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Have watched countless hours of bike fit videos online with different presenters, trying to resolve various ailments.I find Scott superb at making the subject easier to understand and for giving tangible things to try. If I lived closer I’d need in the workshop to get a proper fit with you!
Great stuff, following a pro fit 9 years ago, realised still too high. Dropped saddle height by 13mm, shortened reach by 20mm.. never felt more comfortable..can really enjoy my cycling again..
Great video, helped me to fine tune my set-up. I've always used padded short and last year started using Crotch Guard spray on oil, which was really effective, too.
Once I got really bad saddle sores and I've accidentaly solved the problem by moving the saddle down by literally 1,5 - 2mm, couldn't believe that the problem was completely gone. Now I changed my position a bit and they are back but I learned something again, thanks!
Thank you for this video Scott. I have been riding with my saddle too high for years and tried everything, moving my saddle back, forward, changing cleat position back and forward and just gave up and accepted that one side of me is more dominant than the other. I was riding asymmetrically for years until watching this video. I dropped my saddle by about 25mm and went for a ride earlier and am amazed how this has solved the problem. It was the most enjoyable ride I've been on. I have now pulled the cleats all the way back as well, which has also improved comfort. Thanks again, i have been watching a few of your videos and would like to thank you for posting them. Keep up the excellent work.👍
I am 70 years old and back in 2018 ,I had a bike fit on a different bike. In 2020 ,I got a new bike. The mechanic that build the bike , went roughly by the measurements of the other bike. The new bike came with an aluminum seat post. I decided to a carbon fiber seat post. This meant that I possibly have the saddle height wrong. To give you a for instance , when I go to get on my bike , it all I can do to get my leg over the saddle. I had a bad back , stenosis, and my left leg is shorter than my right left. When I ride, I feel discomfort on the inside of my left thigh. I don't usually ride far enough or long enough to make a sore but If I did I would maybe get one.
You just sumed me up perfectly. Always getting saddles sores, same side, same place. Tried over 30 different saddles 🙈. Think I need to book a bike fit. Problem is which one to trust? Bike fitters are constantly saying they've had to correct other bike fitter mistakes 🤷♂️
Hey Mark. Sorry to hear about the saddle sores. Hope some of the points I mentioned can help you. I am part of the IBFI which is an world wide accreditation system. I would never criticize another fitter and I wouldn't expect any other IBFI members to do the same. Check out the website and see if it helps you ibfi-certification.com/
Thank you for this info! I’m a novice just starting out. Came home with a badly bruised up and sore left sided perineum. I will definitely follow your suggestions.
Thanks so much coach! I just ordered a new saddle that will hopefully fit my sit bones better and I'll re-watch this video as I set it up on my bike. The tip about reach is great too! I'm having really sore hands and I think it's because the saddle I have now is too high in the back and pushing me forward into the handlebars on my MTB.
Thanks Coach! For taking the time out of your life to share this information Brother ❤️. Peace ✌️ and Love 💕 from Tucson Arizona Desert 🏜️. 114° degrees hot 🥵
Very thoughtful and useful video. I will report back on my adjustment results. I'm a very heavy rider (265 pounds, 6'3/120 Kilos) after taking several years off riding. I got a new bicycle, fitted seemingly well, and I rode 2,000 miles in 5 months, with the only discomfort being plagued by saddle sores the whole time (I started a little heavier). My first rides this year are beginning the same way (on my strong side) and I wonder: at my weight, should I be looking for something specific in a saddle? It seems I'm quite an outlier at my weight for someone who rides that 'far' (no ego intended).
Watched your video on saddle sores and others. I've just had a 'rash' of them the last 15 months. I do a lot of riding (2020 had 10K miles for example) but these things seem to be more frequent. Very hot and humid where I ride. Anyway, I will try some of the suggestions. I do know that I favor my left leg due to major knee surgery in 1994 and my right leg is dominant. Got a sore almost healed up in my left groin, so very likely rocking. Lowered my saddle a bit and moved forward a little so we'll see. Tomorrow may be the first test. Great video BTW thanks.
Glad I watched this. I have a sore and rough skin on my left side of the butt that has been there for 3 years. Ouch. I did change the saddle on my Bianchi Intenso to a Selle Italia SLR Superflo titanium but no improvement. I watched this vid and moved my saddle down 5mm so we will see. I checked my reach and it was perfect. Thanks for this.
Nailed it. Right side. Same spot. Had bike fit. Bought many saddles. But the ISM worked much better for me. Also my problems start only after about 100km. Almost every time. But I think it's hamstring tendonopathy or something like that. I have pretty well given up. I just accept the pain a.dmarvel that my friends can ride 150km or more.
Finally a video that makes this much clearer! I've been off the bike too long now because of this issue. When I was really in shape it wasn't a problem. I'm assuming that's because I my legs were much stronger and I wasn't sitting so hard into the saddle?
Thank you, this is very informative. I tried playing around with the height but that did not help. What I think the problem is is that I am sitting on the nose end and my reach from the bar is too far. When i get on the bike, I usually start sitting on the proper back end of the seat, then after a while I would end up in the mid section of the seat. I will try moving up the seat closer to the handle. That might do the trick.
Squats pre cycle are great. Hip bridge exercises are also good. Also contracting and relaxing the muscle is good to do ever few hours. May look funny but really important.
Love your channel, Coach. I'm old (even older than you) and have been riding and racing for 30 years. My right hamstring and soleus are slightly paralyzed due to a tumor (which has been removed but damage done) so I am always asymmetrical on the bike. Would you ever advise turning the saddle slightly toward or away from the dominant leg to compensate for this? I have terrible saddle issues despite correcting for all of the other factors you've mentioned and I am racing the Haute Route Pyrenees again this year: 400 miles and 51,500 ft of climbing in 5 days - so lots of saddle time preparing. Thanks!
Thanks for the message. You are a warrior for sure 👍 I have only ever done this once and it was for some with very bad post car crash injuries and they were only riding to shops etc. Your ride is a monster! You could experiment with it but be careful. I am guessing you have created mini ride periods within the big ride. Riding shorter controlled periods will help. Rest is essential. Guessing you have looked at Q factor and crank length and smaller front rings. Just keep me posted - fascinated to know how you get on
@@BulletproofCycling Thanks for the reply. Yes, there is typically a feed station every 1.5 - 2 hours of each stage so my strategy is generally to limp from station to station. I do get off and stretch quickly but I can't hang around too long if I'm going to be competitive. I've thought about Q factor but can't say that I've done anything about it, and I would like to try some 165 cranks if I could find them. I had trouble with float on my right side. It's hard to keep my heel down and in so I have the pedal set as tight as it will go but now I'm having hip issues. I'll play with the saddle and keep you posted. Thanks again.
lol. i thought saddle sores is normal and all because of the saddle. especially, when going long distance. yesterday, came back from cycling, it was painful when i bathe. damn saddle sores getting worse recently. i think might have to push my saddle a bit forward. I'll try it when i have the time. thanks for the info.
Great video Coach..I have a bike fit from John Bremner in Arbroath next Tuesday due to a saddle sore I can't get rid of...he fitted me 3 years ago when I first started cycling but when I changed my cleats I didn't mark them and just guessed where they went lol, I also tinkered with the saddle as well so I'm hoping this has caused the problem as it's really painful...Do you know John
What a great video Scott. Since last month i am using a smart bike trainer. So on this its easier to setup a bike. For my lenght ( 195cm ) i have a huge inseam ( 99cm) So i am more like a dinasour..🙂. My reach is a bit to long. Its a bit over the palm of my hands. What should i do? Shorter stem, seatpost without setback? I have only some soreness on the right side between my legs.
I rode on my smart trainer all winter without a single saddle sore, the minute I start going outside they begin….however I’m riding for longer duration outside and no movement of bike indoors. What are your thoughts on this?
I get saddle sore (both sides) on long rides - 3 to 4 hrs. My bike is an xc mtb hardtail that I am using as a gravel bike. My hand position is slightly above the saddle. I am older now but I don’t remember er this problem from my road bike days. I am wondering if the higher hand position is causing only a small part of my hip bone to support my weight - hence the sores. Also without the big height difference between riding in the drops vs up on the hoods, the riding position is very static.
Hey Coach! Maybe you can help with this one? No knee niggles, no foot pain or numbness. No neck pain, No hip pain, no back pain, no shoulder pain and no lower back pain. With my current set up, I can ride for 4+ hours out on the road with zero issues and zero saddles sores. However, when I jump on the indoor trainer 8 times out of 10, I end up with a saddle sore on the right side in the same dang spot! Can you please share some possible corrections/tips? Bike is straight on the trainer and feet on both sides of the Wahoo kickr trainer are at the same height.
Is it the same bike with same saddle? If not is fore/aft of saddle the same on both bikes? Is the saddle on an anatomical seat post (round/circle). If so, then check it’s perfectly straight with top tube of bike. There could be other issues linked to a more static position but check the first two out first 👍
Yes Coach. Same bike. It goes on the road and on the trainer. Tried something new today. I measured the bike from the wall to the center of the stem bolt and also measured from the wall to the center of the saddle. Both measurements are good now. The ass of the bike from the wall to saddle center was off about 10mm. I'm thinking my body might be compensating in some way due the bike being mounted crooked. Anyway, I gave it a good rip on the trainer today and no issues/irritation. Let see how we go.
Great Video, I've cycle more this year than ever but now winter is here l've changed to my indoor trainer with the only bike l've had a bike fit on within 40 mins l'm so uncomfortable and now have pain in my groin, sore seat bones, l've swapped the seat from my every day bike to the trainer bike and still it hurts to the point l have to stay off the bike for a month. So l'm guessing my bike fit even though by a guy with a good reputation isnt that good a fit but watching your video I think my seat may be a little too high and my reach just a tad to long.. Your videos of which l have watched many are fantastic so thank you for doing what you are doing.
I am looking at getting my first drop bar road bike (endurance style frame geometry, something like a Merida scultura 4000) and at 168cm height with 78cm leg and ~54cm arm length, most online size tools and bike shops suggest small/50cm frame. Is it safe to start with that size or should I get a pro bike fit first? Could I even get away with an XS/48cm frame size in an endurance style frame (with taller head tube lengths then the more road race frames). Cheers and thanks for the no BS videos! 👍🙏 Know any good bike fitters in Adelaide, South Australia? 😁
Hi Chris. Based on those sizes you would easily get away with both sizes. The 50 would come up as ideal on most frame websites I would guess. The 48 with higher stack with a 100mm stem would work but would differ slightly across brands. The Merida is a great bike. Keep me posted on your journey 👍👍👍
@@BulletproofCycling Assuming I have the correct saddle height, you mentioned moving the cleat position. Does this also require repositioning the seat? I would guess that moving the cleat towards the center of the foot would cause the seat position to be lower as well. Is that assumption correct?
Any idea what I might need to change to reduce bladder pressure? I’ve been tinkering around hoping to do the occasional 5 hour+ ride, but it’s either been chafing, knee pain or painfully crushed lady bits. The set up now seems alright but I suddenly need nature breaks every 30-40 mins with the bladder only being filled to maybe a third. Only on the bike though so an UTI is unlikely.
Thanks for sharing, I have had a few female riders brave enough to mention this. I helped some with a nose off saddle. Like ISM triathlon saddles. Short nose saddles like Selle Boost and Prologo Dimension (lots of others and no affiliate link) can help. They can reduce perineum pressure. Have you ever compared with different bikes - eg indoor gym bike V your road bike or road bike v MTB - sometimes this gives you good feedback as it could be reach of the bike. Another area is hip alignment and childbirth - don’t want to dive too deep but I seen female riders with hip alignment issues post child birth that cause issues. Hope you get it sorted. Thanks for your comment 👍👍👍
@@BulletproofCycling Haha, yeah it feels a little like oversharing but I’ve grown so frustrated searching for women specific saddle issues I no longer care. 😂 The bladder thing is only on the road bike and only after my latest adjustments to get rid of a chafing issue. I’ve been wondering for a while if a shorter nosed saddle might help so it’s reassuring to hear that that’s your suggestion as well. Thanks so much! x
Hi , i have comppression in the perineum from the saddle , its swollow and it hurts even when i sit on a chair and i have burning under bottoks , what can i do "??? pls help doctors around here they dont know , i'm from Romania btw , ty
Sorry to hear this. I can only suggest rest and let the swelling reduce and go away. If you can’t get in to see a local bike fitter then send me an email.
Hi coach, i have saddle sore on my upper hamstring near my groin. Could it be possibly my saddle too wide?. I have short torso and long leg and i set my saddle further forward.
It could be or too high if you some instability. Try and get your sit bones measured. Even sitting on talc powder!!! Measure from middle to middle of the two indentations your butt makes. Add 20 or subtract 20mm from that measurement to give you rough saddle width range
Well after watching probably every video on youtube about saddle sores and after bikefitting in my local shop I still can’t figgure out my bike fit. Still big saddle sore(like huge boil) on side of my ass. It’s time to do some different sport than cycling.
How does this translate for someone who only get saddle sores on a full suspension mountain bike? The reach is shorter, already, and I find I am sitting way more upright. My saddle height is also lower than on my road or cx bikes.
Is the saddle the same width as road bike David? I have seen some riders lower saddle too much on MTB and therefore increase saddle pressure if reach is short. You be sitter further back on the saddle. The suspension will make the ride more comfortable but if pressure loading up in wrong place then it may be leading to the sores. Hope you get it sorted 👍👍👍
Have you tried walking? I know walking on the sidewalk is dangerous, sharing it bicycles and, now, e-bikes! The only really safe way to have a stroll, these days, is on a tread-mill. Be sure to read the instructions first!
My right leg is 10mm longer than my left. My saddle sores are most common on the right side, too. Does that follow your experience? I thought they would be on the left, as that leg is the one 'over reaching'.
It may be that your right leg could have have angled right side further back as it wants more room. This therefore might have you rubbing at a wider section of the saddle. Might be helpful if you can get someone to video you cycling from behind?
@@BulletproofCycling Dropped my saddle a bit and paid attention on my ride today. I'm definitely sitting enough farther back to feel there is a greater area of contact/support now, where before there was more if a left and right contact point. I believe this is going to be a key for my future comfort. I like your straight forward style and the way you deliver your information. Thanks for posting up useful content. 👍🏼
My sores are not blisters or breaking of the skin. They are a solid mass of tissue at the apex between the top of the inside leg and the perineum. It dissipates over a week if I stay off the bike, but comes back when I ride again. I think it must be that a bit of skin gets caught and then compressed over the hours of the ride or it's pressure on the ishium? The trouble is I don't feel it until it's sore, by which time it is too late - the damage is already done. I've had bike fits that have adjusted saddles (height, position and the actual saddle) and cleat position. Sadly to no effect. Maybe I need to turn to the glute and hamstring strength.
Could be some sort of fluid build up but maybe a doctor could help when you have the mass. May be gland issue but best to get it checked out by medical expert. I have seen riders get similar issues and it was a bloody blister.
just get a seat that doesn't cause pain. I don't know why this is so difficult. If you're not competing or something, do you need a seat that's .00005grams? Just get something that doesn't cause you pain. Imagine if you needed all this instruction to use a chair in your house without pain. Or you needed special shorts with padding to use it, lol. The fact you need shorts with padding to use these seats is already proof they are a failure of design.
