Comfy saddle?

Recently bought a folding bike for our boat and have been reminded of why I've never enjoyed cycling as an adult.....it's just too painful on my bum bones!! I have my own feminine padding! and the seat that came with the bike is quite wide and softish and I have added a gel cover though this is quite firm, but a gentle cycle along the towpath left me uncomfortable for the rest of the day. A neighbour told me proffessionals put bananas in their shorts! but would anyone recognise this as a common problem and suggest a practical cure?

The above poster makes some excellent points. Usually, the best saddles aren't the super cushy ones. Those are horrible. While a saddle can have some padding, it shouldn't be super padded or have gel. Just avoid them. After a few days, you will adjust to a harder saddle and not have any problems from then on out.

Also, avoid all uni-sex saddles. Get a gender specific saddle. Men and women have different needs in that area and uni-sex saddles don't really fit anyone. While more expensive, saddles made for your specific gender will be much more comfortable once you get into cycling. Also, some women's saddles have the middle section cut away. This relieves pressure and shifts most of the weight more to your rear rather than more sensitive areas up front. It prevents numbness on longer rides.

As a female, I suggest not getting a large saddle. They just cause too many problems and chafing. You will likely find that a smaller, moderately padded, gender specific saddle is the best for you long term, though you will have about a week or so of adjustment. Your LBS can help your find a good saddle. Expect to pay $50-100 for a good saddle, but don't worry about it. Your saddle may out last your bike and you can put the same saddle on a new bike, if you want. Just don't get one at a big box type store.

Also, consider getting padded bicycle shorts. These are designed for your specific gender and will provide padding in the critical areas for you. They will also work well with a gender specific saddle.

Weight distribution is a very common mistake among new cyclists. They put all their weight on their bum and ignore everything else. On a bike, your weight should be distributed between your hands, bum, and feet. It shouldn't all be on the saddle. For your hand to carry enough weight, you will probably want to get cycling gloves. Gloves will provide some padding so that you can put some weight onto the handle bars without pain. As with the saddle, figuring out the proper weight balance between your hands, feet and bum will take some time and a bit of experimenting. After you figure it out, you won't have any problems with a saddle.

A soft, squishy saddle makes things worse, not better. Your body was designed to support your weight on your "sit bones," not on the delicate, soft tissues between them. You need a saddle that properly fits your anatomy. Your local bike shop is the place to get some help. They should have people qualified to help you select a proper saddle. A good starting place would be a Terry saddle. Terry was one of the very first companies to make saddles specifically designed for women. Try a Terry Liberator X (the Liberator Y is for men). It's a classic design and has solved "sore bum" problems for many people. It's well worth the money.

Padded shorts do help significantly for most people. Only you can decide if they are helpful to you.

HTH

Your problem isn't plushness, it is support.

To ride a bike comfortably you need to effectively support your bone structure rather than your flesh. By having a very soft saddle you actually sink in and contact all of your soft spots. This results in MORE contact and more pain, even to the point of chafing.

Instead of trying to soften up the saddle, search for one that supports you best. This should be done at a bike shop where they can fit you professionally. It is not as expensive as most people think.

This being said, you will experience a "break in" period as your body gets used to riding a bike again which is accompanied by some pain that will dissipate in a few weeks time. As this comes to pass, consider a pair of padded cycling shorts.

first starting i think it is normal to get sore. long term if it persist, it is likely the saddle. contrary to what people believe, wide and soft usually equals pain in my experience. surprisingly, pairing a quality pair of cycling shorts with a good pad to a saddle that fits you well is best. they make shorts in both baggy style that look like cargo shorts, or in lycra. spend a little there, because you definately get what you pay for in shorts. then i wold lose the gel cover and begin trying different saddles. i hate changing saddles because it usually takes me a few before i find one i like.

Firstly, make sure the saddle is high enough - When the pedal is at 6pm, your legs should very nearly be fully stretched.

Secondly gel padding often makes things worse - The saddle will be so big you'll have to move around a lot more just to peddle as before.

There is only one way to conquer it, ride it.
Next time stop before it hurts.
Then the next day do the same again.
Every day a little longer but not till it hurts.
After about a week you鈥檒l be used to it.

Where on Earth did you hear the banana tail??
Professional riders ride for hours every day so never feel any discomfort.

I bought a folding bike this summer to take in our Caravan.
I had them change the saddle that came with it when I bought it for a Gel Saddle.
If I were you, I would get a Gel Saddle AND put your Gel cover over it as well.
Hope you have happy cycling soon.
Take care.