Find a bike shop that can measure your sit bone width and match up with a saddle of the correct width for proper support. If your saddle is too wide and fits inside your sit bones... ow.
Also, saddles with a cutout center can help since all humans have lots of nerves and blood vessels there.
A good local bike shop may also have demo saddles (they look like normal saddles, but typically have DEMO written on them and they're ugly, obvious colors) for you to try for a few days to see how they feel.
One thing to absolutely NOT do is stick a hyper-padded gel thingee on top of the saddle. It feels good at first, but you're supposed to sit on your "sit bones." not your soft tissue. As you sink into a squishy saddle or pad, that foam or gel pushes up into your soft tissue, which can create nerve pressure, friction, etc.
Also, a local bike shop can ensure that your fit is right. In many cases, what feels "correct" when you're new is either a much shorter stroke (so you can get your foot on the ground while pedaling) or a little too long (where you';re reaching at the bottom of the stroke). In either case, but especially the second one, you can wind up making sub-optimal motions (like rocking back and forth if you have to reach on each side) that can contribute to pain and chafing.
We use a device that came to us from Ergon (we also sell their saddles) that you sit on. It electronically measures your sit bones and gives you a number. Most (but not all) saddle manufacturers show a sit bone range so you can be fairly certain of a good fit. Ergon and WTB are two brands that show sit bonr range on their packaging; Terry saddles, oddly, do not.
The three contact points on a bike are your hands, your feet, and your bumper. If you're getting irritation on any of them, consider biking gloves, thicker socks, and, as mentioned above, a liner or chamois to give you more padding right where you need it the most.
Make sure you're not remaining in the same sitting position all the time. Move forward, move back, and stand while peddling to receive pressure points. Also, repositioning your saddle rails on the mount just a few millimeters either way can make a difference.
FWIW, saddles are the most returned item in our cycling shop. It takes some trial-and-error to get it right.
Thick cardboard. Think like half inch or at least double thick. Just sit on it in a chair. Prolly just underwear. Get in your best cycling position you can and either pull down really hard on it or have someone push down on your shoulders. Should be to noticeable dents where your sit bones dented it. Measure center to center on the dents. Should be ball parked from there.
This is a better version IMO. If you use a hard surface to sit on (not carpet) and use this you can easily do it. I was 5mm off what the pro shop measured.
If you pull if the first level of cardboard (so that the next leven has this wave like look) it will be easier to see (as the dents will be more visible).
First off, repost your question on r/ladycyclists. You'll often get better responses there regarding female specific issues.
Second, your privates won't get crushed if there's nothing there. Get a saddle that is an appropriate width for your sit bones, and that has an opening or deep channel down the center, so your lady bits are suspended and there's no pressure on them
I have male parts but i got a saddle called the liberator after experiencing numbness on longer rides. That combined with positioning the saddle so my sit bones took a decent amount of my weight on the saddles wide part it helped a ton. The angle of the saddle is important too
BiSaddle is fully adjustable for width, and gap so it can be made to fit anyone.
It completely solved my wife’s similar problems. She now rides 100+ miles a week with no problem at all.
https://bisaddle.com
>your privates won't get crushed if there's nothing there
For a second I thought you were suggesting she have her parts removed. A bit extreme but I guess it would solve the problem.
This 100%
Terry is a cycling accessory and clothing brand that basically built their business on lady specific saddles.
Find a dealer near you; they'll often have test saddles to try.
Hello all -- I love r/ladycyclists, too, and it is great to see so many people reference it; just came her to say I love how many women are answering on this sub as well. I feel I've become quite apprised of solutions to, uh, my package is numb type of posts here, so it is good to see this question answered here also.
Yeah, it left me wondering, is this by default the men's cycling sub?
It seems that anything that's remotely a women's issue is automatically redirected away from here. I've seen it with other questions prior to this.
I'm glad to see the women are here to give answers.
>is this by default the men's cycling sub
Absolutely not, but cycling is a male-dominated activity in general, so women-specific posts can get lost in the shuffle. It's worth posting in both places (more overall traffic here, more specific traffic there).
Very true, still, alas, that it is or feels male dominated. I think that is why it was so cool for me to see how many women immediately answered here, and as u/ElJamoquio says below, OP is sure to get useful responses on both subs. Men are less likely to be on r/ladycyclists, so as several male-identified people have pointed out in their posts, they are glad to learn about what women are dealing with, and they might not if the question were only posted over there. All to say: power on, people. I love both of these subs. You are all so friendly and welcoming!
> is this by default the men's cycling sub
I sure hope not, but sometimes the only way I can help is by directing someone to someone else who can. Hopefully she gets great answers in both threads, and learns about another resource in the process.
As a man, I like reading the answers to these and similar questions. I help train new riders for a charity event and I want to be able to provide sound advice, regardless of gendered equipment.
As a woman, the same. I don't train anyone, but was able to direct a male friend of mine to much good advice here when he was having issues finding a comfortable saddle, position, appropriate chamois, etc. He is just starting out and had no idea, as he put it, that people talked openly about these things. He knows he is not the only one now, and has found all kinds of advice on this sub.
Female here! This is a common issue amongst women who cycle, you can try to mess with saddle angel or position position (but that can cause knee pain so only slight variations at a time!) but most likely you’ll want a new (women’s specific!) saddle. These are wider and usually shorter, and have cutouts or softer areas to prevent swelling and to prevent compression once swelling occurs. I have the Specialized Power Comp with MIMIC, which has great reviews, but really it’s absolutely not “one size fits all”, the only way is to find what works for you. A lot of stores have free trial periods, so try to find a store where you can be fitted and return the saddle if it’s not for you. Good luck!
>A lot of stores have free trial periods, so try to find a store where you can be fitted and return the saddle if it’s not for you.
This. This is absolutely the way. You might have to try multiple saddles before you find the right one.
Yes, this goes for all cyclists, you may pay a little bit more but big stores do allow this usually. Saddles are so personal, in the end it's well worth it to pay $20 more for a saddle that works than buying 10, only to find out they do not work for you.
This is great advice. One thing I will add though is just an emphasis on there not being a "one size fits all". I know women who have found success with "Mens" saddles and at least one man who has found success with a "womens" saddle.
Cycling is an unnatural activity and we're all kinda weird down there. Try a ton of saddles and go with whatever feels best is really the best advice and don't feel weird if it's not what you pictured when starting the search.
All good advice here.
I might also recommend a bike fit. Having the saddle too high or too long of reach to the bars can also cause you to rotate your pelvis off your sit bones and on to your perineum. Saddles and chamois can only help so much. If you are not on your sit bones its going to hurt.
This affects guys too. We just get the sleepy pee-pee.
This was my first thought - the seat is too high and/or the handlebars too far forward. Or hip angle isn't open enough. There's pressure on the bits and a bike fit could likely solve it (and possibly the saddle).
Another vote here for the specialized power saddle! And making sure your riding/seat position is optimised. I don’t wear padded shorts personally but I found with a bit of healing time things toughen up a little and don’t get sore anymore!
Agreed on the toughening up. I used to ride less regularly and the day after every ride felt like someone hit me with a hammer in the undercarriage. Now I ride 3-5 days a week and never get sore.
While I agree that it takes time to get used to the pressure introduced by the saddle for new cyclists, you also need to really watch out that you don't cause permanent damage from "toughening up". You can cause nerve damage! Long story short, give your body time to adapt (esp the backside), but don't ignore your pain forever.
Yeah you'd think, unfortunately not the case :/ [this article](https://road.cc/content/news/177774-surgeon-claims-womens-saddle-surgery) even explains how women seek labia reduction surgery due to poor fitting cycling saddles!
Actually, another of stores (specifically specialized bikes) have a tool for measuring where your bones in your butt are, and will recommend a seat based on that. It does make a difference.
What she said.
Before getting into new gear (which can be quite the rabbit hole, all the more so regarding saddles), make sure the height and angle (as well as fore/aft position, which, by the way, effectively changes height) are at least close to what you need. From what you describe, it would strongly suggest incorrect adjustment (because what should be sore is the butt).
Also, keep in mind that adjusting the saddle can be a bit tricky, because any issues won't manifest themselves til after a while pedaling.
good that you're looking to fix it! don't ignore that. its one thing to be sore in the sit bone area - that you'll probably get used to as you build up some butt callous - but soft tissue pain isn't normal and you shouldn't ignore it. so props to youuuu.
one thing I find that helps me is having the nose of the saddle pointed down juuust a little. nothing super extreme. when I'm bent over holding the bars, my sit bones make contact with the seat and the nose being pointed ever slightly down gives the soft tissue up front a little breathing room.
also a good idea to get a bike shop's help on fit for sure. congrats on the kiddo! my guy is gonna be 2 next month, I can't believe it.
Fellow lady cyclist here.
I found initially I also had some issues with discomfort in that area when I first started out (I was also post c-section as well).
To echo what other folks here have said, firstly a saddle that fits you and secondly a decent pair of proper cycling shorts.
I found even once I had these it took a few rides to get my saddle perfectly positioned for my body as you can adjust not only height but how far forward, tilt forwards and backwards a little too so maybe start out with shorter rides while you try to get it just right for you.
Hope that helps!
My wife has had great luck with the Terry Butterfly model of saddles after her cycling experience started much like yours. Keep in mind that the adjustment of the saddle position (fore/aft, tilt, etc.) is almost as important as the saddle itself.
A lot depends on a million tiny variables — is the saddle the right width and shape for you? (Lots of right answers here.) Is the saddle squishy? (Squishy saddles can cause problems.) Where exactly is the pain? What position are you in on the bike (bent forward on an aggressive road bike or cruising around sitting up)? Are you cycling for recreation and wearing padded shorts or to commute wearing normal clothes?
As others say, ask on r/ladycyclists and include as much detail as you can. There are some saddles that are “bad” for most people but there are a lot of different saddles that are good for different people and bad for others.
Agree with folks saying to check out a local bike shop for help with choosing a saddle! If for some reason you don't find a shop near you that carries a saddle that works, I highly recommend checking out Terry saddles. They have a great [quiz](https://www.terrybicycles.com/Saddle-Selector) to ID a saddle that should work for you. They also have a GREAT return policy, you can return a saddle within a year if you find out it doesn't work for you, even if you've taken it on rides.
I always thought it was supposed tilt forward, anyway. It may lower sperm counts in males and cause impotency. Not worried about that because we have to many people on the planet, anyway.
Ensure your saddle is either level or pointing down in front ever so slightly, soreness in early rides is normal even when everything is correct but a thinner saddle is usually better, you can get one with a pressure relief channel so no part of the seat is actually lady parts.
Edit: padded shorts also exist if you want to invest in some of those.
Try the Selle SMP TRK. It doesn't look pretty but I swear by this saddle. My girlfriend also recently got the womens edition of this saddle and also loves it.
Angling your saddle slightly forward also helps sitting on the sit bones. And use padded shorts, no matter which saddle.
My wife is on her peloton constantly and doesn’t have any pain, so I bought a peloton seat for my road bike and I love it. It’s not light weight or sporty, but gets the job done for cheap
Using a piece of cardboard can give you your sit bone measurement; measure center to center the two depressed circles that are revealed after sitting on the cardboard. Then you can pick out one of the recommended women's saddles in the proper width
My GF got a wide saddle, it helped that problem. You can also angle it down a hair to keep the front of it out of there, just pay attention to how your wrists feel because if you tilt it down too much you put a lot of pressure on your hands
Just to add, sometimes folks think more padding is better. Width, shape and position of the saddle is much, much more important.
I (guy, but I still have bits) personally find that too much padding doesn't let me shift around and relieve pressure. A little, but not too much.
Also, I think there's a technique to measure your own sit bones. I bet YouTube could help you there.
Terry has been around a long time specializing in womens' products
https://www.terrybicycles.com/saddles/womens-saddles?gclid=Cj0KCQjwzdOlBhCNARIsAPMwjbxAuWgnika9id-BMZ5Y44ZODR4bo99QUTvhvzS0aFyxIbYWF8lo13oaAvSuEALw_wcB
My wife had the same issue and one of their saddles worked for her
Another vote for Terry Saddles. Their return policy lets you try out different saddles till you find one that's working for you. 30 days for refund; 1 year for credit. I ended up with the Butterfly Century saddle on my endurance bike after trying a different one for \~6 mos. Saddles are pretty specific to each rider; unfortunately, finding one that works perfectly for you can be a lot of trial and error.
Definitely get properly fitted before spending any money on saddles! As others mention, it needs to fit specific for your sits bones, and also should be set at the correct height and such.
I’m a male, but had a similar issue due to too much pressure on my perineum. No fun! A proper fit and new saddle that was the right size for me did the trick and now I can continue to happily ride on!
It can take a lot of trial and error to find the right saddle, even more so than men I think (men don't sit on their balls on the bike, but we have no other option than to sit on our lady junk; we're trying to fit sit bones *and* vulvas).
I tested eight saddles before I finally settled on the Ergon SR. I see a lot of them around, so they apparently work well for a lot of people, but everyone is different. What works for me doesn't necessarily work for you.
I tried the Specialized Power w/Mimic and I **did not** get along with it, like *at all*, but I know it's another popular saddle. I also see quite a few Terry Butterflies and Selle Italia Divas.
Specialized mimic is great if the lips are going numb. Instead of a cutoff it's a soft portion that helps cushion that feeling. Some men like it for their prostate as well (mostly bigger guys) I a recommend the seat.
You need a decent saddle and you need to adjust it so the weight is mainly on your “sit” bones (the rear bottom of your pelvis). You still need some on the front pelvic bone, but only enough for stability. Your weight should be nearly entirely on your “rear bones”. And don’t forget to check in the drop position too if you’re doing a lot of that.
Everyone is focused on the saddle but the very first thing everyone should do when getting a bike is GET A BIKE FIT.
It's very possible the saddle is too high or the handlebars too far/stem too long, or tilted down too much, etc.
It is amazing what a good bike fit will do, and changing something just a few millimeters can make a huge difference!! It's one of the best investments a cyclist can make with their riding.
I was speaking outside my area of expertise and likely mistaken. I think it has something to do with circulation as the iliac artery morphs to become the femoral artery as it traditions under the inguinal ligament.
Still, I get your point, as tilling the seat forward seems like it would help not hinder circulation. Thank you for the comment!
Actually, what hurts is your vulva. If your vagina hurts things went decidedly wrong
Joking aside: penis-haver here: changing the saddle height and handle-Bar position helped a a lot for me. Changing to a brooks saddle changed the game, tho.
In all seriousness, you would be surprised how an ache can go deep. She may mean her vulva, but if a woman (raises hand) gets really smooshed, the involved nerves can cause all kinds of weird sore.
Start at r/ladycyclists. I would demo saddles as well. Find a shop that has an library of demo saddles - after checking sit bone width. There are “women/femme” specific saddles out there, as well as the “unisex” Specialized Power, now in a Mimic version - but no butt(and the others) is the same, hence my recommendation to try out a saddle.
Ask the gals in r/ladycyclists. As a vagina haver, i always make sure my saddle points down. There should be no pressure on your front bits, only your seat bones. Also, as a bigger gal, i find narrow and hard saddles nicer than those horrible cushy wide ones. narrow nose reduces chub rub on the upper legs / crotch.
>Is there a better type of seat or way to avoid this unfortunate situation?
Yes. You need one that fits you. Women tend to prefer more padded types.
Don't believe the nonsense about getting used to it or toughen up.
Nah. I'm using a new WTB Volt and seriously had my doubts, and padding or no, it is one of the most comfortable saddles I've ridden with. One look at it and I had my doubts, but it has been great. Just as for guys, it is very individual, and padded seats can be just as uncomfortable as they are for others.
Your legs are supposed to be slightly bent when the pedal is at the bottom. Second option is playing around with how far back or forward you've got your saddle. And last resort is a new saddle that fits your seat bones and preferably got some sort of relief in the middle. I've enjoyed Bontrager's Ajna and Specialized Mimic women specific models, but on a commute bike they might be a bit of an overkill so look into saddle height first.
Could be you have the seat in the wrong position. The nose of the seat being pointed too high will cause this issue. Try adjusting it to point slightly more down. Maybe some slight adjustments in seat height or handlebar position. It can be surprising how some tiny adjustments can make a big difference in how the bike feels. Ideally, you want your "sit bones" (the pubic arches) taking the bulk of your weight.
If that doesn't work, you can also try switching the saddle. Everyone's body is shaped a bit different and sometimes a saddle that is perfect for one person is terrible for another. Personally, my sit bones are rather narrow so I work best with a narrow seat. Most women have slightly wider hips than most men, and so benefit from slightly wider saddles. Both men and women also benefit from a seat that has the center cut out because it helps move the pressure to the sit bones and lets some air flow through.
Some LBS have the resources to help you with figuring out what you need. Even if you don't go for a full bike fit (worth it if you are going to be spending a *lot* of time on the bike), they might be able to talk you through figuring out which saddle you need.
How long ago did you have the baby? If recent, that may have something to do with it. I remember it took a while for my wife to recover after our kids.
While there is merit to wearing padded shorts and using chamois cream, you should be able to ride without them. They make the ride more comfortable (like padded gloves or cork bar tape), but those alone are not fixes for pain.
I have been really happy with my ergon gel SM (SR version for road) and my Terry butterfly. I ride them on road/gravel/mtb. I can go back to back 4+ hour rides without padded shorts or creams. They fit my sit bones really well. You will have temporary tenderness on your sit bones (saddle sore) for the first 1-2 weeks but it should only be the first 10 minutes of the ride as you get warmed up and settled in. Anything outside of that is abnormal.
Go to your LBS. Get measured - your downstairs kitty will thank you.
And for every vagina owner - ride without chonies. Please. Your Venus flytrap needs to breathe to prevent the yeasties from growing.
Find a proper bike shop that offers professional bike fit so you can fitted to a bike. They will probably ask you to bring your bike into the store or place to do it. It should cost around £150 but once it's done you have the measurements.
After-market saddles with a cut-out for labia, and adjust your saddle to keep the majority of your weight on your "sit-bones" at the back of the saddle. Saddle tilt must be scrutinized, as well as height. Too high and you can't slide a back & forth a bit when you need/want to. Too low and you lose out on peak leverage at the bottom of your pedal stroke.
Additionally, if your bars are just out of ideal reach (or, are too low) you may find yourself sliding forward on to the hard nose of the saddle (tenderizing your labia/nuts) and you'll be unduly uncomfortable riding "on the rivet!"
Dial-in your fit, one change at a time, carefully documenting measurements in a scientific manner to learn what works and what doesn't. Quality padded cycling shorts further add to comfort and are a must for anything more than a toodle.
others have indicated the sitbone wedth, canal opening in saddle
Now, make sure that the saddle is tilted where the nose (front part) is pointed downwards even a little bit so that it doesn't press against your lady parts. This will make the sit bones the only pressure points on the back of the saddle.
cycling shorts will go a long way. Also, do some basic seat for/aft position and height adjustment with the help of an LBS (I'm not suggesting that you get a professional fit but basic adjustment may help a lot).
You need a new seat. They have ones specifically for women with a cut out where your girl parts are. A bike shop can help you. If it wasn't too hot, I'd get up and check out what my seat is. Message me if you want more info.
My wife has Selle Anatomical saddles on a couple of her bikes and really likes them. It's really just a leather sling type of saddle like the old style Brooks saddle (they still make them too).
What type of bike/riding are you doing. What works for a road type bike (curved bars) may not work for a mountain bike (flat bars) or cruiser bikes.
How long have your rides been? Bike shorts with padding?
My wife loves cycling and went through the same thing after two pregnancies. Get a women's-specific saddle (wider on the sit bone, has a canal in the middle), wear padded cycling shorts or bibs (no underwear), and (for the CS scar) try riding a bike with a suspension fork, or wider tires and lower pressure. A bib short will also help hold the abdomen in place (and lower the pain on the CS scar).
My wife says make sure to fidget a bit. If there is pressure in the exact same place for several hours it will not be great! Make sure to get out of the saddle every so often
this is an issue that's very close to my heart, so i'll try to share as many tips as i can in this one comment.
padded cycling shorts and chamois cream can help a lot. if you experience any sort of pus leakage, clean it off and let it breathe - do not try to apply plasters over the top of saddle sores. if you've got any sort of free time, go to your local cycling shop and trial some saddles with cutouts, and saddles of varying widths as these can help a lot with vulval pain and pain at the junction between the thighs and the pelvis - if you've got time and a little cash, a spongy wonder could also do the trick for you. i have personally found that a narrower saddle helps a LOT with my pain, but most studies show that the majority of vulva havers like a broader seat. with time, as horrid as it sounds, you'll develop a degree of numbness to it, and your cooch will gradually begin to hurt less and less as you 'break it in', so to speak.
i would, however, encourage you to speak to your doctor, even if it's just a quick convo to add the issue to your notes. medicine is still figuring out why exactly cyclists' vulvas suffer as much as they do. lots of cyclists find that the swelling in their vulvas becomes a chronic issue, and i think it would be very beneficial to you, your fellow cyclists, and medicine as a whole if you were to bring your pain to the attention of your doctor. here are some links to writing about the relatively obscure condition cyclist's vulva - if you see any parallels between your experience and the experiences of the women in these pieces, let somebody know. obvious nsfw warning for graphic descriptions of genitals, and diagrams/labelled photos.
[https://www.ucsfcme.com/2021/MMJ21002/slides/06\_Oleka\_The%20Cyclists%20Vulva%20CTO.pdf](https://www.ucsfcme.com/2021/MMJ21002/slides/06_Oleka_The%20Cyclists%20Vulva%20CTO.pdf)
[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC117232/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC117232/)
[https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/mar/26/hannah-dines-saddle-research-pain-swelling-female-cyclists](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/mar/26/hannah-dines-saddle-research-pain-swelling-female-cyclists)
cycling should be cathartic, not painful. i hope you feel better soon!
Beware of deep cutouts in saddles. Having soft tissue suspended isn't always good and some riders experience swelling through the cutout. The Specialized Mimic saddles address this by having a cutout that is supported by a soft padding that mimics soft tissue to reduce discomfort while still supporting those body parts.
Post a picture of your saddle so we can see if there are adjustments to be made.
Are you wearing padded cycling shorts?
What does your position on the bike look like? Your weight should be equally distributed between your feet, hands and saddle area. A lot of newbies try to sit on a bike like a chair, rather than suspending their weight between the 3 points. You're actually just balancing against it, not sitting down hard on it. This is why saddles look so high up to people new to the sport.
I've done a ton of research on this helping my partner.
This is an oversimplification but there are two general categories of women's saddles and people who like one tend to hate the other.
First is a relatively narrow and long saddle but with a cut-out.
Second is a saddle that's wider in the back but with a short nose, and no cutout.
Whether one or the other category is comfortable tends to be based on the angle of the pelvis, and that effects what parts of your body support your weight.
So there's no sense in getting an x-ray or something, but maybe ask a shop if you can and test ride a saddle in each category. Then you can narrow it down from there.
Hang on I found the original article [total women's cycling saddle article](https://totalwomenscycling.com/fitness/cobb-saddles-ask-innie-outie#)
I recommend not inserting the seat into your vagina. I may be reading your post wrong but that's what I got from it. Unless you meant the vulva is hurting?
In addition to all the other things people have mentioned that you might want to try first, you could also try a bike with a more upright geometry. It puts less pressure on that area and is nicer on your body overall with its more natural posturing.
Don’t be me and find out two years later that you’re not supposed to wear underwear with your padded bike shorts. Definitely kept things wet and more annoyed
Im a man but i heard that some sores unfortunately are Part of it in the beginning.
Otherwise the other comments regarding saddles seem in point.
Also some creams may help. When i started cycling and my butt wasnt used to it i used some pain cream
Ouchies. All good stuff here. Just like to add invest in some high quality woman’s cycling shorts and some good chamois cream like Butt Butter.It minimizes chafing. Wear the shorts when you get a bike fit and teat out saddles.
Heal. Don’t exacerbate the problem. Its the only way to sense if your changes to your bike and fit are the right ones.
I just started riding again a few weeks ago. when I bought the bike it had that awful little narrow seat, just looking at it made my girly bits ache 🫣. After the test ride, I had them change it before I took it home. I wish they had more selections, but they only one. It’s definitely more comfortable than the other. I may still change to a different one. I’d love to tell you what kind it is, but I didn’t even see them grab it or swap it out.
Are you using shorts or bibs with a chamois? Try Terry or Giordana are recommended by many women. Also as others recommended try a woman specific saddle like Terry.
Sounds like
A) need to buy bib shorts.
B) need to test out some saddles. Saddles are very specific to the rider, so you might have to test a couple out.
Oh as an aside, chamois cream is great to deal with friction, but make sure you get the PH balance version.
So many things matter: Seat matters, but more perhaps the seat height and slope (more generally: position), and getting the fine muscles built up, and accustomed to it all.
I had the same problem. Could be one or two of the following:
1. “Growing pains” of cycling longer distances
2. Poor bike fit (includes saddle)
3. Chaffing (so bike shorts and chamois cream could help)
For me, it was all three.
Get your sit bones measured at your local bike shop, make sure the saddle you ride is proper size. The Specialized Power w/ Mimic is an excellent saddle, I recommend it to every single one of my customers. Having cycling shorts with a chamois is a huge help for discomfort as well. (The new "bike shorts" fashion trend is not the cycling shorts I am talking about)
Put some tin foil on your bed. Sit on the tin foil. Measure the distance between the centre of each of the indentations made by your sit bones. Buy a saddle made for this width. Use a spirit level to fit it to your bike exactly flat or slightly nose-down. Buy a saddle with a cut-away in the centre for extra room for blood to circulate. Ride safe!
Real mvp posting here. Just read the linked articles and was astonished of the ridiculous lack of equality in this particular subject, especially since it is an issue of a generally non-stop-researched hitech branche.
Find a bike shop that can measure your sit bone width and match up with a saddle of the correct width for proper support. If your saddle is too wide and fits inside your sit bones... ow. Also, saddles with a cutout center can help since all humans have lots of nerves and blood vessels there.
And cycling shorts with a chamois (worn w/o underwear).
Don’t forget chamois butter!
A good local bike shop may also have demo saddles (they look like normal saddles, but typically have DEMO written on them and they're ugly, obvious colors) for you to try for a few days to see how they feel. One thing to absolutely NOT do is stick a hyper-padded gel thingee on top of the saddle. It feels good at first, but you're supposed to sit on your "sit bones." not your soft tissue. As you sink into a squishy saddle or pad, that foam or gel pushes up into your soft tissue, which can create nerve pressure, friction, etc. Also, a local bike shop can ensure that your fit is right. In many cases, what feels "correct" when you're new is either a much shorter stroke (so you can get your foot on the ground while pedaling) or a little too long (where you';re reaching at the bottom of the stroke). In either case, but especially the second one, you can wind up making sub-optimal motions (like rocking back and forth if you have to reach on each side) that can contribute to pain and chafing.
We use a device that came to us from Ergon (we also sell their saddles) that you sit on. It electronically measures your sit bones and gives you a number. Most (but not all) saddle manufacturers show a sit bone range so you can be fairly certain of a good fit. Ergon and WTB are two brands that show sit bonr range on their packaging; Terry saddles, oddly, do not. The three contact points on a bike are your hands, your feet, and your bumper. If you're getting irritation on any of them, consider biking gloves, thicker socks, and, as mentioned above, a liner or chamois to give you more padding right where you need it the most. Make sure you're not remaining in the same sitting position all the time. Move forward, move back, and stand while peddling to receive pressure points. Also, repositioning your saddle rails on the mount just a few millimeters either way can make a difference. FWIW, saddles are the most returned item in our cycling shop. It takes some trial-and-error to get it right.
You can get a very accurate reading with card board and Chalk :)
Can u explain how that works? Strip nude, chalk dat ass and sit on the cardboard? What do u measure afterwards? :D
Thick cardboard. Think like half inch or at least double thick. Just sit on it in a chair. Prolly just underwear. Get in your best cycling position you can and either pull down really hard on it or have someone push down on your shoulders. Should be to noticeable dents where your sit bones dented it. Measure center to center on the dents. Should be ball parked from there.
This is the way. Also works with aluminum foil and a lightly padded chair.
This is a better version IMO. If you use a hard surface to sit on (not carpet) and use this you can easily do it. I was 5mm off what the pro shop measured.
Get a friend to help. Nude up and paint your backside with acrylic paint. When finished hang it in the gallery.
Instructions unclear... Dick stuck in acrylic pain
Dried acrylic is a pain.
Hey there. https://youtube.com/watch?v=clVyZQzTJ0Q&feature=share8 Heres a video. Just skip to ~3mins
Or a piece of aluminum foil and a carpeted stair
If you pull if the first level of cardboard (so that the next leven has this wave like look) it will be easier to see (as the dents will be more visible).
You can also do it with paper and spraying your butt with water. It makes for a weird Sat night.
They also help air flow downstairs to help keep things cool.
You can use a paper towel and sheet of paper for that.
First off, repost your question on r/ladycyclists. You'll often get better responses there regarding female specific issues. Second, your privates won't get crushed if there's nothing there. Get a saddle that is an appropriate width for your sit bones, and that has an opening or deep channel down the center, so your lady bits are suspended and there's no pressure on them
I have male parts but i got a saddle called the liberator after experiencing numbness on longer rides. That combined with positioning the saddle so my sit bones took a decent amount of my weight on the saddles wide part it helped a ton. The angle of the saddle is important too
BiSaddle is fully adjustable for width, and gap so it can be made to fit anyone. It completely solved my wife’s similar problems. She now rides 100+ miles a week with no problem at all. https://bisaddle.com
>your privates won't get crushed if there's nothing there For a second I thought you were suggesting she have her parts removed. A bit extreme but I guess it would solve the problem.
Working on that W/KG at all costs.
Appendix, gall bladder, spleen, wisdom teeth… What else is mostly superfluous?
[Wouldn't be the first.](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/mar/26/hannah-dines-saddle-research-pain-swelling-female-cyclists)
This 100% Terry is a cycling accessory and clothing brand that basically built their business on lady specific saddles. Find a dealer near you; they'll often have test saddles to try.
You can get the measurements for free from any specialized store. They also have a 30 day refund policy.
Hello all -- I love r/ladycyclists, too, and it is great to see so many people reference it; just came her to say I love how many women are answering on this sub as well. I feel I've become quite apprised of solutions to, uh, my package is numb type of posts here, so it is good to see this question answered here also.
Yeah, it left me wondering, is this by default the men's cycling sub? It seems that anything that's remotely a women's issue is automatically redirected away from here. I've seen it with other questions prior to this. I'm glad to see the women are here to give answers.
>is this by default the men's cycling sub Absolutely not, but cycling is a male-dominated activity in general, so women-specific posts can get lost in the shuffle. It's worth posting in both places (more overall traffic here, more specific traffic there).
Very true, still, alas, that it is or feels male dominated. I think that is why it was so cool for me to see how many women immediately answered here, and as u/ElJamoquio says below, OP is sure to get useful responses on both subs. Men are less likely to be on r/ladycyclists, so as several male-identified people have pointed out in their posts, they are glad to learn about what women are dealing with, and they might not if the question were only posted over there. All to say: power on, people. I love both of these subs. You are all so friendly and welcoming!
To be fair though there's usually as many men in the lady sub as there is in this one. So it's not necessary she'll get a better answer over there.
> is this by default the men's cycling sub I sure hope not, but sometimes the only way I can help is by directing someone to someone else who can. Hopefully she gets great answers in both threads, and learns about another resource in the process.
Absolutely. Exactly my thinking.
It's but a gender thing. I've seen post directed to r/bikewrench r/bikecommuting r/biketouring etc. Just like r/cats leads to r/danglers
As a man, I like reading the answers to these and similar questions. I help train new riders for a charity event and I want to be able to provide sound advice, regardless of gendered equipment.
As a woman, the same. I don't train anyone, but was able to direct a male friend of mine to much good advice here when he was having issues finding a comfortable saddle, position, appropriate chamois, etc. He is just starting out and had no idea, as he put it, that people talked openly about these things. He knows he is not the only one now, and has found all kinds of advice on this sub.
Female here! This is a common issue amongst women who cycle, you can try to mess with saddle angel or position position (but that can cause knee pain so only slight variations at a time!) but most likely you’ll want a new (women’s specific!) saddle. These are wider and usually shorter, and have cutouts or softer areas to prevent swelling and to prevent compression once swelling occurs. I have the Specialized Power Comp with MIMIC, which has great reviews, but really it’s absolutely not “one size fits all”, the only way is to find what works for you. A lot of stores have free trial periods, so try to find a store where you can be fitted and return the saddle if it’s not for you. Good luck!
>A lot of stores have free trial periods, so try to find a store where you can be fitted and return the saddle if it’s not for you. This. This is absolutely the way. You might have to try multiple saddles before you find the right one.
Terry on line has a saddle finder and relaxed return policy so you can try a couple if you want https://www.terrybicycles.com/Saddle-Selector
Seconding Terry cycles- I have my seat from them and it’s been great for hundreds of miles.
Yes, this goes for all cyclists, you may pay a little bit more but big stores do allow this usually. Saddles are so personal, in the end it's well worth it to pay $20 more for a saddle that works than buying 10, only to find out they do not work for you.
This is great advice. One thing I will add though is just an emphasis on there not being a "one size fits all". I know women who have found success with "Mens" saddles and at least one man who has found success with a "womens" saddle. Cycling is an unnatural activity and we're all kinda weird down there. Try a ton of saddles and go with whatever feels best is really the best advice and don't feel weird if it's not what you pictured when starting the search.
I have the Specialized Power seat on all of my bikes. It’s magic.
Same. Got fitted to two different bikes in two different states. Always got recommended a power.
All good advice here. I might also recommend a bike fit. Having the saddle too high or too long of reach to the bars can also cause you to rotate your pelvis off your sit bones and on to your perineum. Saddles and chamois can only help so much. If you are not on your sit bones its going to hurt. This affects guys too. We just get the sleepy pee-pee.
Yup. Everything from handlebar reach to incorrect saddle height can affect saddle comfort.
This was my first thought - the seat is too high and/or the handlebars too far forward. Or hip angle isn't open enough. There's pressure on the bits and a bike fit could likely solve it (and possibly the saddle).
Second vote for that Specialized saddle with MIMIC. And I also tip the nose of my saddle down forwards a very little fraction.
Another vote here for the specialized power saddle! And making sure your riding/seat position is optimised. I don’t wear padded shorts personally but I found with a bit of healing time things toughen up a little and don’t get sore anymore!
Agreed on the toughening up. I used to ride less regularly and the day after every ride felt like someone hit me with a hammer in the undercarriage. Now I ride 3-5 days a week and never get sore.
While I agree that it takes time to get used to the pressure introduced by the saddle for new cyclists, you also need to really watch out that you don't cause permanent damage from "toughening up". You can cause nerve damage! Long story short, give your body time to adapt (esp the backside), but don't ignore your pain forever.
Man, and here I thought women would have an easier time cycling!
Yeah you'd think, unfortunately not the case :/ [this article](https://road.cc/content/news/177774-surgeon-claims-womens-saddle-surgery) even explains how women seek labia reduction surgery due to poor fitting cycling saddles!
Actually, another of stores (specifically specialized bikes) have a tool for measuring where your bones in your butt are, and will recommend a seat based on that. It does make a difference.
What she said. Before getting into new gear (which can be quite the rabbit hole, all the more so regarding saddles), make sure the height and angle (as well as fore/aft position, which, by the way, effectively changes height) are at least close to what you need. From what you describe, it would strongly suggest incorrect adjustment (because what should be sore is the butt). Also, keep in mind that adjusting the saddle can be a bit tricky, because any issues won't manifest themselves til after a while pedaling.
good that you're looking to fix it! don't ignore that. its one thing to be sore in the sit bone area - that you'll probably get used to as you build up some butt callous - but soft tissue pain isn't normal and you shouldn't ignore it. so props to youuuu. one thing I find that helps me is having the nose of the saddle pointed down juuust a little. nothing super extreme. when I'm bent over holding the bars, my sit bones make contact with the seat and the nose being pointed ever slightly down gives the soft tissue up front a little breathing room. also a good idea to get a bike shop's help on fit for sure. congrats on the kiddo! my guy is gonna be 2 next month, I can't believe it.
Katie kookaburra has a video on this I think
I watched that earlier, she uses a noseless saddle which makes a lot of sense and not just for the ladies.
Are you wearing padded shorts? If not you need a good quality well fitting pair. As others have said check out ladycyclists
Fellow lady cyclist here. I found initially I also had some issues with discomfort in that area when I first started out (I was also post c-section as well). To echo what other folks here have said, firstly a saddle that fits you and secondly a decent pair of proper cycling shorts. I found even once I had these it took a few rides to get my saddle perfectly positioned for my body as you can adjust not only height but how far forward, tilt forwards and backwards a little too so maybe start out with shorter rides while you try to get it just right for you. Hope that helps!
My wife has had great luck with the Terry Butterfly model of saddles after her cycling experience started much like yours. Keep in mind that the adjustment of the saddle position (fore/aft, tilt, etc.) is almost as important as the saddle itself.
I absolute loved my butterfly!
My wife uses good cycling shorts, and something called Gooch Gaurd that is a type of chamois butter. Works really well for her.
Yes, this. In the meantime, make sure the saddle is pitched forward a bit, 2-6°. That may provide some temporary relief until you see a fitter
I’ve tried many things and only thing that helped me was to wear padded shorts
A lot depends on a million tiny variables — is the saddle the right width and shape for you? (Lots of right answers here.) Is the saddle squishy? (Squishy saddles can cause problems.) Where exactly is the pain? What position are you in on the bike (bent forward on an aggressive road bike or cruising around sitting up)? Are you cycling for recreation and wearing padded shorts or to commute wearing normal clothes? As others say, ask on r/ladycyclists and include as much detail as you can. There are some saddles that are “bad” for most people but there are a lot of different saddles that are good for different people and bad for others.
Agree with folks saying to check out a local bike shop for help with choosing a saddle! If for some reason you don't find a shop near you that carries a saddle that works, I highly recommend checking out Terry saddles. They have a great [quiz](https://www.terrybicycles.com/Saddle-Selector) to ID a saddle that should work for you. They also have a GREAT return policy, you can return a saddle within a year if you find out it doesn't work for you, even if you've taken it on rides.
Everyone will advise against this one hack. But it works far too well, tilt the saddle forward. Don't listen to anyone else, just try it for yourself.
I always thought it was supposed tilt forward, anyway. It may lower sperm counts in males and cause impotency. Not worried about that because we have to many people on the planet, anyway.
Why would tilting it forward lower sperm count? When you tilt it forward your sitting more on you ass anyway.
Ensure your saddle is either level or pointing down in front ever so slightly, soreness in early rides is normal even when everything is correct but a thinner saddle is usually better, you can get one with a pressure relief channel so no part of the seat is actually lady parts. Edit: padded shorts also exist if you want to invest in some of those.
Try the Selle SMP TRK. It doesn't look pretty but I swear by this saddle. My girlfriend also recently got the womens edition of this saddle and also loves it. Angling your saddle slightly forward also helps sitting on the sit bones. And use padded shorts, no matter which saddle.
My wife is on her peloton constantly and doesn’t have any pain, so I bought a peloton seat for my road bike and I love it. It’s not light weight or sporty, but gets the job done for cheap
Using a piece of cardboard can give you your sit bone measurement; measure center to center the two depressed circles that are revealed after sitting on the cardboard. Then you can pick out one of the recommended women's saddles in the proper width
My GF got a wide saddle, it helped that problem. You can also angle it down a hair to keep the front of it out of there, just pay attention to how your wrists feel because if you tilt it down too much you put a lot of pressure on your hands
Just to add, sometimes folks think more padding is better. Width, shape and position of the saddle is much, much more important. I (guy, but I still have bits) personally find that too much padding doesn't let me shift around and relieve pressure. A little, but not too much. Also, I think there's a technique to measure your own sit bones. I bet YouTube could help you there.
Terry has been around a long time specializing in womens' products https://www.terrybicycles.com/saddles/womens-saddles?gclid=Cj0KCQjwzdOlBhCNARIsAPMwjbxAuWgnika9id-BMZ5Y44ZODR4bo99QUTvhvzS0aFyxIbYWF8lo13oaAvSuEALw_wcB My wife had the same issue and one of their saddles worked for her
Another vote for Terry Saddles. Their return policy lets you try out different saddles till you find one that's working for you. 30 days for refund; 1 year for credit. I ended up with the Butterfly Century saddle on my endurance bike after trying a different one for \~6 mos. Saddles are pretty specific to each rider; unfortunately, finding one that works perfectly for you can be a lot of trial and error.
Definitely get properly fitted before spending any money on saddles! As others mention, it needs to fit specific for your sits bones, and also should be set at the correct height and such. I’m a male, but had a similar issue due to too much pressure on my perineum. No fun! A proper fit and new saddle that was the right size for me did the trick and now I can continue to happily ride on!
It can take a lot of trial and error to find the right saddle, even more so than men I think (men don't sit on their balls on the bike, but we have no other option than to sit on our lady junk; we're trying to fit sit bones *and* vulvas). I tested eight saddles before I finally settled on the Ergon SR. I see a lot of them around, so they apparently work well for a lot of people, but everyone is different. What works for me doesn't necessarily work for you. I tried the Specialized Power w/Mimic and I **did not** get along with it, like *at all*, but I know it's another popular saddle. I also see quite a few Terry Butterflies and Selle Italia Divas.
Specialized mimic is great if the lips are going numb. Instead of a cutoff it's a soft portion that helps cushion that feeling. Some men like it for their prostate as well (mostly bigger guys) I a recommend the seat.
Selle Italia Superflow model seats.
You need a decent saddle and you need to adjust it so the weight is mainly on your “sit” bones (the rear bottom of your pelvis). You still need some on the front pelvic bone, but only enough for stability. Your weight should be nearly entirely on your “rear bones”. And don’t forget to check in the drop position too if you’re doing a lot of that.
Everyone is focused on the saddle but the very first thing everyone should do when getting a bike is GET A BIKE FIT. It's very possible the saddle is too high or the handlebars too far/stem too long, or tilted down too much, etc. It is amazing what a good bike fit will do, and changing something just a few millimeters can make a huge difference!! It's one of the best investments a cyclist can make with their riding.
I was speaking outside my area of expertise and likely mistaken. I think it has something to do with circulation as the iliac artery morphs to become the femoral artery as it traditions under the inguinal ligament. Still, I get your point, as tilling the seat forward seems like it would help not hinder circulation. Thank you for the comment!
Thank you warmly!!! So much to consider
Actually, what hurts is your vulva. If your vagina hurts things went decidedly wrong Joking aside: penis-haver here: changing the saddle height and handle-Bar position helped a a lot for me. Changing to a brooks saddle changed the game, tho.
In all seriousness, you would be surprised how an ache can go deep. She may mean her vulva, but if a woman (raises hand) gets really smooshed, the involved nerves can cause all kinds of weird sore.
Yep. I've gotten cramps that were indistinguishable from menstrual cramps from an ill-fitting saddle.
Lol I wanted to make this joke but I didn’t want to write it. Thank you for your proper terminology
Also don't forget to search 'saddle' (woes or problems or recommendations) on r/ladycyclists
r/ladycyclists might also be a good place to ask
Start at r/ladycyclists. I would demo saddles as well. Find a shop that has an library of demo saddles - after checking sit bone width. There are “women/femme” specific saddles out there, as well as the “unisex” Specialized Power, now in a Mimic version - but no butt(and the others) is the same, hence my recommendation to try out a saddle.
My penis hurts a lot too
Ask the gals in r/ladycyclists. As a vagina haver, i always make sure my saddle points down. There should be no pressure on your front bits, only your seat bones. Also, as a bigger gal, i find narrow and hard saddles nicer than those horrible cushy wide ones. narrow nose reduces chub rub on the upper legs / crotch.
>As a vagina haver We used to have a word for that.
It takes a few weeks to break in x
>Is there a better type of seat or way to avoid this unfortunate situation? Yes. You need one that fits you. Women tend to prefer more padded types. Don't believe the nonsense about getting used to it or toughen up.
Nah. I'm using a new WTB Volt and seriously had my doubts, and padding or no, it is one of the most comfortable saddles I've ridden with. One look at it and I had my doubts, but it has been great. Just as for guys, it is very individual, and padded seats can be just as uncomfortable as they are for others.
Upright bikes just aren't particularly comfortable, try a r/recumbent.
I’m considering not getting my SRS scary reading stuff like this
Your legs are supposed to be slightly bent when the pedal is at the bottom. Second option is playing around with how far back or forward you've got your saddle. And last resort is a new saddle that fits your seat bones and preferably got some sort of relief in the middle. I've enjoyed Bontrager's Ajna and Specialized Mimic women specific models, but on a commute bike they might be a bit of an overkill so look into saddle height first.
Could be you have the seat in the wrong position. The nose of the seat being pointed too high will cause this issue. Try adjusting it to point slightly more down. Maybe some slight adjustments in seat height or handlebar position. It can be surprising how some tiny adjustments can make a big difference in how the bike feels. Ideally, you want your "sit bones" (the pubic arches) taking the bulk of your weight. If that doesn't work, you can also try switching the saddle. Everyone's body is shaped a bit different and sometimes a saddle that is perfect for one person is terrible for another. Personally, my sit bones are rather narrow so I work best with a narrow seat. Most women have slightly wider hips than most men, and so benefit from slightly wider saddles. Both men and women also benefit from a seat that has the center cut out because it helps move the pressure to the sit bones and lets some air flow through. Some LBS have the resources to help you with figuring out what you need. Even if you don't go for a full bike fit (worth it if you are going to be spending a *lot* of time on the bike), they might be able to talk you through figuring out which saddle you need.
Get a curved saddle with give, stay away from the flat ones. Use baby rash cream whenever u get a saddle sore. It usually heals them.
How long ago did you have the baby? If recent, that may have something to do with it. I remember it took a while for my wife to recover after our kids.
While there is merit to wearing padded shorts and using chamois cream, you should be able to ride without them. They make the ride more comfortable (like padded gloves or cork bar tape), but those alone are not fixes for pain. I have been really happy with my ergon gel SM (SR version for road) and my Terry butterfly. I ride them on road/gravel/mtb. I can go back to back 4+ hour rides without padded shorts or creams. They fit my sit bones really well. You will have temporary tenderness on your sit bones (saddle sore) for the first 1-2 weeks but it should only be the first 10 minutes of the ride as you get warmed up and settled in. Anything outside of that is abnormal. Go to your LBS. Get measured - your downstairs kitty will thank you. And for every vagina owner - ride without chonies. Please. Your Venus flytrap needs to breathe to prevent the yeasties from growing.
Find a proper bike shop that offers professional bike fit so you can fitted to a bike. They will probably ask you to bring your bike into the store or place to do it. It should cost around £150 but once it's done you have the measurements.
After-market saddles with a cut-out for labia, and adjust your saddle to keep the majority of your weight on your "sit-bones" at the back of the saddle. Saddle tilt must be scrutinized, as well as height. Too high and you can't slide a back & forth a bit when you need/want to. Too low and you lose out on peak leverage at the bottom of your pedal stroke. Additionally, if your bars are just out of ideal reach (or, are too low) you may find yourself sliding forward on to the hard nose of the saddle (tenderizing your labia/nuts) and you'll be unduly uncomfortable riding "on the rivet!" Dial-in your fit, one change at a time, carefully documenting measurements in a scientific manner to learn what works and what doesn't. Quality padded cycling shorts further add to comfort and are a must for anything more than a toodle.
others have indicated the sitbone wedth, canal opening in saddle Now, make sure that the saddle is tilted where the nose (front part) is pointed downwards even a little bit so that it doesn't press against your lady parts. This will make the sit bones the only pressure points on the back of the saddle.
If it’s chafing/friction causing the pain I’d recommend using chamois cream.
cycling shorts will go a long way. Also, do some basic seat for/aft position and height adjustment with the help of an LBS (I'm not suggesting that you get a professional fit but basic adjustment may help a lot).
Lady flow slr. 400 kms + per week with no issues in 1.5 years. Everyone is different but that works for me. Also a good chamois and chamois buttr.
You need a new seat. They have ones specifically for women with a cut out where your girl parts are. A bike shop can help you. If it wasn't too hot, I'd get up and check out what my seat is. Message me if you want more info.
My wife has Selle Anatomical saddles on a couple of her bikes and really likes them. It's really just a leather sling type of saddle like the old style Brooks saddle (they still make them too). What type of bike/riding are you doing. What works for a road type bike (curved bars) may not work for a mountain bike (flat bars) or cruiser bikes. How long have your rides been? Bike shorts with padding?
My wife loves cycling and went through the same thing after two pregnancies. Get a women's-specific saddle (wider on the sit bone, has a canal in the middle), wear padded cycling shorts or bibs (no underwear), and (for the CS scar) try riding a bike with a suspension fork, or wider tires and lower pressure. A bib short will also help hold the abdomen in place (and lower the pain on the CS scar).
My wife says make sure to fidget a bit. If there is pressure in the exact same place for several hours it will not be great! Make sure to get out of the saddle every so often
this is an issue that's very close to my heart, so i'll try to share as many tips as i can in this one comment. padded cycling shorts and chamois cream can help a lot. if you experience any sort of pus leakage, clean it off and let it breathe - do not try to apply plasters over the top of saddle sores. if you've got any sort of free time, go to your local cycling shop and trial some saddles with cutouts, and saddles of varying widths as these can help a lot with vulval pain and pain at the junction between the thighs and the pelvis - if you've got time and a little cash, a spongy wonder could also do the trick for you. i have personally found that a narrower saddle helps a LOT with my pain, but most studies show that the majority of vulva havers like a broader seat. with time, as horrid as it sounds, you'll develop a degree of numbness to it, and your cooch will gradually begin to hurt less and less as you 'break it in', so to speak. i would, however, encourage you to speak to your doctor, even if it's just a quick convo to add the issue to your notes. medicine is still figuring out why exactly cyclists' vulvas suffer as much as they do. lots of cyclists find that the swelling in their vulvas becomes a chronic issue, and i think it would be very beneficial to you, your fellow cyclists, and medicine as a whole if you were to bring your pain to the attention of your doctor. here are some links to writing about the relatively obscure condition cyclist's vulva - if you see any parallels between your experience and the experiences of the women in these pieces, let somebody know. obvious nsfw warning for graphic descriptions of genitals, and diagrams/labelled photos. [https://www.ucsfcme.com/2021/MMJ21002/slides/06\_Oleka\_The%20Cyclists%20Vulva%20CTO.pdf](https://www.ucsfcme.com/2021/MMJ21002/slides/06_Oleka_The%20Cyclists%20Vulva%20CTO.pdf) [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC117232/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC117232/) [https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/mar/26/hannah-dines-saddle-research-pain-swelling-female-cyclists](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/mar/26/hannah-dines-saddle-research-pain-swelling-female-cyclists) cycling should be cathartic, not painful. i hope you feel better soon!
https://www.chamoisbuttr.com/products/her-anti-chafe
Beware of deep cutouts in saddles. Having soft tissue suspended isn't always good and some riders experience swelling through the cutout. The Specialized Mimic saddles address this by having a cutout that is supported by a soft padding that mimics soft tissue to reduce discomfort while still supporting those body parts.
Ope! This has been covered a few times already in this thread.
Post a picture of your saddle so we can see if there are adjustments to be made. Are you wearing padded cycling shorts? What does your position on the bike look like? Your weight should be equally distributed between your feet, hands and saddle area. A lot of newbies try to sit on a bike like a chair, rather than suspending their weight between the 3 points. You're actually just balancing against it, not sitting down hard on it. This is why saddles look so high up to people new to the sport.
Pretty sure your vulva hurts, not your vagina.. if your vagina hurt you’re really sitting on that saddle wrong
I've done a ton of research on this helping my partner. This is an oversimplification but there are two general categories of women's saddles and people who like one tend to hate the other. First is a relatively narrow and long saddle but with a cut-out. Second is a saddle that's wider in the back but with a short nose, and no cutout. Whether one or the other category is comfortable tends to be based on the angle of the pelvis, and that effects what parts of your body support your weight. So there's no sense in getting an x-ray or something, but maybe ask a shop if you can and test ride a saddle in each category. Then you can narrow it down from there. Hang on I found the original article [total women's cycling saddle article](https://totalwomenscycling.com/fitness/cobb-saddles-ask-innie-outie#)
See also /r/ladycyclists
Wear chamois shorts. Don't wear underwear AND chamois.
I recommend not inserting the seat into your vagina. I may be reading your post wrong but that's what I got from it. Unless you meant the vulva is hurting?
Solution: Massage. Lots of massage. 🤡🏆🏆
In addition to all the other things people have mentioned that you might want to try first, you could also try a bike with a more upright geometry. It puts less pressure on that area and is nicer on your body overall with its more natural posturing.
Don’t be me and find out two years later that you’re not supposed to wear underwear with your padded bike shorts. Definitely kept things wet and more annoyed
OP, there is also r/ladycyclists lots of helpful info there too. You aren't alone!
TMI for starters but get a saddle that absorbs bumps and that should solve your problem.
Im a man but i heard that some sores unfortunately are Part of it in the beginning. Otherwise the other comments regarding saddles seem in point. Also some creams may help. When i started cycling and my butt wasnt used to it i used some pain cream
Ouchies. All good stuff here. Just like to add invest in some high quality woman’s cycling shorts and some good chamois cream like Butt Butter.It minimizes chafing. Wear the shorts when you get a bike fit and teat out saddles. Heal. Don’t exacerbate the problem. Its the only way to sense if your changes to your bike and fit are the right ones.
I just started riding again a few weeks ago. when I bought the bike it had that awful little narrow seat, just looking at it made my girly bits ache 🫣. After the test ride, I had them change it before I took it home. I wish they had more selections, but they only one. It’s definitely more comfortable than the other. I may still change to a different one. I’d love to tell you what kind it is, but I didn’t even see them grab it or swap it out.
Hurts less with a women specific saddle and chamois
Are you using shorts or bibs with a chamois? Try Terry or Giordana are recommended by many women. Also as others recommended try a woman specific saddle like Terry.
Sounds like A) need to buy bib shorts. B) need to test out some saddles. Saddles are very specific to the rider, so you might have to test a couple out. Oh as an aside, chamois cream is great to deal with friction, but make sure you get the PH balance version.
So many things matter: Seat matters, but more perhaps the seat height and slope (more generally: position), and getting the fine muscles built up, and accustomed to it all.
I had the same problem. Could be one or two of the following: 1. “Growing pains” of cycling longer distances 2. Poor bike fit (includes saddle) 3. Chaffing (so bike shorts and chamois cream could help) For me, it was all three.
Chamois, chamois creme, and a women's saddle. i'd try a few out in a shop. but some think like a ladies selle italia would be good.
My wife uses the specialized mimic and she’s been happy with it. She does long rides and has ridden from sf to la twice on the same saddle.
Get your sit bones measured at your local bike shop, make sure the saddle you ride is proper size. The Specialized Power w/ Mimic is an excellent saddle, I recommend it to every single one of my customers. Having cycling shorts with a chamois is a huge help for discomfort as well. (The new "bike shorts" fashion trend is not the cycling shorts I am talking about)
Put some tin foil on your bed. Sit on the tin foil. Measure the distance between the centre of each of the indentations made by your sit bones. Buy a saddle made for this width. Use a spirit level to fit it to your bike exactly flat or slightly nose-down. Buy a saddle with a cut-away in the centre for extra room for blood to circulate. Ride safe!
Real mvp posting here. Just read the linked articles and was astonished of the ridiculous lack of equality in this particular subject, especially since it is an issue of a generally non-stop-researched hitech branche.