What is my butt aka sit bones telling me?
04-21-16, 12:37 PM
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What is my butt aka sit bones telling me?
I have a pair of bike shorts made by Bontrager with thick padding. My lower unit gets very numb during my daily ride and by the time I get home I'm super numb. One day I hop on my bike and ride into town for a cup of coffee with some git r done shorts on. No numbness.
So now I got me a pair of shorts I wear around the house at night before going to bed that is made of a soft slick material that I started wearing while riding daily. No numbness.
I'm 6'2 275. I'm riding 100-150 miles per week.
I'm thinking I need a pair of bibs or shorts with thin padding. Bike has the original Trek Domane saddle that I have been cussing since new. Now I'm thinking its the shorts.
I have a couple big rides planned in the next few weeks and wanted to make sure I'm taking care of my lower unit and enjoying the pedaling.
Any suggestions for shorts or bibs?
So now I got me a pair of shorts I wear around the house at night before going to bed that is made of a soft slick material that I started wearing while riding daily. No numbness.
I'm 6'2 275. I'm riding 100-150 miles per week.
I'm thinking I need a pair of bibs or shorts with thin padding. Bike has the original Trek Domane saddle that I have been cussing since new. Now I'm thinking its the shorts.
I have a couple big rides planned in the next few weeks and wanted to make sure I'm taking care of my lower unit and enjoying the pedaling.
Any suggestions for shorts or bibs?
04-21-16, 12:40 PM
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I thought of typing up a response, but GCN just did a video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVL2SbVhwr4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVL2SbVhwr4
04-21-16, 01:49 PM
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I have experienced the same issue.
I have some shorts with thick chamois, and after about 45 miles I'm hurting.
For longer rides up to 100 miles give or take a little, I have some cheaper shorts with thin chamois and have no problems.
I have some shorts with thick chamois, and after about 45 miles I'm hurting.
For longer rides up to 100 miles give or take a little, I have some cheaper shorts with thin chamois and have no problems.
04-21-16, 01:59 PM
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Shorts and bibs are trial and error to a certain extent, because what works for me may not work for you. Everyone's anatomy is different.
I will say that numbness in the area you're talking about is definitely due to restricted blood flow, and that can be exacerbated by saddle positioning. Try tilting it up or down by a few degrees and/or rotating it either right or left, to see if that can help. It took me literally months and months to dial in my saddle positioning when I started riding. Having a professional fit would certainly take out some of the guesswork.
Also, make sure you're getting out of the saddle every few miles for 30 seconds or so. Even with the best bibs and saddle for your anatomy on the planet, you should still get up and let the blood flow at regular intervals.
I will say that numbness in the area you're talking about is definitely due to restricted blood flow, and that can be exacerbated by saddle positioning. Try tilting it up or down by a few degrees and/or rotating it either right or left, to see if that can help. It took me literally months and months to dial in my saddle positioning when I started riding. Having a professional fit would certainly take out some of the guesswork.
Also, make sure you're getting out of the saddle every few miles for 30 seconds or so. Even with the best bibs and saddle for your anatomy on the planet, you should still get up and let the blood flow at regular intervals.
04-21-16, 03:10 PM
#6
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Thick padding may actually be working against you by restricting blood flow to your unit. Check that your saddle width matches your sit bones. Firmer saddle and thinner padding was the ticket for me. Also as stated above you gotta get off the saddle every now and then.
04-21-16, 04:41 PM
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I hate thick pads in shorts, my favorite bibs are my last ones with a simple leather old school no padding pad. when they are dead I'll be sad sad.
04-21-16, 07:36 PM
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I have a pair of those Bontrager shorts and don't care for them. I have a pair of Sugoi shorts with thick padding that are the best shorts I have ever owned.
04-21-16, 08:45 PM
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I wear gym shorts with old school compression shorts underneath.
Very comfortable and no numbness or chafing.
Padded bike shorts are for daisies imo
Very comfortable and no numbness or chafing.
Padded bike shorts are for daisies imo
04-21-16, 08:57 PM
#10
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Whenever my butt hurts, I pedal harder to lift my 6'4" 205# frame and hands off the seat and bars. 
Basic shorts with what I guess is medium padding works for me. And firm saddles. YMMV
Basic shorts with what I guess is medium padding works for me. And firm saddles. YMMV
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The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
04-22-16, 05:46 AM
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Thanks for the responses. I have tilted the seat up and down even took my bike to the Trek LBS and had them check my fit. I have read a lot on here about firmer saddle which I believe mine is very firm. As recommended I'm going to try some different shorts with little padding. Right now Im digging the silky shorts. I have even worn underwear under them with no trouble but I did notice there was no slickness between the shorts and saddle. I then went without underwear and that was even better.
Now to find and try some slick thin padded shorts.
Now to find and try some slick thin padded shorts.
04-22-16, 11:50 AM
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I've got bigger thighs and not a hell of a lot of room in between them @ 6'2'' 215-220 depending on the day.
I find that throwing a 'big pad' in that area is a recipe for disaster, personally.
I'm already short on real estate, a small, thin pad is the definite way to go for me. YMMV.
I also find that enough people comment saying that the thin padded stuff is actually BETTER for longer distance as opposed to more pad (as marketed by the industry)
I did flip from a Fizik Arione to a Cannondale seat (that's slightly padded).
I will probably try going back to the Arione at some point for a test run but it was a bit too aggressive for my butt's tastes.
I find that throwing a 'big pad' in that area is a recipe for disaster, personally.
I'm already short on real estate, a small, thin pad is the definite way to go for me. YMMV.
I also find that enough people comment saying that the thin padded stuff is actually BETTER for longer distance as opposed to more pad (as marketed by the industry)
I did flip from a Fizik Arione to a Cannondale seat (that's slightly padded).
I will probably try going back to the Arione at some point for a test run but it was a bit too aggressive for my butt's tastes.
