I know this is an old video, but I’ve been struggling with this issue for two years. I had sit bone soreness during a longer ride than I was used to, didn’t think much of it, but it just never completely healed. I’ve been riding for years so don’t think it was a sudden imbalance that caused it. More likely an irritation from that particular saddle. Definitely regret pushing through the discomfort that day!
Fantastic! this explains alot . I had a stroke in 2012 and have just been getting back into cycling which I use to do daily pre-stroke. I've been getting bad left sided sit bone pain that feels like it radiates down my leg sapping any strength it has. And have been blaming seats I've tried a few recommended ones with no success. I've been getting so despondent I have just resorted to internet advice and found your video! It explains a lot. My wife said I just needed to ride more and allow my butt to toughen up to the new seats.The stroke has left me with weakness on my left side and the left leg does bugger-all when cycling . my right leg does most of the work.In addition my left leg is shorter than my right - I wear a shoe with an extra 4cm lift including on the bike. my hammies on both legs are usually tight from all the sitting I do now. I've got osteoarthritis pain in my right knee (yes I'm buggered - I'm 55 and 215 pounds ) your video will stop me buying new seats and start stretching.Thanks for posting the video ! Would rotating the seat help?
I needed this video. Only been riding a year. Started on mountain bike and ended up pedaling 80 miles a week. Switched to a gravel grinder(crux). Instant left sit bone pain. Had a bike fit. Same thing. Barely ridden since. Hope to make the trip from the far side of kansas to your place someday. Thank you for the videos!!!
I've been riding for decades but developed pain on one sit bone about 18 months ago. It's not skin related and no perceivable swelling. It not only hurts when I ride, it also hurts when I drive my car, sit in my office chair, sit on a bar stool, etc. I stayed off all bikes and sat on a pad with holes for my sit bones over a three month period. The pain decreased after I returned to biking but hasn't gone away and still flares up. Local docs are baffled and think it's bursitis. I'm looking for a clinician with experience resolving this type of pain.
I have scoliosis. Been working on posturing and moving my pelvis to the convex side. Been trying this on the bike. Piriformis and hamstring attachment pain. Maybe some bursitis too. I’ve been getting shockwave therapy. We shall see how this all goes. Have had it for about 2 years now. Can’t stop biking tho. 🙌🏻
I had an all surgery and start riding while recovering, the non operated side is dominant and I'm having great discomfort on that hip side and also seat pressure
I have pain on left sit bone, actually front of the sit bone, after 4 hours on the bike i have big swell that goes away in 2-3 days. Also during the ride my left leg gets numb. All started to happen 6 months ago.
I am suffering from the same symptoms n my left sit bone swelled out like potato n i found out its ischial bursitis...if you have any discussions with your doctor already done please share with me...thanks ..God bless
A little bit of history first: very fit, averaged 250 miles a week during summer through fall, saddles were Specialized Roman /130. Nothing about the bike was changed or altered. Nothing about my kit was different. Everything was great till it seemed, it wasn’t. About mile 16-18 avg. I would experience terrible Gluteus medius pain on the left side. I would have to stand on the pedals and stretch constantly to alleviate the discomfort and this would in turn shorten my rides for several months. I inquired with everyone I could think of as to the sudden cause to no avail. No one had a solution. One day just for the heck of it I decided to change to a new saddle (exactly the same but different color). When I placed the “old” saddle down on the flat work surface I noticed that the left titanium rail was off kilter compared to the right by about 1.5mm (guessing, maybe 2 to 3). When I rode the bike with the new saddle (exact same positioning) I had no pain! About two years later...same pain...starting the same distance into the ride. Took off the saddle - bent exactly to the same degree as the previous one. Anyone have a idea as to what would cause the rail to tweek.? The bike had never been dropped or carelessly abused in any way.
This is really good. I've been fighting either sit bone pain, bursitis, burning pain, saddle sores, etc. I crashed hard two years ago, broken collar bone, ribs and shoulder blade all of which has left me with permanent imbalance. And a bought of frozen shoulder that is 85-90% resolved added to that. I think I can get pain on one side or the other during a ride, sitting around the house, etc. It can shift during a ride or be non-existent too. Found my dropper post was just too high and worked thru that along with seat adjustments and about 5 different seats now. What initially started this was a seat I bought not paying attention to the width, which was 155mm and way beyond my 115mm sit bone width. Some seats have helped but not permanently. Still fighting this and I have not been keeping up with the various stretches I do for my injury. I know the injured shoulder is lower and narrower because they didn't operate and my opinion is that there was just too much of a dislocation for me to end up being fully functional afterwards. Now I have to adapt and make the most of it. Thanks for this video. Oh being older, 72, can't be helping but I was mtn biking 60 miles a week, riding 3 times per week. Now I've cut back to half that to try to heal, sometimes taking 5 days off after a longer/harder ride.
Couple days ago I got my new saddle It's decent nothing fancy But I did figured it out that I'm doing something wrong watching multiple videos I believe It's the way I set And my reach I'm definitely going to work on that anyways Thx for tips sir It really helped take care and be safe
ugh, I have this on my left sit bone, probably from the slight scoliosis in my spine but maybe short hammies as well. I had a look at the chamois of my 2 bib shorts the one day and I had worn through them completely on the left side.
@@syrus3k I got some fancy new castelli bibshorts which seems to have helped. I also went for another bike fit and she angled my saddle very slightly to the right. I think it's just my body biomechanics though 😕
Hurts almost immediately on the left side (I notice this from a toilet seat or even sitting in a car). My guess is it is from under developed gluten and a restriction turning/bending to the left. I have been trying stretching & exercises to alleviate this issue but in the meantime I switched out the seat for a wider/softer one. I ride a commuting bike so an aggressive stance is really not the issue.
I've been riding for about 5 years without too much in the way of saddle pain. I took a couple months off and then did an indoor TrainerRoad ramp test, which is obviously pushing things for the first ride back. After that first ride, I had some saddle discomfort on the right hand side and the whole top of the right leg felt uncomfortable for a couple days. I can't seem to get rid of the discomfort and it hurts every time I've ridden for the last 3 weeks. It's not chaffing or a saddle sore. It feels deeper and I can feel a sinewy long(ish) lump in that area. I don't know whether to try and ride through it, change up the fit (which is identical to my outside riding), go to the doctor or if I just need to force myself to take some time off.
I am a physician and avid cyclist and am very picky about the advice I seek re bike fit. You have very good advice. Sometimes I feel like it falls a bit short of concrete solutions but that is fine from a business standpoint:) Here's my issue. Been cycling for many years. Small rider at 5 foot 6 inches 140 pounds. Have started to have medial left sit bone pain and have experimented with many saddles, saddle heights and setbacks. I am very flexible and active in other things like running and resistance training. Questions: Specific saddles to try? Specific stretches to address the left side? Thanks for the great info!!!
Anyone that commented here find a solution? Very similar situation. Long term cyclist, left side swells up and forms a wad on sitbone after rides, icing, stretching and anti inflamatories help and can get back on a week later. Looking for something more permanent. Exercises? Therapy? Saddle adjustment? Thanks
@@alejandrogonzalez-wx8tp I was having the same problem. Everyone is different, so depending on what's the cause the solution might be different. For me, a mix of wrong saddle angle, fore aft and height was the problem: Saddle angle made me sit on the middle (I mean middle between nose and back of the saddle) so I was having to much pressure on the perineum. To compensate this, I was unconsciously hunching my back. And the seat heigh which seemed right was some millimeters too high. So my body was protecting my strong leg and It was pushing my hip off the saddle to the left, creating a constant rubbing.I noticed this because the padding on my bib was always moving off the center. Solution: I lowered the saddle 3 or 4 mm, lowered the nose 1 degree and moved the saddle 1cm forward.Then I started sitting more to the rear of the saddle, the cutoff section (hole in the middle of the saddle) started to do his job (no more pression on the perineum), I stopped hunching my back. And with the saddle a couple of mm lower it was easier to keep control of balance between both legs. Now, the padding is on place and I have no more inflammation.
I've been fighting with left side saddle sores on very short rides (just commuting). Never had it before. Been changing bibs, thinking it was a bad pad (started around the same time I got new ones). Been watching your other videos about saddle height and been adjusting that (something I should have done any ways). Been adjusting cleats (again, something that needed to be done as well)... Got other things working better, but not the saddle irritation. And then suddenly, with this video, everything makes sense. I broke my left wrist in an accident 1.5 year ago. As soon as I could start ride again, I never gave that a thought. That is obviously what is causing my left side issues. I'm taking the wrist exercises more seriously now... Your videos are great.
Hey. My left hand always wants to go more up on the steer then my right hand. Thats the natural position. Now I have glutual pain for a long time. Are there exersizes so fix this? Maybe some exersizes for my spine to have more a straight natural position? Thanks a lot
Leg length discrepancy. Functional, maybe anatomical. Shimmed right. Been my ticket. Had some left primarily left sided issues that i felt. But visually right side was less toned. Tried both sides. Right worked better, though initially was awkward to pedal, super weak right leg. Cramps, spasms, hip had twisted in process. Was a mess. Hard to find good fitter. Fit my self and UA-cam fitters.
I never feel that my hamstrings contribute to power output, feels very quad dominant. I get a severe nerve like pain on my left sit bone after about 60 mins on the turbo. After a long 1.45hr session, I could barely walk, it felt like my arse had seized up. I last for longer outdoors before it becomes a problem.
I really like your explanations, I'm getting into running focusing on a fast 5k. Haven't started training seriously yet but I'm a bit paranoid about injury, I started getting signs of lower leg pain so I backed off training to strengthen those muscles, plus some upper inner rear leg pain at right bottocks. I'm trying to focus on glute and core strength at a bare minimum before getting back into training. And when I start have a lot of cross training activity's ready so progress not slowed down too much by injury or signs of injury.
I have sit bone pain on my right side. I had several fits. Purchased several saddles. I do have tight hamstrings. I waa wonderimg if I stretch my hamstrings willl eliminate the pain?
Been through countless saddles and can't stop getting a saddle sore where my sit bone area is but only in the right hand side. Took 3 weeks off so the area completely healed. First ride back sore reappeared. Really at a loss at what to do 😢
@@TheStarttman no I haven't unfortunately. After countless saddles and online research the only thing I can come up with that I haven't tried is seeing an osteopath for body imbalance which is mentioned alot for people who only have sores one side
@@markrees6792 Thanks for letting me know! I haven't had a fitting in 3 years so I'm going to give it another try this week and see if it helps. I hope you are able to find the culprit of your pain. I've definitely heard that fixing certain issues may involve regular stretching and/or core development before you can correct posture. Best of luck to you!
Hi, I recently had a retül fit after 6,7 years of riding and all because I rode at the beginning of the year with a saddle that was about 1.5 inches higher which created and issue on my right ramus (anterior part of right sit bone) and I am struggling with the pain at the beginning of any ride(and during). I notice after a couple of months of riding 2,3 times a week it is transferring to a groin ache. Trying new saddle (went from an oura to SQlab 612) it feels a bit better but still hurts. Any one with a similar issue??
Our flexibility/stability/mobility can all fluctuate from day to day - everyone has those days where we feel more awkward or just tighter and less athletic -- and this can make saddle troubles worse on some days versus others. But it's certainly possible that you have an anatomical or bony discrepancy
Yes I suppose it is possible. Seems to happen mostly when I am going hard up a hill and I think I am pushing much harder with the right leg because the left knee is weaker from a 30+ year old BMX bike crash. Probably causes a diagonal movement on the saddle like you mention in the video, and/or I don't sit squarely on the saddle. I try to get out of the saddle for a minute or two but it hurts again right after I sit down. I work around it but it makes it so that I can't see myself ever doing a century or more because it would just hurt too much being in the saddle that long. :-/
Thanks for your great videos. Is there a saddle (or 2) you can recommend that would be good for a hamstring tendonosis on one side that is simply brutal at 25 miles? 54, very fit, 5'9" 150, 170mm cranks, 111mm sit bone distance (before adding 20mm I understand people add), flexibility has always been poor, especially in lower back and upper hams. off bike 15 yrs with injury. finally able to get back on a year ago. getting back up to decent mileage now (120+/wk, longest rides around 50+ mi). Had hip labrum repair surgery (which re-tore . . ugh) several years ago. Had a fitting a couple of months ago. Have a number of spacers beneath stem to create more upright position so hip doesn't get so impinged. Riding a Serotta Ottrot. Been riding a Selle San Marco ASP from 2005. Love it, but for this problem and sometimes slight numbness underneath (which is the least of my problems). I tested a Fizik Aliante R3 (regular) this weekend. Disaster. Wondering if a wider saddle might help? I was disappointed to realize that the openings on saddles are for soft tissue, not for sit bones! Need one for the sit bones. Thank you!
My inbalance generates small but quite painful lumps on my left inner thigh only. I don't know if it's due to leg power inbalance (I don't have a powermeter) or some physical assymmetry that makes me sit not aligned with the bike axis. I have changed my yellow shimano cleats to the blue ones, and put my feet more to the outside, and that apparently alleviated the issue a little. My right foot is much more flexible due to driving, Ibelieve.
+Enda Bigarella You're right that even small differences, like your foot mobility due to driving can cause a problem. About the lumps on your leg: I have had clients develop little nodules high up in the groin or next to the sit bones that can be quite irritating. It's easy to forget that the pelvis is a huge confluence of muscles and when we sit on the saddle off kilter the tendons of these muscles can come into contact with the saddle....our body can form nodules as a means of protection or as a result of inflammation so issues like this aren't uncommon. Often taking time off the bike helps them to resolve ((at least for a while))
Do power meters show difference left to right side? That would be great. Those nodes sound like a real pain. Would (hot) yoga be good cross training to loosen up that area whilst lightly working on everything else. Hot yoga a tough workout.
Hi Ive had knee surgery "patellar bursa" or over use injury "spring knee". In the past been getting issues on the same side on my saddle. Can this be caused by Q angle etc. I would like to know how to check myself position out. My saddle height is correct. But always getting saddle sores and other issues. Prostatitis gor one. I have had bike fits in the past but only the cheaper ones the set cleats saddle and check your general position. I have been really enjoying your videos. So keep up the good work.
Hi, I am experiencing sit bone pain on my ride side after riding. I stopped for two weeks and did some hamstring straightening everyday for few minutes. At the end of that resting period I wasn’t feeling any discomfort even when I was touching my sit bone so I decided to get back on the saddle for a 45 miles ride, and already after 25 minutes of riding the pain/discomfort came back. I have been riding for years and this is new to me. Any advice? Thank you in advance
Hi, I had a THR last year, I been a road cyclist , and i was riding fine for a while and recently develop hamstring tendinopathy in the same side of the new hip, I think the saddle has a lot to do with it, do you have any suggestions?
I’ve been have this issue for about 5 years and I’ve changed to different saddles quite a few times and it seems to never go away...your advise be helpful
I just finished my festive500 ride, and realize that my butt is hurt, but only on the right sitbone. The left one is ok. I did broke my left thigh bone 20yrs ago, and I think my right foot is shorter as the result on that. I have 3mm shim on my right right shoe, and I'm thinking to add some more. Do you think this is a good idea?
GREAT VIDEO!!! This is an issue that I have been having trouble with lately (after a recent broken hip). However, I had also suffered with this issue in the past. I would love to see your exercises that you alluded to in the video but I do not find the link. Could you repost that? Thanks for your help! Great stuff.
@@davidstrong7854 Yes, but I try to remove my wallet & phone (left pocket) when I sit. I notice that my right side pubic bone is much larger than my left. Just sitting on a low cushion chair, I notice my right pubic bone touching the chair as much as my right sit bone. Maybe I need an SQLab 612 active saddle?
@@wss327 thanks for the reply. I carry my wallet on my left side, and seems like my right sit bone feel like it protrudes more than my left side. Ive wondered if that has caused my spine to bend, or hips to twist. however, maybe totally irrelevant. Im trying all lot of things. Most recently put a 2mm shim in my left shoe yesterday. it felt good, but overtime things often change and our body adjusts..
@@wss327 I have this too! After sitting in a chair the right sit bone leaves a much deeper indentation than the left. On rides my rite sir bone always burns and gets sore…
Hi! Could you please give some clues on this one: my right foot (from the pedal contact point to fingers) gets numb after like a 20-30 min of pedaling. I have also noticed that I have some right to left imbalance - when I look at the front wheel, the angle of view is always more to the left from the axis. Could there be any connection between these two?
There certainly could be a connection. First make sure the cleats are set up equally in their fore/aft position. The take a look at your feet -- are they the same length? Are the toes the same length? When you feel around on the underside of the foot are the metatarsal heads (the balls of the feet) pronounced the same or does one side feel more "boney". Another safe step would be to try a metatarsal pad on one or both feet. This consists of just having a small cushion in the center of the foot just behind the metatarsal heads. Just Google "metatarsal pad" and ignore the ones that go over the balls of the feet themselves and limit yourself to the ones that you see displayed behind the balls of the feet. Good luck....
Any advise on how to fix saddle pain on one side? I do have leg length discrepancy but it is less than 0.5cm. I used to sit on a Astute saddle, while it doesn't hurt my sit bone, I feel my left/right leg pedaling is unbalance and I have to adjust constantly on the saddle to feel balance. Recently I change to Selle Italia SLR techno Flow and I no longer feel the left right imbalance, but the left sit bone hurts alot while the right side is just fine. Will changing another saddle work?
This video is very timely! I have been experiencing a very sore right sit bone. I have had both hips replaced, and I was thinking that possibly my pelvis is a little askew. I have found that if I move a wee bit forward on my saddle, the bone doesn't hurt so much, so I thought that a new, skinnier saddle might do the trick. Watching your video made something else click, as well. I have moderate scoliosis, and I know my spine has a slight twist. Do you think changing to a narrower saddle will help?
@@italianstallion8180 I went to a local bike shop and paid for a professional fit. We adjusted the seat height and the handlebar stem height, put orthotics in my cycling shoes, and adjusted the positioning of my cleats. On top of all that, the bike fitter had a device that measured pressure points when placed over a saddle. After getting my sit bones properly measured ( I have very narrow sit bones) we tried a number of different saddles until I found one that felt the most comfortable and seemed to evenly distribute the pressure. Money well spent!
Hi, what a great vid. I am based in Australia. I have an old car injury (severe fracture of the left patella) that results in left quad weakness. Whilst I have been cycling consistently for 5 years with no problems, after my first 300km ride I developed a lump of something over my right sit bone. Prior to this lump I had tried to increase left quad strength but I cannot do full squats due to left patella pain so any strength development is very minimal and very slow. I have been fit to my bike but how can I accommodate a lack of left leg quad, calf, and buttock strength so I can keep riding without these lump frustrating my love of cycling? I'd love your help! Thanks
Le Rxticle A lump in that area is tough -- have seen it be an irritated bursa that rests in that area, or even scar tissue on one of the tendons. The fix for any of the possibilities is neither simple nor quick. But to address the weaker left side the best you can do is just to keep hammering away at the difference. I always like to focus on coordination first and then get into pure strength. Best of luck...
Hi I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. Would you recommend a bike fitter? I am doing a 60 mile dirt/gravel/road race in a few weeks and am unhappy with the bike fit and have a hard time finding comfort post 30 miles.
Bhavik Joshi I would check out getting an appointment with Curtis Cramblett at Revolutions in Fitness, on their website it appears they have offices in San Jose and Palo Alto. I think he knows his stuff. He's also a PT and so you'll still get that depth aspect to your bike fit. Good luck!
So, I'm back, I used my GoPro to tape my self ride on the trainer. What I found out is that my knees are going out to much, then I look from the side my arms are to far out, and last from the back I was rocking from side to side. So I'm thinking about flipping the stem, and then drop the saddle to stop the rocking. And with my shoes I'm going to have to keep messing with it to get my knees to go up and down. And to make sure my knees are lined up with the pedal
HI. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE WITH YOUR VIDEOS. I NEVER HAD A PROFESSIONAL BIKE FITTING. AND I DO NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES ON THE BIKE IN TERMS OF PAIN OR DISCOMFORT. MY PROBLEM IS WHILE OFF THE BIKE. MY HIPS HURT SO BAD. MY DOCTOR CAN NOT BELIEF ME THAT I DO NOT HAVE PAIN WHILE ON THE BIKE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE SOME IDEAS THAT CAN HELP ME. THANKS AGAIN.
LEONARDO GUTIERREZ Couldn't say for sure. One of the few times I've had people have no pain on the bike and hip pain off of it would be in the case of severe arthritic change in the hips or perhaps a labral issue.
Hi! Thanks so much for the great videos! they have helped a lot as I have only been riding for 4 months and loving it! 'm 6'3ft and 250 lbs at 15% bf. (just to give an idea of build to frame question) - My sit bone width is 138cm - I am told this is very wide for a guy. People have recommended at least 10cm of clearance on either side of each sit bone for saddle sizing. however, Previously the most I could find would achieve 5.5mm on each side with a 149 gm saddle. I have now found a 155 from seller royal. I'm hoping this will help solve the problems I'm having of pain and saddle sores. The saddles I have run just don't feel like I have enough area to plat my si bones, I often feel like I need to move and reposition. DO you think that 10cm each side is a reasonable clearance as a starting point for a better bike fit? thanks again!!
Not John, but the clearance required depends on the shape of the saddle as well. If the flat part of the saddle is very wide and there is a sharp drop very close to the saddle sides, then less clearance might be ok. I have wide sit bones as well and really like www.sq-lab.com/ saddles. They also have fitting information on their page, e.g. explaining that the more aggressive (leaning forward) your riding position is, the narrower you can go with the saddle (as the sitbones angle towards the center towards the front of your body). sqlab-usa.com/pages/saddle-ergonomics-explained
I started cycling with stock flat saddle. After riding for less than one hour, the feeling was like I was sitting on the steel rails, uncomfortably painful even. After I got more experience and power it became slightly better but still other half of 2 hour ride was a constant 'repositioning' and trying to survive. The pressure was more on the right sitbone. Then I got Aliante which was instant revelation. I could ride 2 hours without problems, even 6 hours and was no hard pressing at all. Some bike fitters recomended me to try other flat saddles with cutout as they said Aliante is not the saddle they like because it may introduce soft tissue pressure. I always got back to Aliante, with it I have no feeling of sitting on hard rails, especially the right one, neither it makes numbness in soft areas, if angled properly. I do not know why this works for me, maybe saddle flex, or maybe curvature allows for sitbones to 'move'?
Hi, John. Just stumbling onto your video series and find them to be very helpful. I've been riding and racing road and MTB for 30 years. I broke/dislocated my rt elbow in an MTB race in 1997 and lost about 13% extension of that arm. Only lately, however, in the last few months, I am having significant left sit bone pain when I ride longer than 4 hours. Could there be a connection and, if so, am I just a bit screwed and have to deal with? I have shortened my reach significantly - using a 50mm stem, and have tried several saddle types and seat heights. I'm prepping for a seven-day stage race in the Pyrenees in August and trying to get a handle on this. Any help would be awesome - even if it just a reality check. Thanks.
I know this is an old video, but I’ve been struggling with this issue for two years. I had sit bone soreness during a longer ride than I was used to, didn’t think much of it, but it just never completely healed. I’ve been riding for years so don’t think it was a sudden imbalance that caused it. More likely an irritation from that particular saddle. Definitely regret pushing through the discomfort that day!
Fantastic! this explains alot . I had a stroke in 2012 and have just been getting back into cycling which I use to do daily pre-stroke. I've been getting bad left sided sit bone pain that feels like it radiates down my leg sapping any strength it has. And have been blaming seats I've tried a few recommended ones with no success. I've been getting so despondent I have just resorted to internet advice and found your video! It explains a lot. My wife said I just needed to ride more and allow my butt to toughen up to the new seats.The stroke has left me with weakness on my left side and the left leg does bugger-all when cycling . my right leg does most of the work.In addition my left leg is shorter than my right - I wear a shoe with an extra 4cm lift including on the bike. my hammies on both legs are usually tight from all the sitting I do now. I've got osteoarthritis pain in my right knee (yes I'm buggered - I'm 55 and 215 pounds ) your video will stop me buying new seats and start stretching.Thanks for posting the video ! Would rotating the seat help?
I needed this video. Only been riding a year. Started on mountain bike and ended up pedaling 80 miles a week. Switched to a gravel grinder(crux). Instant left sit bone pain. Had a bike fit. Same thing. Barely ridden since. Hope to make the trip from the far side of kansas to your place someday. Thank you for the videos!!!
+Balder Thanu I know it can be frustrating. Happy to see you in my studio when you're ready. Thanks for watching!
I've been riding for decades but developed pain on one sit bone about 18 months ago. It's not skin related and no perceivable swelling. It not only hurts when I ride, it also hurts when I drive my car, sit in my office chair, sit on a bar stool, etc. I stayed off all bikes and sat on a pad with holes for my sit bones over a three month period. The pain decreased after I returned to biking but hasn't gone away and still flares up. Local docs are baffled and think it's bursitis. I'm looking for a clinician with experience resolving this type of pain.
Hi did you find a solution?
Sound like periformis
I have scoliosis. Been working on posturing and moving my pelvis to the convex side. Been trying this on the bike. Piriformis and hamstring attachment pain. Maybe some bursitis too. I’ve been getting shockwave therapy. We shall see how this all goes. Have had it for about 2 years now. Can’t stop biking tho. 🙌🏻
TY! I have this from running, everything makes sense
This is awesome! I have one sided pain on my left sit bone from attempting to lift my husband's legs to reposition him. I thought it was sciatic pain!
What?
I had an all surgery and start riding while recovering, the non operated side is dominant and I'm having great discomfort on that hip side and also seat pressure
I have pain on left sit bone, actually front of the sit bone, after 4 hours on the bike i have big swell that goes away in 2-3 days. Also during the ride my left leg gets numb. All started to happen 6 months ago.
I am suffering from the same symptoms n my left sit bone swelled out like potato n i found out its ischial bursitis...if you have any discussions with your doctor already done please share with me...thanks ..God bless
Excellent discussion. I am referring people to your channel regularly. Keep up the good work!
A little bit of history first: very fit, averaged 250 miles a week during summer through fall,
saddles were Specialized Roman /130. Nothing about the bike was changed or altered. Nothing about my kit was different. Everything was great till it seemed, it wasn’t. About mile 16-18 avg. I would experience terrible Gluteus medius pain on the left side. I would have to stand on the pedals and stretch constantly to alleviate the discomfort and this would in turn shorten my rides for several months.
I inquired with everyone I could think of as to the sudden cause to no avail. No one had a solution. One day just for the heck of it I decided to change to a new saddle (exactly the same but different color). When I placed the “old” saddle down on the flat work surface I noticed that the left titanium rail was off kilter compared to the right by about 1.5mm (guessing, maybe 2 to 3). When I rode the
bike with the new saddle (exact same positioning) I had no pain!
About two years later...same pain...starting the same distance into the ride. Took off the saddle - bent exactly to the same degree as the previous one.
Anyone have a idea as to what would cause the rail to tweek.?
The bike had never been dropped or carelessly abused in any way.
This is really good. I've been fighting either sit bone pain, bursitis, burning pain, saddle sores, etc. I crashed hard two years ago, broken collar bone, ribs and shoulder blade all of which has left me with permanent imbalance. And a bought of frozen shoulder that is 85-90% resolved added to that. I think I can get pain on one side or the other during a ride, sitting around the house, etc. It can shift during a ride or be non-existent too. Found my dropper post was just too high and worked thru that along with seat adjustments and about 5 different seats now. What initially started this was a seat I bought not paying attention to the width, which was 155mm and way beyond my 115mm sit bone width. Some seats have helped but not permanently. Still fighting this and I have not been keeping up with the various stretches I do for my injury. I know the injured shoulder is lower and narrower because they didn't operate and my opinion is that there was just too much of a dislocation for me to end up being fully functional afterwards. Now I have to adapt and make the most of it. Thanks for this video. Oh being older, 72, can't be helping but I was mtn biking 60 miles a week, riding 3 times per week. Now I've cut back to half that to try to heal, sometimes taking 5 days off after a longer/harder ride.
Couple days ago I got my new saddle
It's decent nothing fancy
But I did figured it out that I'm doing something wrong watching multiple videos I believe
It's the way I set
And my reach I'm definitely going to work on that anyways
Thx for tips sir It really helped
take care and be safe
ugh, I have this on my left sit bone, probably from the slight scoliosis in my spine but maybe short hammies as well. I had a look at the chamois of my 2 bib shorts the one day and I had worn through them completely on the left side.
I have exactly the same.. I also have a slightly dodgy left knee so maybe that's the cause?!
@@syrus3k I got some fancy new castelli bibshorts which seems to have helped. I also went for another bike fit and she angled my saddle very slightly to the right. I think it's just my body biomechanics though 😕
Hurts almost immediately on the left side (I notice this from a toilet seat or even sitting in a car). My guess is it is from under developed gluten and a restriction turning/bending to the left.
I have been trying stretching & exercises to alleviate this issue but in the meantime I switched out the seat for a wider/softer one. I ride a commuting bike so an aggressive stance is really not the issue.
What about saddle sores on one side? Its my left side. Tired different saddles, shims etc. Any feedback would be great. Thanks
it can caused by a saddle thats too high, too long or low handlebar, or bad cleat placement.
I had saddle pain on one side I lowered my saddle by about 15mm and the pain went
@@happyharry7331 went out?
I've been riding for about 5 years without too much in the way of saddle pain. I took a couple months off and then did an indoor TrainerRoad ramp test, which is obviously pushing things for the first ride back. After that first ride, I had some saddle discomfort on the right hand side and the whole top of the right leg felt uncomfortable for a couple days. I can't seem to get rid of the discomfort and it hurts every time I've ridden for the last 3 weeks. It's not chaffing or a saddle sore. It feels deeper and I can feel a sinewy long(ish) lump in that area. I don't know whether to try and ride through it, change up the fit (which is identical to my outside riding), go to the doctor or if I just need to force myself to take some time off.
I am a physician and avid cyclist and am very picky about the advice I seek re bike fit. You have very good advice. Sometimes I feel like it falls a bit short of concrete solutions but that is fine from a business standpoint:) Here's my issue. Been cycling for many years. Small rider at 5 foot 6 inches 140 pounds. Have started to have medial left sit bone pain and have experimented with many saddles, saddle heights and setbacks. I am very flexible and active in other things like running and resistance training. Questions: Specific saddles to try? Specific stretches to address the left side? Thanks for the great info!!!
Exercises for high hamstring strain, maybe?
I have the same problem, same height but 125 pounds, cyclist since i was 10 and now im having this wierd pain in my left sit bone
Nadim Kanafani me too, left side pain
Anyone that commented here find a solution? Very similar situation. Long term cyclist, left side swells up and forms a wad on sitbone after rides, icing, stretching and anti inflamatories help and can get back on a week later. Looking for something more permanent. Exercises? Therapy? Saddle adjustment? Thanks
@@alejandrogonzalez-wx8tp I was having the same problem. Everyone is different, so depending on what's the cause the solution might be different. For me, a mix of wrong saddle angle, fore aft and height was the problem: Saddle angle made me sit on the middle (I mean middle between nose and back of the saddle) so I was having to much pressure on the perineum. To compensate this, I was unconsciously hunching my back. And the seat heigh which seemed right was some millimeters too high. So my body was protecting my strong leg and It was pushing my hip off the saddle to the left, creating a constant rubbing.I noticed this because the padding on my bib was always moving off the center.
Solution: I lowered the saddle 3 or 4 mm, lowered the nose 1 degree and moved the saddle 1cm forward.Then I started sitting more to the rear of the saddle, the cutoff section (hole in the middle of the saddle) started to do his job (no more pression on the perineum), I stopped hunching my back. And with the saddle a couple of mm lower it was easier to keep control of balance between both legs. Now, the padding is on place and I have no more inflammation.
Hello, I’m trying to create an account on your website but the create account button brings me back to the homepage.
I've been fighting with left side saddle sores on very short rides (just commuting). Never had it before. Been changing bibs, thinking it was a bad pad (started around the same time I got new ones). Been watching your other videos about saddle height and been adjusting that (something I should have done any ways). Been adjusting cleats (again, something that needed to be done as well)... Got other things working better, but not the saddle irritation. And then suddenly, with this video, everything makes sense. I broke my left wrist in an accident 1.5 year ago. As soon as I could start ride again, I never gave that a thought. That is obviously what is causing my left side issues. I'm taking the wrist exercises more seriously now... Your videos are great.
Hey. My left hand always wants to go more up on the steer then my right hand. Thats the natural position. Now I have glutual pain for a long time. Are there exersizes so fix this? Maybe some exersizes for my spine to have more a straight natural position? Thanks a lot
Leg length discrepancy. Functional, maybe anatomical. Shimmed right. Been my ticket. Had some left primarily left sided issues that i felt. But visually right side was less toned. Tried both sides. Right worked better, though initially was awkward to pedal, super weak right leg. Cramps, spasms, hip had twisted in process. Was a mess. Hard to find good fitter. Fit my self and UA-cam fitters.
pain in right butt been cyclist for 65 years what excises should i do
I never feel that my hamstrings contribute to power output, feels very quad dominant. I get a severe nerve like pain on my left sit bone after about 60 mins on the turbo. After a long 1.45hr session, I could barely walk, it felt like my arse had seized up. I last for longer outdoors before it becomes a problem.
I really like your explanations, I'm getting into running focusing on a fast 5k. Haven't started training seriously yet but I'm a bit paranoid about injury, I started getting signs of lower leg pain so I backed off training to strengthen those muscles, plus some upper inner rear leg pain at right bottocks. I'm trying to focus on glute and core strength at a bare minimum before getting back into training. And when I start have a lot of cross training activity's ready so progress not slowed down too much by injury or signs of injury.
I have had many saddles, many seat heights, and many fore-aft positions. I always have right side sit bone pain. Any suggestions?
Got a new saddle from my bike fitter getting a lot of pain on my left hand sit bone and left hip any suggestions doing exercises too .
I have sit bone pain on my right side. I had several fits. Purchased several saddles. I do have tight hamstrings. I waa wonderimg if I stretch my hamstrings willl eliminate the pain?
Great Videos! you really give good and clear information. Thanks!
Been through countless saddles and can't stop getting a saddle sore where my sit bone area is but only in the right hand side. Took 3 weeks off so the area completely healed. First ride back sore reappeared. Really at a loss at what to do 😢
I'm having the same issue! Have you found a solution? I'm thinking of getting another fitting before I buy a new saddle.
@@TheStarttman no I haven't unfortunately. After countless saddles and online research the only thing I can come up with that I haven't tried is seeing an osteopath for body imbalance which is mentioned alot for people who only have sores one side
@@markrees6792 Thanks for letting me know! I haven't had a fitting in 3 years so I'm going to give it another try this week and see if it helps. I hope you are able to find the culprit of your pain. I've definitely heard that fixing certain issues may involve regular stretching and/or core development before you can correct posture. Best of luck to you!
Hi, I recently had a retül fit after 6,7 years of riding and all because I rode at the beginning of the year with a saddle that was about 1.5 inches higher which created and issue on my right ramus (anterior part of right sit bone) and I am struggling with the pain at the beginning of any ride(and during). I notice after a couple of months of riding 2,3 times a week it is transferring to a groin ache. Trying new saddle (went from an oura to SQlab 612) it feels a bit better but still hurts. Any one with a similar issue??
What can be perplexing is when it is only occasional. If I feel my sit bones with my hands one side seems to be more prominent than the other.
Our flexibility/stability/mobility can all fluctuate from day to day - everyone has those days where we feel more awkward or just tighter and less athletic -- and this can make saddle troubles worse on some days versus others.
But it's certainly possible that you have an anatomical or bony discrepancy
Yes I suppose it is possible. Seems to happen mostly when I am going hard up a hill and I think I am pushing much harder with the right leg because the left knee is weaker from a 30+ year old BMX bike crash. Probably causes a diagonal movement on the saddle like you mention in the video, and/or I don't sit squarely on the saddle. I try to get out of the saddle for a minute or two but it hurts again right after I sit down. I work around it but it makes it so that I can't see myself ever doing a century or more because it would just hurt too much being in the saddle that long. :-/
Thanks for your great videos. Is there a saddle (or 2) you can recommend that would be good for a hamstring tendonosis on one side that is simply brutal at 25 miles? 54, very fit, 5'9" 150, 170mm cranks, 111mm sit bone distance (before adding 20mm I understand people add), flexibility has always been poor, especially in lower back and upper hams. off bike 15 yrs with injury. finally able to get back on a year ago. getting back up to decent mileage now (120+/wk, longest rides around 50+ mi). Had hip labrum repair surgery (which re-tore . . ugh) several years ago. Had a fitting a couple of months ago. Have a number of spacers beneath stem to create more upright position so hip doesn't get so impinged. Riding a Serotta Ottrot. Been riding a Selle San Marco ASP from 2005. Love it, but for this problem and sometimes slight numbness underneath (which is the least of my problems). I tested a Fizik Aliante R3 (regular) this weekend. Disaster. Wondering if a wider saddle might help? I was disappointed to realize that the openings on saddles are for soft tissue, not for sit bones! Need one for the sit bones. Thank you!
i'm been having lower back pain as well as pain between shoulder blade, is there a video on this? thank you
+Kalvin Lo let me see what I can work up...
thank you, also these pain started after an auto accident, i dont have these issue before
My inbalance generates small but quite painful lumps on my left inner thigh only. I don't know if it's due to leg power inbalance (I don't have a powermeter) or some physical assymmetry that makes me sit not aligned with the bike axis.
I have changed my yellow shimano cleats to the blue ones, and put my feet more to the outside, and that apparently alleviated the issue a little. My right foot is much more flexible due to driving, Ibelieve.
+Enda Bigarella You're right that even small differences, like your foot mobility due to driving can cause a problem.
About the lumps on your leg: I have had clients develop little nodules high up in the groin or next to the sit bones that can be quite irritating. It's easy to forget that the pelvis is a huge confluence of muscles and when we sit on the saddle off kilter the tendons of these muscles can come into contact with the saddle....our body can form nodules as a means of protection or as a result of inflammation so issues like this aren't uncommon. Often taking time off the bike helps them to resolve ((at least for a while))
Do power meters show difference left to right side? That would be great. Those nodes sound like a real pain. Would (hot) yoga be good cross training to loosen up that area whilst lightly working on everything else. Hot yoga a tough workout.
Hi
Ive had knee surgery "patellar bursa" or over use injury "spring knee". In the past been getting issues on the same side on my saddle. Can this be caused by Q angle etc. I would like to know how to check myself position out. My saddle height is correct. But always getting saddle sores and other issues. Prostatitis gor one. I have had bike fits in the past but only the cheaper ones the set cleats saddle and check your general position. I have been really enjoying your videos. So keep up the good work.
Hi, I am experiencing sit bone pain on my ride side after riding. I stopped for two weeks and did some hamstring straightening everyday for few minutes. At the end of that resting period I wasn’t feeling any discomfort even when I was touching my sit bone so I decided to get back on the saddle for a 45 miles ride, and already after 25 minutes of riding the pain/discomfort came back. I have been riding for years and this is new to me. Any advice? Thank you in advance
@chynahviruscoach I've been dealing with it too... please update!
Hi, I had a THR last year, I been a road cyclist , and i was riding fine for a while and recently develop hamstring tendinopathy in the same side of the new hip, I think the saddle has a lot to do with it, do you have any suggestions?
I’ve been have this issue for about 5 years and I’ve changed to different saddles quite a few times and it seems to never go away...your advise be helpful
Can you help I am getting thigh pain on left side only, more so when climbing hills.
I just finished my festive500 ride, and realize that my butt is hurt, but only on the right sitbone. The left one is ok. I did broke my left thigh bone 20yrs ago, and I think my right foot is shorter as the result on that. I have 3mm shim on my right right shoe, and I'm thinking to add some more. Do you think this is a good idea?
GREAT VIDEO!!! This is an issue that I have been having trouble with lately (after a recent broken hip). However, I had also suffered with this issue in the past. I would love to see your exercises that you alluded to in the video but I do not find the link. Could you repost that? Thanks for your help! Great stuff.
A lot of people don't realise they have one leg slightly longer than the other, too.
The front part of my right seat bone pokes down further than the rear part and the left side. 200km ride nearly killed me.
do you carry your wallet on the right side?
@@davidstrong7854 Yes, but I try to remove my wallet & phone (left pocket) when I sit. I notice that my right side pubic bone is much larger than my left. Just sitting on a low cushion chair, I notice my right pubic bone touching the chair as much as my right sit bone. Maybe I need an SQLab 612 active saddle?
@@wss327 thanks for the reply. I carry my wallet on my left side, and seems like my right sit bone feel like it protrudes more than my left side. Ive wondered if that has caused my spine to bend, or hips to twist. however, maybe totally irrelevant. Im trying all lot of things. Most recently put a 2mm shim in my left shoe yesterday. it felt good, but overtime things often change and our body adjusts..
@@wss327 I have this too! After sitting in a chair the right sit bone leaves a much deeper indentation than the left. On rides my rite sir bone always burns and gets sore…
@@valentine_mckee I now use SQLabs 612R saddle and problem solved.
Have a question, I get numbness in my left hand after about 30miles into my riding especially when in my drops. Any suggestions? Thank you in advance.
Dont ride in the drops?
Hi! Could you please give some clues on this one: my right foot (from the pedal contact point to fingers) gets numb after like a 20-30 min of pedaling.
I have also noticed that I have some right to left imbalance - when I look at the front wheel, the angle of view is always more to the left from the axis. Could there be any connection between these two?
There certainly could be a connection. First make sure the cleats are set up equally in their fore/aft position. The take a look at your feet -- are they the same length? Are the toes the same length? When you feel around on the underside of the foot are the metatarsal heads (the balls of the feet) pronounced the same or does one side feel more "boney". Another safe step would be to try a metatarsal pad on one or both feet. This consists of just having a small cushion in the center of the foot just behind the metatarsal heads. Just Google "metatarsal pad" and ignore the ones that go over the balls of the feet themselves and limit yourself to the ones that you see displayed behind the balls of the feet.
Good luck....
Any advise on how to fix saddle pain on one side? I do have leg length discrepancy but it is less than 0.5cm. I used to sit on a Astute saddle, while it doesn't hurt my sit bone, I feel my left/right leg pedaling is unbalance and I have to adjust constantly on the saddle to feel balance. Recently I change to Selle Italia SLR techno Flow and I no longer feel the left right imbalance, but the left sit bone hurts alot while the right side is just fine. Will changing another saddle work?
Harry Ong I had the the same one sided problem with selle Italia and I'm doing fine with fizik now.
This video is very timely! I have been experiencing a very sore right sit bone. I have had both hips replaced, and I was thinking that possibly my pelvis is a little askew. I have found that if I move a wee bit forward on my saddle, the bone doesn't hurt so much, so I thought that a new, skinnier saddle might do the trick. Watching your video made something else click, as well. I have moderate scoliosis, and I know my spine has a slight twist. Do you think changing to a narrower saddle will help?
Let me know if you learned anything. I feel my sit bone always and it hurts
@@italianstallion8180 I went to a local bike shop and paid for a professional fit. We adjusted the seat height and the handlebar stem height, put orthotics in my cycling shoes, and adjusted the positioning of my cleats. On top of all that, the bike fitter had a device that measured pressure points when placed over a saddle. After getting my sit bones properly measured ( I have very narrow sit bones) we tried a number of different saddles until I found one that felt the most comfortable and seemed to evenly distribute the pressure. Money well spent!
Hi, what a great vid. I am based in Australia. I have an old car injury (severe fracture of the left patella) that results in left quad weakness. Whilst I have been cycling consistently for 5 years with no problems, after my first 300km ride I developed a lump of something over my right sit bone. Prior to this lump I had tried to increase left quad strength but I cannot do full squats due to left patella pain so any strength development is very minimal and very slow. I have been fit to my bike but how can I accommodate a lack of left leg quad, calf, and buttock strength so I can keep riding without these lump frustrating my love of cycling? I'd love your help! Thanks
Le Rxticle A lump in that area is tough -- have seen it be an irritated bursa that rests in that area, or even scar tissue on one of the tendons. The fix for any of the possibilities is neither simple nor quick. But to address the weaker left side the best you can do is just to keep hammering away at the difference. I always like to focus on coordination first and then get into pure strength. Best of luck...
Is bikers nodule in perineum common?
Hi I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. Would you recommend a bike fitter? I am doing a 60 mile dirt/gravel/road race in a few weeks and am unhappy with the bike fit and have a hard time finding comfort post 30 miles.
Bhavik Joshi I would check out getting an appointment with Curtis Cramblett at Revolutions in Fitness, on their website it appears they have offices in San Jose and Palo Alto. I think he knows his stuff. He's also a PT and so you'll still get that depth aspect to your bike fit. Good luck!
You need to train the fitters here in chicago how do understand the person body. Where is your shop? Please!!!!
+Irv4know 306 Coincidentally, Chicago is where I grew up, but I'm in Grand Junction, Colorado now
So, I'm back, I used my GoPro to tape my self ride on the trainer. What I found out is that my knees are going out to much, then I look from the side my arms are to far out, and last from the back I was rocking from side to side. So I'm thinking about flipping the stem, and then drop the saddle to stop the rocking. And with my shoes I'm going to have to keep messing with it to get my knees to go up and down. And to make sure my knees are lined up with the pedal
Sounds like a reasonable way to start...just remember to take notes on what you change
i have this exact issue!
HI. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE WITH YOUR VIDEOS. I NEVER HAD A PROFESSIONAL BIKE FITTING. AND I DO NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES ON THE BIKE IN TERMS OF PAIN OR DISCOMFORT. MY PROBLEM IS WHILE OFF THE BIKE. MY HIPS HURT SO BAD. MY DOCTOR CAN NOT BELIEF ME THAT I DO NOT HAVE PAIN WHILE ON THE BIKE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE SOME IDEAS THAT CAN HELP ME. THANKS AGAIN.
LEONARDO GUTIERREZ Couldn't say for sure. One of the few times I've had people have no pain on the bike and hip pain off of it would be in the case of severe arthritic change in the hips or perhaps a labral issue.
THANK YOU.
I also have this problem
Hi! Thanks so much for the great videos! they have helped a lot as I have only been riding for 4 months and loving it!
'm 6'3ft and 250 lbs at 15% bf. (just to give an idea of build to frame question) - My sit bone width is 138cm - I am told this is very wide for a guy. People have recommended at least 10cm of clearance on either side of each sit bone for saddle sizing. however, Previously the most I could find would achieve 5.5mm on each side with a 149 gm saddle. I have now found a 155 from seller royal. I'm hoping this will help solve the problems I'm having of pain and saddle sores. The saddles I have run just don't feel like I have enough area to plat my si bones, I often feel like I need to move and reposition. DO you think that 10cm each side is a reasonable clearance as a starting point for a better bike fit? thanks again!!
Not John, but the clearance required depends on the shape of the saddle as well. If the flat part of the saddle is very wide and there is a sharp drop very close to the saddle sides, then less clearance might be ok. I have wide sit bones as well and really like www.sq-lab.com/ saddles. They also have fitting information on their page, e.g. explaining that the more aggressive (leaning forward) your riding position is, the narrower you can go with the saddle (as the sitbones angle towards the center towards the front of your body). sqlab-usa.com/pages/saddle-ergonomics-explained
I started cycling with stock flat saddle. After riding for less than one hour, the feeling was like I was sitting on the steel rails, uncomfortably painful even. After I got more experience and power it became slightly better but still other half of 2 hour ride was a constant 'repositioning' and trying to survive. The pressure was more on the right sitbone. Then I got Aliante which was instant revelation. I could ride 2 hours without problems, even 6 hours and was no hard pressing at all. Some bike fitters recomended me to try other flat saddles with cutout as they said Aliante is not the saddle they like because it may introduce soft tissue pressure. I always got back to Aliante, with it I have no feeling of sitting on hard rails, especially the right one, neither it makes numbness in soft areas, if angled properly. I do not know why this works for me, maybe saddle flex, or maybe curvature allows for sitbones to 'move'?
Hi, John. Just stumbling onto your video series and find them to be very helpful. I've been riding and racing road and MTB for 30 years. I broke/dislocated my rt elbow in an MTB race in 1997 and lost about 13% extension of that arm. Only lately, however, in the last few months, I am having significant left sit bone pain when I ride longer than 4 hours. Could there be a connection and, if so, am I just a bit screwed and have to deal with? I have shortened my reach significantly - using a 50mm stem, and have tried several saddle types and seat heights. I'm prepping for a seven-day stage race in the Pyrenees in August and trying to get a handle on this. Any help would be awesome - even if it just a reality check. Thanks.
Really good advice thank you
my pubic bone was fracture sir till now 4 months my age is 27. the bone will hill sir how much time it's take
saddle is simply to high for one side. you make it sounds like rocketscience
1 swollen labia :(
in fact you do not know. it is guessing
Boring 😴