Pain and Discomfort

April 2, 2025

How to Choose the Right Bike Saddle for Comfort and Performance

Choosing a new saddle can be challenging, confusing and expensive. With so many variables affecting saddle fit and comfort—and plenty of conflicting advice—finding the best option for you can feel overwhelming. In this guide, we’ll break down the key factors to consider when choosing a new saddle, covering: The causes of saddle discomfort How bike fit influences saddle choice Saddle shape and its impact on comfort A step-by-step process to find your perfect saddle A Quick Note on Gender-Specific Saddles This post wont focus on the differences between men’s and women’s saddles. While there are anatomical variations, the fundamentals of saddle comfort apply to all riders. Regardless of gender, an ill-fitting saddle or improper bike setup will lead to discomfort. What Causes Bicycle Saddle Discomfort: There are two main components of saddle discomfort: pressure and friction. Understanding Saddle Pressure At […]

February 14, 2023

Common Causes And Solutions To Cycling-related Knee Pain

Cycling is a great form of low impact exercise which is usually easy on the joints. Knee injuries however, can be common in cycling and is more so among those who are clipped in. While being clipped in isn’t necessarily a reason in itself for knee pain, it does increase the chances of poor biomechanical alignment. It is important to immediately assess any knee pain you experience while riding as what starts as a small niggle can quickly grow into something more serious that keeps you off your bike for an extended period of time. In this post we’ll look at some of the most common causes of knee pain. Because there are many components of the knee and many causes of potential pain in each area this post will be longer than others in our common causes series. We […]

February 14, 2023

Common Causes And Solutions To Cycling-related Back Pain

Back pain while cycling is a frustrating issue experienced by many cyclists. There can be many causes and the symptoms can range from mild discomfort to debilitating pain preventing the cyclist from riding. Back pain related to cycling can also occur either during the ride or take some time to present after the ride. Back pain can refer to pain anywhere from the upper back to the tailbone. In this post we’ll focus on the mid-back downward, while technically “back pain” consists of pain above the mid-back, the causes of upper back pain more commonly relate to the same causes as neck pain and therefore will be covered in our neck and shoulder pain post. The good news is most types of cycling related back pain can be prevented and some small adjustments can go a long way to improving […]

March 31, 2022

Feet Before Fit

There’s an old saying that goes something along the lines of “invest in the things that come between you and the ground”, and when thinking about bike fit it’s safe to assume this is investing in the things that come between you and the bike. While the first item that may come to mind is your saddle (and you wouldn’t be wrong), the more overlooked element in this system is your feet, and what you put on them. We like to call this concept “Feet before fit”. We’ve discussed the importance of proper saddle positioning and its role as the foundation of your entire position. However, addressing the interface between you and the bike at your feet is a close second when considering injury prevention and avoiding common pains. Unlike most other activities, cycling involves extremely high volumes of very […]

September 6, 2021

Cycling Related Wrist And Hand Pain

Some bike fit considerations for those experiencing wrist or hand pain caused by riding your bike. Wrist and hand pain or numbness is a common issue experienced by cyclists. Follow this guide to help reduce your discomfort. Wrist and hand pain/numbness is a common ailment on the bike. There can be a number of causes which can make diagnosing this issue very frustrating. Luckily with MyVeloFit you can continue to refine your position as often as you’d like. As always, start by ensuring your position on the bike is neutral to begin with by checking it with the MyVeloFit software. If your position isn’t neutral to begin with, start by getting a neutral position. If your position was drastically off to begin with that could be what was leading to the pain. Hand numbness is typically caused by excessive ulnar or radial […]

June 21, 2021

Cycling Related Saddle Pain

Saddle pain and discomfort are the number one complaint among cyclists when it comes to their overall comfort on the bike. There are all sorts of shapes and sizes of saddles out there and it is easy to fall into the trap of trying saddle after saddle hunting for the right one, however the most common issue associated with saddle discomfort is cyclists in the incorrect position for their riding goals and personal mobility. This leads to an improper interaction between the rider’s body and the saddle. In order to get comfortable on your bicycle saddle, whether it is a road bike, triathlon bike, hybrid bike, or mountain bike, consider the following three key culprits that contribute to saddle pain. Excess grip reach Reach is the horizontal distance from your saddle to the hoods of your handlebar. Too much […]

May 3, 2021

Cycling Related Neck Pain

Some bike fit considerations for those experiencing neck pain caused by riding your bike. In a recent survey of riders at the end of a 160km Gran Fondo, neck pain was the second most common complaint only beaten by saddle pain. Neck pain is often caused by having too much cervical flexion or compression. In addition to position it is important to consider the helmet and its weight, especially in very upright positions where it can cause excess compression, or in very aggressive positions where the weight of the helmet is further away from the fulcrum point of the neck. As always, start by ensuring your position on the bike is neutral to begin with by checking it with the MyVeloFit software. If your position isn’t neutral to begin with, start by getting a neutral position. If your position was drastically off […]

January 18, 2021

Cycling Related Foot Pain

Foot pain while cycling can be very frustrating especially because it’s one of the few things you can’t adjust while riding. Unlike saddle or hand issues where you can stand up to relieve the saddle discomfort, or change your hand position to relieve your hand discomfort, with your feet you always have a certain amount of pressure going through them. What is causing cycling related foot pain? The first thing you should do if you are having significant foot pain is to ensure your shoe is the correct size and style for your foot. You also want to make sure that your cleats are in the right position. We have a whole article dedicated to cleat placement if you want to check it out here. From a fit perspective there are three things that often lead to foot discomfort. […]

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