Saddle Numbness
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tsilcyc posted 9 weeks ago.
This is VERY common. Personally, I'd stick with the seat and see if you can get used to it. It's something that takes a little time. Also, you may want to get the saddle to one side of the perineum (aka "the taint") when you're sitting forward.
When you are seated forward, you put a lot more pressure on this area than when you're riding a road bike. Take small rides and see if you start to adjust. If after a couple of weeks you don't get the hang of it, I'd recommend trying another saddle. The Fizik Areone Tri is also a popular saddle. In the end, if the standard saddles don't work, you can try the ISM Adamo which removes the center of the saddle.
Be patient... it will work out.
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JamieM posted 9 weeks ago.
Yeah, I'd break out the level and make sure the saddle is as flat as it can be. Make sure it's not pointed nose down at all, that can make this situation worse.
And like it's been said give it a little time. Few rides and see how it goes. If it still doesn't work find a good LBS and try some other options. Personally, and saddles are very personal, I ride Selle Italias and a Specialize model. You just have to find what works for you.
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DTinVA posted 9 weeks ago.
I had the same problem last year when I got the road bike. It took me a couple of months to get it dialed in so I wasn't going numb down there. What worked for me was moving the seat back on the rails a bit at a time. After each move, I'd go out for a ride medium distance ride (for me) of about 15-20 miles. I also think that my tri shorts contributed to some of the numbness because they don't have the padding that my bike shorts have.
Have you experienced the numbness with both types of shorts?
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tsilcyc posted 9 weeks ago.
Actually DTinVA brings up a very interesting point. I have the Profile Design Tri Stryke as well and I've found that bike shorts do not work well with this saddle. Tri shorts work best, and the less padding the better.
I wouldn't mess with the saddle position though as that is messing with the fit.
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trimas posted 9 weeks ago.
You may need a wider saddle. I had the same discomfort and fiddled with a number of saddles. I went to a Specialized dealer and got my sit bones measured. I highly recommend this, btw. Turns out that wider saddles (141-145mm) work the best for me (I'm 6'1", 185lbs). And I disagree about angle. I think the nose should be tilted down a few degrees, nothing drastic though. (a couple of pro bike fitters I know recommended this as well.) Once I did all this, I forgot all about my saddle.
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GGehrke posted 9 weeks ago.
Remember, too, that you really need to support yourself on your "sit bones" or numbness is the sure result.
I used to have big problems with this and actually switched TO the profile tristryke saddle, which helped me immensely. I also mounted it WAY forward. It looks a little ridiculous, actually, and if I were subject to UCI rules I'd be drawn and quartered for my crimes, but I made the adjustment in order to get more of the saddle under my body - thereby fitting the bike to my body rather than forcing my body to adapt to the bike.
Sorry that it sounds like there is no consensus developing in the thread, but hopefully these are all things you can try out and see what works best for you. It's definitely a trial and error issue, but you don't have to be uncomfortable on your bike.
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tsilcyc posted 9 weeks ago.
If you find that you need a wider saddle, I believe the Fizik Arione Tri is a bit wider than than average saddle.
Let me add one more thing... a tri bike is not for comfort, it is for aerodynamics and speed. THIS...
http://www.zipp.com/portals/0/ZabriskieZipp%20casey%20gibson.jpg
...is what everyone wants. Notice how far forward he's sitting on the nose of the saddle. This is not comfortable, it's just fast. His arms are at a perfect angle, his chest is flat, the air is just flowing right through, and his JUNK HURTS. But seriously, just scoot the perineum to one side of the nose and you'll be fine.
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GGehrke posted 9 weeks ago.
Also for consideration, though, is that 'poor' DZ has to live within the UCI rules. If he were allowed to do whatever he wanted, he could scoot that saddle a little more under his body, stay fast, and celebrate victories with his wife after the race.
(then again, who knows, if he could move the saddle up maybe he'd still nose ride, and pretty soon they'd be riding some sort of goofy superman recumbent cycles, which would be pretty lame)
But yes, that is what everyone wants. I have one of the zipp promo photos from that race as my desktop background and wish every day I could ride like that.
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emzman posted 9 weeks ago.
Thanks for all your help!!!
I started competing in triathlons 2 years ago and fell in love with the sport. Because heart disease runs in both sides of my family, I figured that training and competing in tris will help delay the inevitable.
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tsilcyc posted 9 weeks ago.
What's interesting about this desired position is that there are people out there that will just set their bike to that position but they can't ride it. So now what they've done is get the perfect position and lose all of their power.
For those considering this position, I'd recommend not cutting the steerer tube. It's always nice to have the option to back out.
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stewarba posted 9 weeks ago.
trimas wrote:
I went to a Specialized dealer and got my sit bones measured. I highly recommend this, btw. Turns out that wider saddles (141-145mm) work the best for me (I'm 6'1", 185lbs).
I'm afraid to ask, but how on earth do they measure the "sit bones." My visual right now isn't helping me get motivated to do this!
Goals in writing are dreams with deadlines – Brian Tracy
2008 Sprint Tri A race goals
S: 500m in 10:00 – FS Stroke only
B: 22mph avg over course
R: 5K <= 25:00
Place top 50% for my age group
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Iron Dan posted 9 weeks ago.
stewarba wrote:
I'm afraid to ask, but how on earth do they measure the "sit bones." My visual right now isn't helping me get motivated to do this!
There is a foam pad you sit on for a few seconds and when you stand up, they can measure it. Don't worry, there is no bare bottom, rubber glove, caliper action going on.
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stewarba posted 9 weeks ago.
Iron Dan wrote:
stewarba wrote:I'm afraid to ask, but how on earth do they measure the "sit bones." My visual right now isn't helping me get motivated to do this!There is a foam pad you sit on for a few seconds and when you stand up, they can measure it. Don't worry, there is no bare bottom, rubber glove, caliper action going on.
Thank God!!
Goals in writing are dreams with deadlines – Brian Tracy
2008 Sprint Tri A race goals
S: 500m in 10:00 – FS Stroke only
B: 22mph avg over course
R: 5K <= 25:00
Place top 50% for my age group
548
Member
214 days
ChunkyB posted 9 weeks ago.
Specialized makes something called a "specialized fit tool" but most people know it as the "Specialized Butt-O-Meter". I kid you not. I would post a pic but I'm afraid to do a google image search of that, especially on campus here at BYU.
"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice
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theShiba posted 7 weeks ago.
Iron Dan wrote:
stewarba wrote:I'm afraid to ask, but how on earth do they measure the "sit bones." My visual right now isn't helping me get motivated to do this!There is a foam pad you sit on for a few seconds and when you stand up, they can measure it. Don't worry, there is no bare bottom, rubber glove, caliper action going on.
Oh..... when I went, well.... um..... let's just say, it was a bit more "invasive"...... so, you're saying that wasn't necessary, eh? ;)
"Every journey has a secret destination of which the traveler is unaware." —Martin Buber
I just recently bought a Cervelo P2SL. After riding it a few times, I've noticed that the "area" down there gets numb after 30 minutes. I tried changing the angle of the seat, and the numbness seem to be better, but it's still uncomfortable. I believe that the saddle is a Profile Design Tri Stryke. I think that the seat might be too narrow. I am 5'6", 185 lbs., with a larger build. Does anyone have any suggestions to what kind of saddle I should look into?
I started competing in triathlons 2 years ago and fell in love with the sport. Because heart disease runs in both sides of my family, I figured that training and competing in tris will help delay the inevitable.