Help! My *kitten* hates bike seats

An cushy seat is not always what it is cracked up to be. Sometimes, or often really, it will have the opposite effect. People who are on bikes for hours tend to have harder saddles because you want your sit bones to be bearing most of your weight. A cushy seat will mess with this. It might feel more comfortable at first, but as you get more and more miles/hours, it's going to have the opposite effect. When you first start biking or resume biking for the first time after a winter break, saddles will be uncomfortable as your body gets used to being in the saddle again.

So yes, my *kitten* is very angry when it comes to sitting on bike seats. World of discomfort. On that note, I had my 2nd round of knee surgery and my physio therapist advised me only to bike.

So I am stuck with the crappy gym bike seats....but I have a nice bike that hasn't been used in 10+ years and wouldn't mind starting again. BUT I need an extremely comfortable seat for it.

Any suggestions for a new bike seat that will fit my rump, console and massage my rump on rides. Ok, well maybe not massage...but at least so I can last longer than 10 minutes, with some serious comfort and cushioning.

Oh I've been there!! Your butt will get used to it though if you keep it up. Start out with a short trip, and build up to longer bike rides till your cheeks can handle it.

My back hates bike seats. After I damaged by lumbar spine I had a lot of youble getting back on my bike.

I the end I needed to change my bike to get a better position for me. I tried out a few and got a second hand one for £60 .

But I still had some trouble with it and tried about 14 seats before finding one that worked for me.

Getting your sit bones on the saddle is important. Girls often need wider seats to account for a broader pelvic girdle.
But the key is to find a good cycle shop that will let you try out some seats on your bike, then offer you a decent return period.

I now use my cheap second hand bike on a training stand as an exercise bike, still using the same cheap second hand bike, but it now has a saddle that cost nearly as much as it did (55 EURO).

My *kitten* hates them too and I'm scheduled for a knee replacement in May so I know I'm looking forward to a lot of biking. Love the idea of padded bike shorts. Found some padded bike underwear that I think will work. The padded shorts kinda make you look like you have camel-toe, so the underwear with shorts over them should work fine.

You need a properly fitted bike seat so you resting your weight on the "sit bones." If you're fitted right, you'll be fine, no pain whatsoever.

I use a gel-pad seat (Walmart, $15 bucks). I carry lots of padding in my behind but the gel-pad helps.

I do not want to spend a lot on a bike seat...since well, the last time I was on a bike I was haven't even graduated highschool yet.

And me in bike shorts.....we will just leave it that will never happen At least not until I drop a bunch more weight.

I have heard a few things about gel seats. I think that will be a good option until I really get back into the swing of things and make my bike worthwhile.

Thanks again!

You can buy bike shorts that have the built in padded tights with a looser pair over top. Or you can just buy the padded tights and wear your own overtop. It really does make a difference.

Avoid gel seats. As people have said above, a padded/cushioned seat is pretty much the opposite of what you need. They are not the answer and can cause more problems than the fix.

I spin 2-3 times per week and have no trouble...anymore. It SUCKS when you first start out though. The soreness was almost enough to keep me away, but I heeded the advice of many others when they said it would be a non-issue as long as you keep going consistently. I don't wear padded shorts or anything either.

The spin instructor does remind us regularly to sit all the way back in the saddle so we're right on our sit bones. This tends to help too.

I agree. When I started spin class, I felt absolutely VIOLATED after every class! But I kept at it, and now I don't even feel it. Bike 3-4 days a week for two weeks and I bet you won't even notice it anymore.

Go to a local bike shop and let them know that you would like to be fitted for a seat. To save trips, call a few bike shops before you go out to make sure they will be willing to do this. There are tools (basically large foam pads) that you sit on to measure your ischium (sitz bones).

When your seat is sized properly a bike becomes much much more comfortable. It's also important to understand that there is a week or two period after one first starts riding for the soft tissue that you are sitting on to get acclimated to being on the seat. If you feel any numbness at all, STOP riding, this is not good and can lead to permanent tissue damage.

Another way to help alleviate pain/soreness from riding is to wear chamois under your shorts/pants. These are compression shorts with special pads built into them.

I hope this information helps you on your fitness journey!

James
Facebook.com/itstimetobefit