I’m hoping someone can offer some advice.
I love long distance cycling, and plan to do a 200 km brevet within the next year (with plans to do 300 km, 400 km and beyond as my schedule allows).
I’ve done 180 km+ and regularly ride 80 - 100 km+ at a time (multiple times a month).
My ass, hands, and legs are totally fine until around 130 km, then saddle pain creeps in.
I will admit that doing these distances on a folding bike with 20" tires isn’t ideal, and perhaps that’s just the limitation I have to work with. I do have a suspension seat post and wear padded shorts on those long rides, but again, everything is quite comfortable until around 130km.
Is this a bike fit issue? A padded shorts issue? A small tire issue?
Have you tried over 130 without padded shorts? I find that if my saddle fits, padded shorts are going to affect that and may add rubbing or pressure in areas that your ass isn’t used to especially if you normally ride without.
I don’t ride anywhere near your level but I’ve ridden 160 without padding and was fine because my saddle is comfortable normally.
Have you tried over 130 without padded shorts?
No, but not because of comfort. I find that regular shorts or just non-padded lycra causes me to sweat through them to the point where it looks like I’ve pissed my pants in less than an hour of riding. Padded shorts give me some buffer before moisture can be seen through them.*
If I were to guess, I’ve probably done my regular 60 - 80km rides without padded shorts at a reasonably comfortable level (I honestly don’t even remember).
On this bike, without padded shorts and with several other saddles than the one I’m using now (Brooks C17 carved), it gets uncomfortable much sooner.
- Now that I think about it, it may be possible that moisture is affecting the performance of the padded shorts after 130+ KM. Perhaps I should put on a fresh pair after the 120km mark and see if it’s comfortable at 200 km.
Sounds like a good thing to try. Good luck!
I’ve wondered this same thing. I’ve done 200km before and I did a lot of riding up to the point and I haven’t found the secret other than breaking up my rides a little more as I’ve gotten older. I’ve just always chalked it up to a slightly unfit bike, not the most comfortable saddle and maybe not in the exact right riding position for long enough to matter.
A folding bike sounds brutal and I hope you find a fix!
I haven’t found the secret other than breaking up my rides a little more as I’ve gotten older.
Unfortunately, that won’t work with a brevet event, since they are timed!
I will say that even on my (too small of a frame) mountain bike with 26" tires, it’s a more comfortable ride even without padded shorts or a suspension seat post. Perhaps a full-sized bike will solve my problem, but maybe it’s something else I can fix in the meantime.
Do you find that you always get sore around the same KM or does it change? I’m REALLY comfortable up until a certain point (and after many hours in the saddle), so it would be strange to think that it’s an improper bike fit or saddle problem, as I’d expect to be uncomfortable within an hour.
I’ve done 250km on flat ground with a worn-in Brooks leather saddle and deer tallow rubbed all over my private parts to reduce friction.
I wore thin, skin-tight boxers and jeans and had absolutely no issues.In my experience, I’ve never had a gel saddle I could ride comfortably over long distances. I either use a Brooks and normal clothes with a relaxed riding position, or a hard road bike saddle, padded bibs and padded gloves in a more aggressive position.
Thank you for sharing that! I’m using the Brooks C17 Carved (non-leather) and can get on with some long(ish) rides in comfort with just regular pants or non-padded lycra. But sweat causes me to avoid doing that, and I’ll go with padded shorts for long rides.
Perhaps I’ll need to explore other saddle options, although, I did settle on the C17 after going through numerous saddles when I first got my bike. My concern is that I’ll find a “comfortable” saddle, and won’t really know how it feels until I do a double century, then I’ll be stuck with an expensive item that can’t be returned.
Did you ever measure your seat bone width?
Yes, I do recall doing this when deciding which saddle(s) to look at last year. I do have thousands of KM on my current saddle and can go for <50km rides without padded shorts without any issues to speak of.
do you lubricate your padded shorts?
Yes! But it’s not friction soreness, just this uncomfortable soreness after hours in the saddle.
and I understand you do your resting stops to drink and eat, isn’t it?
For most recreational rides, yes. I’ll stop to eat/drink, take photos, etc.
But I’m training myself for endurance rides, which means stopping only to use the bathroom or for maybe one meal. The majority of eating and drinking is done on the bike to save time.
if you also train to not rest so much then it seems a fit issue, these distances on a folding are amazing to me
