Ouch! I need to make my bike seat more comfortable. How?

Question

I've started mountain biking recently and need some tips from fellow female mountain bikers on how to soften that seat, please

Answer 1

Here are a couple of general pointers to avoiding saddle pain. First, you need some good cycling shorts with a good chamois. The chamois will provide a bit of cushioning to prevent bruising. The tight fit of cycling shorts and a smooth chamois will help avoid chaffing. Secondly, make sure you are changing your position around a lot as you ride. Slide forward and back and ride off the saddle every few minutes. Also, stand when going over rough spots on the trail. By varying your position, you keep the pressure on any one area minimized.

Beyond this, there are a bunch of reasons a saddle may hurt. Determining the reason will help you get the best solution.

Are you chaffed or getting saddle sores? Using Assos Chamois Cream or Chamois Butt'r will reduce friction and sooth irritation. Assos stuff is medicated and is particularly good for helping to heal saddle sores. (Remember also, cycling shorts are always worn commando style. Undies do nothing but get bunched up and add to friction.)

Are your bruised? If so, hopefully one of these ideas will help you out.

First possibility - You need to toughen up your bottom. If you haven't been on a bike in a while, it will be uncomfortable until your bottom toughens up. If you have been riding several times and seat still hurts, though, this probably isn't the issue.

Second possibility - Your saddle isn't correctly positioned. Your saddle needs to be pretty close to level. If it is tipped forward, you'll feel as if you are slipping off the seat and it'll force your weight onto your hands and arms. The saddle will beat you up where the back end of the saddle makes contact with your body. If is is tipped too far back, it'll chew you up where the tip of the saddle makes contact.

Third possibility - Your current saddle doesn't fit your bottom. Everyone's anatomy is different and you need a saddle that fits your body. Some folks have a wide pelvic structure, other folks have a narrow structure. If you have a narrow saddle and your pelvic bones are widely spaced, it will be very uncomfortable. Specialized, for example, has created a sizing system and saddles of varied widths. I've found their saddles to be quite comfortable. Otherwise, you may want to check out saddles by Terry, Fizzick, Selle, etc. Many bike stores will mount a saddle on one of their test bikes and let you go for a ride to see how it feels. Before dropping lots of money it helps to take a ride.

Hope this helps. There is really nothing more miserable than a sore bottom, but it can be avoided.

Answer 2

Comfortable Bike Seat

Answer 3

It sounds like you may have fallen into the trap of getting too cushy of a saddle. The saddle only really needs to be wide enough to allow for your sit bones to get onto it. Any additional width leads to chafing. Go to a local bike shop, and get a women's specific (this is important - women have wider hip bones) saddle, preferably slightly smaller than you'd think is comfortable, with a guarantee either from the shop or the company that you can take it back if its not comfortable. Another major component in increasing comfort is bike shorts. They do make more modest versions that aren't skin tight if thats an issue, and regular shorts can easily be found for $40 or less. They make a huge difference in comfort on the bike. The first 10 or so rides of the season will probably bother you, but it should rapidly get better if your saddle fits well, and are wearing cycling shorts.

Answer 4

Well, usually on the first rides your behind will be sore, but if you're not talking that you had your first ride in years yesterday, but had some rides, there are some things you could try.

You could try setting up the saddle to the proper height and make sure that the saddle is leveled. Using bike shorts might help, but personally I don't like them much, but some people swear by them. When you're going downhill, do you stand up or stay seated down?

You might try different saddles. Contrary to other opinions, gel covers worsen it up, they really don't help with the problem. Well, since the gel is so soft, it tends to get between, the... er.. well, there, and doesn't help.

Usually a women saddle is wider (women have their sit bones further appart than us men) and probably shorter, but it just depends on the anatomy of each person. On some bike shops they have what might be called 'butt measurement device', which is not an old guy oggling the ladies, but it's like a cushion where you sit and when you stand up your sit bones leave two marks which could lead to help choose a proper saddle width.

Even with that, it might take some time to choose a propper saddle, but it might be worth it.

Answer 5

There isn't much you can actually do to a bike seat. If you just started you may simply need to become used to it. If you have a few 100 miles on it and it still hurts, try padded bike shorts. Don't use gel covers if your mountain biking, they are lousey and you don't want it sliding around on you when riding trails.

Look for a new saddle if you really don't like yours. Most cyclist that really ride a lot hardly every use the saddle that comes on a bike. Look for woman specific saddles, they may be what you're looking for.

Answer 6

I'm going to assume that you are already wearing bike shorts. If not...get osme. Big difference.

Regarding the seat, you have two options. First, you can buy a gel seat cover that will just stretch over your existing saddle. This will add a layer of gel to the seat and add cushions. Second, you can just go to a shope and buy a new seat. A shop will have a number of models to try and see which fits your bottom the best.

Answer 7

Hunt out a woman's specific cycle seat: generally a little wider to better suit the female anatomy. Something like the WTB She.

Answer 8

Many saddle manufacturers have models specifically designed for women. They finally realized that women are not just small men! Terry is a brand that you should consider. They have been making women's cycling equipment for a long time.

Answer 9

I took a seat off a exerciser bike, there very wide and big, put it on my bike works nice.

Answer 10

ride on a bare seat post