Saddle Sores

[grandsox]

Hoping to get some help with an issue I’ve been having for roughly a year now.

I’ve been getting saddle sores left, right and center for about a year - year and a half, ever since I got my new bike.

Most of the resources I find online says they are related to saddle height, and I’ve been lowering my saddle bit by bit for the past weeks, but I’m at the point where I feel it’s getting too low, this might just be me not being used to it yet and being used to having a high saddle.

2 bike fitters have put my saddle height at 80 cm, as my inseam is 89-90 cm, my height is 186,

Right now I’m at 77,5 cm saddle height (center of BB to the middle of the saddle).
It’s generally the right side that suffers the saddle sores and I also feel quite a lot more pressure on the right side of perineum.

I would like to lower it 3-5mm more, but I’m curious what you all think in regards to the current height.

[ChaseCal]

sound to me like you need a new more comfortable saddle. Or some/better padded shorts.

[Jesper]

(11-09-2020, 02:37 AM)grandsox Wrote:  Most of the resources I find online says they are related to saddle height, and I’ve been lowering my saddle bit by bit for the past weeks, but I’m at the point where I feel it’s getting too low, this might just be me not being used to it yet and being used to having a high saddle.

2 bike fitters have put my saddle height at 80 cm, as my inseam is 89-90 cm, my height is 186,

Right now I’m at 77,5 cm saddle height (center of BB to the middle of the saddle).
It’s generally the right side that suffers the saddle sores and I also feel quite a lot more pressure on the right side of perineum.

I would like to lower it 3-5mm more, but I’m curious what you all think in regards to the current height.

It certainly could be the saddle height. Are you "reaching" for the pedals with your toes? It does not take much. Does your behind slide side to side very much when pedalling? The saddle type could be wrong for your specific anatomy and/or cycling style/position. If possible try a different saddle; maybe one with a more convex rear profile. I normally adjust by 5-10 mm so another 3-5 mm should not be too extreme especially if you were way too high to start. In general you should have a slight bend to the knee (give or take due to personal preference) at bottom of stroke with feet fairly flat in relation to the ground. Saddle angle may also have something to do it your ailment depending on your primary riding position. Another possibility is the crank length, but I would worry about the saddle first. Is this a racing style saddle, do you wear cycling shorts/tights, with padding? If you can borrow a saddle (or 2) to try on your bike that would be a good way to determine if the saddle itself is the culprit. Try making small changes in one area only (height or angle) and go for a test ride typical to when you would get sores. I had a friend that took 3 saddles to make him happy so good luck.