Saddles and clothing

[lewis noble]

Hello everyone - I recently changed my Ripio for a Sherpa - buying a Sherpa frame / lightweight fork, and Dan at SJSC swapped all the components over for me.  The result is a lightweight build Sherpa, very similar to Menu C2 in the Mega brochure.

It is a brilliant, responsive, nimble bike, and suits me well for the variety of roads and riding that I do.  I will write up about it later.  On our recent holiday in France, though, a new problem developed - I rode it so much, for longer that I have ridden for years, I got a sore bum.

I use the Thorn Velo saddle, which has suited me as well as any other on the last 2 bikes.  The problem is not sore soft bits, but aching / sore ischeal tuberosities, from much longer in the saddle / on the bike than I have been used to.

I suspect the issue is not saddle related, but clothing.  I did 4 days solid riding in ordinary casual clothes, having lent my padded underpants to my wife, who was having problems with her saddle (don't go there, folks - sorted out by adjusting her posture, bars position etc.)

Sore bum bones but OK soft bits to me suggest that I need to look at padded pants / shorts - if there have been any threads on this, could someone send me link etc?? 

Planning a 4 week ride next Spring, so keen to work on getting it sorted.

Lewis

[Danneaux]

Surely, padded shorts will prove immediately helpful, but I would also suggest the possibility of looking once again posture on the bike and setup. You mentioned the switch from Ripio frame to Sherpa. If there was a slight variation in top tube length, then perhaps the same setup doesn't quite translate to the new bike and you may be putting more weight on your ischial tuberosities (sit-bones) than before.

Might well be worth a look, as it doesn't take much of a variation to make a big difference.

Back to padded shorts...I left on last year's 4-month trip with well used shorts, and pounded through the padding by my second routing through Germany. I bought some inexpensive replacements at Lidl that were not as good as original, but much better than the flattened ones I'd been riding. What an immediate and positive difference! Sadly, they did not last and I am now looking at end-of-summer closeout sales to replace my originals. I'll trial one pair with a dense foam and gel "wings" at the sides, the other with all-gel padding. I've not tried gel padding before, so it will be a new experience. I want isolation, not wiggly gelatin. A brief flirtation with gel gloves and saddle in the very early '90s was not a happy experience, but surely things have progressed since then?

If you must or prefer to wear casual clothes while cycling, there are padded undershorts that can really help with comfort. The nicest I've seen had a mesh body to remain cool, and good pads that remained firmly in place without migrating while pedaling.

All the best,

Dan.

[jags]

the fizik alanti saddle it class and for shorts Correne Dennis cycleware is top notch at great prices.
i ware the CD bibs brilliant but she makes a full range of shorts underware    raingear  service is top notch.
btw any photos of the new sherpa and curious but did you change the forks, i found them to be a heavy as the frame ,if i had held onto the sherpa those forks were history i would have put carbon forks on her .
just saying

anto.

[lewis noble]

Thanks guys . . . .

Working on a notsosmart phone at present, so brief reply and difficult to send pictures. But will do.

Dan - you could be right. But I think posture ok - more at ease than any other bike for years. No wrist problems etc which have troubled in the past. But I accept that my position is more upright than many people would advise, though seems to suit. I plan to gradually lower bars and see how I get on. That in itself will ease ischeal pressure.

But I repeat that I am riding further and for longer than for years. Only stopped one evening in France because of foul weather, uncertain accommodation, and got stuck on a Route Nationale, unpleasant riding.

Thanks for recommendations, Jags, will look into. I got the Rav 853 fork, I think it is - v comfortable and lighter. Bike as a whole, including pedals, clips, light/bottle fittings, rack,mudguards, ready to roll, 12.4 kg. A bit heavier with me on it.

Lewis

[jags]

Lewis the 853forks  are expensive but well worth it  give the steering more of a roadbike feel i hated the heavy  forks on the sherpa especially when climbing hills.
cracking bike the sherpa .
look forward to the pic's.

jags

[lewis noble]

I think I'm on the way to sorting the problem . . . .and yes, Dan, posture (again) playing it's part.

When Dave Whittle at sjsc built up the bike, he looked at me, looked at the bike (Ripio) most of the components came off, and within 3 - 4 hrs, built a bike that was ready to roll and comfortable. No adjustments needed at all.

But always one to think I can improve things, I felt the bars were lower than I had been used to, and flipped the stem.  Result - sore bum.  I have now put it back to exactly how Dave had it, feels better already on the bum. 

Dave, as usual, you were right . . . .

I have had a look at that website, Anto, looks good stuff.  I rode with casual shorts / normal underpants etc all the time in France, but will look at better clothing before my next long ride.

Next decision . . . padded shorts vs padded underpants . . . .

Nice day here in Sheffield - I expects the hills will be full of walkers and cyclist, will try and get among them.

lewis

[jags]

never tried the padded underware but if there as good as  the bibs then go for it.