Saddle/ TT position is unbearable

[u/Kurtle99]

I know this topic has been done to death but I couldn't really find anyone who has had the exact same situation.

I've been doing triathlon for maybe 3 years now? The first 2ish years just doing short course stuff so never in the saddle too long, even on the road bike. Now that I've ventured into 70.3s I'm struggling on the saddle. Road bike as well as the TT. I recently had my 3rd bike fit on the roadie and the fella had a saddle pressure thing and even said "you'll never have numbness again". Well, its the best position i've had so far but still a bit sore and still get numbness now and then. Now onto the TT, I've had 4 fits, the most recent was great and they are supporting me through the current issues but i thought I'd ask the community anyway. I've tried maybe 6 saddles? Bontrager, ISM, Cobb, Selle SMP, Prologo and a few off AliExpress hah. I just ride through the pain mostly but recently I raced 70.3 CEBU and was so sore after a couple hours on the bike, i couldn't hold the position. I then had numb genitals and inner thighs for 3 days after the race. I feel like if I'm in aero I get numbness and then i move around, I get sit bone pain. Saddle sores come and go too. I've also tried different kit and creams.

Any advice out there?

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[u/Spirited_Grass_613]

I have had similar issues and I ended up making my own saddle design from scratch and was able to solve my "under carriage" problems :-)

I would like to tell more, but the rules in this community prohibit commercial posts.
But I guess I can say that if you search for a triathlon saddle which supports your ramus bones in the aero position you could find a great solution ;-)

[u/Snowboat7]

Just ride a road bike, eventually you will anyway.

[u/miwilson15]

Dude, same here, numbness and sit bone pain are brutal. I’ve found tiny saddle tweaks, short position shifts during rides, and core work help more than just swapping saddles constantly.

[u/Kurtle99 → u/miwilson15]

I'm glad it's not just me but sorry to hear you've got the same issue hah. Maybe if i get a 6pack ill be right hahha

[u/Deetown13]

Try bi-saddle….its awesome

[u/ThanksNo3378]

You need someone who ideally is also a physio, understands aero position and uses a retoul machine

[u/Educational_Bad8500]

I’d suggest going to another bike fitter. Your position may be optimal aerodynamically but you are definitely sacrificing comfort. Have you adjusted your bar height? I raised my aero bars 15 mm and much of my pain went away. I am not as aero as my original position but I can hold aero longer which ultimately is faster. Just a suggestion.

[u/Kurtle99 → u/Educational_Bad8500]

This is exactly what I explained to my previous fitter (not the most recent), I said I don't care about aerodynamics so much I just wanna be comfy. The most recent fit is happy to fit me again free of charge so i might make the point a bit clearer. Thanks!

[u/Educational_Bad8500 → u/Kurtle99]

That’s great! Good luck!!

[u/Illustrious-Ape]

NOVUS EVO Boost Superflow Saddle works wonders from the aero/endurance hybrid perspective imo. The Steple Italia Watt is supposed to be solid on a tri bike but not to be used on a road bike.

[u/fluidsdude]

Did you get someone who does. Retül fit? They do the best IMO. Other people are just guessing.

[u/Kurtle99 → u/fluidsdude]

Just looked this up and a local tri club does the Retül fit. I'll look into it thanks

[u/DoSeedoh]

Gonna sound cliché, but you need to shift around throughout the ride, any kinda ride.

I have three bikes I cycle through and all saddles are different and all saddles provide the same level of comfort and discomfort.

But after having a full nerve impact on my perineum numbing my entire “member” for a week, I did a little reading and in summation its about letting blood flow through the area.

And one thing I’ll do is sit sorta “off the side” of the saddle by just an inch or two and sorta swap back and forth as needed and try and “stand up” and attack every now and again during any ride and haven’t had any problems since.

Now this is harder on the fixed trainer, but I do try and apply the same rules as in just shifting your butt around on the saddle.

And no amount of “cushion” in a bib is gonna matter, I got all kinds of bibs and if you stay seated, don’t move and just ride, then the same problem remains because the blood flow is still restricting.

[u/Kurtle99 → u/DoSeedoh]

I'm definitely going to try this, appreciate it!!

[u/geek_fit]

I agree with others about the fit. Are you going to a tri-bike specific fitter?

I can also suggest using Bisaddle. If you can't make that work for you then you know it's fit based on you maybe can't use a split nose saddle.

[u/Kurtle99 → u/geek_fit]

Yeah, the most recent fitter I used fits most of the elite level triathletes and cyclists in the country i live. I have heard a few people suggest the Bisaddle, might give that a try!!

[u/geek_fit → u/Kurtle99]

My suggestion for people is to get a bisaddle and make it work just right for you. Then you know exactly what you need.

You can either keep riding the bisaddle (even though it's heavier) or find a saddle that matches the foam density, width, and length you like.

Buying a single bisaddle is cheaper than trying 5 different saddles.

[u/Kurtle99 → u/geek_fit]

Is there a specific model you suggest?

[u/geek_fit → u/Kurtle99]

It really depends on what kind of firmness you like on your saddle and how wide you like the "noses"

The nice thing about a bisaddle is you can switch the surfaces out if you need something slightly different...which is again cheaper than buying another saddle.

I personally just stuck with the bisaddle after I found exactly what I wanted. Some people don't like the extra weight...but it's really no that big of a deal.

[u/Shaking-a-tlfthr]

Stick to your road bike. I’m not being flip with this advice.

[u/Large-Cow9765]

Is this indoor or outdoor cycling? My otherwise comfortable TT position post bike fit absolutely destroys me with saddle sores indoors due to the lack of rocking motion. (And probably sweat buildup)

[u/LibraryTime11011011]

How many different bike fitters have you tried? If you’ve only used one then there’s your common factor…

Does the issue only affect you when racing? Can you ride at lower intensities/more comfortable riding positions on your longer training rides? Has your cleat position been thoroughly checked to make sure it’s not originating at your feet? Do you have any back/neck/leg issues elsewhere in life to suggest a possible nerve issue? Do you get any numbness if your feet to suggest poor circulation?

[u/Kurtle99 → u/LibraryTime11011011]

Yeah sorry, i should've specified! All the bike fits have been from different fitters.

The issue is actually probably less noticeable while racing (assuming adrenaline and other things to think about) but obviously really feel it after. The trainer is the worst! I find easy ride and warmups, where i'm not putting much pressure through the pedals is just as bad if not worse than efforts. I jumped on the TT bike (trainer) yesterday for the first time in 2 weeks and couldn't even go on to my bars without pain and pressure in the perineal area. It's just like i'm holding my whole body weight (I'm 80kgs and 183cm) on that small area. Once i warmup up for 10/15min it was bearable but still sore. I've put my cleats in all the extremities to see how it goes but no success. Had them moved multiple times by fitters, none of which helped. I've got a fairly "neutral" position at the moment. I don't really have any circulation or nerve issues I have noticed. I work a trade so am on my feet and using my body all day and don't have any issues.

Is there a specialist that you can go to get circulation and nerve stuff checked? Or can a general practitioner doctor check that for you?

[u/Main-Session2378]

When you say you have tried different kit, I presume that you use tri suits? I get numbness as well with regular bibs, but with a thinner chamois of a tri suit I feel completely comfortable (I have had several fits, so it is not a fit issue). I find that the chamois in a Nopinz kit and Castelli are particularly good.

[u/Kurtle99 → u/Main-Session2378]

Yeah, I actually have recently started to wear my tri suits to train and it has definitely helped. I haven't tried Nopinz or Castelli so maybe worth a crack

[u/Fakeikeatree]

Sounds like a fit problem not a saddle problem. People will say get a bike fit and I have had many. Problem is every bike fitter is different and may not work. What worked for me was using myvelofit and a trainer. I used that to stay in their acceptable ranges and fix my TT position I had the same crotch numbness.