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saddles... and a delicate area

diddsdidds Posts: 655
Post subject:

[image]http://www.tritalk.co.uk/forums/templates/subSilver/images/lang_english/icon_quote.gif[/image] [image]http://www.tritalk.co.uk/forums/templates/subSilver/images/lang_english/icon_edit.gif[/image] [image]http://www.tritalk.co.uk/forums/templates/subSilver/images/icon_delete.gif[/image] [hr] for those of a nervous disposition, look away now...



getting into my biking now I have decided triathlon is for me after 30 years of playing prop forward at rugby.



Love being on the bike but... have found that my riding "style"/saddle combination creates a boil at the bottom left hand side of the scrotal sac. I've had it checked out with a scan to make sure its not the big C ... but no, its just a boil/some sort of internal nastiness caused obviously by cycling. Its not generically painful but I am concerned that it could become so, or lead to worse stuff (like exploding in the middle of my first Oly or somesuch!)



I generally wear cycling underpants, or a tri suit when I ride, so there is some padding in that region. I am considering that maybe a change of saddle may be needed... ??? (also the suggestion my GP made)



Could of course ask at my LBS but that would seem like merely asking whether I should give them £30 or £60! [image]http://www.tritalk.co.uk/forums/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/image] And my LBS isn;t the most... effusive... and overly helpful bloke anyway :-/



Given that its not really very practical to road test dozens of saddles, has anyone any thoughts on my ... predicament. ?



cheers



didds [image]http://www.tritalk.co.uk/forums/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/image]

Comments

  • toadtoad Posts: 104
    Hi didds



    rather than change seats you may want to look at getting a gel seat cover, I used to get alot of saddle soreness I talked to my local bike shop and they suggested I try one and immediately cycling became more pleasant.

    There are probably a few triathletes out there that think I am a bit of a wuss, however I prefer having a comfortable arse.

  • TommiTriTommiTri Posts: 879
    Firstly may I say welcome to the forum, and to this wonderful sport from everyone here.



    The thing about saddles is if you ask what saddles people have (as I recently found out) invariably everyone will come out with different answers, as saddles are very much a personal preference.



    The only real way is to try them out, most local bike shops should be happy to have you try a few out on a trainer.



    Are you riding in aero position much? this could be your problem if you're not used to it, you may want to try out a slight change in saddle position, I have mine very very slightly tilted downwards at the nose. Not enough to make me put too much pressure on my arms as I rest forward, but just enough to make it comfortable to ride in aero for a long while.



    As a suggestion you may find the fizik a good choice, its quite narrow, which I find helps to reduce rubbing, but its nice and long for support.
  • diddsdidds Posts: 655
    thanks toad - personally after 30+ years of playing front row forward and thus grazing stubble, compressing my spine and sharing the herpes simplex virus with other front rows I figure anything I do now I do with comfort in mind, so if a gel sadle cover does the trick than that's good enough for me too :-)



    didds

  • Free WillyFree Willy Posts: 63
    Hi Didds



    I am an ex rugby player and definitely recommend going for comfort, as TommiTri has said we all have our favourite saddles etc but really it is your a*se that will make the decision! I have tried many saddles over the last few years and am currently on a Terry Gel Tri which was relatively cheap compared to a lot of saddles but does have a lot of padding (no problems in IMNZ - with the saddle anyway!), I would also recommend for long rides the best pair of bib n knicks you can afford and 'slap on' the chamois cream (I use Assos or Udderly from probikekit.com) and NO PANTS! My favourites make of bib n knicks/shorts is Sugoi with the Formula FX Chamois.



    A link to the saddle - I did not buy it form these guys it was jsut the first link I found to it!

    http://www.all3sports.com/product_info.php?pName=terry-mens-fly-tri-gel-saddle&jsenabled=1&osCsid=f6654edf1f01e69343ce4ae7daf7131a



    I am sure many people on this forum have saddles lying around that they have tried and will probably never use again so maybe a list of available saddles could be kept and for the cost of a pint and postage the saddles go for a trial and if ok a purchase can be negoitated. I have a few but I am in Oz, I have lent out old saddles so people can try them for a decent time ie a couple of 70 - 100k rides, indoor trainer etc.



    FW

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