RABikes2
11-01-2005, 09:38 AM
On September 1, after the years and years I dealt with severe saddle bruising (swelling on soft tissue and my left underwear line), I had surgery at Shands Hospital in Gainesville to correct problems. For a few surgical aspects and if you want, check this post and scroll down to where I explain some of it:
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=11567&highlight=Saddle+discomfort (http://)
After a month off my Legend, I started riding a loaned recumbent for the month of October. It got me back on a bike, which was wonderful, but the recumbent sucked. It was a size medium and I needed a small and the reclining position with my knees being higher than my hips in the pedaling position caused old injuries to rear their ugly heads numerous times. :no: Saturday I fell on it when I was circling waiting for a light to change; my left heel touching the front wheel. I was going slow, but falling put me at my limit.:crap:
Three weeks ago, I talked to the owner of SpongyWonder saddles http://spongywonder.com/, told him the type of riding I do, and he suggested the MK8 saddle (double stainless steel rails for durability) for my purposes. (I believe the weight is 650 grams with the regular SpongyWonder at 500 grams.) The saddle came yesterday and we installed it at the bike shop in the afternoon. I tested it a few times, first outside behind the shop (OH, HOW I'VE MISSED MY LEGEND!!!!!!!) and then I put it on the trainer to make more adjustments. I was told it would take numerous adjustments to get a correct position for my riding. Ed, owner of our shop, my mechanic for years, and a fit specialist, was reluctant to follow the directions sent which said to position the "loop" in the front, level or slightly tipped down. The seat post was too high, adjusted down. Then the "loop" was angled up and pedal strokes had my hamstrings hitting incorrectly on the pads. Ed adjusted it, reluctantly, slightly more level than before. His concern was if it was level, I would be basically standing pedaling and with more pressure on my feet/pedals and on also my hands/wrists. Any position with this saddle has made it obvious that the upper body/hands/wrists are going to take a lot of pressure on the bars (I also use aero bars). If this occurs, it was suggested in the directions to raise the stem (HELP ME JERK!). Already on my bike, I have a 90 with a 40 degree rise. With distance riding (and the older I get), I don't want to be down aerodynamic, I like riding slightly "up". It doesn't bother my speed (in shape, I can still ride with the big boys) and it just looks "odd" to others. According to Ed, I can't go much higher on the stem (risers are also at the limit). My left sit-bone (which had massive scar tissue removed from it along with through the left underwear line and up into my left pubic bone) felt pressure and uncomfortable. So the sit-pads were moved a little closer to each other. I rode it for a few minutes on the trainer and I just don't know what to think. I will tell you though when I rode outside and up the hill in the back of the shop, I did NOT miss the nose of the saddle nor did it hamper my riding style. A slight adjustment in my handling skills and it was not a problem nor was it missed.
I tried to sit gently down on my old saddle (Alainte) 10 days ago and it was a "no go"; the bone felt brittle and I was very uncomfortable. I tried to sit on a Trek with a Terry Butterfly saddle at the shop yesterday and maybe the discomfort was a slight better than 10 days ago, but I still can't do it. I know it's been said on the forum before, it's the fit. If the fit isn't right, saddle problems will occur. Let me tell you something FROM EXPERIENCE and listening to other riders of all cycling levels and abilities who have opened up to me at the shop, through phone calls, and in e-mails. Because we are all made DIFFERENT and pelvic construction is DIFFERENT on everybody, males and females, no matter if the fit IS correct (I have a custom Legend Ti) there are many times the traditional saddles with holes or no holes are just not right and will hurt riders and cause saddle bruising (underwear line especially). The industry needs to listen and listen to those of us who have suffered from saddle bruising and discomfort. At this point and time, any saddle with a nose, Brooks, Selle Italia, Fizik, Terry, etc., will not do, not at all. I've been researching the "unconventional and untraditional" saddles and there isn't much that is offered, appealing, nor will I try; it's bull :crap: :butt: what is offered. When saddles came out years ago with the hole in the saddle to relieve pressure; it was laughed at. Now there are many, many offered. The industry is missing out; they just don't "hear" when problems are discussed and there is a need for the research and development of noseless saddles in the cycling world.
Well, folks, I've spewed my guts out. I'm going out for a ride to critique the SpongyWonder.
RA
I still think my personal saddle designs are a worthwhile option and very workable. ;)
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=11567&highlight=Saddle+discomfort (http://)
After a month off my Legend, I started riding a loaned recumbent for the month of October. It got me back on a bike, which was wonderful, but the recumbent sucked. It was a size medium and I needed a small and the reclining position with my knees being higher than my hips in the pedaling position caused old injuries to rear their ugly heads numerous times. :no: Saturday I fell on it when I was circling waiting for a light to change; my left heel touching the front wheel. I was going slow, but falling put me at my limit.:crap:
Three weeks ago, I talked to the owner of SpongyWonder saddles http://spongywonder.com/, told him the type of riding I do, and he suggested the MK8 saddle (double stainless steel rails for durability) for my purposes. (I believe the weight is 650 grams with the regular SpongyWonder at 500 grams.) The saddle came yesterday and we installed it at the bike shop in the afternoon. I tested it a few times, first outside behind the shop (OH, HOW I'VE MISSED MY LEGEND!!!!!!!) and then I put it on the trainer to make more adjustments. I was told it would take numerous adjustments to get a correct position for my riding. Ed, owner of our shop, my mechanic for years, and a fit specialist, was reluctant to follow the directions sent which said to position the "loop" in the front, level or slightly tipped down. The seat post was too high, adjusted down. Then the "loop" was angled up and pedal strokes had my hamstrings hitting incorrectly on the pads. Ed adjusted it, reluctantly, slightly more level than before. His concern was if it was level, I would be basically standing pedaling and with more pressure on my feet/pedals and on also my hands/wrists. Any position with this saddle has made it obvious that the upper body/hands/wrists are going to take a lot of pressure on the bars (I also use aero bars). If this occurs, it was suggested in the directions to raise the stem (HELP ME JERK!). Already on my bike, I have a 90 with a 40 degree rise. With distance riding (and the older I get), I don't want to be down aerodynamic, I like riding slightly "up". It doesn't bother my speed (in shape, I can still ride with the big boys) and it just looks "odd" to others. According to Ed, I can't go much higher on the stem (risers are also at the limit). My left sit-bone (which had massive scar tissue removed from it along with through the left underwear line and up into my left pubic bone) felt pressure and uncomfortable. So the sit-pads were moved a little closer to each other. I rode it for a few minutes on the trainer and I just don't know what to think. I will tell you though when I rode outside and up the hill in the back of the shop, I did NOT miss the nose of the saddle nor did it hamper my riding style. A slight adjustment in my handling skills and it was not a problem nor was it missed.
I tried to sit gently down on my old saddle (Alainte) 10 days ago and it was a "no go"; the bone felt brittle and I was very uncomfortable. I tried to sit on a Trek with a Terry Butterfly saddle at the shop yesterday and maybe the discomfort was a slight better than 10 days ago, but I still can't do it. I know it's been said on the forum before, it's the fit. If the fit isn't right, saddle problems will occur. Let me tell you something FROM EXPERIENCE and listening to other riders of all cycling levels and abilities who have opened up to me at the shop, through phone calls, and in e-mails. Because we are all made DIFFERENT and pelvic construction is DIFFERENT on everybody, males and females, no matter if the fit IS correct (I have a custom Legend Ti) there are many times the traditional saddles with holes or no holes are just not right and will hurt riders and cause saddle bruising (underwear line especially). The industry needs to listen and listen to those of us who have suffered from saddle bruising and discomfort. At this point and time, any saddle with a nose, Brooks, Selle Italia, Fizik, Terry, etc., will not do, not at all. I've been researching the "unconventional and untraditional" saddles and there isn't much that is offered, appealing, nor will I try; it's bull :crap: :butt: what is offered. When saddles came out years ago with the hole in the saddle to relieve pressure; it was laughed at. Now there are many, many offered. The industry is missing out; they just don't "hear" when problems are discussed and there is a need for the research and development of noseless saddles in the cycling world.
Well, folks, I've spewed my guts out. I'm going out for a ride to critique the SpongyWonder.
RA
I still think my personal saddle designs are a worthwhile option and very workable. ;)