saddle sore

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2009-09-20 1:51 PM

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Gilbert, Arizona
Subject: saddle sore
Yesterday I participated in a 64 mile ride.  It was longer than any other ride I had done to date (by 28 miles) but wasn't outside of my conditioning level.  The last 20 miles my butt hurt so bad that I could barely ride sitting down, so I spent allot of the time out of the saddle.  Is this something that will go away with more longer distance riding?  Or Is it a fact of life for someone over 200 pounds.  I don't have a super cushy seat, but I was wearing what I thought was well padded shorts.  Could this be a function of my bike not being set up correctly?  It is very disheartening to be this uncomfortable while riding.

2009-09-20 2:35 PM
in reply to: #2416214

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Subject: RE: saddle sore
Rocknfire - Is this something that will go away with more longer distance riding? ... Or Is it a fact of life for someone over 200 pounds? ... Could this be a function of my bike not being set up correctly?


Sorry to be of only minimal help, but my answers to these questions is "maybe", "probably not", and "perhaps".

It would probably help if you described the nature of the pain a bit more.  Was it a friction burn type of pain, was it bruising caused by impact, etc.  The more info on the type of pain the easier it would be to give advice.
2009-09-20 3:47 PM
in reply to: #2416214

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Subject: RE: saddle sore
When I think saddle sore, I am thinking of the boil you get in that region.  It is caused by old shorts or not cleaning up soon afterwards.

If you are just talking about your bum being sore, it will go away as you ride more.
I have found that for me, and I weigh around 200, the less padding on the shorts and the saddle, the better. 
2009-09-20 3:54 PM
in reply to: #2416248

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Subject: RE: saddle sore

mrcurtain - 2009-09-20 12:35 PM
Rocknfire - Is this something that will go away with more longer distance riding? ... Or Is it a fact of life for someone over 200 pounds? ... Could this be a function of my bike not being set up correctly?


Sorry to be of only minimal help, but my answers to these questions is "maybe", "probably not", and "perhaps".

It would probably help if you described the nature of the pain a bit more.  Was it a friction burn type of pain, was it bruising caused by impact, etc.  The more info on the type of pain the easier it would be to give advice.

x2

But, somehting to ponder. Extra padding on a saddle usually causes more pain in the long run than a firmer one. Your body will adapt to more time in the saddle as long as you have a comfortably shaped saddle and shorts.



Edited by Broompatrol 2009-09-20 3:55 PM
2009-09-20 3:59 PM
in reply to: #2416214

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Subject: RE: saddle sore
the more time you spend in the saddle, the tougher your bum will become.
2009-09-20 4:25 PM
in reply to: #2416214

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Subject: RE: saddle sore
Rocknfire - 2009-09-20 12:51 PM
Yesterday I participated in a 64 mile ride.  It was longer than any other ride I had done to date (by 28 miles) but wasn't outside of my conditioning level.  The last 20 miles my butt hurt so bad that I could barely ride sitting down, so I spent allot of the time out of the saddle.  Is this something that will go away with more longer distance riding? 

Short answer: It goes away as your body adapts.

Per your numbers, the 64 miles was 78% longer than any ride you've done. Part of cycling "conditioning" is your body's ability to handle time on the bike. The pain you describe, neck pain, etc, is the normal response of your body to time/distances beyond what its conditioned for.

In my bike training I've very slowly ramped up my mileage over 2.5 years from 20 mile rides to now where pretty much every ride I do is 50+ miles. I can remember when I had rear-end pain at about mile 15. Now I can ride 120 miles without any pain.

2009-09-20 4:30 PM
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Subject: RE: saddle sore
Weight could be a minor cause as there is more skin to be in the way. Not an expert, but I only say this because last summer I didn't get any, but I got sorta a raw red area last week between leg and bum on the same distance ride as last summer (about 40miles) and I weigh maybe 20lbs more then the last time I did that ride.
2009-09-20 8:06 PM
in reply to: #2416214

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Gilbert, Arizona
Subject: RE: saddle sore
Thanks for the ideas. The soreness is from sitting and the area becoming tender, not from being unsanitary as was described above. I was thinking more along the lines of saddle sore from when you first ride a horse and the saddle makes you sore. I guess I just need to keep at the longer distance and toughen up.
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