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Re: Newbie - Cycling Induced Symptoms?

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 11:09 pm
by RedRedRobin
Hiya, I don't know anything about the medical stuff but as an avid cyclist I thought it might help to point out that ideally your saddle should be angled slightly down at the front to help relieve pressure. It's also well worth considering the overall fit of the bike including the height of the saddle and distance from the bars since minor changes can make big differences. For example if your saddle is slightly too high then you have to rock your hips a bit to reach the pedals at the bottom of their path and this can give you not only serious lower back isssues but means you slide sideways across the saddle slightly, stretching to reach and pushing the sensitive area into the saddle each stroke. Contrast this with a saddle which is slightly too low so your legs are slightly bent at the bottom of the pedals' path wherein it's more likely that your bottom will be lifted very slightly and relieved a little with every stroke. Video evidence often astounds people who were unaware of poor technique when they thought their hips were rock solid, so an open mind can be vital here :o . On the down side a saddle that's too low can also sap power and cause knee damage but that's another story... and you don't need to stand up to have sex ;)
I hope this helps someone.