Soft saddle ideas for my back

[Devilonadivvy]

Hi all

The degenerative bone I have in my back is killing me.

Anyone know of a decent saddle I can use on my FRM aluminium frame?

At the moment id even consider one of those sprung loaded 50s ones!

[wheelsONfire]

For this reason i ordered Selle Italia Turbomatic (Selle claims it's still the most comfortable) and Syntace P6 carbon hiflex (seatpost).

You know, seatpost and saddle both help saving your back

http://www.selleitalia.com/en/prodotti/ ... urbomatic/
https://www.syntace.com/index.cfm?pid=3&pk=2033

[Devilonadivvy]

The challenge I have is the jarring when I go over a rough part of a road.

Its got so bad now that I have even thought of selling my FRM road bike.

I like this seat though and will pay a visit to my local specialist.

[mike]

go for a carbon saddle, like phoenix. it is the most comfortable of the ax lightness saddles in terms of "cushion". but it is a narrow saddle.

[Devilonadivvy]

Would different wheels help as well?
I have fulcrum metal blades with carbon front forks

[Stolichnaya]

A back and vertebrae issue is not to be taken lightly. This is long term mobility at stake here.
In all honesty, if staying on the bike is a goal, then I would consider the entire set up.
My aluminum frames do allow more road buzz or feedback to the body. Carbon seems to do a better job of reducing this, often admittedly at the expense of feeling dead.
Consider a carbon frame, a padded saddle with a carbon post (the Syntace and Selle Italia are good choices), then look at compliant wheelsets and fatter tires (25 or 27 in the back at least.) If you are a gear masher, then consider how you are pushing your gears and gear choice. Perhaps learning to spin easier with a bigger cassette would alleviate some stress as well. While seemingly not connected to the comfort of your spine, I would also consider carbon bars, if you do not already have some, and a general check of your riding position.
I understand you like that FRM alu frame (they are really cool) but comfort and low weight are not the top priorities with your injury/medical issue.
Keep the rubber side down.

[tinozee]

You should look into a physical therapy regime and a better doctor. Are you sure it isn't degenerative disc disease? If you got that diagnosis and were told to "take it easy" and that this and osteoarthritis are just "part of getting older", then you need more information about how this condition and your cycling can work together.

I can recommend the book - CORE ADVANTAGE https://www.velopress.com/books/tom-dan ... advantage/

I have had chronic bulging of L4/L5 since my mid 20s, and was forced to learn to deal with it. I avoided surgery. I was a pro athlete in my teens and then a power lifter through my late 30s and it took a toll. But you can learn how to strengthen your core and back, and balance everything to regain alignment and a stable platform. You can also adapt to the bike! I would bet you that if you put in the hard work to strengthen your core and improve flexibility, you can ride tens of thousands of miles pain free, as hard as you want on a rock hard race bike. Don't try to solve it with only a seatpost!

[Devilonadivvy]

I had a scan done and as you look at my lumbar. The bone effectively has 3 paddles left right and center. And it's the one on the left that is wasting away.

My doc did say pilates but that's £45 a lesson.

Thing is my frame is probably worth what. £500 now? and if I replace anything on it in probably looking at same again in bits. So buying this book might help financially and physically.

[tinozee]

Yeah the PT and strength work is so worth it. It's the best and cheapest thing you can do. Beyond the book you should find a PT who really knows his stuff and will help you develop a custom program. I had one bad side and had unknowingly been favoring it, causing all sorts of alignment issues. My PT helped me understand that, get scans as needed, etc. Now I have memorized little routines that I do daily or as needed. It's insane how well it can work, like oil for the tin man. Stay positive, I'm sure you can manage it and ride tons more.

Good luck!

[Valbrona]

Ditch the bike. Get like a gravel bike thing that takes really fat tyres.

[Lugan]

Ditch the bike. Get like a gravel bike thing that takes really fat tyres.

This is good advice, in addition to the advice about strength training which fixes so many physical ailments. Even if you don't go for a gravel (or cyclocross) bike, consider tubeless tires on tubeless wheels, and get them as fat as you can so you can run them at lower pressure. Not sure what the clearance is on your frame and fork, but my "rain bike" (winter riding bike in Seattle area) has bigger clearance and I am using the new Schwalbe S One in 30c size at 60 and 70 psi. Those tires are plush.

The advice above about a shock-absorbing seatpost and softer saddle are also sound. Shape of saddle is still very important, but within your favored shape, think about a mountain bike saddle since these are often more padded.

One more thing: Wear two pairs of padded shorts, even temporarily. I had ischial bursitis recently (pain on both sit bones) and double shorts helped me nurse that injury back to health for a few months.

[pavel]

Have you tried the SMP saddles? The glider is pretty padded and is a good entry point into trying that line.

[nycebo]

What about a recumbent? Or would that still irritate your back?

[drchull]

Width and shape more important than level of padding. Professional fit and a shop that has a number of demo saddles would be good place to start from a equipment stand point. I would generally agree that a stiff aluminum bike is probably the worst choice in this situation but to work with what you have than the suggestions of more air is good. Get as wide tires as you can on your bike and run them softer.

I wouldn't be so critical of the doc. It is not that you need a better doc, it may be that you need someone more specialized in that area. Frankly as a family doc our tools for treating back pain and particularly DDD are lousy. PT, acupuncture, massage and chiropractic really have a better armamentarium for treating back pain.

As usual, as with almost every pain issue on the bike, I always recommend the same thing. Look at your bike fit with someone who really knows what they are doing, not just the local wrench.