I'm asking this here because I know there are a lot of avid bicyclists here, and maybe one of you has some experience with this.
I had SRS in early February, and I'm now recovered enough that they say I can get on my bicycle. So this morning I tried just getting on and riding around the parking lot, just to verify that I can.
Anyway, I notice that it was uncomfortable around my new vulva -- not, as I would have expected, on the pubic bone. It felt like I was sitting on that area and the tissue was getting pulled in an uncomfortable way.
Is this something that goes away as I recover more? Or is it something I just have to get used to? Or do I need to do something? I'm just worried about doing damage to the newly reconstructed and, I presume, still healing tissue.
Comments
Please look into ...
... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recumbent_bicycle
An avid-bicyclist friend has one and likes it a lot.
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A bike shop could certainly guide you to "Ladies seats" for 'upright' bicycles. I see no need to 'disclose'. Just let sales-person know which seats work and don't, and why.
I'm not cycling at the moment
after my stroke but I could only do about 15 miles before I either some pain from the labia or my urethra, it means trying a few different saddles although my favourite was a women's racing saddle that came with my Specialized Dolce, but that was several months after surgery.
Angharad
Go to a Bike Seat shop.
My ebike with dropped frame was too uncomfortable to wear as high as the experts insist. I had SRS 16 years ago but lady parts will not put up with much nonsense. Nowadays, my seat is low enough that I can easily get off it to touch the ground. The experts can pound sand as that height does not allow for "proper" leg extension. The gel seat is quite padded and I have it high in back. After a long ride, up to 10 miles for me, the front can start to feel like a dildo if I am not mindful.
Gwen
New saddle
Get a new ladies' saddle, preferably a gel one.
That will transfer your weight from the middle of your crotch to the lower rear parts of your pelvis. You will immediately feel much more comfortable. Women's saddles don't stick out so far in front either, which will help.
Another thing to check is the tilt. A saddle does not have to be absolutely level to be comfortable. In addition, if your bike is a performance model (e.g. a 'racer') then you might consider raising the handlebar stem up a little, or even changing handlebars so that your stance is more upright. This will redistribute your weight a little while you get used to your new configuration. Later on, once you are more comfortable, you can readjust stem and/or seat-post to suit, but don't expect to go back to where it was before.
Penny
That’s a load of twaddle
I have a bit of experience with saddles, 50 years of riding and 20 years of selling bikes as nd by ddd Ed fault saddles.
There is no one panacea when it comes to ssddles, we are all different and have different needs. Women’s saddles are wider to accommodate the wider pelvic bones but that doesn’t mean they work for all women or preclude their use by men. Riding position will determine the type of saddle and duration of your riding too will determine what works best.
The last thing you want is a big fat cushion that allows you to bounce about, especially if you are a bit ‘tender’ down there. A firm, lightly padded saddle that your sit bones sit on squarely is what you should aim for, if you sit very upright, a shorter, wider saddle may be better. Padded underwear/shorts can add additional cushioning and reduce any potential chafing.
Of course, comfort doesn’t come overnight, especially if you are coming back to riding you need to give any change a chance, your body needs to adapt.
Whilst a few degrees of tilt are okay, too much will have you sliding about and continually adjusting yourself. You are better dropping the height a little if this is how you find a comfortable position.
I wish you luck, there are some mgt riders who ride a lot so I know it’s possible to crack the conundrum
Madeline Anafrid Bell
Question
You said bicycling but what kind of bicycle and what type or riding do you do?
Road bike, mountain bike, hybrid, electric? All of these have slightly different handlebar positions which makes you bend over differently putting pressure on different parts of your pelvis.
Do you mainly ride on roads for distances? Run to store? Go off roading and ride on rough paths?
What pressure do you keep your tires at? Hard tires make for rough riding on ashphalt or cement, easier to pedal though.
Or it could be you just have what I call raw crotch syndrome. First few rides tend to make things raw and sensitive down below, more so if you wear something heavy that holds in moisture. Even something as simple as having hair down below can make things really raw.
I would suggest trying a hybrid bicycle for a ride. You sit a little more upright. They are half mountain bike half road bike really just with higher handlebars. The one I have is a raliegh 700c which also happens to be tire size. 29 1/2 inch rims. Road bikes are generally 27 or 28 for old ones. Mountain bikes are usually 26 but the juniors are 24.
A bad habit that many first start riding with is to keep feet on ground when sitting on seat. This makes your knees go up much higher than they should. It also tires you out quite quickly when riding as you only really use a third of leg strength. Optimum is to use clips and have leg almost but not quite fully stretched out at bottom of pedal travel while sitting in seat plus having elliptical gearing on front gear set.
Having a serviced bicycle whose brakes don’t rub, stiff gears, almost dried grease in axles all make a huge difference.