Ischial tuberosities are the bone structures at the bottom of your pelvis are designed specifically for supporting your weight while seated. You can sit on these bones comfortably for extended periods of time while maintaining healthy blood flow, because they are padded and do not attach to organs. The saddle or seat on your bicycle may produce pain, if your sitting bones do not support enough of your weight while cycling.
Cause
Saddle pain may result from cycling with your seat too high. Your seat is too high if your pelvis rocks from side to side as you pedal. The nose on your seat may cause saddle pain if it's pointed upward. A seat nose that points downward may also cause saddle pain, because your body slides forward on the seat. This moves your sitting support away from your sitting bones, and forces the nose of your seat to press against your perineum.
Complications
Saddle pain from cycling may lead to other problems and health complications. You may develop painful saddle sores in your groin, or experience numbness in your groin area and genitals. Numbness may interfere with your sexual health and lead to problems like erectile dysfunction and impotence. Saddle pain may also lead to urinary tract disorders or localized atherosclerosis.
Prevention
Maintain a good posture while cycling to prevent saddle pain. Make sure your saddle is horizontal and does not point up or too far down. Tilting the seat down very slightly may help prevent saddle pain. Stand up occasionally while cycling every few minutes to restore circulation, especially on long rids. Sitting on the saddle for extended periods of time puts continuous pressure on your perineum that may result in pain. You may stand while cycling up short hills, exiting corner or accelerating away from a stop. Adjust your sitting location on the saddle. Side to the back of the saddle while cycling on hills and sit on your sitting bones on fat surfaces.
Alternative Saddles
Alternative saddles may help prevent saddle pain by removing pressure from your perenium altogether. These seats often feature noseless designs, skeletal support and/or adjustable parts that move with your body. You may benefit from an alternative saddle if you have undergone prostate surgery or have going injuries that make regular bicycle seats very painful. People that do not ride aggressively and prefer riding upright with handlebars above the seat may benefit from alternative saddles.
