Biomechanics
By Amanda Brunner

March '05

The Tender Parts

It's not often pleasant to discuss saddle sores, but the truth is every rider is at risk.  So lets shed some light on a biker's taboo. 

Your gluteus (butt muscles) is one of the largest and strongest muscle groups in the human body.  They are the key to your cycling power.  Every time you turn the pedals you rely on your gluteals for power, your hamstrings and quads also have a smaller role in the process.  This is why you want to keep that part of your body safe and healthy.

The term saddle sore can be used to describe many conditions.  Chafing is the most common type of saddle sore and this occurs on people who are not frequent riders or after that long winter of not riding at all.  Chafing is the constant rubbing against the saddle causing redness, and soreness in the groin and inner thighs.  One way to prevent this is to wear clean, good quality tight cycling shorts.  The height of your seat also plays a role in different types of saddle sores.  It is important to make sure that the height of your seat is right for you.  When riding you should not be able to touch the ground when sitting on your seat. That means that your seat is to low, but you should also not have to rock back and forth from peddle to peddle to get your bike moving that means your seat is too high. 

A sore backside is another common type of saddle sore.  This is when the skin that you are sitting on becomes red, inflame, and sore.  This is caused by the size and once again the height of your seat. A male and a female have a different shape in their pelvic bones due to the ability of childbirth therefore; a female needs a wider seat than a male.  The seat should just fit the size of your ichial tuberosity, the bones that you sit on.  Having a seat that is too wide is also bad because than it would cause chafing.  The height also plays a role because if your bike seat is too low you put more weight on your butt while riding instead of on the legs to generate power.

Boils and ingrown hairs are not as common but they still do occur.  This is a bacterial infection.  In grown hairs also known as folliculitis is not that bad.  It causes some pain but usually goes away on it's own in a few days.  This happens when you have a lot of rubbing in a place where you have a lot of hair.  Boils or furuncle on the other hand are very painful and can become large and hard bumps.  If it doesn't go away on it's own you may have to see your doctor and get an antibacterial ointment.  The best way to prevent this from happening is too always wear clean riding shorts and after you ride do not sit in your shorts.  Take them off as soon as possible and wash the area down there.

Skin ulcerations are the most serious type of saddle sore but the least common.  This is caused when chaffing goes too far and you wind up with a crater like lesion.  This is the most painful and the hardest to get rid of.  If you see anything like this see your doctor immediately before it goes too far.  This usually occurs if you are riding over 100 plus miles a day for at least 5 days in a row.  If you are riding this often take as many breaks as you can at least one an hour and stand up when going over rough terrain. 

Some saddle sores can be prevented others are just the joy of riding.  But in any case protect your self as much as you can.  The main keys are your saddle height and wearing clean cycling shorts.  Now don't be worried, logic and preparation will keep you saddle sore free- get out there and enjoy yourself.