Bike Fit & Saddle Sores

Riding a bike is a ton of fun...however having a sore bottom afterwards is not. You may have had a fellow cyclist or bike shop employee say;..."you just have to ride more and your bottom will get used to it." The previous statement in some respects has truth...except there's an easier way to enjoy your riding experience. Having the proper bike fit & specific cycling shorts make all the difference.

Bike Fit:

Having a properly fitted bicycle might not seem so obvious...but this key factor gets overlooked quite often by many beginners and novice riders alike. Adjusting your seat properly will not only prevent many discomfort  issues, but will enhance your efficiency, comfort, and over all riding experience. In terms of frame size etc...think "Goldilocks and the three bears tale". Having a bicycle that is too small can be dangerous, the overall rider comfort suffers..and in some cases can affect overall performance. On the other hand...a bicycle to big, can cause some obvious safety issues for men & women alike. Overall comfort and handling will factor in as well. Lastly there's the properly fitted bicycle that offers up the right case scenarios across the board. How exactly should a bicycle be properly fit? We suggest before you ride to stop and and visit your local bike shop for a professional bike fit.

Saddle Sores:

To avoid saddle discomfort/saddle sores here are few helpful suggestions & tips.

Having the right clothing for cycling is huge key to saddle comfort. A cycling specific short offers up padding in the short bottom for comfort. These shorts are actually made of a compression type fabric that offers muscle support & moisture wicking control. If there is a concern to not look like you are racing a stage of the Tour de France fear not. Many cycling clothiers manufacture what is call is a "baggy" short. This used to be referred to as a "tour short" back in the day. The cool part is this garment looks like a regular pair of casual shorts except there's an inner cycling short liner. Great for both on and off the bike...riding to the local coffee shop, or running to the store. Also a consideration is cooler weather riding pants as well. As a good rule thumb you should not wear under garments under your cycling shorts.(Pro Tip: Using a specific type of chamois creme on your under side can make a big difference with avoiding saddle discomfort) This will most certainly create a whole other "bunch" LOL of issues (sorry had to go there). Now that we have got that out of the way let's talk about saddle sores.

A saddle sore generally happens from any rubbing, chaffing or pressure points. As we discussed earlier a professional bike fit will address proper seat height and saddle selection. (Pro Tip: having a wider cushion saddle may not always be the solution for some folks is certain cases). If this happens to you...pay attention it might be happening for one or more of the reasons listed above. Either way it's best to rest and give your bottom a break and chance to recover. If left unattended these situations can actually turn into serious issues (no we are not doctors but believe you me have experienced our share of them)

We hope these tips and suggestions help, in the mean time, happy trails & don't forget to take time to stop and enjoy the ride !!! Any other question, comment's, ideas or suggest please feel free to drop us a line info@growlerbikes we would love to hear from you !!!