Sunday, January 2, 2011

Q&A: Bicycle Seat Relief

While most cyclists do fine on normal, everyday bicycle seats, some people, like Nick here, suffer so badly they consider giving up biking, which is a shame. Fortunately, there are all kinds of seats to choose from, and even some very unique ones as I explain... 

Q: Hi Jim,
I'm coming to you almost as a last resort. My story is, I got into biking again because I liked it as a kid and my doctor said I needed to start exercising. (I can't walk or jog much cause my back's not so good.) So, I went out and got a basic mountain bike - nothing fancy - but something to ride around on that has a comfortable upright riding position. 

For a few months now, I've been getting out a couple of times a week and actually enjoying it except for one thing. My butt is killing me. And nothing I've tried seems to help. I go numb and get so sore I have to keep stopping and it's taking all the fun away. I tried switching to a wider, softer seat, but that didn't work. I think my seat is adjusted right too. I even bought some cycling shorts with the padding inside and even that didn't make the pain and numbness go away.

Is there any way to get a comfortable seat or do I have to find another type of exercise?
Nick

The Spongy Wonder (keep reading for details)
A: Sorry to hear about your saddle sores, Nick, but it's a common problem with many new or returning riders and something that can bother even pro riders sometimes. In fact of all the cycling inventions created since the first bike came along about 150 years ago, there have probably been more seats than anything else because yours is such a common complaint and always has been.

There's a lot to understand about seats and what causes saddle sores and how to prevent them and my extensive online bicycle seats guide should help you as it has many others in your shoes. For example, you said that you had tried a wider, softer, seat. But sometimes what's needed is a narrower, firmer saddle that provides more support and doesn't squish and get in the way so much. 

You also said you had tried cycling shorts but maybe no one told you that these special shorts are meant to be worn alone (without underwear) since the seams in underwear can press on nerves and cause numbness, and also chafe. And, even seat adjustment can be tricky. A little too high or low makes a big difference and if the seat is angled up or down that can cause problems too. Here's how to adjust a seat.

Any good bicycle shop will have an expert who can take a look at your bike's setup and your seat and tell you if they spot something wrong. And they should be happy to let you try different seats since there are so many types. Usually, as long as the seat is in new condition you can bring it back and trade it for another one until you find the one that feels right. Another way to test seats is to try the ones your riding friends like. Maybe they had problems and found one that works for them that you'll like too. And, the bike shop may be able to recommend a saddle based on what's not working for you now.

The Real Seat
But, let's say that all of these steps don't work, and you just can't find a seat that doesn't hurt you. What do you do then? I recommend trying non-standard seats, also called alternate or alternative seats. They're unique and can be a little hard to find so I provide a regularly updated list (I just added the Carbon Comfort Saddle this week) on my bicycle seats guide and I've provided a few examples here so you can see just how different they are.

Probably the most unconventional looking is the Real Seat. Kind of like putting the seat from a lawn chair on your bicycle, it provides a wide sling seat for comfort and support that feels a little like sitting on a playground swing.

Tip: If you switch to one of these alternate seats from a standard saddle, there's a learning curve. Riding on a regular seat you control the bike a good bit with your thighs holding and pushing on the front of the seat (the "nose"). 

But on alternate seats, you often sit more on top of the seat and there's usually no nose to use to control the bike, so you'll want to practice to get used to it.

The oldest alternate seat that I can remember is the Easy Seat (it also goes by the "Hobson seat.") I remember ads for this in the sixties (the name has changed over the years) and it's still selling strong all these years later.

It's a two-part seat, which is actually a very early design dating back to the 1890's. The idea is that if the seat is split in half, there won't be any pressure on your sensitive areas and each half can move with your pedaling motion unlike a standard seat that remains fixed in one place. 

The BiSaddle
The Easy Seat has two cupped and cushioned "pads" that can be adjusted sideways so that they're directly beneath your sit bones.

Tip: Since alternate seats can be expensive and you may have to order online, ask if they'll take the seat back if it doesn't work for you. If they won't do that, ask if there's a local bike shop that carries the seat so you can try it out. No? Maybe they sold one to someone in your town and that person will let you come check it out? You might make a new riding buddy that way and find a nice new seat.

Two other seats that use the two-part design are the BiSaddle that comes in men's and women's versions and can be fine-tuned to your exact sit-bone distance (photo), and the also adjustable-width Spongy Wonder (photo, top of page), which several readers have told me made their saddle woes go away.

See my list for more choices, and I hope my seat tips help you enjoy pain-free rides so you can continue cycling.

Jim

7 comments:

David Crowell said...

No mention of recumbents?

That said, I switched from a recumbent back to a regular bike. I still have the 'bent. I just don't ride it much.

A recumbent can be a way to ride, when you think you just can't deal with a saddle.

Jim Langley said...

That's a good suggestion, David. I didn't mention it on this blog post because I mention it on my website bicycle seats page and figured people would see it there when they were learning more about seats. Also, if someone already has a bicycle it's a lot to ask them to buy an entirely new bicycle. That may be the ultimate solution but trying to find a seat that works will be easier and cheaper usually. Like you I tried recumbents and actually rode them for years - but I don't have one anymore.

Thanks for the comment!
Jim

Unknown said...

Jim,

I agree .. the solution to regylar bike seats isn't the seat, it's the whole bike .. recumbent bikes ! I can sit on my Lightning recumbent all day long, looking straight down the road (neck not bent like a pretzel) and then get off feeling pretty much the same as when I got on. No stiff neck, no sore butt, no sore back. Nice! The next comfort improvement I'm looking forward to is the road-smoothing and vibration-snuffing dual suspension of a Lightning R-84 carbon recumbent (when my comfort level with spending that kind of $ on a bike finally rises to the occasion, that is).

Cheers,
Mike Kapala

Jim Bombardier said...

Jim,

We haven't communicated in a while but I saw this posting and want to make a correction. The BiSaddle has adjustability that makes it work for both men and women, we do not or ever have had a men's and womens' model

Thanks and ride safe,

Jim Bombardier
Bycycle Inc.

Jim Langley said...

Thanks for explaining that, Jim!

DonaldC said...

I have a seat similar to this called A Bummer, it's a lot better than this style or any other seat for that matter.

Jim Langley said...

Hi Donald,
Thanks for the comment. As best as I can remember, the seat called/named the "Bummer" was the first mass-produced version of the home-made Dan Henry seat. Dan Henry was a legendary cyclist who may have invented the original design. He made his seat with a pair of drop handlebars.

Here's a photo: https://jimlangley.net/wrench/wrench_images/danhenryseat.jpg

The Bummer was a similar design but built on a frame not handlebars. I used to recommend it. I don't think it's available anymore. If you know it is, Donald, please let us know where in case anyone would like to buy one.

Thanks again!
Jim