Awesomeguy

I noticed when riding in the car ( maybe 8 hours after riding ) I was having burning butt pain right in the center which later just went towards the left buttock. However after reaching my destination and walking around it went away. It was really uncomfortable to the point I wanted to pull over. I did notice in my rides not finding the saddle comfortable at all!

I’ve never really found the bike seat comfortable , but I’ve also had few years ago this latter buttock pain on the left side which later become leg numbing, but got alleviated through therapy .

what should I do , would changing saddle have big benefits? I do find it very uncomfortable
or am I better of changing from a fitness hybrid to a comfort hybrid ?
I really don’t want to do the latter Bc I love faster nimble bikes but I’m interested in feedback.
No trolls please, this is a genuine question and concern .

thank you.

Rolla

Try the cheap solutions first. Do some sciatica stretches before and after riding.

kahn

Years ago, a cousin was having hip/butt pain. As odd as it might sound, his physical therapist told him to move his wallet while driving. This fixed it for him.

I'm in the process of trying to find the right saddle and all that encompasses - angled up/down/level, plush or firm or even firmer, fore/aft and saddle height. I was doing well on a Sella Anatomica leather saddle with center slit. Got a second for a new bike - I'm still tweaking. Obviously, the bikes have different geometries and getting the saddle angle, etc right is taking a lot of tweaking whereas the same saddle of a different bike is fine. And, yes, I've tried aligning them the same but again, different bikes. I also recently purchased (with return window) one of those new fangled Fizik 3d printer matrix thingies but not the $400 version. I believe it is too narrow in the sitting bone area.

A recumbent with a lawn chair might be best but I don't like the low-slung position.

Pop N Wood

I was told the same thing once. Tried it, seemed like it worked, for awhile. Turns out I needed a hip replacement.

The suggestion for sciatica stretches is a good one. A second is to see a chiropractor.

kahn

I know from hip replacementSSSS. Same hip replaced twice. The darn shaft came loose in the thigh bone!! Rattle, RATTLE, RATTLE! I will say the first one lasted a hard eight years. Hiking with elevation gains and loss of about 100,000 feet annually, cross-country skiing and biking. Still doing those things.

Enjoy that hip.

FREEBIRD1

I have recumbent trikes and bikes, seat pain is a non-issue, the suspended mesh is like a good office chair. I like the fast upright road machines as well, but after about 4-5 miles I suffer the same as you. lots of different saddles and adjusting still get the pain. I will say the surface you ride on plays a role in it, on smooth trails I can go further, and this type of bike really shines on those conditions. I keep the lightweight upright bikes around for some casual exercise ,and when I have a need for speed.

Trakhak

Was the same saddle sufficiently comfortable after your first few rides early last year? Have you only recently resumed riding since putting the bike away last fall?

If yes and yes, the saddle itself is unlikely to be the problem. Although you might want to stop by your local bike shop and have them assess your saddle height while you're pedaling the bike.

Or you can just check yourself to see whether your hips rock from side to side as you pedal, which would indicate an overly high saddle. A lot of people who have never been properly fitted on a bike have the saddle too high, to get "full extension."

Garfield Cat

It may depend on your age and how many years you have been riding.

Of course, you may look at saddle and fitting. But also look at systemic reasons for pain.

If pain persists, its time to get help, and not from a fitter.

Chiropractor works on certain things like joints out of alignment; physical therapy will go beyond and also look at soft tissue which are the muscles like your glutes and other muscle groups. Muscle pain happens when muscles get knotted up. Physical therapy will un-knot those muscle tissues. Orthopedic physician will look at joints for damage, even the onset of arthritis.