Exercise Bike Saddle Comfort?

[julesapple]

Ideas anyone?

A while ago, the DD bought an exercise bike from FB.

I've been trying to get into a routine, cycling every day, for about 15 mins per morning building up to longer sessions as I get fitter.

After a fortnight of doing this my legs don't feel much fitter (well, early days) but my bum is incredibly painful - I can't even walk very far as it's so sore (stop laughing!) and where the Ischial points of my pelvis are I have huge blue/purple bruises at the top of my legs.

The saddle on the bike is a wide one and we've put a very padded gel cover on it and I use a small cushion too.

What else can I pad the seat with before I have to give up?

[Two_Sheds]

Those padded/gel saddles are awful, as are the wide "ladies" ones.

Your weight compressed the gel so that you are effectively sitting on the metal underneath.

My comfiest saddle was a Brooks leather one (sounds like wood when you tap it, but it moulds to your own shape), but as they're over £100 now I have a good gel one (bought on eBay). It's slimmer than you would think is comfortable, but it's great. I always change the saddle if I get a new bike

[julesapple]

Not so easy on an exercise bike TS, or I would have changed it by now. The BH has no such problems on the same saddle but the DD finds it uncomfortable too.

The bike didn't come with any paperwork, and I can't find the model on t'interweb any more, but I do wonder if it's a man's cycle. I'm 5ft2 and I find it very awkward as I can't even reach the handlebars with any comfort even when they have been adjusted to bring them to the nearest point to me.

[Two_Sheds]

Not so easy on an exercise bike TS, or I would have changed it by now.

Doesn't the saddle come off then?

[Two_Sheds]

I can't even reach the handlebars with any comfort even when they have been adjusted to bring them to the nearest point to me.

That's the problem then, not the saddle.

You'll do yourself more harm than good if you continue to use it: all your weight (and pressure points) are going to be making contact with the wrong parts of the bike

[cardiffsteve]

I would offer cream to rub in but people might get upset.

You can buy shorts with gel in them might be worth a look.

[veggiechicken]

You'll do yourself more harm than good if you continue to use it: all your weight (and pressure points) are going to be making contact with the wrong parts of the bike

Maybe that should be turned around to say that the bike is making contact with the wrong parts of your body.

[julesapple]

I did wonder if it would still work if I used it hands-free so to speak. Then I would be sat back on my bottom not leaning forward onto spikey Ischial bits. When I got hit by a car in Tesco and fractured my pelvis the radiographer said I had the perfect gynaecoid pelvis. Good for babies maybe but useless for bicycles!

I wasn't offended by the 'all your weight' it would have been all my weight if I weighed twenty, ten or even just two stones - the phrase is the same Anyhoo, I'm now 34-30-36 now and thrilled to bits with myself. I do need to tone up though; hence the bike and buying one of these;

Shake Weight

Dare you to watch that WITHOUT laughing!

Thanks for the offer Steve.....

[Pumpkin Becki]

You can buy shorts with gel in them might be worth a look.

A friend of mine used to wear special padded underwear called Comfy Rumps when horseriding ...there was nothing of her, so she needed all the padding she could get She said they really made a difference.

[veggiechicken]

Sit upright on the bike, Jules, and use one of those Shake weights at the same time! I think the leaning forward on to the handlebars bit is just for balance, unless the handlebars also move as you cycle.

[CaroltheCarrot]

[QUOTE

Shake Weight
.[/QUOTE]

Hehe, Mrs Brown anyone?

Sorry Jules I did not mean to imply in any way shape or form that you are like Mrs Brown, it merely reminded me of it,
Will stop digging now,the hole I am in is big enough!

[julesapple]

Don't think I'm ever going to look like any of the Tiffanies on that video, but I certainly look better than Mrs Brown.

I've got to pull my finger out and list most of my wardrobe on eBay. Loads of really nice things that will never fit me again...some I've never worn, still got tags on. Some things I want to replace in smaller sizes that I can buy from ebay as they aren't making them any more. But all this means getting the iron out.....

[Mikey]

When I was looking for a bike for the OH, I called into a specialist mountain bike shop, they had a bike she loved but it was about £500 which at the moment is out of the question. Anyway getting to the point they had a specialist seat pad that you sit on and it determines which seats are most appropriate for you, and you can even have a seat made for you.

The reality is that the big padded seats are nice in theory but completely useless in practice as they have all their padding at the rear, and you don't apply weight through that area, they are generally also far too wide for comfort. First things first I would get yourself a good pair of cycling shorts which support and protect you where it is necessary, then look at getting a better saddle, or possibly a better bike.

[cardiffsteve]

When I was looking for a bike for the OH, .

That sounds like a good swap to me

[julesapple]

Sit upright on the bike, Jules, and use one of those Shake weights at the same time! I think the leaning forward on to the handlebars bit is just for balance, unless the handlebars also move as you cycle.

By doing this a good diaphragmatic workout is also achieved because you can' stop laughing!