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Ok so im starting to up my ride mileage (mtb) from about 10-15 to about 25-30. This is causing me to have a sore ass!
With a view that im hoping to do the c2c next year im wanting to make sure i can cope with serveral long rides at at time. Well not long but hours in the saddle.
Im a recent bib convert having got some of the Adidas ones from halfords cheap. But im wondering if either a new set of bibs or a new saddle (SDG bel air atm) is the way to go? or if it will just sort it out the more miles i put in?
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
More you do,the easier it will get. The first 6 weeks are usually the worst.
1) Get more than one pair of bibs and wash them regularly - wear baggy cacks and let yourself...dry out.
2) Learn about chamois cream
3) Ride more 🙂
Chamois cream, and if doing long pedally mileage don't bother with baggies. There's always a seam of some sort to chafe.... not so with just bibs.
Oh, and tan your perineum to the consistency of leather.
Agree with Scapegoat, lose the baggies to begin with but also accept some discomfort for a month or so whilst your ass gets used to it.
ive seen this chamios cream mentioned but was unsure if its a sick joke
Don't discount that the saddle that you thought comfy for previous rides might not be as comfortable on longer ones. i was all over Charge Spoons since they were launched, but then last year after upping hours with a view to doing a 12hr solo, found that after six or seven hours they weren't supporting me in the right places.
Try borrowing a few others and see if any suit you better. A lot of shops have try policies, or borrow some from mates. In the end I went to Spesh and sat on an arsometer, before settling on a body geometry one for fat arsed individuals (sorry, wider sit bones) which has been good ever since.
Saddles are funny ... a nice hard saddle is usually better on the bum than some gel filled comfy thing.
Gotta get your sit bones supported.
I found my fizik tundra 2 carbon braided bike porn saddle wasn't exactly the greatest thing to sit on initially but after a bit of use /perseverence I found it amazingly comfortable.
When I was a bike virgin I also found udderly smooth to be a lifesaver 🙂
What kind of sore? Chaffing and rubbing in which case shorts, saddle and creme.
If it bruised and battered then it'll get easier with time (and a decent saddle).
just feels a bit rubbed.
Padded pants on MTB saddles (Charge Spoons) or proper padded Lycra shorts with Brooks saddle. I have v little bottom, so used to have this "issue". Now do a lot more miles, did Charlie's 100 mile Gravel Dash earlier in the year, Spoon, Specialized padded pants and light weight Fox baggies, no bottie problems
Also every now and again moist loo paper.......
+1 for the correct saddle size; your bum bones need to be well supported; if you have a wide oelvis and a narrow saddle you will get trouble. A hard saddle does not squash your perineum and allows better blood flow on long rides = less pain.
If you can't bring yourself to buy chamois cream then sudocream for nappy rash works just as well. Just warn whoever does the laundry why your shorts are covered in white gunk.
Or any kind of cream stuff, knock off Vaseline from the pound shop if your really tight.
You ass only hurts though cos your legs aren't strong enough, pedal harder and they'll be less weight on it.
I'm not finding baggies a particular problem regardless of length of ride. Had a SDG bel air for a number of years (until it finally fell apart) and found it very comfy, but then saddles are very personal. I do use chamois cream if im on a particularly long ride or if ive been riding a lot over several days
Ass = hoofed mamal
Arse = bum
Hope that helps,
APF
As above Bibs under baggies (if you're a shy type)
also it maybe the saddle, I'm not fussy on saddles at all, but a bike I have at the moment came with the worst I have ever come across, couldn't sit down without going 'oooffff' for a few day after just one lap of Cafell 😯
If you're current saddle isn't quite supporting you:
[url= http://www.physioroom.com/product/G_Form_Saddle_Gel_Kit/3328/39275.html ]G-form saddle gel kit[/url]
You can place the pads in exactly where you're site bones are and gives more support.
If you are riding lots, then your body will naturally get extra used to the pressure points.
BUT if like me you don't get much of a chance to be out regularly, when you do go for long rides the G-from pads really help.
To get where you need to put them, put some cardboard on your saddle, and see where your sit bones crush it.
Scar
yea padded shorts are ok so far. I think i need to find some better ones though. The madison shorts are very very comfy but the pad has gone really thin after 6 months. The asus ones are good but very tight for my fat legs. the adidas bibs are super comfy but i think the pad moves too much...
im just looking to stop it before it gets much worse (the next day is not nice)
alexpalacefan - MemberAss = hoofed mamal
Arse = bum
Hope that helps,
APF
Cough.
you wanna take something for that cough it sounds nasty
So im still at a loss with this. Im looking at swapping out my saddle. Currently got a bel air which is ok up to about 3 hours. After which its pain.
i used to have a stella italia but that was like riding a board. The fizik gobi xm was ok on my boardman but i never really went over 4.5 hours on it.
So im thinking charge scoop or fizik gobi. I cant really try before i buy so any thoughts gratefully appreciated.
Applied it to the shorts padding, also to the area affected when riding distaces. Much more comfy, bonus is if caught in rain it still works.
its on the shopping list
As above Bibs under baggies (if you're a shy type)
Don't be shy, just lose the baggy shorts and swap them for a baggy jumper - then you'll be totally on trend