Saddles and septuagenarians

[Blew it]

The ageing process works in strange ways, some more obvious than others. Sunday morning last, I set off early to ride my twenty-two mile "southern loop" on the Bosch powered 2011 Haibike Trekking. This machine was supplied with a Selle Italia "Zoo" saddle. Just 150mm wide at the sit-bones area, this saddle proved remarkably comfortable, even when riding the twenty-seven miles "Swindon urban loop". Strangely, on Sunday morning, it was far from "comfortable", just half-way through the ride, my dodgy left leg started to go numb....something had changed, and it wasn't the saddle. I can only assume there has been a change in my muscular/skeletal structure.

A quick Google search on the subject resulted in the article linked to below, which may be of interest to others in their seventies who wish to extend their long-distance riding for a few more years.

CYCLING TIPS

 

[Scimitar]

Makes a lot of sense and I thought I'd lucked into the perfect saddle for me, but this year it's not been as good as the past two summers (not a winter rider). Partially explained when I discovered the seat post had drifted down slightly by the bleedin' potholes around here. Needs more work but, as you say, something else might have changed in me.

 

[Hugh]

B17 !!!

It's wide enough, but not too much so, it's flattish on top, and it spreads the load nicely as it doesn't have cutouts or padding - fits the bill on every count.

It's been a revelation to me over the last 3 or 4 years.

 

[D C]

Brooks B17 for me too.
Can take a few weeks to break in to your "shape" and you must persevere with this, but then you have a saddle for life.
Although they are expensive, if you don't like it you can almost get full price on ebay.
Dave.

 

[Blew it]

Thanks for the imput so far, all suggestions taken on board. I'm not really sure what has happened, the pain receptors for that area went to sleep years ago, and my weight remains constant at seventy-four kgs, but somehow the nerve endings around the pubic bone area are now being pressurized. Each time I dismounted, the numbness disappeared immediately.

The Selle Italia "Zoo" is quite skinny, with an almost flat top. Two adjustments have been made ready for tomorrows ride, the nose dropped a couple of clicks and the saddle pushed further foreward on the rails. Hopefully, this will push my sit-bones further back and ease the pressure on my nerve endings.

 

[grldtnr]

Just junk that plastic saddle ,invest in a Brooks B17,( there is a softened version), then luxuriate in comfy repose, the B17 looks the biz in 3 colourways, but avoid the chromed rails, tendency to break

 

[D C]

Handlebar height can also have an effect, maybe raise a little or angle them slightly back.
Just a very tiny change can make the difference between agony and comfort.
Sometimes when you do lots of adjustments you think you've got the seat just right then the day after you would swear it's been moved.
Also the seat angle in relation to you is changed if you raise or lower it even slightly so the seat height needs to be correct first of all.
I think it's one of the most difficult and crucial adjustments to make on a bike and I've known folk give up cycling because they couldn't get comfortable.
If you regularly lend your bike to others it's worth having a spare seat attached to a matching post just for them and keep yours safe.
Dave.

 

[Blew it]

...Just a very tiny change can make the difference between agony and comfort.

Very true. A couple of weeks back I fitted an adjustable ahead stem with a view to raising the handlebars a tad...the original setup resulted in a 4° off vertical "ape-crouch"....a bit too much for my liking. Unfortunately, the front hydraulic hose is too short to allow any appreciable change, and I haven't got round to fitting a longer hose yet.

The cause of this new problem is one of physiological change rather than any changes to the bike...just need to find a way of dealing with the effect

All the best
Bob

 

[D C]

Alcohol, administered internally
Dave.

 

[danfoto]

Gave in and got a B17 like all the evangelists recommended for my Dawes hybrid donkeys years ago, had no particular problems with it so got another one for the trailer tug, simply because I didn't know any better. Transferred the comfier one to my Thorn Sherpa when that replaced the Dawes. Stick with what you know etc etc

The Lady Wife also got B17 Ladies' models for both her bikes. Over the years the things got less and less comfortable (if indeed they ever really were), and not long after I turned 60 we bought a Christiania. With a gel saddle on it. Flogged that and bought a Workcycles FR8. With a gel saddle on it.

Long story short, I flogged both my B17s, The Lady Wife sold one of hers, she's only hanging on to the other one (which she hasn't used for three years) because she likes the big copper rivets in it, and we remain totally sold on gel saddles.

Brooks B17? Pah! I fart in their direction.

 

[Blew it]

Brooks B17? Pah! I fart in their direction.

Aaargh! got the giggles now.

I'm looking at the Specialized "Body Geometry Comfort Gel" at the moment, 30 mm wider than my current saddle. I'll see if my adjustments make any difference tomorrow, and then take it from there.

SPECIALIZED BGC

 

[Blew it]

Specialized Body Geometry Saddles

"Specialized BG (Body Geometry) saddles have been the world's best sellers since their introduction in the late 1990s. And probably deservedly so. When you sit on a conventional bicycle saddle, pressure on the perineum compresses sensitive penile nerves and arteries. This can reduces blood flow by as much as 75% according to clinical studies conducted at the University of Cologne. Pressure on the perineum can cause saddle-induced numbness, soreness, and in the worst cases, temporary impotence. Bicycle saddles are a serious business, guys.

Working with sports' scientist, Roger Minkow, Specialized addressed these issues by developing their BG (Body Geometry) saddle range. BG saddles come in a comprehensive range of styles to suit every budget and every style of riding. The one factor that defines Body Geometry is the fact that every BG saddle has a cutaway section in the middle, which Specialized call the V-groove AKA The Minkow Wedge. Having nothing there reduces perineal pressure to such a degree, the University of Cologne studies concluded that riding on a Body Geometry saddle was as safe and benign as sitting on a padded armchair."

That's interesting, could explain why it's also taking a lot longer to clear the lactic after a climb, as well as the numbness. Think I might try one.

 

[danfoto]

Aaargh! got the giggles now.

I'm looking at the Specialized "Body Geometry Comfort Gel" at the moment, 30 mm wider than my current saddle. I'll see if my adjustments make any difference tomorrow, and then take it from there.

SPECIALIZED BGC

That's really weird. The saddles we have on both our Thorns and our Kalhoffs aren't branded "Specialised", but I'll swear they're exactly the same dog with different spots ...

 

[jdallan]

Has anyone tried the ECD seat? (Sorry, couldn't insert the link.) It looks odd but might be worth a try.

 

[Blew it]

No, I've never tried a noseless saddle. I don't think it would suit me at all, as I tend to steer the bike through the saddle when negotiating tricky bits, which includes flicking the bike around pavement diamonds.

Have a read of the review on Bikeradar.

ECD NOSELESS SADDLE

 

[Blew it]

Sloppy riding posture.

The Specialized Body Geometry Comfort, which I am hoping will stop the numbness which sets in after ten or eleven miles, is now fitted to one of the machines. While waiting for the delivery, I decided to look further into the cause of this and, why this problem suddenly developed in just a few months. I still firmly beleive, It was a physiological change in my pelvic area that rendered a previously comfortable saddle into the exact opposite.

Another clue, was a passing remark made by a retired physio therapist riding with me sometime last year, he made an observation that I was "sagging a bit". At that time, I took little notice of his words and he did not press the matter. Being a real gent, he did not seek to belittle one with a lesser knowledge, the sign of a true professional. I have now discovered, his quiet words were in fact a harbinger of my current discomfort on medium to long rides.

Over the past year, It appears I have adopted a very sloppy riding posture, my lower spine sagging downwards. This effectively rotates my pelvis backwards and, my body weight is being carried by the nose of the saddle through my pubic bone, where all the nerves and blood vessels are. The exact opposite riding posture can be seen in those sporty young things riding the Tour de France, their lower spines arched steeply upward, pelvis rotated forwards, their body weight transferred to the saddle through their sit-bones....essential for maximum power and endurance. Neither of these exaggerated riding postures are desirable for comfortable leisure riding.

Ideally, a "neutral" or straight lower spine is what's needed. During today's fifteen mile trial ride with the new saddle, I made a conscious effort to keep my pelvis rotated forward. How? Try this: suck your tummy-button in towards your spine, your pelvis will rotate forwards as a result. Try it whilst riding....you'll feel your weight shifting to your sit-bones.

At the end of today's ride, numbness was just starting to set in, clearly, I have more work to do. I need to strengthen the associated core muscles responsible for maintaining a neutral lumbar region spinal position. Below is a link to a website which suggests some exercises to achieve this. These exercises will be added to my regular weight-training regime.

This growing old malarkey's a bit of caper innit!

Chin up, back straight and press on regardless.

All the best to those that deserve it.
Bob

CLICK HERE FOR THE EXERCISES

 

[Scimitar]

When I was getting physio after my knee op the bloke doing it (a trainer with a hurling team - and by goad they take their hurling seriously here, so no fiddler) included some posture exercises and I must say they made a tremendous difference. I gradually lost the habit of doing them and now, reading your post, am reminded to give them a try. Even sitting here, I am in the habit of slouching and posturing properly feels much better. I will give them a go on the saddle, too.

 

[danfoto]

Try this: suck your tummy-button in towards your spine, your pelvis will rotate forwards as a result. Try it whilst riding....you'll feel your weight shifting to your sit-bones.

Alternatively, ride a bike with a "sit up and beg" riding position. Works for me (and for most Europeans).