behind? I why the pain?
Like I tell all the ladies. It might hurt a bit at first but your bum get used to it and soon you’ll love the ride.
Something I learned recently: cycling with the wrong setup can cause urethritis in men. From a friend ;)
Great video sore subject ❤
Thanks for the video. That bike fit facility looks pretty cool. I need a proper fit. My hands go numb at times. ☹️
Using your string trick to measure the fore and aft placement of the saddle, is the front of the saddle supposed to line up with the centre of the bottom bracket?
Hey Shane! With measuring the fore/aft you want to see how forwards/backwards the saddle is with the measurement I showed you and you can use that as a starting point. If you know that placement isn't working for you, that is your guide for how far forwards and backwards you want to move it. You then need to play around with . Another sub Zygmut gives this really helpful bit of advice which you can try:
A better rule of thumb is sitting on the bike, measure the angle of your upper and lower legs in relation to one another (at your knee) at the point of the pedal stroke where the crank is in line with the seat tube: it should be 24-26 degrees. To measure that that you need a goniometer (or just two pieces of wood and a clamp, and a protractor) and a helpful friend.
Hope that helps!
This is what hurts the most for me too. It stops me going further than an hours cycle. Is this because women don’t get as much attention in the saddle area as much as men? I have a Selle and it’s ok but after a while my butt hurts. Lady bits ok though.
Oh no! That shouldn't be the case. Definitely see if adjusting the saddle helps
How much did cycle fit charge?
£150!
Unisex Cloud Nine brand seat
next episode title: "My balls flattened after a road bump"
😂
recumbent riders call conventional bikes "ass-hatchets" ... not entirely undeservedly. I love all bikes, but for butt comfort... recumbents, recumbents, recumbents... otoh, you're on a recumbent (all kinds of tradeoffs.)
I don't quite see the tradeoffs other than price. And no thanks to the UCI for banning recumbents from bike races, that's probably a significant reason, why they're not in widespread use today.
I like Eilis!
Eilish, I want to work with the team ! I am a crippled idealist & strategist, based near the Arsenal. Because I am a nice guy!
If you need a massage...please just ask!!!
So what I'm hearing here is that unless you want to do sporty cycling, you're better off with a comfy upright oma fiets.
Bootys + RIGHT Saddles = Extra Super Long Painless Rides…
Fat-bottomed girls make the rockin' world go round 🎸
you crack me up
That's a bummer...
Eyyyyy
What did you mean "you can't wear pants!" would that not make it worse?
No pants minimises friction!
Talk about commitment!
Cheeky item 😅
It’s even harder for males, and specifically on motorbikes in the heat, the other bits get fried 😮
Suspension
Ergonomics
Cooling mesh cover
Gel
Memory foam
Every damn machine 😂
😂
M48, I would have been embarrassed back in the day to discuss my term, "numb bum" etc... I recently stumbled across a fellow Aussie talking about this stuff. A bike-fit physio (I think?) Road Cycling Academy ... ruclips.net/video/HT_B6BCJFNE/видео.html
Charge Spoon. Fit and forget. About £25
Buns on bikes 🫡
Finding an appropriate seat for my bony ass was mission impossible, gave up cycling
It can be done!! Don’t give up 🙏🏼
Good advice for all of us common folk who can't have better solutions, but that's not you, Eilis. You are a talent wasted on e-bike material, and you should have picked up a movie or a TV series by now. Heck, you could even be a singer (just not an Elvis impersonator) with that voice. Then you could swap out your bike for a Porsche Taycan, which doesn't trouble your derriere. Or you could just marry someone who already owns one, just be sure he doesn't trouble your derriere, lol. Some sick men out there, these days.
And for those who hurt on a saddle; just stand up more often and think of what else you can do with nearly 200 quid.
Why thank you 😂
The in-reaction clips as you call them really get on my nerves.
you are sitting bend forward, maybe if you had a dutch bike, sitting more upright you would have less of a problem
Hi