Does a bum toughen up?

[budges]

Hi,

If your bum gets sore when you start using a new saddle, does it just toughen up over time, or will it cause long-term problems?

I haven't ridden long distances before but plan to do the TransAm in the summer. The bike I am training on (just a crappy mountain bike I bought second-hand when I arrived in Wales) seems to have a suitable saddle as my bum hasn't gotten sore at all. As I am living in Wales at the moment I plan to buy a complete bike when I arrive in America. I am wondering whether I should take the saddle with me and fit it to my new bike (which might mean carrying the spare saddle that comes with my new bike) or just put up with the saddle that comes with the new bike.

Any advice appreciated.
Thanks!

[indyfabz]

Saddles arer very personal.  What works for A might not work for B.  If you have found one that works for you, put it on the new bike and get some experience with it to make sure it works with the new bike's geometry.  If it does, there will be no need to carry a spare.

[John Nelson]

As said, it's personal. Some people have never met a saddle they didn't like, and others search long and hard before finding the one saddle that suits them. If you've never experienced soreness before, maybe you're lucky and are in the first camp. You might borrow different bikes from friends and see if you're happy on just about any saddle, or if you lucked into the magic one the first time.

And yes, a bum does toughen up. But if the saddle and you are not meant for each other, your butt may turn into raw hamburger before then.

[staehpj1]

Some people are super fussy about saddles and really need to find THE right saddle.  Personally I seem to be fine with the original saddles on all my bikes.  I do find that I sometimes have an adjustment period of a few hundred miles though.

Bottom line is that there is no harm in starting out with one you know works for you and there is some chance that you could hate the one on the new bike.  If you know what bike you will be buying you could possibly try the saddle it comes with out before hand.

[Pat Lamb]

Agree with all that's been said already, but I think your idea to bring your KNOWN GOOD saddle along is very good.  If you haven't ridden long rides before, you probably don't know your saddle sensitivity.  Why take chances?

[rvklassen]

I would bring along my known saddle.  If you can, get the shop to give you something off in exchange for not taking the saddle that comes with the bike.  Or barter for something like a rack (or discount on a rack) or some water bottle holders and bottles, or ... They can sell the saddle for something.  And giving you a discount on accessories you need anyhow is relatively easy for them.

The answer to the initial question is partly.  And partly as the legs get stronger you have less force pressing you against the saddle.  And in the case of a Brooks (or other leather saddle),  the saddle gets broken in too.

[budges]

Thanks for all the advice! I will try my housemates' bikes on a few long rides and see how I go with different saddles. I ultimately want to just use the one on the new bike as otherwise I would have to fly over with my current saddle and as I am moving to North America to live for a while I am already struggling with luggage space and weight.

[staehpj1]

I ultimately want to just use the one on the new bike as otherwise I would have to fly over with my current saddle and as I am moving to North America to live for a while I am already struggling with luggage space and weight.

In that case...  There are bike shops along the way that will have saddles if the saddle should be a disaster.

[pptouring]

my bum has toughened up to the point I can do my 50 mile round trip work/home commute wearing regular shorts and boxers. No cycling shorts needed and I'm riding on a Brooks B17. 

[johnsondasw]

Chamois butter! Try it, and don't be skimpy with it.  That helps for me--whichever saddle I'm in, it's better if I use chamois butter.

[bogiesan]

One word, three syllables: recumbent.
Impact on your nether tissues is determined by many factors and some are medically treatable. Others require tolerance and remedial gear, ointments, and kilometers.

On my recumbent, I don't need shorts with a chamois; I certainly don't need chamois butter.

David Boise id

[shorecycler]

My take on it is that ANY seat will give you discomfort but only for the first few rides, MAX! Im in the process of breaking in a Brooks professional for my tour this summer and the first few miles left me sore but now that ive got about 100 miles (no where near broken in yet  ) I find that the saddle soreness has gone away. So, to answer your question, yes saddle soreness goes away as your sit bones work their way into whatever your saddle of choice is. If discovering any numbness or serious discomfort than by all means a new seat would be within reason but any kind of time in the saddle will leave you uncomfortable to some degree at first.

[Tourista829]

I have taken my Brooks Professional Saddle from one bike to another. It took me several hundred miles to originally break it in but as I rode more, and toughened up, I appreciated the Brooks. Now when I ride 75-80 miles a day, I don't give it much thought. As stated, the best time to negociate, for a new saddle, is when you purchase your new bike. Many people I speak to like their Brooks B-17. Ride as much as you can now.

[budges]

Thanks everyone!!! You have helped me make a firm decision...I am not going to bother packing the saddle!