Female bikers: advice for crotch soreness

[Thegoblinchief]

DW just got her first bike. I know at least with my experience, saddle soreness goes away after the first few weeks, but any womens specific advice?

I know padding isn't recommended for guys, but not sure about ladies. Non-padded bike shorts/underwear?

I don't want to tell her to just tough it out if that's not the correct advice for women.

[BarkingSquirrel]

http://www.bikingbis.com/2012/04/02/solutions-for-women-left-numb-by-bicycling/

[Fleacircus]

I've read a hundred different solutions involving padding, powder, lotions, and different saddles. 

I had some success with tilting the nose of the saddle down slightly, but my seat tube is angled back from the pedals.  I don't know if that would work on a standard frame.

I'm always a little sore if I ride after not riding for several days.  I think short, daily rides toughen things up at first.

[G-dog]

Make sure the angle of the seat is adjusted for most comfort. I learned, the hard way, that I needed to adjust the seat angle down a bit. But it was a fine line between comfort and always feeling like I was sliding off the seat.
Same for the seat height, especially not too high.
I never tried the fancy bike pants - but I also just biked a few miles to work and back - no 100 mile rides.

I did learn of a new location that can get sore after not riding since when I was a kid! Unique experience.

[zinnie]

Get the right seat. Your crotch shouldn't be sore, really. Butt/ sit bones, sure, but not there. It can do long-term damage.

The seat needs to be wide enough that the majority of the weight is resting on the sit bones, and needs to have enough of an indentation in the crotch area so that there is not pressure there. I can't find it now but I saw these great heat maps that showed where the weight should be resting when riding and it should just be your two sit bones, with only slight pressure in the crotch area. As a women if it is more of a triad in terms of where weight is distributed it is pretty miserable. And as other posters have said, definitely adjust the seat angle downward as well.

Seat makes all the difference in my experience. I got a new bike and the seat that came on it left me in pain for two days. Ordered a new seat and I felt great. This is an older model I just ordered for $15 (it comes in three sizes based on the distance between your sit bones): http://www.ebay.com/itm/BONTRAGER-Inform-RL-WSD-Saddle-150mm-Hollow-Stainless-Steel-Rails-White-/231155643368?pt=US_Saddles_Seats&hash=item35d1f333e8

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

I have no idea about "recommended," but I have padded bike shorts, and they really help.

[NoraLenderbee]

Make sure the reach from seat to handlebars is not too long. If it is, she may be rolling forward onto her ladyparts in order to reach the bars. Free solutions include moving the seat forward and/or raising the bars slightly. If that doesn't help, you may need to get a shorter stem.

Padded shorts are a must, in my opinion. Far better than riding on shorts with a seam in the crotch. They make padded underpants that can be worn under a skirt or under regular shorts.

[lakemom]

A wide cushy seat that is properly aligned is a must for me.  It took some fiddling with the seat height/angle until I got it just right and haven't touched it since.  Comfy shorts/pants are also a must for me, nothing with a heavy seam (blue jeans) in the crotch area.  I'm not a hard core rider but an hour or two a few times a week.

[Thegoblinchief]

It's already a WSD type saddle. I think we will try moving it forward, since she's on the borderline height versus frame size.

If it's still an issue, then we'll look into shorts or a new saddle.