Why do bicycle seats hurt my butt?
Jose asked:
I am trying to get into the sport of cycling to get in better shape. I have been riding my bicycle for about two weeks now a few nights a week but I am having a hard time keeping myself motivated to ride my bicycle because of the pain.
My butt gets so sore that I almost can't bear the thought of getting on that bike again. Am I doing something wrong or can you recommend some bicycle seats that won't cause me so much pain?
What are some good bicycle seats for someone like me?
Our Answer
Jose thanks for asking and congratulations on taking up the sport of cycling. It's a great sport and can be very rewarding if you stick with it.
Your question is a very common one that beginning riders often ask so take comfort that you are not alone in your pain. I have a few suggestions for you that you may take into account.
- Cycling Shorts - Many new riders refuse to wear cycling shorts because they are paranoid about the spandex look...and I understand, especially if you aren't in the best shape currently. You can wear a good pair of cycling shorts and then a pair of gym shorts over them if you choose. The cycling shorts have a thick pad in the butt that is designed to keep you comfortable. They are also designed with no seams to chafe on your butt or legs which is another positive. Gym shorts over doesn't create an ideal situation but it's waaaay better than not using cycling shorts....I assure you. I like Pearl Izumi if you want a brand recommendation. They are good quality but won't break the bank. Try a pair and you will understand...that alone could cure your problem.
- Saddle Fitment - The other issue with bicycle seat pain is whether or not you have the right type of saddle or the right size saddle. You can check out our article on Selecting the Right Bicycle Seat to see if your saddle style matches your type of bike and the type of riding you do. If it does, then you need to look at the fit of the saddle. You need to match your saddle to your sitbones. It's pretty easy to do and that article also discusses how you can measure your sit bones.
- Saddle Quality - Once you know the size of the saddle then you need to match your size to a high quality bicycle saddle. If you are a man then you typically will need about a 145 mm saddle and a woman is typically a bit wider at 155 mm or even more. Women naturally tend to have wider sit bones. If I were to make a recommendation to you on a particular saddle I would recommend the Selle Italia Lady for the women and the Selle Italia Max Flite for the men. Both of these are excellent quality saddles that are well made and combined with cycling shorts and the proper fit should allow you to ride as far as you want.
- Experience - Last but not least you need to ride. The more miles you ride then the more conditioned your body will become. Be aware though that as you get to be a better rider, you will find yourself moving around on the saddle more and this is good practice. You should actually make it a practice to do so as what this does is it will temporarily relieve pressure on the hot spots and get blood flowing again as necessary. You should find yourself able to ride much further quite quickly if you follow my advice.
Good luck and I hope you stick with the sport. It's a great one. Below are two examples of excellent bike saddles for beginning riders for both Men and Women.
Selle Italia Max Flite for the Men
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 Selle Italia Max Flite Gel Flow Saddle Black 10 NEW  US $119.95
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 Selle Italia MAX Flite Gel Saddle in White xlnt US $85.30
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 SELLE ITALIA MAX FLITE GEL FLOW SADDLE TEAM EDITION US $154.99
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 SELLE ITALIA MAX FLITE 09 GEL FLOW WHT BIKE SADDLE SEAT US $56.00
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 Selle Italia Split Max Flite Gel Flow Seat Saddle US $80.00
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 SELLE ITALIA MAX FLITE 09 GEL FLOW BLK BIKE SADDLE SEAT US $109.99
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Selle Italia Lady for the Women
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 Selle Italia Lady Diva Gel Flow Saddle Black 10 NEW US $109.95
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 Selle Italia SLK Lady Gel Flow Saddle US $39.95
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 SELLE ITALIA SLR LADY GEL FLOW BLACK BIKE SADDLE SEAT US $89.99
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 SELLE ITALIA SLR LADY GEL FLOW WHITE BIKE SADDLE SEAT US $129.99
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 Selle Italia Lady Sport Gel Flow Saddle Black NEW US $79.95
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 2009 Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow Saddle US $20.50
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Saddle choice is a very personal issue. It also takes time for your rear to get used to riding. A good pair of bike shorts is mandatory if you ride over a few miles. WTB makes good mountain bike seats, but many others do too. Visit a good bike shop and have them help you out. One thing they will tell you is that if you have a larger saddle, you are more prone to inner thigh chaffing with some designs.
Hahah, okay here’s a bright idea. When you decide to buy a bike, sit on it. It’s a great idea! Testing things before getting them is helpful. But if you want to waste your money, keep it up. It’ll get you far in life.
choose saddles that are not too thick with padding. i made the mistake of thinking that seats with thicker padding would help but it hurt during long rides – inner thigh chaffing. it’s actaully the width of the saddle that counts. narrow seats actually help and so do bicycle shorts.
the problem occurs when when the seat is to low raise the seat until you get a full leg Extension if the seat gets to high it will rub your legs on the inside. even 1/16 inch makes a difference.
In my humble opinion, it’s just a matter of getting used to it. As you ride more regularly you will grow accustomed to getting a sore rear end after riding large distances, and eventually it will probably hardly be noticeable. Inner thigh chaffing is probably something unavoidable for any rider on a much more comfortable saddle. I’ve cycled roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) in the past year, since I got my first bicycle – and I don’t get anywhere as much soreness relative to when I first started out.
Hope I could help.
if you had a good bike seat, you would be happy. Brooks seats are the best seat you can buy, they are made in england.
Horses and upright bikes have saddles, cars and recumbent bicycles have seats. Saddles can hurt, seats do not.
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