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avoiding getting saddle sore and tired ?
I just finsihed a short trip on a 1150GS doing bout 2000km in 3 days, and am looking at going up from South Africa to Tanzania in a few weeks on a R80GS, and been wondering how I can reduce the strain I put on my rear. After the three day trip, I have to honestly say I was seriously saddle sore. I am looking at putting a sheepskin cover over the old GS to limit the strain, but is there some general advise out there that one can do to train the rear to not complain so much.:wacko::helpsmilie:
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Seat sore!!!
I have a similar problem when I did a 2 week trip. By the end of the trip it was painfull!
I have now bought an airhawk pad http://www.airhawk.co.uk/ Check it out Ken |
I think the seat is the worst thing on the 1150GS. I hated mine riding from the UAE to the UK. There are a lot of posts on the boards about the GS being too heavy for a RTW, maybe so, but when you’ve got to do a long distance on tar in a limited time it’s fantastic.
As for the seat, try a sheepskin, an Airhawk pad or a better seat. I swapped mine for a Sargent which is an improvement though not cheap. http://www.sargentcycle.com/bmwwsrgs.htm Stephan |
Sheepskin how?
I've been thinking about going down the sheepskin route. Does anyone have any info on the best way of fitting it and getting it to stay put?
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Sheepskin
All I did to fit the sheepskin was to cut it slightly bigger than the seat and then I had some of the wide white elastic that they use in the clothing industry sown on the inside around the edge.Remember to put some tention on the elastic when sowing it in. This sheepskin has been with me for many miles and still stays in place on the saddle. Also serves as a good pillow when required, just stuff it with some clothes.
First time round you may have to put some pressure on the seat to refit it but if you have the time just shave the sheepskin where required(At the tank and around the back of the seat on my bike). Regards Frank |
Biggest improvement I've found is the right underwear!
Cotton really hurts, synthetic bicycling shorts are very good - so long as you get the ones without the chamois. One of our advertisers, www.LDComfort.com, the sponsor for the "Camping Equipment and all Clothing" forum, sells some great underwear just for motorcycle riding. I just got a pair, will let you know how it turns out - I've heard a lot of rave reviews, so I'm looking forward to trying them. Edit: - update - yep tried them - FIRST CLASS! Big improvement, so now that's all I'm gonna use. :) |
LDC is terrific
My wife and I just finished what we thought would be a short, 1,100 kms,three day trip that lasted six days from Beijing to Changchun including a 12 hour, 100 kms last day over some of the worst roads I have ever seen. Two things helped to reduce fatigue. This was the first time we wore our LDComfort underware and it was terrific. No seams to dig in to the skin and while it was cold, there are still parts on my anatomy that still sweat but the LDC kept me dry.
The other thing that was really superb was a temperatery activated foam police solo seat that was custom made for the bike by Barr Enterprises in California. The form fitting foam activates at about 70F and conforms to the body so there at no hard spots, seams or other irritation causing parts. Just a really comfortable seat that provides great support. An unbeatable combination |
Seamless Undies, singing and sipping and such
Yep, seamless cotton undies are the dog's danglies :)
(no pokey underwires are a must too... only relevant to some, obviously... in saying that though, I remember a deft trick by Tiffany Coates that made great use of the underwire... okay, maybe only comfy ones then) Besides the sheepskin - which I used for sizable trip, but ended up putting out to pasture because I just started to get grossed out by it LOL - get hold of a gel pad. The ones used under horse saddles to prevent discomfort/chaffing are perfect. Nothing like a lovely cushioning for your tushy! You could always include regular seat shuffling and clenching to get the blood flow going, if all else fails! And on the 'tired' side of things: Fluid intake is crucial! If you keep yourself hydrated, you are less likely to be fatigued because of dehydration (which is an automatic 10% loss of 'oomph'!... apparantly). Invest in a camel bak. And SING :) Sing to yourself, take photo breaks (which will get your poor hiney out of the seat for a while) and keep your brain awake. If you spend 30 minutes looking for anything purple whilst riding (for example), you're more likely to be more alert than if you were just day dreaming about the beach you were to reach in 3 hours time (which you wouldn't be able to do anything on because of having to wait half an hour for your left butt cheek to revive... unless you're the 'make an entrance' type, and don't mind throwing yourself off your bike in order to get off :thumbup:) |
Kermit the Frog
I did Mexico a few years back on a 1200 Triumph Trophy. The seat was a real rectal reorganizer after about a hundred miles or so. You know the story: Left cheek ho, right cheek ho, stand on the pegs, the spreadeagle strech, left leg back, right leg back, etc,etc.. I stopped for gas in Monterrey and they had line of small inflatable kiddie toys hanging up. I chose Kermit the Frog. I looked at him and said "Kermit, this is gonna hurt you more than it will me". I sat on Kermit for the duration of the trip. I got some horrified stares from kids in passing cars looking at Kermits little arms and legs and bulging eyes sticking out from under my butt. They'd give me the kid look equivalent of "Bastardo!". I'd look back with the "Oh yeah well what?" look. Anyway, I now have become a fan (already mentioned) of the Airhawk seat. It's a bit pricey but when we're talking butts, its like sitting on a cloud. Don't inflate it too much though. Do as they recommend in the instructions. Smooth riding, Smitty
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I use an Airhawk which is brilliant. A recent 3500kms in five days without so much as a twinge. The negatives are the extra inch or so it adds to ride height, which can effect exposure to wind and make it more difficult to reach the ground (at least on my high Pegaso), and they don't have a very good setup for attaching to the original seat. Nevertheless, I don't hesitate to use it for long rides.
I don't think you can beat a quality custom seat, such as a Corbin, but if you don't want to invest 5 or 6 hundred bucks on a seat the Airhawk is the best cushion I've ever used. |
Airhawk
I tie mine on using leather workboot shoelaces. Pull the laces through each of the attaching eyes on the seat and lash the two ends of the leather lace together just below the attaching eyes with(i used fine polypropolene thread) thread. Now the laces are double strength. Depending on the bike you can tie them off to the frame below. Works great, seat doesn't move, and looks good too! Being leather, the laces tie off well and don't come loose.
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Sheepskin seat cover
Easiest way to attach a sheepskin - double sided tape :thumbup1:
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New Seat May be Only Answer
Dear Mr. Shark, I have tried sheep, gel, wooden balls. I even thought I had some sort of skeletal problem. Nothing fixed my discomfort on the 1100RT except a new seat. I bought it from Russell for the price of a semester's tution almost. But I recently put on 550 miles in a day and felt good at the end.
Polecat |
The R series BMWs from the late 70s and early 80s had great touring seats, the /7 series had the very best though. Often used to see R100s with /7 seats on them. The other comfort thing I've found is the use of spoked wheels over mag wheels - for whatever reason I "feel" as though the ride is softer on spokes, probably a load of crap but then again I've never seen a spoked wheel crack through like I've seen a mag wheel.
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I've met other long distance riders along the way who swear by 'x' brand seat , or sheepskins , but the single easiest thing to try is ( as Grant suggests ) the right underwear. I tried on our 3-month tour of N africa to find the best undies , I took a batch of 6 different types to try. Some were ok ,some were great and some were truly excruciating after a day in the saddle.
The best I found by far were: 1) close fitting ( but not tight) lycra-style stretchy briefs with wide waistband, similar to the sort of 'cycle shorts' , but available in the high street. 2) silk boxers. The crucial key appears (at least for me) to be NO SEAMS anywhere where you will be experiencing pressure or rubbing. The wide waist-band helps with comfort, and the softness of the silk boxers was very welcome. As a bonus, silk boxers are strong, harder wearing than cotton and lighter. They are also easy to clean and dry in no time. After 7 or 8 hours in the saddle you really will appreciate the extra comfort - and it's a gain you can still have after you have bought the fancy new seat :) RayT - wishing he was back on the trail again.... |
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On our 650 GS I didn't experience any problems, not even on a 2 day trip from ljubliana to brussels. I guess my substantial beer intake sorts out the padding of my rear, but other than that think of the following: Road cyclist have NO suspension at all and still they ride hundreds of KM with just a padded cycle short..... I can't be in the saddle of a mountainbike without rear suspension for more than an hour, but I can ride all day with bib shorts.
Get one from a good brand and you'll be a happy camper. Good makes include Cannondale, Pearl Izumi, Fox, Gore Bike wear. They exist in numerous varieties of lengths, and can also serve as a warm base layer on those icy days. Prices -from 15 euro- will also keep your wallet's padding up. |
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AIRHAWK. AIRHAWK. AIRHAWK. |
i used a full shepskin on a recent 8500m trip round N/W Africa great for sitting on on/off the bike great for sleeping on . i fixed it to the bike with a long thin bit of inner tube cut spiraly this also held the seat inplace on my 1100gs when the locks broke/jammed with sand in the desert & made removing both the sheepskin & the seat quick & easy . keep the sheepskin full it makes nice backrest & great to sleep on even in a hamock it keeps you warm.
cheers Kev |
One of the best solutions is to stretch your legs, cross your feet once in awhile, and sit back in your easy chair against the back rest so that the gel pad changes a bit. Oh! This doesn't apply to those who ride motorcycles, only the really grinning ones who ride Maxi-scooters. Otherwise, just keep your coffee cup full enough in the dashboard holder so that you can have a sip once in a bit. be sure to have your cruise control set up right though so you can rest your right hand. When all else fails, shut down and go for a short walk doing some jogging in place. We do use bicycle shorts without the padding as a result of the decades of riding a touring machine before the knees went bad. Take a little extra niacin to help keep the blood running well, and the person above said: lots of water, but don't orget to replace the electrolytes so that the body can continue to get rid of the buildup of acids. 9 1/2 months to go.
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Soggy Sheepskin?
Hi,
I too suffered long and hard on a seven-week trip a couple of while back. (I think it took a week or more for the numbness to leave my butt-cheeks once I arrived home!) I was on a Honda Dominator, and thought the vibes of a single-cylinder didn't do me any favours either. I swore the next time I'd go on a long trip that I'd get a sheepskin (and a twin-cylinder). Thing is though, what's it like if it's raining? Does it turn into a soggy piece of carpet? That probably smells too? And one other thing I often wondered (although I think I know the answer): which side out? Hide or fleece? (I'd go for fleece out.) And does it really make a difference which way round you mount it? The Airhawk and its ilk sound like the way to go, but they cost a lot. Thanks! Ken. |
if they get wet they dry no probs (sheep dont go inside if it rains) mine smells ok flease out yes you could always put it in a bin bag if you dont want to get it wet mine was ok even when raining as i was sitting on it . One of my mates who had a airhawk was impressed with it & said he would get one next time & it was better both warmer & more comfy to sleep on than my Exped which got a punture in the end ( sheepskins dont get puntures ) I payed £1.50 for mine from a boot fair look on the ground at them you can often find the.
Cheers Kev Ps should be at the ace this sunday if any one wants to try it or see the rest of the Stigtech range LOL |
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I got myself a sheepskin last summer while touring Poland. I actually got a really thick and heavy one at some small-town-saturday-morning-market for roughly 20 bucks. It's the most comfy thing I've ever had my precious butt sitting on, and my girlfriend also agrees and even refuses to go anywhere without the sheepskin.
The fitting and keeping-sheepy-in-place is a bit tricky though. Fitting takes a while but it can be done with patience, a pair of scissors and at least four bottles of beer. For the keeping-sheepy-in-place part I have used a self-adhesive velcro that I bought at Walmart. Works like a charm. PS: Don't ever get sheepy wet... it smells like a thousand rotting sheep right underneat your heinie and trust me, that's the last thing you'll want |
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Glad I'm not the only one, my latest refrain is: "My new helmet is greeaatt! My helmet is quiii-et! My visor don't steeaam uppp...." The acoustics in there are fantastic. Anyone else make stuff up or do you stcik to the classics? ..."Got ma motor runnin...head out on the highway..." Or am I just going nuts in this damn office job... Matt :) |
Numb Butt And Frozen Feet
Last year I rode south from Mexico to Ushuaia on a Honda 125, eight to ten hours a day in the sadle. Apart from the numb butt, my biggest problem was clothing: how to keep warm crossing the alteplano and cool at sea level on the equator. I don't have much storage space. In cities I have to look reasonably smart when interviewing people. I wear good Church's shoes which polish up, charcoal chinos and a good shirt.However riding in real cold I end up wearing two pairs of long underwear, two pairs of pyjamas, three pairs of chinos, all my shirts, two pullovers and a bright blue Peruvian rain suit. I look like a blue baloon and have great difficulty getting at what I need to get at (old men have to hurry). AND I FREEZE....
Near Boquette I was riding in driving sleet and found myself laughing outloud (see archive on Blog at www.simongandolfi.com). That I can enjoy the experience proves that I am either crazy or a real biker - probably both. However my only purchases for the southern leg were a used Clancy Brothers sweater and green cord shirt at a thrift store (in hope of an upgrade on the Aerlingus flight from UK to Boston). I want to be better prepared this year for the ride back up to Duchess County, NY. Particularly as I will bve riding north into a US winter. Why? Because at 74 I don't have time to wait for good weather. Can anyone out there advise on light warm clothing that packs into a thimble? |
I think you need some good bike gear , layering is OK but a decent jacket and trousers or a one piece suit would be much, much better .
You won't find anything that will do for the cold AND for humid heat.So you'll have to compromise just a bit. Top of the line bike gear will have ventilation with zips and velcro secured vents. Also there will be inner liners that can be removed .Handlebar mitts are good too ,you can get them from stores that sell ATV gear [ they do not seem to be fashionable amongst the bike crowd ] Try and buy your gear in the USA it is cheaper and you'll get more choice .Or buy from a Hein Gericke store in Britain . Helly Hansen underwear is good , I haven't used it for biking but it works at -35c in Canada on the ranch. Stansfields is good too .There are lined trousers that you can buy form Carhartts and similar companys ,I prefer these to long johns .[You can still get those red combos with an escape hatch in the arse - well you know if they wus good enough for John Wayne ! But I've never indulged .] Gloves are important , take some for cold and some for the heat and a spare pair as well .Never ride without gloves ,gravel is nasty stuff to pick out of your palms and bruises are reduced by an extra skin of leather . My apols if some of this is old hat , but there is nothing that will fit into a thimble , a TARDIS thimble perhaps would hold it all . |
Gratitude
Dodger, Thanks for the time and the advice...
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I bought a sheepskin halfway across Africa, as I was experiencing coccygeal calamity after 40 miles. A tailor in Kenya sewed it on - not ideal after rain, but it dried quickish in the sun. It didn't make a huge difference to the backside situation apart from allowing free movement of air under the nether parts, which is a bonus.
The things that have made the biggest difference to my gluteal gemutlichkeit are 1) Snug undies. Loose fitting boxers are the devil. B) Buying a CB1000 - leaning forward a bit, and having a saddle the size of Heathrow airport allow all day comfort (downstairs anyway.) I don't think it's quite the bike for a TDF - Alaska trip, so I'm probably going to buy an Airhawk for whatever I swap the CB for in 6 months. You might want to take up smoking - it's a great excuse to stop every hour, although there's a vocal minority of doctors who insist the health benefits aren't all they're cracked up to be |
aye but Exspensive..
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Get one, a bust one is ok.... measure to fit seat plus 2 inches/50mm.(4 beads more each side.....) cut it 50mm bigger still, remove the "extra" extra beads and tie off. fix 2 elastic or 3 if you like straps to the cover, so it fits on the seat, VOILA, Comfy Bum! no sweat..... as air circulates, you also get a "Bum Massage" as you ride! so no more Numb Bum...... Martyn |
Airhawk for sale
Ordered an Airhawk but ended with a Corbin seat I really like. Now the new Airhawk(small) is for sale $100
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Sheepskin & BMW seats
I upgraded my R1200GS seat to a Sargent and then added a sheepskin from <Alaska Leather> Home of the Sheepskin Buttpad - Motorcycle Seat Cover What a difference. On a tour of Canada last year my butt BURNED on the stock seat. Now, it is like sitting in a recliner!
Also, while I love BMWs (only bike I have ever ridden), but their stock seats are terrible. I believe after the war the Nazi doctors were unemployed and they all got jobs designing seats for BMW. :eek3: |
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Ok, If anyone is stil reading this thread. In 2006 I bough a Yamaha 2005 FJR 1300. It'ss not a real touring bike, but close enuf. However, I'm a bit stumpy, so I lowered it a lot, front , rear shock, rear links, even had to take off the centerstand and bent the sidestand more. And the seat... shaved it, looked great. However, found out that Mother Yammy uses two densities of foam... the nice firm stuff on top, and some really wimpy stuff way too soft underneath. gGot the seat shaved, sanded, recovered, felt pretty good. Loaded up and off the next morning.. At least I ride with a sheepskin. However Mr Sheepie was not enuf to compensate for losing about 1 1/2 inches of foam from the seat. Took me 4 1/2 days to get from Cleveland Ohio to Sacrament Ca on the superslabs... only 2400 miles. and this on a bike that will cruise.... uh.... WAY faster than the speed limits! <G> After the first day, I may as well have been sitting on a board. My arse hurt! That will limit hours per day riding! So if you DO change your seat, take some test rides FIRST! <G> UnderArmor stuff is great... packs smaller and dries very quickly. Also in ladies' sizes. for us of the persuasion that need it. <G> Ride Safe! Mary |
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