Are my cycling days over?

[mutterphore]

I'm looking for positive stories about women still being able to cycle, post-menopause.

I'm almost 60 and usually cycle about 80 miles a week and it's my main and favourite form of exercise. But now I'm 8 weeks and counting into a UTI (my first ever) and very very sore! Three lots of antibiotics plus lots of topical creams have still not got me back to normal and after a couple of gentle cycle rides, about 2 weeks ago, to test things out, the UTI returned with a vengeance.

Any advice?

Shorts and saddles are very personal. What works for me, won't work for you.

I've no idea how to post a link properly. But this is good:

totalwomenscycling.com/road-cycling/maintenance/gear-guide-choosing-a-saddle

You could end up spending an utter fortune on trialing saddles. It'll just get progressively more frustrating!

I would suggest - if you are keen to do lots of cycling again (in an ideal world). Booking yourself in for a bike fit. I think PPs have mentioned it isn't just about getting the correct saddle for your anatomy, but ensuring it's perfectly adjusted. Angle. Height. Where it sits on the seat pin. A bike fitter will sort all this. If you search, you'll find one that offers a saddle fit service too. So it'll take the trial and error out of finding the correct type of saddle.

To put this into context. There's one set style / size saddle that works for me. I've just replaced my old one. I've spent the last few rides stopping and micro adjusting it. Grr! Literally just half a mm out will feel grim and start to hurt. Hence it being well worth the money to get a bike and saddle fit bespoke to you. A bike fitter will take all into consideration: riding style/ time. Assess your posture and flexibility. Then adjust your bike accordingly. They'll have a stack of demo saddles. Some of Harvey's to measure your sit bone position too.

In terms of shorts and tights. Make sure they have a bib. It'll hold them in place. Don't wear with pants. After your ride, remove them and stick them in the laundry pile.

Given you aren't sure what works in terms of pad. Each brand is different, then the pads used by one brand will also vary. You are best to buy second hand off eBay. If you are on Facebook there's a very good women's cycling buy/ sell group. That way you can try a few brands to see what suits around your issues. Then sell on what doesn't work... hopefully at a similar price to what you paid. I wouldn't get the correct shorts and tights until you've foaled your position and saddle type.

Good luck!

@CMOTDibbler ,@PauliesWalnuts, @IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads and @morningstar15 - you are all so helpful and when I get the chance, I'll go along to the bike shop and ask about saddles and also try some padded leggings too.

In the meantime, I stupidly tried cycling again yesterday as a one off - only the third time at all in 3 months now - and am really paying the price today. As I've got a cycling holiday coming up in March and another main one in July, I'm now running out of time to get things sorted but am waiting for a referral to a consultant, from my GP, to do various tests related to the underlying issue.

In the meantime, I wanted to ask whether those of you who have tried topical HRT like Ovestin, have had any side effects? I've never even been on the pill and am concerned about any kind of hormone related treatment, especially if I'd then need to use it for the rest of my life. I plan to discuss this with the consultant whenever I can get an appointment but wanted to hear from those of you who use this themselves, especially if you've been on this long-term?

Also, how long from when you started to use it, were you then able to cycle again? It's only been 3 months of not being able to cycle but it's starting to feel like a lifetime and after yesterday's trial run, it feels a very long way off, if ever!

Following on from my posts earlier this year, things are marginally better in the 'nether regions' and I'm busily researching different saddles for a more comfortable ride for post-menopausal and also 'larger' ladies.

Having read what must be every single review of every single women's bike saddle on the internet, I was wondering if anyone here has tried the ISM Comfort City Touring Saddle, https://www.amazon.co.uk/ISM-Unisexs-Touring-Saddle-Black/dp/B000RFAA9E which doesn't have a 'nose' at all and is supposed to relieve all pressure of soft tissue? Is it impossible to balance on it? Is the sitting area too small?

Secondly, I've read that bike saddles with a cut-out - like the Selle Italia SLR Lady Flow - can 'mash' your soft bits into the gap/ hole and make things worse and that the Specialised Mimic Saddles might not sufficiently relieve pressure at all. Has anyone found this to be the case?

I know that saddle choice is very personalised of course and it's best to try before you buy but nowhere near me offers this and the closest bike-fit service doesn't really focus on saddle fit and type. So I may end up having to buy a few, try to fit them myself and hope for the best.

To be honest, if I could get one custom made at this point, I'd be willing to pay! Any further advice much appreciated.

Hi OP, a good bike fitter will address the saddle issue, it doesn’t need to be a saddle fit specialist. A bike fit should look at all contact points and I’d argue a saddle fit only looks at one aspect of your position - the same saddle can be agony or e Stacy depending on your position on the bike.
The only saddle I have that doesn’t have a cut out is my mountain bike and the upright position means most of my weight is on my seat bones rather than the soft tissue at the front.

@mutterphore please don't spend money on a saddle based on internet reviews. Our bodies, flexibility etc are all very different, what works for you will be anything from mildly uncomfortable up to full on agony for me and vice versa.

You absolutely need to try a range of saddles. I echo what the OP said about bike fit. A good bike fitter will ALSO have a range of demo saddles. So once your position is dialed, they will then start trying out different saddles.

Saddle reviews are pointless!! I could recommend the brand and style I use and have used for many years. You would likely read lots of positive reviews about it. Yet you may well find it unpleasant because our bodies are very different and it just doesn't suit you.

Get yourself a bikefit booked and make sure they have a range of saddles to try. Regarding bike fitters go on reviews and recommendations. There are two near me both of whom people travel quite some distance to see. Post on the social media pages of your local cycling clubs asking for recommendations.

@DFSsale and @stinkythefool thanks for your advice about getting a bike fit done. Unfortunately, the only place anywhere near me to do this, won't be able to fit saddles, just the general fit of the bike and also only has one range /type of saddle they ever deal with. They could do 'pressure points' check but that won't get me any further forward with trying out different types of saddle.

@DFSsale with your cut out saddles, do you find that soft tissue gets squished uncomfortably in the cut out gap or does it seem like there's more than enough 'room' there?

Has anyone here ever used an ISM Comfort City Touring saddle? This is the one shaped like a doughnut but with a piece missing but I don't know if the 'seat' would be big enough but am wondering if this might work best for people like me with soft tissue issues.

As you can see, I'm just trying to work out for myself what might be best to try as I can't get a bike fit that deals in saddle choice locally. Very frustrating!

I think you misunderstand me - a normal bike fit will address you saddle issues. You don’t need a specific saddle fit. In fact, I wouldn’t trust a fit that didn’t look at your entire position on the bike. You could find the perfect saddle but if your position on the bike is wrong, it would still be painful. For example, saddle A could be agony because if, for example, you have too much reach at the front of the bike, you’ll be over stretched, unable to hinge properly at the hip and putting all your weight on your soft tissues. Agony!
A bike fit would ensure that didn’t happen, and saddle A would feel amazing once the issue at the front of the bike had been corrected.
Likewise, if your saddle height was too high, that can also cause saddle issues. These things need looking at before buying a saddle IMO.

To answer your other question, no my soft tissues are not squished into the cut out. Not of my weight is on my seat bones so that doesn’t happen.

If you tell me where in the country you are, I’ll be able to recommend a reputable bike fitter for you who can address all these things.

Gel covers are terrible. Some people get on with cutaway saddles, I don’t, they give me terrible blisters on my labia….I’m not a fan. I’d recommend decent padded shorts, something like stolen goat and try a few different saddles until you find something which works. Don’t think a wide, padded , gel saddle is the answer, they’re not usually very good.

Lots of women like the Sella Italia diva gel flow……I hated it but it is a popular saddle. On my hybrid and mtb I have a cheap Charge Spoon saddle which 8s amazing. I have Specialized Power Mimics on my road bikes which is lovely.

I did get my bum measured (it’s actually sit bones) in a bike shop in Southampton so I knew what width of saddle I needed.

This is my saddle on my gravel bike. It’s very old, in fact they don’t make these anymore and I’m gutted as it’s been so comfortable and I need a new one.
You can possibly see where the padding has been compressed by my seat bones which shows the weight is in the right place.

I did start on vagifem (estrodiol) topical oestrogen, as I was getting repeated utis .
It stopped them, no side effects.
Its considered the safest form of hrt.

That's odd a bike fitter doesn't do saddles!! It'd be like a bike fitter not considering bars, or cranks or stems!! A decent local bike shop will have a range of demo saddles for you to try. So once you've got your position dialed via a bike fitter (if they don't do saddles - which as I said is odd). As already said you absolutely need your bike fitting properly first!