Seat versus chamois. Why is pad location important?
#1
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Seat versus chamois. Why is pad location important?
I've seen it stated time and again here. A soft seat is bad, but a soft chamois is good. In both cases its a pad between my crotch and the hard part of the seat, so why does it matter where the pad lives?
sorry if this is answered somewhere already. I did some searching, but did not find the answer.
sorry if this is answered somewhere already. I did some searching, but did not find the answer.
#2
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I keep asking the same damn question and have yet to be an answer...
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People forget the real purpose of the chamois. It isn't for "padding" it's to absorb movement. Back in the day.... wool or cotton shorts and/or underwear would create friction between the cyclist and the saddle. Of course the result was blisters.
So layers of soft chamois goat skins were loosely stitched together and worn next to the skin of the cyclist. The cyclists moist sweaty skin would cause the soft leather to more-or-less adhere to the skin and any movement would be isolated in the loose layers of the chamois... preventing blisters.
Of course the new cushy stuff works great too!
So layers of soft chamois goat skins were loosely stitched together and worn next to the skin of the cyclist. The cyclists moist sweaty skin would cause the soft leather to more-or-less adhere to the skin and any movement would be isolated in the loose layers of the chamois... preventing blisters.
Of course the new cushy stuff works great too!
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so..... if I put kinesio tape on my crotch i wonder if that would work as well.
#6
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People forget the real purpose of the chamois. It isn't for "padding" it's to absorb movement. Back in the day.... wool or cotton shorts and/or underwear would create friction between the cyclist and the saddle. Of course the result was blisters.
So layers of soft chamois goat skins were loosely stitched together and worn next to the skin of the cyclist. The cyclists moist sweaty skin would cause the soft leather to more-or-less adhere to the skin and any movement would be isolated in the loose layers of the chamois... preventing blisters.
Of course the new cushy stuff works great too!
So layers of soft chamois goat skins were loosely stitched together and worn next to the skin of the cyclist. The cyclists moist sweaty skin would cause the soft leather to more-or-less adhere to the skin and any movement would be isolated in the loose layers of the chamois... preventing blisters.
Of course the new cushy stuff works great too!
You're not looking for a "soft chamois" whatever that even is. You're looking for a friction barrier.
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better padded bibs over padded saddle. Pads shouldn't be really soft, but more for wicking away sweat so there isn't a friction problem. So many man made fabrics out there that bib pads change year after year.
Hell my saddle doesn't even have padding Fizik Kurve...
Hell my saddle doesn't even have padding Fizik Kurve...
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Yeah.... my favorite saddle a Stella is pretty firm as well.
I ride a road bike.... so a lot of padding isn't really needed (or desirable) if the cyclists distributes their weight between the three contact points... hands-handlebar, feet-pedals, seat-saddle. Although this distribution might be more difficult with some other bicycle set-ups.
But big cushy padded saddles or shorts isn't really a fix no matter what your ride.
The saddle should be sized for the cyclists sit bones. The area will toughen over time... but there is a break-in (sore behind) period for new cyclists. Remember the soreness is just a natural part of the learning curve. Give yourself time to heal and adjust.
Some of the sore-behind is caused by blood pooling in the large muscles. Stand-up frequently when cycling and allow the blood to circulate.
I ride a road bike.... so a lot of padding isn't really needed (or desirable) if the cyclists distributes their weight between the three contact points... hands-handlebar, feet-pedals, seat-saddle. Although this distribution might be more difficult with some other bicycle set-ups.
But big cushy padded saddles or shorts isn't really a fix no matter what your ride.
The saddle should be sized for the cyclists sit bones. The area will toughen over time... but there is a break-in (sore behind) period for new cyclists. Remember the soreness is just a natural part of the learning curve. Give yourself time to heal and adjust.
Some of the sore-behind is caused by blood pooling in the large muscles. Stand-up frequently when cycling and allow the blood to circulate.
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Chamois are to prevent chafing - they wick sweat and move with you while the short stays with the seat - not provide padding.
My worn out shorts from 1997 with flat synthetic leather chamois are more comfortable than all the modern diaper shorts I've tried (Louis Garneau, Pearl Izumi, Performance) except maybe my Voler shorts with the Elastic Interface Technology Comp HP pad using 120 kg/m^3 foam under the sit bones.
The Boure PRO short and bib are still made like that. Great chamois, although I can feel the thicker material wrinkling pedaling and they're short in front so they don't mate to all jerseys.
Last edited by Drew Eckhardt; 08-11-15 at 02:46 PM.
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It's not about padding. It's about moisture wicking and heat absorption. Hard seats are fine. Pants that allow sweat to stay against the skin are not. Bike pants are designed to shed heat and pull moisture away from the skin.
#11
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One lesson I've learned since changing saddles, is that bibs and their chamois can be just as personal as saddles. Since changing saddles, bibs that were not comfortable on the old saddle are better with the new one and vice versa. Adding chamois cream adds a whole new dimension too