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Need some saddle help, please!

Jeff BraatenJeff Braaten
in General Training Discussions

For a long time now when I ride I have been sitting with the nose of my saddle favoring the right side with my "junk" off to the left. Never had a problem until the last few months. Now my left hamstring is always feeling tight after a ride and I am getting some small microabcesses on my scrotum. I am wondering whether favoring one side over the other is altering my leg length to the peddles causing my hamy to bother me and the constant abrasion to the same side causing the irritation and subsequent abcesses/infection . I use a Fizik arione saddle now both for my road and TT bike. I do have a habit of forgeting to use chamois cream but that shouldn't have any effect on my hamstring.  Any suggestions? New saddle?

Comments

  • GeneGene

    I had similar issues of sitting crooked on my FIzik Arione.  I think it is a solid saddle but I cannot sit on it square.  My saddle would develope a skewed twisting to it along the long horizontal axis.  I also wondered if it was a leg length issue or what would cause it.  I read from John Cobb (Cobb Cycles) that twisting the saddle nose off center a little can protect your nerve and allow the weight to be offcenter.  THis is what my body was doing to protect itself. I was riding with a straight saddle and a misaligned pelvis.  It can cause issues all  over the legs including your hamstrings.  I ended up twisting my saddle a few degrees to the left which allowed my pelvis to be perpindicular to the bike.  

    Eventually -  I endded up moving to a different saddle.  Cobb makes great ones with the relief cut out, and so do other people. On my road bike I have the Cobb SCH 170 (it is very similar to the Arione but with a cut out and less padding).  On my Tri bike I use a ISM.

    There are endless options to try but I would move away from the Arione because it sounds like it could be the cause of your hamstring problems. 

    Gene

  • robin sarnerrobin sarner

     Maybe need a new bike fit.     Similar issues that were corrected with cleat spacers one side and longer pedal on one side.

  • GMAN 19030GMAN 19030
    Jeff, I would recommend trying a Cobb or Adamo. Cobb has a 180 day return policy so you can't lose. Just make sure you take the time to get it fit and placed properly.

    I know saddles are personal and all but I don't see how anyone can ride the Fizik Arione saddle when compared to a Cobb or Adamo. My bike came with that Fizik saddle so I tried it on a couple of rides just to check it out. It was like sitting on metal pipe.
  • novaavantnovaavant
    Definitely give Cobb and Adamo a try. A good LBS will have a saddle loaner program so you can try out some different ones before buying. I have a Flite saddle on my road bike which I love but on the TT bike I tried the Fizik seat and as Bob says correctly it was not a great fit. The Cobb and Adamo cut the nose of the seat off to put your sitting area in a much better position so you don't have to constantly move around to get comfortable. There is an adjustment period and they have to be setup correctly but after that they offer a great ride.
  • stevekwstevekw
    ...I'd also vote for a bike fit first...if the fit is off, the saddle won't matter

    ...and been riding a Cobb saddle for a couple of years now...very nice
  • Jeff BraatenJeff Braaten
    Thanks for all the advice. I had a bike fit with Todd at TT bike fit when I bought a bike from him so think the fit is good. I did order a Cobb saddle yesterday and it should be here in a few days. Anxious to give it a try, something has to give.
  • Michele CellaiMichele Cellai
    On my road bike, I had the nose off to the side. It was much more comfortable to ride that way. 3 months or so later, I was having terrible back pain going down my right leg. Long story short- I finally figured out it was the crooked saddle. Back and leg pain resolved within a few days.
  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    Hope you are enroute to a fix; that said, how could you ever forget chamois cream??????????????? :-(
  • cgres123cgres123
    What no cream ? HA ha... I even use Butt Butter for long runs stuff is great !

    My 2 cent on a saddle is IMS. The hammy issue only happened to me once and that was because I wondered how about pulling up a little after the down pedal, the hammy was an issues for weeks because of that little idea of mine.
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