New biker with a question

[Jaybmw]

So new biker after been a child cyclist say. But now I'm 30 years young and the bike to work thing was to tempting so I'm buying a new bike. In preparation of said bike I've been using my brothers bike and I have 1 little question, when does it stop hurting my arse 3 days on it now and I can barely sit on the bike. I know it's only not used to it. The bike has a comfort cover thing on it it must be torture on its original lol.

[Dr Murdoch]

Invest in padded shorts (assuming you haven't)
Your rear will get used to it to some extent, but padded shorts are a must

[Paraicj]

The "comfort cover" could be making it worse. If it fits badly it'll slide around as you cycle, meaning you don't settle into a position. Also, padded shorts if you're going more than a few km definitely.

[Gren]

Yep. Padded shorts. Far better than padded saddles as the cushioning is always on the right part of your arse.

Get some, you'll not regret it.

If you want to spend some more. Get a decent saddle, fitted to your shape

[anonymous-user]

A saddle that fits on a bike that fits and decent shorts and there should be no pain

It will never be like lying on the sofa watching telly, but it shouldn't be painful to sit on the bike for a few hours

[Fluffsri]

Ride it for 3 to 4 days and then rest your arse for 3 to 4 days. A pair of padded shorts and lose the gel pad as they create heat and make matters worse. after your rest period pop back on the bike and hopefully the bruising will have passed and your arse will settle down. The more you ride the better it will get.

I should add, the ride and rest works for me if Ive been off the bike for a while.

[NatAsp]

For me it took 2 weeks for the pain to subside. No pain whatsoever after the "bedding in" period was complete, had nothing to do with the specific saddle. Didn't buy padded shorts for months.

[idiotgap]

Excess padding is a bad thing.

In comfortable cycling, your weight is borne by your sit bones


True, it will take a little time for your bottom to get used to the sensation and toughen up, (see rule 5 in the rules sticky near the top of pedal powered list here https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&...

but you have too much cushioning between you and the saddle, your weight will be spread out and not focused on the sit bones. Put too much weight on the more delicate anatomical bits down there between the bones and you can understand where the problems start!

If you want to read more about saddles and how to find one that is more comfortable for you, I recommend reading this: https://www.cervelo.com/en/engineering-field-notes...

Don't buy a particular saddle because someone tells you it's comfy, it has to fit you nicely rather than them.

Edited by idiotgap on Thursday 28th September 15:34

[Dannbodge]

Firstly get some padded short
Secondly, pop down to your LBS and get a sit bone measurement done.

Changing my saddle to the correct width one made my bike made a massive difference.

[straight dad]

Never, just different levels of discomfort.

[hilly10]

Don’t buy cheap padded shorts do some homework, Asos or Santini not cheap but very good

[HoHoHo]

hilly10 said:

Don’t buy cheap padded shorts do some homework, Asos or Santini not cheap but very good

Absolutely

I invested in decent kit and haven’t had a moment of pain.

40 or miles on either my road or MTB and it’s like floating on air (and you should see my saddles - they look like they could split a bum in two just on sight!)

[Magic919]

hilly10 said:

Don’t buy cheap padded shorts do some homework, Assos or Santini not cheap but very good

Some cheap Santini shorts. https://www.prendas.co.uk/collections/santini-magl...

[idiotgap]

I find the planetx ones decent enough. RRP £50 ish, but often available for £20 or so.
Some at £13 right now https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLPXCMBS/planet-x-cl...

[okgo]

Get the right saddle and short choice is largely irrelevant (within reason).

[HoHoHo]

hilly10 said:

Don’t buy cheap padded shorts do some homework, Asos or Santini not cheap but very good

Absolutely

I invested in decent kit and haven’t had a moment of pain.

40 or miles on either my road or MTB and it’s like floating on air (and you should see my saddles - they look like they could split a bum in two just on sight!)

[Chrisgr31]

I have cheap shorts but have never suffered from a sore ass on the bike, even doing 100 miles on Sunday. Have wrecked by hands before lol