I think I need a new saddle!! Ouch!

I think I need a new saddle!! Ouch!

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zed4

Original Poster:

7,248 posts

221 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Hi everyone,

I've not ventured in here before so I thought I'd come and say hi byebye

Now, I've just started riding to work, I love the ride in, but the ride home is pretty hard work after a long day at work! I'm sure it will get easier as I get fitter. Luckily I live 6.6 miles from work, so it's not a huge ride and it takes me around 30 minutes - I'm a relaxed cyclist. I prefer to watch the wildlife and take in the views than set a world record! The roads to work (through the New Forest) are quiet country lanes off the beaten track, so I rarely see any cars on the road.

I'm currently riding a 2012 Cannondale Trail SL 1...



...which I find great. It's a bit of a work up on the steep hills but I like it. I often venture out into the forest on the gravel tracks, so a road bike wouldn't suit. My only issue is with the saddle! It's so hard and I'm now finding it impossible to sit down when cycling after having cycled to work the last few days.

So any recommendations for a replacement? What should I be looking for? Do I just buy a nice soft one, or is there more to it than that? I'm sure the saddle I had on my Cannondale Carbon Rush wasn't this uncomfortable! Or maybe it's because it was a full suspension...

I'd be grateful for any help, advice or recommendations.

Dan

GarryDK

5,670 posts

157 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Man the fk up. The more you ride your arse will harden up. Either that or padded shorts.

ewenm

28,506 posts

244 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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As above, padded shorts and MTFU!

zed4

Original Poster:

7,248 posts

221 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Perhaps you could explain why one would opt for padded shorts over a softer saddle? Advantages to either?

Silver940

3,961 posts

226 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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The way saddles are designed expects you to be wearing padded shorts. Don't worry you don't have to go full lycra. When on the MTB I wear mine under other shorts.

I've found the DHB Aeron shorts from Wiggle to be good value, work for both road bike and under other shorts on the MTB.

Once you get used to them you won't look back.

Oh and you don't wear pants under them wink All about the seams..

GarryDK

5,670 posts

157 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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A padded saddle would look st basically lol, and padded shorts would be alot cheaper!

Silver940

3,961 posts

226 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Which bit of the Forest do you ride through BTW?

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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zed4 said:
Perhaps you could explain why one would opt for padded shorts over a softer saddle? Advantages to either?
It's just kind of how it is. One factor, I suppose, is that a soft saddle will encourage you to wear underwear and shorts, with lots of folds, seams and very little wicking properties. Hot, damp and uncomfortable. A good pair of padded shorts or bibs are truly like having your gusset transported on the backs of angels (well, not quite, but you get what I mean).

TBH, judging by what you say about how long you've been riding I would say that your sit bones are probably quite close to the point at which they will stop hurting even without padding.

Fotic

719 posts

128 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Greg66 said:
zed4 said:
Perhaps you could explain why one would opt for padded shorts over a softer saddle? Advantages to either?
It's just kind of how it is.
I think it's a little more complicated than that.

My understanding is that if you make a saddle soft and comfy, then its size increases and causes chafing and other issues. Also, a soft saddle doesn't wear in as such - it more wears out.

zed4

Original Poster:

7,248 posts

221 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies everyone. What you've said is very interesting and makes perfect sense. I'll invest in some shorts.

PS. Strictly speaking my cycle to work isn't through the national part itself, I live in New Milton and work in Lymington, so I cycle the country lanes through Ashley, Hordle, Everton and then into Lymington. The only busy section is near Pennington where the schools are.

I spend a lot of time on Google Maps trying to find quiet, quaint little lanes like this:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.749986,-1.587283...

and

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.751452,-1.609674...

and

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.758077,-1.627988...

Edited by zed4 on Tuesday 22 July 17:04

CoolC

4,213 posts

213 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Also might be worth popping into you LBS to get your arse measured (if they have a measuring device of course)

Getting the correct width saddle for your sit bones does make a very nice difference to comfort levels.

But as already stated, padded shorts really are a wonderful thing biggrin

scubadude

2,618 posts

196 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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zed4 said:
I often venture out into the forest on the gravel tracks, so a road bike wouldn't suit.
Shorts as recommended above and with regards your road commute, if you want to increase the speed and reduce tyre drag without getting another bike- you could pick up a cheap set of wheels and whack some smooth road tyres on.

Also quieter to you'll see more bunnies and other assorted wildlife :-)

TheLemming

4,319 posts

264 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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The day I discovered padded shorts was a happy day :-)

Endura do some excellent padded liner shorts, they also click into endura MTB shorts but they are fine with anything.

The answer to all questions is a CX bike - in this case its also padded shorts :-)

Seriously I wouldn't even think of riding without them these days, on road or offroad..

Gizmoish

18,150 posts

208 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Feels odd when I ride a Boris bike without padded shorts now hehe

AC43

11,435 posts

207 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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zed4 said:
Perhaps you could explain why one would opt for padded shorts over a softer saddle? Advantages to either?
Just get a padded saddle for £15 or so. Then you can wear whatever you want. I wear boxers and shorts for my 10 mile each way commute. On evenings and weeks if I'm off down the shops or whatever I'll jet wear what I'm wearing.

Whenever I buy a new pair of shorts the first thing I do is ditch the nappy liner thing.


AC43

11,435 posts

207 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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And while you're at it get a set or Ergon grips - they make the bars über-comfortable too.

Dammit

3,790 posts

207 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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What sort of pressure do you have in the tyres?

Dracoro

8,661 posts

244 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Also, many saddles are adjustable - so you move it forwards/back/tilt. This could make all the difference, along with padded shorts of course.

matt-ITR

892 posts

188 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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Probably just a case of getting used to the saddle you have.
30 minutes should be fine without padded shorts - but just like fitness, it takes time to get comfortable.

AC43

11,435 posts

207 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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matt-ITR said:
Probably just a case of getting used to the saddle you have.
30 minutes should be fine without padded shorts - but just like fitness, it takes time to get comfortable.
That one looks like the one I got with my Cobia. Like the pedals a grips a bit cheap and for me not very comfortable after a couple of miles. I swapped over the £15 Body Fit saddle I had on my old bike and, personally, much prefer it.

As far as seams and so on go I wear Endura MTB shorts so not seams to worry about.

Buying padded shorts to counteract the effect of hard saddles seems contradictory to me when you can sort the problem by fitting a more comfortable saddle.

Anyway, each to their own and all that.