eaglesandcycling

I've (im a pretty fit dude in my 40s) been riding now a bit over 2 years (gravel bike). For the most part, I ride 3 or 4 days a week from 2 hour rides up to 5 or more. And all kinds of elevations from a few 100 to over 1000 meters. Last fall i had to totally stop cycling for over a month due to taint issues (discomfort/slight pain). Went to a urologist, did a full checkup, nothing wrong with me. So I started back up in winter and into spring now summer. Here I am again with more taint issues, not as bad as the fall one but still annoying af. Btw, I never did get a bike fit in my past so I decided to finally get one, about 2 weeks ago. Damn thing costed over 400 bucks but whatever, wanted this to be resolved. I went to a super reputable guy in my city and did the whole thing, a solid 3+ hours fitting me. Did a ride a couple days after the fitting, a short 2hr one, and was fine. Then did about a 3 hr ride yesterday, all seemed ok, for the most part. Went today, after about 30km, i had to stop. Taint issues back. Not super bad but just there. So i gotta go back to this fitter. He even said to let him know if any issues and he'd be happy to fit me again. But man, am i sick and tired of having ******** taint issues/'pain'. If this fitting doesnt work, then screw it.. I'm done with cycling. SOOOO frustrating.. Anyone else have such goddamn taint/gooch issues?

Update 9Aug..Let me just clarify this is an internal discomfort feeling in the perineal area only (taint/gooch). I even have issues sometimes peeing after rides. It's like the pressure from rides must be on my perineal and affecting those tubes internally. Called the fitter today and going back, so hopefully he can resolve this...

AdkMtnMonster

Three hundred BF experts are just salivating over this new thread, ready to hand out all sorts of lunacy and drivel. The better responses will consist of recommendations for a different saddle and the weird ones will ask you for a more specific description of your pain. The half-wits will repeatedly ask what a “taint” is. Hope you get it figured out soon. Used bikes are still selling for a decent price, though.

KJ43

It's not clear issues you are having and unsure if much detail is needed...

What kit do you ride in...or more importantly shorts/bibs with chamois? What saddle? Have you tried chamois cream?

But if cycling doesn't work out for you, it doesn't work out.

eaglesandcycling

haha. yup. good one there. yah, selling this ****er if i cant resolve my taint issues with a fitter. move to another sport, which i TOTALLY dont wanna do. ****!!

Russ Roth

How many saddles have you tried? Most people for general riding and fitness if they pay attention to how they feel can figure out their own fit by analyzing how they feel but nothing about the fit matters if the saddle sucks. Don't assume that quality of the brand or price makes a nice saddle either, it has everything to do with your body and nothing to do with specific brands or pricing. My MTB I never changed the saddle, I've gone 3-4 hours with the stock generic c-dale saddle and never had a single issue. My gravel bike has a Blue branded saddle that I transferred from my Blue Prosecco, I've done 6 hour days on dirt and gravel mixed with paved and found that it was good for 4-6 hours depending on the level of pavement. My Cross has a Selle Italia X-LR, it works for about 2 hours then it can start to be a pain. My Road has a Selle San Marco, honestly I haven't tested its limits, I do know that when I replaced the saddle that was on it it was due to pain after about 90 min which wasn't long enough. The first replacement was a 200.00 shimano Pro that sucked after getting on, just wasn't comfortable from the first minute. The next was a different Selle San Marco, the saddle had a weird one probably related to my size, the tips on the back of the saddle cut into my ass in a spot no other saddle had, the rest of it had been good for 4 hours which was what convinced me to step down to a heavier, cheaper version that had a curved back but the same cutout and padding. I've now done 2 hour rides on it. I've found half the stock saddles tend to sit well but when I need to replace one it requires real testing and sampling. My local shop that I use has a test program for up to 30 days. Go expecting to spend 100-200, install to where you're fitted and ride it for a couple hours, and see how things go; don't hesitate to trade it back for a different one if it doesn't seem to work.
I will also say that chamois buttr can help as well if you're wearing padded shorts. I can't wear padded shorts without it for more than an hour but can often ride for 3-4 hours in cargo shorts and boxer briefs for days at a time with no trouble. So experiemnt with saddle and clothing

eaglesandcycling

been riding with bibs whole time i've been cycling. decent ones too. the fitter put on a specific saddle for me, i left it to him to decide on that one. chamois cream isnt gonna help, this is an internal issue, not the exterior of my taint.

KJ43

Ok. No detail on what you are actually using, just "decent" bibs and a saddle that the fitter put on for you.

I would never let someone decide what saddle I use. People love recommending saddles and I love the one I'm using (SI SLR Flow), but I would try stuff first if possible as what works for one person won't for another. It can be pricey to try a bunch of different saddles to find the goldilocks model for you. Same with bibs. Not sure what bibs and chamois are "decent" to you and they can get pricey too. But getting that dialed in and riding for hours in comfort is priceless.

Paul Barnard

Find a shop that demos saddles. Demo an ISM Adamo. They were the first saddles that really worked for me. I have since gone to Cobb Randee saddles.

Does your current saddle have a large relief channel?

eaglesandcycling

i know jack **** about saddles, that's why i paid this professional fitter 100s of dollars to help me.

KJ43

Well. Sometimes you just have to spend some of your energy on learning a little bit about a problem you want to solve instead of relying on others to solve it for you. Good luck!

rsbob 

Do some internet searches on the specifics of your discomfort and you will find there are specially trained Physical Therapists that deal with your specific issue.

BHG6

Seat is too high......

70sSanO

The fitter told you to go back and see him. So go back and see him.

Spend some time to get educated on different saddles that will help. A shop with a demo program might be good.

Try different bibs. Some people are good with thin padding and some with thick. You need to figure out what works best for you.

But if you really want to just throw money and have someone else solve it, go see a surgeon. I’m sure he can relieve you from what’s hurting.

John

Fahrenheit531 

It's on your bike, right? Go look. Maybe even take picture. Report back.

Kapusta

The obvious answer is to try a different saddle. I don't think a fitter would necessarily be able to tell which one would work for you. What they can do is help get the positioning right.

kahn

I presume we are talking perineal pain and not sitting bone pain? I do have their saddles and the cutout or slit relieves pressure there but there are similar saddles (with depressions in that area) from others.

https://selleanatomica.com/blogs/pre...e-saddle-needs

BlazingPedals

It sounds like you're sitting on the nose of your saddle. That or the saddle is too narrow. That's all I've got. Taint/sitz bone issues are foreign to me.

Germany_chris

The only time I’ve ever had taint issues it was the padding in the bibs shifting, I got different bibs and the problem went away.

Barry2 

Next time you get the pain in your taint make serious detailed notes.
your fitter is going to be your best chance at resolution.
But you are going to need to provide detailed information as to where the issue is.
The solution will only be as good as the info you provide.
where the pain is.
where you are on the saddle
Are you in the same spot on the saddle, beginning, middle and end of a ride.
Riding bars, hoods or drops.
Distance to beginning of pain
Time to recover from pain
Are hard rides worse than cruising for the same distance.
Anything you can quantify to help diagnosis.


My coach performed a similar service for me. He directed me to a flatter saddle so that my sit bones made contact and lifted my taint.
still took me several hundred dollars to find the correct saddle.
Once I found it I purchased that same saddle for my fleet. Even my indoor smart bike got one. Now, saddle nirvana!

Barry

gringomojado

Seat is too low!

phughes

No, perineum pain is generally caused by too great of reach, or a seat that is too high. Many "professional" fitters place the seat too high because they reply on numbers and rules, instead of watching how the person interfaces with the bike. Most people do not have the flexibility, or the need to have a bike fit that mimics the pros. Without the flexibility, the rules will often place the seat too high, causing pain, and worse, damage, to the hips, spine, and perineum.

I see it often, and there is no excuse for it.

Metieval

I taint your doctor.

70sSanO

If fitters are causing these problems what you are saying is people should not get fit.

Or should someone look for a unprofessional fitter that will just wing it? That is kind of a tough sell.

I have never been fit, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t benefit from it.

John

icemilkcoffee 

What exactly did the bike fitter change on your bike?
This is not a problem you can pay someone to make it go away. You need to listen to your own body and experiment with different things to make it work.

CAT7RDR

Minor saddle tilt adjustments have already been considered in your fit?