Slight One-sided Discomfort in the Saddle
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Slight One-sided Discomfort in the Saddle
I have long (always?) had a minor issue with my left sit bone/interface being slightly uncomfortable: whether it be a subtle extraneous pressure or that things feel ‘pinched’ over there. My left leg is dominate.
With many different frames, saddles, saddle heights, top tube lengths, and stem lengths over the years: It has always remained a minor annoyance: this slight feeling of discomfort where the left/dominate leg interfaces with the saddle when everything else feels perfect … It has never caused major problems and has never ruined a ride, though I am suddenly curious after a random binge of bicycle fit videos on YouTube if this silly problem of mine might have an obvious solution that everyone else knows about… Especially those over here.
If any of you educated folks have some thoughts on this relatively silly problem, I’d love to absorb them
Edit: I should add, I use platform pedals; I've never ridden with cleats/clipless.
With many different frames, saddles, saddle heights, top tube lengths, and stem lengths over the years: It has always remained a minor annoyance: this slight feeling of discomfort where the left/dominate leg interfaces with the saddle when everything else feels perfect … It has never caused major problems and has never ruined a ride, though I am suddenly curious after a random binge of bicycle fit videos on YouTube if this silly problem of mine might have an obvious solution that everyone else knows about… Especially those over here.
If any of you educated folks have some thoughts on this relatively silly problem, I’d love to absorb them
Edit: I should add, I use platform pedals; I've never ridden with cleats/clipless.
Last edited by ethet; 03-23-21 at 06:06 PM. Reason: An additional detail
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I was also going to say too high, with the pain on the short leg side. But also you might want to try turning the saddle a bit sideways. . . If I had to guess I would suggest the tip towards the side that hurts for a first try.
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Perhaps that is part of my problem: I really don't like the sensation when my saddle is too low. I really, really don't like it... It causes knee pain and I feel like I can never get on 'top' of the stroke and it so uncomfortable for me that I am biased towards raising the saddle. Though my saddle is not too high, it really isn't. I have adjusted it when on a trainer and even biased it 5mm lower than 'suggested' by convention. The thing is: the fit feels good, it's great: I ride more than 80km every day and can't complain.
Honestly, everything is fine. I do have slight discomfort on the left side of the saddle interface and am curious if @mdarnton's suggestion is ingenious in its simplicity: Is tilting a saddle laterally to relieve slight discomfort a thing ?
Honestly, everything is fine. I do have slight discomfort on the left side of the saddle interface and am curious if @mdarnton's suggestion is ingenious in its simplicity: Is tilting a saddle laterally to relieve slight discomfort a thing ?
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I've had a saddle sore on the right side for years and never a problem on the left. My doctor thinks it's because I have a mild case of scoliosis. My legs measure the same length, but if I hang from my hands, my right leg looks shorter than my left. I tried shimming the right side, but that made no difference. Just the right saddle was the solution to the saddle sore, but I also have had to be careful to keep my upper body centered over the frame. It took a while to learn to do that.
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You wear cycling shorts with a chamois? If not, try them. If you do, then maybe you need to try models that have a thinner pad or a thicker pad.
I'd vote for a slightly thinner pad. No gel..... but I might be just biased against gel. However I always get along well when its not present in the solution.
I'd vote for a slightly thinner pad. No gel..... but I might be just biased against gel. However I always get along well when its not present in the solution.