My butt hurts... Talk to me about padded bike shorts/underwear

[Jeeebus]

Been riding more frequently. Not long distance - maybe 10 - 15 miles on what I guess is a hybrid mountain bike. Padded seat, but my ass is numb after 6 miles or so. Do padded bike shorts/underwear help in this regard? Not really a spandex guy, but need to figure this out.

Bought some baggy padded shorts and tried them on. The padding seemed... off to me. The 'thick' end was up front and the 'thin' end was on my ass. Didn't make any sense to me. My junk was well padded but my ass was basically bare on the seat.

What do you guys wear that ride a lot?

 

[deadlyapp]

I bought a few pairs of these a year or so ago for medium length rides (~10-20mi)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CWVP9YC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00

I don't bike that often and didn't want to spend much (I bought these when they were 7.99 ea) and they worked out well for me. I usually wore something baggy over the top.

 

[WelshBloke]

Get one of these instead (or as well).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/SR-Suntour-SP12-Suspension-Seat/dp/B008YW10TG

 

[GasX]

Try raising your seat

 

[Phanuel]

Get a harder seat. Softer seats let you sink into them too much and put pressure on the soft tissues in your ass instead of your sit bones and will cause the numbness and pain that you're experiencing.

Source: used to race and do 3+ hour bike rides before I fucked up my back.

 

[Vdubchaos]

How fit are you and how much do you weigh?

I used to have this problem when I was overweight........even with the Cloud seat on the bike. Now it's perfect, did 20 miles the other day no pain.

 

[chess9]

Been riding more frequently. Not long distance - maybe 10 - 15 miles on what I guess is a hybrid mountain bike. Padded seat, but my ass is numb after 6 miles or so. Do padded bike shorts/underwear help in this regard? Not really a spandex guy, but need to figure this out.

Bought some baggy padded shorts and tried them on. The padding seemed... off to me. The 'thick' end was up front and the 'thin' end was on my ass. Didn't make any sense to me. My junk was well padded but my ass was basically bare on the seat.

What do you guys wear that ride a lot?

Desoto 400 mile shorts. Plus, get one of the newer saddles. I have a Cobb. But, with such short distances, all you need is some time to get accustomed to the feeling. I regularly do 60-100 mile rides so I need padded shorts and a good saddle.

 

[Wreckem]

I do ~30 miles most days.

I have a Terry Fly Ti Gel Saddle and I wear Pearl Izumi Elite shorts.

As was mentioned an overly plush seat makes the situation worse.

 

[magomago]

As long as you are on your sitting bone, you'll get used to it. I have no chamois on mine (i.e. the padding) and once the season starts I'll do anywhere between 50-100 miles on a Saturday. The more you ride, the more you get used to it.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Bigger seats are actually worse. Seat needs to just be big enough for your sit bones. And you need padded spandex riding shorts. Seriously. They look silly but are a necessity.

 

[donald simpson]

Try raising your seat

Thats a clever way to solve the problem.
I have tried it in a different way. I used to do bowflex workouts and that helped me to strengthen my butt muscles, i no more find pain and it doesn't hurt anymore while riding cycles.

 

[cbrunny]

timely mini necro. I'm in the market for a high quality pair of cycling shorts. Mine just aren't cutting it anymore. I'm regularly riding 3+ hours with intent to extend that considerably over the next 12 mos. I see the Pearl Izumi Elite and Desoto 400 mile shorts are listed... what kinds of things should I be looking for when buying a pair?