Hate spinning bike seats

Sarahlouise5A
Sarahlouise5A Posts: 86 Member
edited November 25 in Fitness and Exercise
I absolutely love spinning, but why do the seats have to be so hard and uncomfortable, my poor butt is killing

Replies

  • mph323
    mph323 Posts: 3,563 Member
    sarah79a wrote: »
    I absolutely love spinning, but why do the seats have to be so hard and uncomfortable, my poor butt is killing

    Yeah, they don't have much give. I recommend padded shorts, or padded underwear that you wear shorts over - they have them for spinning. I have my trainer set up at home, and really, the padding makes a huge difference. :)
  • runnermom419
    runnermom419 Posts: 366 Member
    Padded shorts or like was said above, a cover.
  • nhorton5
    nhorton5 Posts: 32 Member
    I actually found having the seat further back helped it be less painful.
  • Motorsheen
    Motorsheen Posts: 20,508 Member
    Padded shorts help a lot (as previously mentioned )

    Also. ...

    Stand out of the saddle from time to time.

    And....

    Change up your hand position on occasion, it changes the angle in which you engage the saddle.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    First make sure you have adjusted the seat correctly.
    Primarily the height (so many people ride far too low), then the fore/aft adjustment.
    The instructor should be able to help with set up.

    If you don't acclimatise after a while then invest in proper cycling shorts - you don't need very expensive ones for the short duration of Spinning classes but they make a huge difference.

  • Sarahlouise5A
    Sarahlouise5A Posts: 86 Member
    I have padded pants but feels like I'm wearing a massive nappy, so never worn them to class, today's class was nearly all seated sprints
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    sarah79a wrote: »
    I have padded pants but feels like I'm wearing a massive nappy, so never worn them to class, today's class was nearly all seated sprints

    Did you feel you were bouncing or squirming on the saddle during the sprints?
  • mph323
    mph323 Posts: 3,563 Member
    sarah79a wrote: »
    I have padded pants but feels like I'm wearing a massive nappy, so never worn them to class, today's class was nearly all seated sprints

    I think you can get shorts specifically for spinning that have a lighter pad? I remember seeing them when I was looking for a lightly padded road short.
  • RadishEater
    RadishEater Posts: 470 Member
    sarah79a wrote: »
    I have padded pants but feels like I'm wearing a massive nappy, so never worn them to class, today's class was nearly all seated sprints

    I think this is the best description of how I feel too in spinning shorts. I got used to the bike seat over time and horseriding also helped that too.

    I wear the padded pants underneath some regular running shorts, also I am very pear shapes so I dont need any extra inches added down there.
  • Sarahlouise5A
    Sarahlouise5A Posts: 86 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    sarah79a wrote: »
    I have padded pants but feels like I'm wearing a massive nappy, so never worn them to class, today's class was nearly all seated sprints

    Did you feel you were bouncing or squirming on the saddle during the sprints?

    I didn't feel like I was,
  • Sarahlouise5A
    Sarahlouise5A Posts: 86 Member
    kballsocc wrote: »
    sarah79a wrote: »
    I have padded pants but feels like I'm wearing a massive nappy, so never worn them to class, today's class was nearly all seated sprints

    I think this is the best description of how I feel too in spinning shorts. I got used to the bike seat over time and horseriding also helped that too.

    I wear the padded pants underneath some regular running shorts, also I am very pear shapes so I dont need any extra inches added down there.

    Think I may have to invest in a seat cover,
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    sarah79a wrote: »
    I have padded pants but feels like I'm wearing a massive nappy, so never worn them to class, today's class was nearly all seated sprints

    I thought I looked hot in my bike shorts. Maybe I should reevaluate... :/
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    sarah79a wrote: »
    sijomial wrote: »
    sarah79a wrote: »
    I have padded pants but feels like I'm wearing a massive nappy, so never worn them to class, today's class was nearly all seated sprints

    Did you feel you were bouncing or squirming on the saddle during the sprints?

    I didn't feel like I was,

    Sounds like it's time to try the shorts then. Luckily spinning is exercise and not a fashion show. ;)

    I've done hundreds of virtual miles bike training indoors this winter so if this old fart can appear in public in cycle shorts then you can too....
    I actually invested in my own seat post mounting so that I could quickly and easily mount my own saddle as the standard saddles were clearly designed by a man-hater. :neutral:
  • Sarahlouise5A
    Sarahlouise5A Posts: 86 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    sarah79a wrote: »
    sijomial wrote: »
    sarah79a wrote: »
    I have padded pants but feels like I'm wearing a massive nappy, so never worn them to class, today's class was nearly all seated sprints

    Did you feel you were bouncing or squirming on the saddle during the sprints?

    I didn't feel like I was,

    Sounds like it's time to try the shorts then. Luckily spinning is exercise and not a fashion show. ;)

    I've done hundreds of virtual miles bike training indoors this winter so if this old fart can appear in public in cycle shorts then you can too....
    I actually invested in my own seat post mounting so that I could quickly and easily mount my own saddle as the standard saddles were clearly designed by a man-hater. :neutral:

    I definitely feel sexier and slimmer when I'm standing up and not on the saddle the whole time. But think seat cover or padding is the way forward
  • mph323
    mph323 Posts: 3,563 Member
    All I can think of now is Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls"

    "Get on your bikes and ride!" :)
  • franklin5280
    franklin5280 Posts: 80 Member
    Feel your pain. Put in an hour inside today. Think I’m going to a smart trainer. Wahoo, Cycle Ops, and Kenetic are a few that let me integrate my road bike into a indoor trainer. Padded short help. Cream on chamois helps, getting out of saddle helps. Another 100 lbs loss will me. Could ride 5 minutes 145 lbs ago.
  • Sarahlouise5A
    Sarahlouise5A Posts: 86 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    sarah79a wrote: »
    sijomial wrote: »
    sarah79a wrote: »
    I have padded pants but feels like I'm wearing a massive nappy, so never worn them to class, today's class was nearly all seated sprints

    Did you feel you were bouncing or squirming on the saddle during the sprints?

    I didn't feel like I was,

    Sounds like it's time to try the shorts then. Luckily spinning is exercise and not a fashion show. ;)

    I've done hundreds of virtual miles bike training indoors this winter so if this old fart can appear in public in cycle shorts then you can too....
    I actually invested in my own seat post mounting so that I could quickly and easily mount my own saddle as the standard saddles were clearly designed by a man-hater. :neutral:

    Had to imagine it was something else I was sitting on to try take the focus off how uncomfortable it was
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    sarah79a wrote: »
    sijomial wrote: »
    sarah79a wrote: »
    sijomial wrote: »
    sarah79a wrote: »
    I have padded pants but feels like I'm wearing a massive nappy, so never worn them to class, today's class was nearly all seated sprints

    Did you feel you were bouncing or squirming on the saddle during the sprints?

    I didn't feel like I was,

    Sounds like it's time to try the shorts then. Luckily spinning is exercise and not a fashion show. ;)

    I've done hundreds of virtual miles bike training indoors this winter so if this old fart can appear in public in cycle shorts then you can too....
    I actually invested in my own seat post mounting so that I could quickly and easily mount my own saddle as the standard saddles were clearly designed by a man-hater. :neutral:

    I definitely feel sexier and slimmer when I'm standing up and not on the saddle the whole time. But think seat cover or padding is the way forward

    Well you've already got the padding, wear the shorts!

    Personally I'm not keen on excessively padded seats. The shorts move with you, the seat doesn't.
  • Sarahlouise5A
    Sarahlouise5A Posts: 86 Member
    sarah79a wrote: »
    sijomial wrote: »
    sarah79a wrote: »
    sijomial wrote: »
    sarah79a wrote: »
    I have padded pants but feels like I'm wearing a massive nappy, so never worn them to class, today's class was nearly all seated sprints

    Did you feel you were bouncing or squirming on the saddle during the sprints?

    I didn't feel like I was,

    Sounds like it's time to try the shorts then. Luckily spinning is exercise and not a fashion show. ;)

    I've done hundreds of virtual miles bike training indoors this winter so if this old fart can appear in public in cycle shorts then you can too....
    I actually invested in my own seat post mounting so that I could quickly and easily mount my own saddle as the standard saddles were clearly designed by a man-hater. :neutral:

    I definitely feel sexier and slimmer when I'm standing up and not on the saddle the whole time. But think seat cover or padding is the way forward

    Well you've already got the padding, wear the shorts!

    Personally I'm not keen on excessively padded seats. The shorts move with you, the seat doesn't.


    I have spinning tomorrow morning, so going to give them a try x
  • huskydoo
    huskydoo Posts: 112 Member
    I recommend cycling shorts too! As with anything else the more you pay the better quality the cushioning is. Gel shorts are really nice. Nashbar has a great selection and good prices.

    Another thing to think about and a little more money. Go to a good LBS and get measured for a seat. Everyone’s “sit bones” are different. All seats are not one size fits all.

    And as others have said, your bike to seat interface will get conditioned with more seat time.
  • Sarahlouise5A
    Sarahlouise5A Posts: 86 Member
    huskydoo wrote: »
    I recommend cycling shorts too! As with anything else the more you pay the better quality the cushioning is. Gel shorts are really nice. Nashbar has a great selection and good prices.

    Another thing to think about and a little more money. Go to a good LBS and get measured for a seat. Everyone’s “sit bones” are different. All seats are not one size fits all.

    And as others have said, your bike to seat interface will get conditioned with more seat time.

    Thank you xx
  • Jthanmyfitnesspal
    Jthanmyfitnesspal Posts: 3,522 Member
    You gotta suck it up and wear the shorts. If they put the padding on the seat and you wear thin shorts, then there's too much friction and you get blisters. When the padding is in the shorts, it moves with your skin, and that works better. Yes, the shorts then feel really stupid when you are walking around, but--man-oh-man, do they work well (at least as well as possible and way better than nothing) when riding.
  • vermilionflower
    vermilionflower Posts: 29 Member
    sarah79a wrote: »
    I have padded pants but feels like I'm wearing a massive nappy, so never worn them to class, today's class was nearly all seated sprints

    I wear mine anyway, it makes such a difference.
  • Sarahlouise5A
    Sarahlouise5A Posts: 86 Member
    Wore my padded pants and what a difference. Do spinning quite a few times now, but struggling with a blister on my foot off the strap on the pedal
  • Jthanmyfitnesspal
    Jthanmyfitnesspal Posts: 3,522 Member
    sarah79a wrote: »
    Wore my padded pants and what a difference. Do spinning quite a few times now, but struggling with a blister on my foot off the strap on the pedal

    There's a solution for that, too! "Clipless pedals" and (of course) fancy shoes with cleats. Most spinning bikes have clips on one side and clipless on the other. (Some studios have clipless-only bikes-- you have to figure that out.)

    I like the recessed "Shimano-SPD" style, which are much safer when walking (and are most common at spinning studios). REI carries them online and in-store. (Or bargain hunt on nashbar.com if you like).
  • HappyKat5
    HappyKat5 Posts: 369 Member
    sarah79a wrote: »
    Wore my padded pants and what a difference. Do spinning quite a few times now, but struggling with a blister on my foot off the strap on the pedal

    If you’re going to stick with Spinning even if it’s only 2 days a week, I would invest in cycling shoes...mine cost about $70 and they have totally changed how I feel about Spinning. Your foot doesn’t get tired or achy and you can really focus on the proper form. I just clip in and I off!

  • Motorsheen
    Motorsheen Posts: 20,508 Member
    You gotta suck it up and wear the shorts. If they put the padding on the seat and you wear thin shorts, then there's too much friction and you get blisters. When the padding is in the shorts, it moves with your skin, and that works better. Yes, the shorts then feel really stupid when you are walking around, but--man-oh-man, do they work well (at least as well as possible and way better than nothing) when riding.

    Worth noting

    Cycling shorts are best worn commando.
  • kayak4water
    kayak4water Posts: 155 Member
    I've never gone to a spin class, but I did once ride one of those stationary bikes and found the seat bloody cruel.
    If I were considering such a thing, I'd investigate whether I could use the saddle from my bicycle. it would only really be practical if my bike's seatpost diameter was the same as that of the stationary bike. Then I could just substitute my saddle for the stationary bike saddle.

    FWIW, my saddle is a leather Brooks B-17, which is really comfortable now that it's broken in. A little spendy at > $100, but nothing else worked for me.
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