Massive Pain in the backside...

[jqdsffjdsoge]

I'm 48, BMI of 29 and cycle 100 - 120 miles a week.

My main commuting bikes are a Genesis Flyer and a Giant Defy Advanced 3. Both have pretty 'sharp' saddles.

For about six months, I have a lot of pain in the buttocks. I never get this when cycling, curiously enough. But when off the bike, if I sit on an 'ordinary' seat for more than say, ten minutes, then when it comes time to move, I have excruciating pain at the top of my buttocks and in the 'cleft' (pardon the graphic descriptions...).

Last week, I had to sit through a four-hour meeting, and moving myself every fifteen minutes was so bad that on occasion, I actually cried out in pain.

Do I need a new saddle? Do I need to lose weight? Do I need to cycle less? Answers on a postcard....

[mjr]

What saddles have you got? What are you wearing while riding? Any changes in the few months before this started? New saddle or riding position or clothing or riding more or faster, perhaps? Other ideas http://www.SheldonBrown.com/pain.html

Losing weight from BMI of 29 usually helps but I can't think why it would hurt the places described. Squashed into lycra and rubbing against something?

Cycling less seems like avoiding the problem and a last resort to me

[jqdsffjdsoge]

What saddles have you got? What are you wearing while riding? Any changes in the few months before this started? New saddle or riding position or clothing or riding more or faster, perhaps? Other ideas http://www.SheldonBrown.com/pain.html

Losing weight from BMI of 29 usually helps but I can't think why it would hurt the places described. Squashed into lycra and rubbing against something?

Cycling less seems like avoiding the problem and a last resort to me

Until about two months ago, I was wearing a pair of khaki canvas shorts. Changed to Lycra about two months ago, but the pain has been a feature since about late 2013. I sort of got used to it, and had resigned myself to having it forever (as the pain in my legs, for example).

Saddles are the 'stock' ones, so: 'Genesis Road' for the Flyer, and 'Giant Performance Road' for the Defy. You can see them on their respective manufacturers' websites.

I certainly ride a lot faster than a year ago, but had put that down to increased fitness.

EDIT: the pain got worse six months ago, as per my original post, but I've had it for ages.

[mjr]

Saddles are the 'stock' ones, so: 'Genesis Road' for the Flyer, and 'Giant Performance Road' for the Defy. You can see them on their respective manufacturers' websites.

I certainly ride a lot faster than a year ago, but had put that down to increased fitness.

It might be, but could you try a ride or two at lower speed and see if it feels different? When I face problems like this, I try to vary one thing at a time and look for any patterns to try to figure out what's happening.

I would suspect that those saddles are designed for the current fashion of padded shorts but I don't understand how that could hurt at the top of the buttocks and between, although I'm not great at biology. Maybe someone who is will be along shortly and hopefully the extra information will help them.

[jqdsffjdsoge]

Saddles are the 'stock' ones, so: 'Genesis Road' for the Flyer, and 'Giant Performance Road' for the Defy. You can see them on their respective manufacturers' websites.

I certainly ride a lot faster than a year ago, but had put that down to increased fitness.

It might be, but could you try a ride or two at lower speed and see if it feels different? When I face problems like this, I try to vary one thing at a time and look for any patterns to try to figure out what's happening.

I would suspect that those saddles are designed for the current fashion of padded shorts but I don't understand how that could hurt at the top of the buttocks and between, although I'm not great at biology. Maybe someone who is will be along shortly and hopefully the extra information will help them.

Cheers. I'm loathe to go and bother my GP with this, as it"s pretty obviously not life-threatening, and all things considered, I can usually negate it here at the office by getting up and walking around every five to ten minutes.

[NUKe]

Why do you think this is saddle related if the pain occurs off the bike? And why suffer for so long go see your GP

I had similar problems, where my hips were painful and stiff, which turned out to be my lower back, which was quickly sorted out by A physio. Not Sugesting yours is the same, but a trip to the doctors should at least point you in the right direction . I dont know your pain but another thing which is possible is Haemerrhoids

[mjr]

Why do you think this is saddle related if the pain occurs off the bike? And why suffer for so long go see your GP

Because a lot of GPs, especially in below-average-cycling areas but even elsewhere, won't understand? But in general, I agree with NUKe, this has been going on for so long that I'd make an appointment now.

[jqdsffjdsoge]

Why do you think this is saddle related if the pain occurs off the bike? And why suffer for so long go see your GP

Because a lot of GPs, especially in below-average-cycling areas but even elsewhere, won't understand? But in general, I agree with NUKe, this has been going on for so long that I'd make an appointment now.

I just feel I'd be wasting her time. Unlike for most ailments that affect me (where a simple headache that lasts 30 seconds is always 'a brain tumour' and an upset stomach is 'bowel cancer'), I'm sure that this is just because I cycle so much.

[Vorpal]

The description sounds to me more like a trapped nerve. If so, cycling is likely to help rather than harm, and it is *sitting* that is the problem.

See your GP.

Loathe to bother your GP? when you are in pain? That's what they're there for.

If your GP doesn't help, push him or her for a referral to a physio. If s/he still doesn't help, see a physio independently. Don't live in pain.

[jqdsffjdsoge]

The description sounds to me more like a trapped nerve. If so, cycling is likely to help rather than harm, and it is *sitting* that is the problem.

See your GP.

Loathe to bother your GP? when you are in pain? That's what they're there for.

If your GP doesn't help, push him or her for a referral to a physio. If s/he still doesn't help, see a physio independently. Don't live in pain.

OK. Making an appointment now.....

[TrekMad]

I've had this and it was correctly diagnosed as Sciatica. There's not much to do about it, but there are a few exercises to releive the pressure from the affected area. Its nothing to do with your saddle.

[661-Pete]

I've had this and it was correctly diagnosed as Sciatica. There's not much to do about it, but there are a few exercises to releive the pressure from the affected area. Its nothing to do with your saddle.

Same for me: sounds very like sciatica. Unlikely to be saddle-related, but could be down to your cycling position. I think lowering the (drop) handlebar helped for me - but I still get exactly the same pain as you describe, now and again. As with TrekMad, the doctor said he couldn't help much. Even the osteopath (whom I stopped going to some years ago - too expensive!) didn't have a lot to offer. But if you want to splash out on a few readies and try that route.....

[Vorpal]

I found that physiotherapy helped mine, but it wasn't a quick process.

[TrekMad]

There are various stretching exercises you can do which releive the pressure in the nerve and eventually the pain. I got a personal trainer which helped a lot but took 18 months to be pain free.

[pwa]

Raise your bars or use a shorter stem to bring them closer (or both). Your problems sound more like lower back / nerve related, and not to do with the saddle. Being less bent over whilst riding is worth a try. Ibuprofen may help the symptoms, but see your GP for advice.