Why Do Mountain Bike Seats Hurt? (Reasons & Solutions)
Riding your mountain bike on trails should be great fun, but it can quickly turn sour when your seat hurts. You’ll barely be able to continue riding when you’re in pain.
The bike seat doesn’t hold all your weight; it only supports your sit bones, allowing the lower limb to move freely. But sometimes, your seat may feel off, and you wonder why.
But a bike seat should offer relief, not pain. So it becomes a problem when you experience the latter.
Some factors can contribute to making mountain bike seats hurt. Having a saddle that doesn’t fit is perhaps the most defining one. Due to size differences and body anatomy, every rider has to find the saddle that fits them. Unfortunately, most times, the saddle from the factory may not fit, so you’ll experience some discomfort using it.
The seat of a mountain bike can hurt when you buy it newly, but the feeling should ease off in a short time. So there’s a problem if you experience constant soreness.
This article will give all the helpful information about mountain bike seats and what makes them uncomfortable. You’ll also learn ways to stop your seat from hurting.
Why Are Mountain Bike Seats So Uncomfortable?
Mountain bike seats may feel uncomfortable during rides because they don’t fit. However, expecting saddles to be as comfortable as regular seats is a long shot!
That’s because, unlike regular seats, bike seats do not support all of a person’s weight. Instead, they only provide enough support to allow free movement of the lower limb.
You’ll notice that bike seats aren’t wide and soft but narrow and hard. It’s rather ironic, but that’s the best design for bike seats, and it gives great comfort.
So you always ensure proper saddle sizing to have enjoyable riding experiences. But there are other factors to consider if you have the correct seat size on your bike.
We’ll now look at factors besides saddle sizing that may make mountain bike seats hurtful during rides.
#1. Improper Handlebar Position
You’ll have to lean too much backward or forward if your handlebars are too high or low. That’ll cause a poor overall riding position on your mountain bike.
It’s always best to ensure that your bike’s handlebars are within your reach. Otherwise, that’ll affect your balance on the bike seat, and you’ll experience soreness.
#2. Incorrect Mountain Bike Size
Your mountain bike will only be your fit if it’s the right size. Thus, you’ll experience discomfort during rides if you choose a bike frame that’s too big or small.
#3. Poor Biking Gear
Bike saddles tend to hurt more when riders use loose clothing. So you’ll experience the same thing with your bike seat if you do the same.
It’s always vital to go for functionality more than style when choosing your biking clothes.
#4. Wrong Riding Position
How you set yourself on your bike will determine how much effort you exert when riding. It’ll also determine the distribution of your weight on the mountain bike.
Focus your body weight on your bike’s pedals, not the seat. You’ll experience soreness in no time when you rest your weight on the bike seat.
So always remember that your saddle is for support, not relaxation.
Is It Normal for a Mountain Bike Seat to Hurt?
It’s normal for mountain bike seats to hurt sometimes, especially when you go on long rides. In that case, you have nothing to worry about because it’s just due to strain.
Also, it takes some time for riders to adjust to new saddles. So you’ll feel some discomfort at first when you start riding. But that’s perfectly normal.
It’s still the same feeling for people just starting to use mountain bikes. It takes a while to get used to the feel of a saddle because it’s different from regular seats.
In that case, frequent riding can help a new rider enjoy pain-free experiences on a mountain bike. Also, using a saddle over and over will set you in tune with it.
So the initial pain will cease when you choose a saddle with the proper design and material. As per material, synthetic saddles have the least break-in time.
Then for design, saddles that are too narrow or thin won’t distribute weight properly. You’ll also experience more friction around your groin when the saddle is too wide.
It’s best to opt for a saddle that has medium dimensions. That way, you’ll be able to get proper weight distribution.
Also, if you have sensitive skin, your bike seat will hurt you faster than a person with tougher skin. That’s because you’ll experience skin irritations in a short time.
But your bike seat hurting you on a short ride isn’t normal, and you must diagnose the problem. Your new saddle also shouldn’t hurt after using it for a few weeks.
So, you’ll need to check if your bike seat hurts for reasons other than the ones above. That’ll mean a fault, so you can correct it to have pain-free riding experiences.
How Do I Stop My Mountain Bike Seat From Hurting?
Using a proper saddle type and size is the perfect way to avoid pain during rides. So the first thing to stop bike seats from hurting you is to ensure you’re using a fitting saddle.
Besides proper saddle choice, there are other ways to make your saddle more comfortable. But it’s important to stick to proven methods.
Due to contrasting designs and functions, regular seats work differently from saddles. It’s also important to keep in mind factors that contribute to saddles hurting and avoid them.
That said, below are some ways to stop your mountain bike seat from hurting.
#1. Saddle Covers
The seat of your mountain bike will feel more comfortable when you use a suitable saddle cover. The covers come with some padding to boost the saddle’s support.
But you have to be precise with the saddle cover you get. Ensure you get one that matches the size of your bike seat, or else fitting it won’t be easy.
Also, ensure that the material is lightweight while offering increased comfort.
#2. Padded Shorts
Most long-distance cyclists usually use bib shorts to get more comfort and convenience during rides. These shorts come with special padding in strategic areas.
Having padding all across your shorts will not make them more comfortable. That’s why bib shorts are special, as they keep pads in place at the groin specifically.
You can wear anything over bib shorts because you’ll feel no resistance with the right one. Also, they have straps instead of waistbands, so they don’t get itchy.
#3. Emollient or Chamois Cream
The major factor behind saddle soreness is friction, but using a chamois cream helps reduce friction. Another perk of using the cream is its antibacterial function.
Although using chamois cream may feel off at first, it takes little time to get used to it. Also, you’ll find that it reduces friction significantly to make riding more comfortable.
How Long Does It Take to Get Used to Bike Seat Pain?
Riders usually take a few weeks to get used to bike seat pain, whether in the case of new riders or having a new saddle.
But the ultimate factor behind how long it takes is the material type of the saddle. Break-in times differ with materials, so you’ll ease into them differently.
Saddles made with synthetic materials are the best when considering break-in time. Most synthetic saddles require zero break-in time, so you’ll enjoy them immediately!
The table below shows some common saddle materials and the range of their break-in period.
| Material | Range of Break-In Time | Level of Comfort |
|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Short | High |
| Leather | High (after cycling 320 kilometers) | High |
| Foam | Medium | Medium |
| Gel Cushion | Medium | Medium |
Also, a rider’s weight can affect the break-in time of a saddle. So lightweights may take longer to adjust to a new saddle than other riders.
Thus weight is important when choosing saddles. Foam saddles are the best choice for riders weighing 90 kg and above. They are also perfect for regular long-distance rides.
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