Cycling UK Forum

I just bought 2 bottles of this stuff and its brilliant
Like muc-off, but waaaaaaaaaay cheaper.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004 ... 03_s00_i00

I also came up with the novel idea of wearing plastic bags over my feet to keep them dry in rain. It worked sort off. The rain was kept out but my feet were soaked in sweat that could not escape so bad idea I'm afraid.
One option is Gore-tex socks.
Another is water proofing agent although it's effect can vary considerably according to the fabric it's used on. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikwax-Tx-Direc ... d_sim_sg_2

local bike shop?
The entire internet?

The problem with extra cushioning is that it can bunch up and cause rubbing in areas that were fine before.
If you're finding that your sit bones seem to have a bit more pressure on them than you'd like, a degree of saddle tilt can move some of your weight onto your hands and off your bum, or you can sit it out and hope your rear end toughens up over time. Only after exhausting all other options should you really consider a new saddle as they're not cheap.
If, on the other hand, you want the extra cushioning to take some of the sting out of poor road surfaces and so on, then a suspension seatpost could very well be your answer. They range from under a tenner to over £150. Mine cost me £14 and whilst no more than a glorified pogo stick, it really does a brilliant job of smoothing out the ride

John-D wrote: even if we take peds and cyclists (which I guess will include the kids who nowadays have been driven indoors and corralled into back gardens) out of the equation the number of deaths were still more than 60% higher. So I'm still not convinced "that driving standards aren't what they were - - - during the 50''s, 60's and 70's". Bearing in mind how few drivers there were in the 1950's over 3200 dead pedestrians and cyclists suggest that 1959 driving standards are not something to aspire to.

You are of course right and I stand corrected with foot firmly in mouth.

Regarded by many as the bike mehanics bible.
http://www.parktool.com/product/big-blu ... tion-bbb-2

I've never driven myself, however I know plenty of others who have and do. The older ones who drove during the 50''s, 60's and 70's have all said the same thing to me...that driving standards aren't what they were and technology is to blame.
Take away the anti-lock brakes, traction-control, airbags, gps, huds and phones and people won't feel quite so protected in their steel bubbles. Make an automobile so dangerous to drive that it's scary and drivers will slow down and maybe even give up the things.
Suit wearing pen pushing desk living H&S executives will never allow this though. An accident might happen. pfffft.

Personal preference I think.
If you feel better looking like a reject from a chemical spill, fine. If you feel better as a rambo wannabe in camoflage gear, fine. If you wanna blend into the background and out-do the invisible man, fine.
No-one is trying to make anyone do anything.

+1 what Vorpal said.
The shorts you wear can make a huge difference also.
I have one pair that I can ride in for maybe 20 miles with some degree of comfort and another pair of a different brand that are very comfy for over 60 miles. The exact same shorts and saddle combination can vary in comfort from one day to the next for no apparent reason.
I think most saddles will be comfy when you first try them. Its when the miles start racking up that discomfort becomes an issue.
I'm on my 3rd saddle since Jan/Feb and over 2000 miles later. Still havent made up my mind about this new one.

It's doomed to fail. It would require some sort of electronic chip to be carried on the bike or rider.
The carbon fibre crowd will gasp in horror at the mere thought of the chips additional weight penalty thus completely destroying their bikes performance.
hehe...

Personally, I'm not convinced on the whole sit bone measurement process. Others may disagree, but your deriere could be scanned in 3D, made into a model using the most complex powerful computers ever and have the saddle designed around that and still not be right for you.
Saddle choice I believe, is trial and error and fine tuning to your own personal preference.
What is the best saddle and the best fit for you? How long is a piece of string applies here.
Good luck.

From what you've said, I'm thinking chaffing. A bit of sudocrem after the ride might help and some anti-chaffing cream during your ride may prevent it. Some minor adjustment in saddle tilt may also help.

One thing I believe makes a difference is the weather.
Your average saddle, setup, shorts and whatnot might be perfect on a typical UK day, but when it gets warm (rare as that is) you inevitably sweat. Sweat can make your shorts stick and that can cause rubbing. The rubbing can cause inflammation and then the sweat can make that worse as it gets infected. Hey presto! Saddle sore!
Make sure your saddle is also pointing in the right direction. If it's aiming to the left or right too much, rubbing is an issue again.

My ribs hurt from laughing so hard. Thanks!

+1 for the Randonneurs.
Mine are the plain 32 models and there's nothing wrong with them. I'm up to 2200 miles without a puncture and they really have been punished. Forest trails, mountain bike trails, country parks and worst of all, Boltons roads. I've recently swapped them around to even out the wear and there isn't much of that either. They've never once let me down in wet or dry conditions and when they've gone the way of the Dodo (I wouldn't be surprised if they last another 4000 miles) I'll certainly replace them with more Randonneurs.
Available in 25mm.