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Road bike seat for heavier rider
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Hi all,

I am having issues finding the right seat for me. I have tried a Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow and now have a Cobb V-Flow.

The issue I am having when I ride is my private area is going numb. It is VERY uncomfortable and makes riding no fun. I've read to find a seat where all the pressure is on my "sit bones" and I understand that riding takes some getting used to. But I just do not enjoy getting on my bike right now, and that is the last issue I want to have after spending the money I have on it.

I am really wanting to do some triathlons this coming year. Can anyone give me some suggestions on a good seat? I am 5'4" and 167 lbs (currently working on losing weight).

Thanks,

Tami
Last edited by: tflores11212: Jan 26, 15 13:52
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Re: Road bike seat for heavier rider [tflores11212] [ In reply to ]
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Look online for trial saddle rentals. The $ spent is usually credited towards purchase. After trying several, you should find something better than what you have now.

Also, check your bike fit to make sure you are sufficiently upright to place your weight properly on your at bones.

Good luck!

DFL > DNF > DNS
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Re: Road bike seat for heavier rider [tflores11212] [ In reply to ]
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Get your sit-bones measured; I was having numbness followed by pain (it would hurt to pee after a ride). I'm average sized but my sit-bones are 99th percentile so I need a really wide saddle. I landed up with a Specialised Aura.

Good luck finding a saddle that works for you - it makes a huge difference!
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Re: Road bike seat for heavier rider [tflores11212] [ In reply to ]
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Where do you live? Look for a shop that has loaner saddles and will help you out to make sure you are fit correctly.

clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com
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Re: Road bike seat for heavier rider [ironclm] [ In reply to ]
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Just curious, where/who measures your sit bones?

I live in the Houston area, so maybe I can see if any of the bike shops in the area does trial seats.
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Re: Road bike seat for heavier rider [tflores11212] [ In reply to ]
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I had mine done at a bike store. They essentially get you to sit on a foam pad and measure the depressions.
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Re: Road bike seat for heavier rider [Scheherazade] [ In reply to ]
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look for a Bicycle shop that does Specialized Bike Fits, the fitters can measure your sit bones and maybe look at your saddle position for you.
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Re: Road bike seat for heavier rider [tflores11212] [ In reply to ]
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tflores11212 wrote:
Just curious, where/who measures your sit bones?


I live in the Houston area, so maybe I can see if any of the bike shops in the area does trial seats.



http://www.artscyclery.com/learningcenter/measuresitbonewidth.html
Last edited by: TunaBoo: Dec 8, 14 19:56
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Re: Road bike seat for heavier rider [tflores11212] [ In reply to ]
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Bontrager used to have a handy tool that most of their saddle dealers had, similar to the foam idea - you sat on a little gizmo & your sit bones left marks (since that's where all your weight is)...the measurement from there was fairly easy.

I had horrible issues for a long time & tried all sorts of saddles..terry, selle italia, fizik, cobb...you name it I plunked my butt & bits on it...turned out my issue was that I needed a narrower nose on my saddle & then benefited from having a cutout. I love the bontrager saddle that's on my road bike & scored a Cobb JOF (just off front) earlier this year that made an ironman totally not bad at all. My fitter also lowered my saddle a few mm & his thought is that kept things happier (too bad it pissed off a knee, but the final resolution on that is tbd).

I'm not easy to blow over at 160+, so I'd say look for a cutout, make sure your weight can be nicely distributed, consider narrow noses and/or split rails. It's such a process & it winds up being different for everyone. If you need any input or whatnot feel free to reach out.

AW
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Re: Road bike seat for heavier rider [tflores11212] [ In reply to ]
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Tami,
you possibly need different saddles depending on how you sit on your bike. In a road bike position, you will likely be sitting more upright, with your pelvis rolled back and should be sitting on your seat bones. I have found that a firm, wide, flat saddle works the best for that position. Nashbar has a $20 saddle in women's, and a similar one in mens with a bit more padding that I have found super comfy (its like 16-17) cm wide with a narrow nose to reduce inner thigh chafing.

In a triathlon or TT position, when you are leaning on your elbows, depending on your flexibility, position, etc, you will be a bit more rolled forward in your pelvis, and your seat bones may even come up off the back of the seat, and more pressure will be on the two pelvic bones forward of the seat bones. FOr this position, a saddle with a cutout, one with kind of two arms/padded rails and no real "nose" tends to work best, so that your soft tissues would be between the rails/arms of the saddle. Many companies make these type of saddles, and as other ladies have mentioned, you could find a store that has different ones to try out, or a rental program.

Finding a good saddle may be a long process, but do not accept that pain or numbness is normal! (other than "bone bruising", which does toughen up over time).

Best of luck.

Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
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Re: Road bike seat for heavier rider [tflores11212] [ In reply to ]
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Welcome to the forum Tami - at some point next year we'll be reading your race reports :)

This is a good article for reference: http://www.cervelo.com/...f-road-saddles-.html

I have this conversation nearly every day with riders (male and female), so here are my broad-brush-stroke comments on this subject. I usually say that there might be 1% of 'getting used to it', but anything else you shouldn't put up with.

Undue pressure on the pubic area is not caused by improper saddle width (at the back). Primarily it is the result of too much 'drop', from the saddle height to the handlebars. A saddle with a cutout can alleviate or delay the numbness, but may not be the entire solution.

Measuring your sit bone width is meaningless: the average difference between the ischial tuberosities is 1cm between Male and Female. If Scheherezade is a "99th percentile", what does that really mean? She does not say exactly which Aura saddle she ended up getting - 143, 155 or 160mm? Let's assume she's on a 155. Why not a 160? I'm 160lbs right now, and believe me, I cannot feel a half-centimeter width change underneath my butt. FWIW, I ride, and have been riding for 8years, a Fizik Aliante (140 wide). Prior to that I rode Terry Race saddles, without a cutout (until they stopped making them, ha!). Let's say too that I was 20yrs younger and 20lbs lighter when I rode on that saddle, but it was about the same dimensions as the Fizik is now. The only time someones' pelvic dimensions change is due to trauma or childbirth. Men have trauma, Women have childbirth haha.

Who here rides sitting up completely erect? Is that not where these measurements are being taken on the pelvis? Someone looked at the OpenErg data and said "oh, we need to make saddles in these dimensions" and then came up with some nifty gel assometer to sell you saddles according to how you leave a mark. Even a moderately rotated roadie is off the sit bones, at a torso angle upwards 45degrees. At this point we are off the sit bones, and onto the 'face' of the pelvis, the ischial ramus. This structure is what you are resting on, and it flares outward at an angle. This is where split-nose saddles come into play - especially with torso angles down in the 20degrees range for triathlon. Rather than 'single' nosed saddle that makes you 'pick' a side of your pelvis to perch on, a saddle like the ISM gives you a place for both sides of your pelvic rami to rest. Now the question of what saddle width is best for you is how wide it is in the front, not the rear.

https://plus.google.com/...17768130057368513446

I would not agree with the thought that the saddle is "where all your weight is". If you have three points of contact on a bike, I posit that the distribution of weight should be 10% at the hands, 40% at the saddle, and 50% at the feet. Whether you are road or tri fitted, if you're not properly planted at the foot, nothing above it will be balanced. The 'drop' to the bars/armpad will follow according to your flexion or gut (or beerbaby). I've had riders come to me saying they've 'tried every saddle there is', but the problem isn't at the saddle, it starts at your foot/pedal interface. However, in general, genital numbness is a result of too much drop to the bars, too low of a saddle, or combination thereof.

That being said, there are individual variances that can come into play physiologically.

Couple of questions for you:
Are you on a road bike or tri bike?
Tri shorts or cycling shorts?
Are you wearing cycling shoes? what type of pedal system are you using?

feel free to post photos of your fit.

Anne Barnes
ABBikefit, Ltd
FIST/SICI/FIST DOWN DEEP
X/Y Coordinator
abbikefit@gmail.com
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Re: Road bike seat for heavier rider [ABarnes] [ In reply to ]
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Most shops have test saddles, you leave a small deposit and go home with the saddles to try them out then the one you need you just get a new one from them. I love my ISM Saddles.
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Re: Road bike seat for heavier rider [ABarnes] [ In reply to ]
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I am on a road bike, 2014 Felt ZW7. I have gotten a professional bike fit and we are still battling the seat. I was in Saturday, getting a 160mm crankset put on and updating the fit. During the fit, I started on my Cobb Vflow. I was already feeling pain. So we switched it to my Selle Italia Diva Gel and same issue. So we stuck on a test saddle, the Cobb Vflow Plus. I instantly felt a difference, a bit of relief, so I left with it as a test seat. However, I hopped on the trainer last night for a quick 30 min, VERY easy spin. However, around 15-20 mins in, I started having the numbness in my lady parts.

I'm SO frustrated and will spend whatever money on the "right" seat.
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Re: Road bike seat for heavier rider [tflores11212] [ In reply to ]
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thanks for the update, sorry to hear you're still 'battling'.
I think it's good that you felt a difference right away with your Fitter, but of course, you have to have more time on it. Does it feel different when you're on the hoods vs. being in the drops? You could still nose the saddle down a bit, or go to the Cobb Max model.

Counter-intuitively, Cobb will recommend tilting the nose UP to relieve either hand or crotch pressure.
He's got a couple of great articles on his site; he's done a lot of research on women and saddles.

One last thought: Sometimes, especially on trainers, sh$%t hurts that doesn't hurt when you're on the road. Give this a try - put an extra block underneath the front wheel, 1.5 to 2" thick, to raise the front of the bike above 'level'.
For a long time, I could not bear to be on a trainer for more than 45mins MAX. Hands, feet, ass, butt - numb and on fire! None of which ever bothered me on 100 mile rides outside. Sure enough, when I "over-raised" the bike above level, it all completely went away. Can't fully explain it, but nothing is loading/unloading like it normally does on the road (spokes/wheels/tires, frame, you) you're just locked into place.

Keep on!

Anne Barnes
ABBikefit, Ltd
FIST/SICI/FIST DOWN DEEP
X/Y Coordinator
abbikefit@gmail.com
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Re: Road bike seat for heavier rider [ABarnes] [ In reply to ]
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ABarnes wrote:
thanks for the update, sorry to hear you're still 'battling'.
I think it's good that you felt a difference right away with your Fitter, but of course, you have to have more time on it. Does it feel different when you're on the hoods vs. being in the drops? You could still nose the saddle down a bit, or go to the Cobb Max model.

Following thread (I'm the hubby helping her along this issue). ABarnes, are you near Houston? :)
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Re: Road bike seat for heavier rider [m3bella] [ In reply to ]
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ah, no, I'm in Chicago. If you're tired of that warm and humid weather, come to snowy and cold Chicago!
Feel free to PM me anytime.

Anne Barnes
ABBikefit, Ltd
FIST/SICI/FIST DOWN DEEP
X/Y Coordinator
abbikefit@gmail.com
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Re: Road bike seat for heavier rider [ABarnes] [ In reply to ]
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Anne has given some excellent advice that took me awhile to learn - my Adamo prologue is a torture device on the trainer if I don't have the front end of my bike high enough AND if my saddle/shorts combo isn't jiving. The saddle completely disappears if I'm wearing only a minimal chamois, but if I hop on it in the trainer and in my road kit I end up with numbness and some minor agony. I'm better off with no chamois at all than one that's too thick on that saddle.

OP, what shorts are you wearing? Have you changed those up at all?
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Re: Road bike seat for heavier rider [katcycles] [ In reply to ]
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katcycles wrote:
Anne has given some excellent advice that took me awhile to learn - my Adamo prologue is a torture device on the trainer if I don't have the front end of my bike high enough AND if my saddle/shorts combo isn't jiving. The saddle completely disappears if I'm wearing only a minimal chamois, but if I hop on it in the trainer and in my road kit I end up with numbness and some minor agony. I'm better off with no chamois at all than one that's too thick on that saddle.

OP, what shorts are you wearing? Have you changed those up at all?

I will try raising up the front wheel on the trainer and see if that helps, but until I get some road time and know whether or not the seat works out on the road, I won't be certain that is a fix for me. Also, I have tried both a bike short with a pretty thick pad, and a tri short with basically nothing. I have the same issue with both shorts.
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Re: Road bike seat for heavier rider [ABarnes] [ In reply to ]
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ABarnes wrote:
thanks for the update, sorry to hear you're still 'battling'.
I think it's good that you felt a difference right away with your Fitter, but of course, you have to have more time on it. Does it feel different when you're on the hoods vs. being in the drops? You could still nose the saddle down a bit, or go to the Cobb Max model.

Counter-intuitively, Cobb will recommend tilting the nose UP to relieve either hand or crotch pressure.
He's got a couple of great articles on his site; he's done a lot of research on women and saddles.

One last thought: Sometimes, especially on trainers, sh$%t hurts that doesn't hurt when you're on the road. Give this a try - put an extra block underneath the front wheel, 1.5 to 2" thick, to raise the front of the bike above 'level'.
For a long time, I could not bear to be on a trainer for more than 45mins MAX. Hands, feet, ass, butt - numb and on fire! None of which ever bothered me on 100 mile rides outside. Sure enough, when I "over-raised" the bike above level, it all completely went away. Can't fully explain it, but nothing is loading/unloading like it normally does on the road (spokes/wheels/tires, frame, you) you're just locked into place.

Keep on!

Thanks for the advice ABarnes. I can't say there is any significant difference in being on the hoods vs in drops. It all hurts! I can sit up and ride on the handlebars but that isn't reasonable or safe on the road, nor does it accomplish the purpose of the drops and hoods helping with aerodynamics. I sent a few videos and pictures to Cobb to look at, but if you wouldn't mind, could I pm them to you?
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Re: Road bike seat for heavier rider [tflores11212] [ In reply to ]
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sure!
photos/vid is most helpful.

Anne Barnes
ABBikefit, Ltd
FIST/SICI/FIST DOWN DEEP
X/Y Coordinator
abbikefit@gmail.com
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Re: Road bike seat for heavier rider [tflores11212] [ In reply to ]
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There's been some great advice posted here already and I'm glad people are becoming quicker to discount "sit bones" as the place supporting most weight since I suspect few SlowTwitch'ers are primarily riding beach cruisers. I've had a long annoying past of hunting for a saddle that works that has also included trying various thickness and types of pad. In short, I've never found any shammy to solve an extremely uncomfortable issue, though thick shammy's or shammy's with poor seam location can certainly make things worse.

In addition to shimming up the front wheel of the stationary trainer, try standing every once in a while. I've also hopped off the trainer to rotate laundry and hopped back on, which is probably a break equating to waiting for a signal light to change anyway.

Another thought - try a radically different saddle profile. I just recently tried SMP saddles even though they look crazy, partly because I was ready to try something really different, and partly b/c this blog post that I found in another ST saddle pain post (http://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/...1/09/all-about-smps/) provided what I thought was the best depiction of how a pelvis interacts with the saddle. I feel like I've got great support around the periphery of soft tissue on this brand.

Also, I'm not sure about SMP per say, but I've read that some manufacturers (eg Terry, Koobi) allow returns, which might be a way to try out saddles that are not carried by your local shop's saddle test program.

Best of luck to you. There probably is a saddle out there for you. I hope you find it quickly!

To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.
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