Since the nice weather has started up, I've decided to start riding my bike to and from work. Me and my husband live on a military base and I work at the subway on base so I don't have that far to go. But after only one day of riding.....my behind is so sore I can barely sit OWIE! lol Does anyone else have this problem? What are some good brands of bike shorts that might help? Or is this something that I just need to get used to? lol any help is greatly appreciated!

Bike shorts with a pad will definitely help. I have Canari brand bike shorts and Sugoi brand tri shorts (with a smaller pad), but I think you need to try on a few and then pick. Even with bike shorts you will experience a certain amount of saddle soreness as your butt gets use to this new position and feel. But the discomfort will wear off and then you'll only get it when you push past your normal limits (time and mileage).

Congrats on biking more, it's wonderful exercise and a very green thing to do for the environment! YAY YOU!

I've found padded bike shorts, and also a padded seat cover, to be helpful.

+1

You'll get soreness for the first several rides, then your butt will get used to it. Although padded shorts are good to have, I've never found them to do anything for the initial soreness that always happens when you start riding after a hiatus.

Congrats on starting to bike commute though. I'd love to. My commute is only 3.5 miles, but there are limited routes (have to cross an interstate), busy roads, no sidewalks, and very little shoulder.

This is going to sound kinky, but I'm going to add something I learned from my own experience: Do not wear underwear beneath the bike shorts. Your underwear may chafe and negate the good done by the padding inside the shorts.

(Probably everyone knows this but me.

Can I ask how far you're biking? If it's not very far and you're sore more than a few days you might look at getting a new bike seat. They make all sorts of seats and some are way more comfortable than others.

I have an ergonomicaly correct seat and have not had a butt problem in 4 years since purchasing this seat and I often bike 30k+/day...Google for an image, they look weird but they work well...

Here's a funny looking one http://www.spiderflex.com/ Mine is similar but not quite..

Yeah, this is an excellent thing to note: definitely don't wear anything under the bike shorts to avoid chafe city!

No gitch under the shorts!
A proper bike seat!
Padded shorts!
Stick to it -- your butt toughens up. It hurts because you are using parts of your posterior that aren't used to being used!

Kira

Thanks ladies! You have all been very helpful! And for the person who asked, my commute is only about 2 miles i believe. I have noticed that since I've posted last, my bumb is getting used to the position! As far as the no underwear, i did not know that, lol!

Once again, thank you all and I will definitely keep on riding 'til it gets too cold!

Lol. Yeah 2 miles to work I would probably wear my uniform (and undies) and then just replace the seat if it still hurts My commute's about 7 miles each way and while I don't do it every day I wear normal clothes and just hit the showers when I get there. Good luck!

I have horses and finally started riding again last week. Wow I forgot how much your bum hurts when you take time off from riding. I know in time it goes away and you don't hurt after riding, I am guessing it is the same for riding bike.