Even experienced female mountain bikers are always looking for the optimum riding position. Many women suffer from sitting problems on long MTB tours. Sometimes they even go so far as to banish the bike to the cellar. But the bike is the least to blame.
Eight tips for a good sitting experience
The classic: wearing pants in your bike trousers - terrible.
I often hear the excuse: "Just a thong because I'm on my period." Please don't! Pants, even a thong, only cause one thing in your bike trousers: painful friction points!
Always wash new bike trousers before use.
Brand new fabrics are treated for storage with agents that can cause irritation and allergies. Wash at 40 degrees with sanitiser - done.
Make sure you buy a good seat cushion.
However, the rule here is not: the thicker, the better, but: the fewer seams, the better! You should invest a little more money for good quality.
On multi-day tours, wash out the seat cushion every evening.
Bacteria can otherwise cause small spots to grow into burning boils. Very good and handy for travelling: the functional detergent from Assos.
Never start with a wet seat cushion.
Even the most finely porous seat padding turns into sandpaper when the skin on your bum is soaked. It's better to pack a spare pair of trousers in your rucksack for a long rain tour.
Miracle seat cream.
Many people get goose bumps just thinking about it. But it really works wonders. Either apply the cream directly to the skin or spread it on the seat cushion. The first second of contact takes some getting used to, but then the cream provides hours of riding without discomfort. If sore spots do occur, the cream can also be used for aftercare. For example from Assos, Sixtus or Xenofit.
Adjust the saddle angle to your own body.
Horizontal to slightly sloping nose is permitted. Any greater angle could cause pain in other parts of the body.
Do not choose a saddle that is too wide!
Wide noses rub against the thigh, wide seats cause bruises when walking behind the saddle!
