My ass is frozen
- Thread starter canadmos
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I see a new industry opportunity...heated seats for e-fat Bikes. I should have a kickstarter campaign going in a few hours.
What do you guys think...$250? Too cheap?
What do you guys think...$250? Too cheap?
Specialized Avatar Comp gel seat
Never heard of anyone freezing their ass off. I've used many saddles, none of them gave me a chilly butt. You wear a bike liner?
That’s an easy assumption.
Velocopedist, you are falling behind!
I don’t much notice my ass and thighs, maybe that means they are frozen or warm. I always wear chamois shorts under, after learning my lesson trying to freeze my weener off. Today was chamois, base layer, light backcountry pants (mostly just a light shell). On warmer days I wear the chamois and some xc ski pants. The chamois does a lot to protect my sensitive bits.
Chilling topic, I needed you to warm my seat.
For posterity, I always found flannel carhartts to work well.
For posterity, I always found flannel carhartts to work well.
I run a Chromag Lynx DT saddle. I used to run an old Trailmaster leather saddle but it eventually disintegrated. I can't say I really noticed a difference in cold comfort when I made the switch.
I usually run a thin shammy, micro-fleece bib-leggings, and softshell pants (unlined). If it's super cold (approaching -20), I'll replace the micro-fleece pants with proper old-school fleece pants, and maybe even windbriefs instead of the shammy. If it's above zero (and not wet), I'll wear knicker-bibs under the softshell pants and knee high ski socks.
The area I get coldest is my "love handles"! But I'm not worried about those, they can freeze and fall off for all I care! (that said, the bibs help keep this area moisture free and insulated)
if its your thighs as well, then it's probably your choice of attire that's causing the issue, not the saddle.
i use two layers, for winter either knicker bibs for full length bibs (depending on how cold it is), and a pair of riding pants. personally i have endura singletracks and very much like them.
if its very windy, you'll need something for that, because when its super cold the wind will cut right through you.
i use two layers, for winter either knicker bibs for full length bibs (depending on how cold it is), and a pair of riding pants. personally i have endura singletracks and very much like them.
if its very windy, you'll need something for that, because when its super cold the wind will cut right through you.
Never have a problem there, hands sometimes, feet always.
It is tough getting enough clothes but not limiting movement.
It is tough getting enough clothes but not limiting movement.
I can't see that it's your saddle.
For me, Defeet woollie boolie long socks, bibs, pearl Izumi amfib tights, pair of baggy riding shorts, good to 7freedums, haven't tried riding in colder.
For me, Defeet woollie boolie long socks, bibs, pearl Izumi amfib tights, pair of baggy riding shorts, good to 7freedums, haven't tried riding in colder.
Maybe I just have a delicate buttocks? I usually ride in this thermal base layer capri thing and some very lightly lined pants. If its a little extra cold ill toss in a pair of boxers between the pants and thermal thing. Whats frustrating is that my ass freezes before the rest of my body even gives the slightest hint of being chilly.
I'll try out padded riding shorts, but I hate the way they feel with the thermal tights and pants.
I was thinking it might be the seat partially causing this, as it's very hard and plasticy. It just feels cold...
Maybe what doesn't help is how warm bodied I am (translation, I'm fat and sweat a lot or give off a lot of moisture). I remember one particularly cold ride last year, where at the end there was ice visible on the top of my seat, right where I sit.
@6thElement I also use those almost knee high dafeet woolie boolie socks. They aren't bulky but keep me warm really well. Love them.
I'll try out padded riding shorts, but I hate the way they feel with the thermal tights and pants.
I was thinking it might be the seat partially causing this, as it's very hard and plasticy. It just feels cold...
Maybe what doesn't help is how warm bodied I am (translation, I'm fat and sweat a lot or give off a lot of moisture). I remember one particularly cold ride last year, where at the end there was ice visible on the top of my seat, right where I sit.
@6thElement I also use those almost knee high dafeet woolie boolie socks. They aren't bulky but keep me warm really well. Love them.
My fat bike has a 13+ year old SpecialEd Phenom on it with pretty much zero padding.
SIUP?
I jest, in South Dakota when I would be foolish enough to ride in -19°F these long johns:
paired with flannel/knit carhartts or fleece lined schoeller pants (I think mine are mountain hardwear) always kept me toasty.
Only had one incident when I took my gloves off to visit the shed and I was seriously worried about frostbite. Good thing urine is 37℃.
YMMV
I jest, in South Dakota when I would be foolish enough to ride in -19°F these long johns:
paired with flannel/knit carhartts or fleece lined schoeller pants (I think mine are mountain hardwear) always kept me toasty.
Only had one incident when I took my gloves off to visit the shed and I was seriously worried about frostbite. Good thing urine is 37℃.
YMMV
I've heard of people having cold-ass syndrome, but I don't really get it, so I'm not very helpful. I doubt it's coming from the saddle, except that your ass is on the saddle and needs a bit of insulation to help, but saddles are generally not great conductors and your ass tends to have some pretty good insulation from fat. I did go through a period during the first year or two where I was riding with the XC ski pants and some regular boxers or undies and holy shit did I freeze my junk off a few times. It wasn't my ass though, but maybe it's all close enough. I put on the chamois first, with some butter if I remember, then the thermal base layer or XC ski pants.
How are you tucking in? One thing I find real important is a long enough upper base layer, to tuck fairly deep into the pants. That overlap is pretty important IME, whether it's your neck and the neck gaiter/baclava and turtle-neck or your socks/pants or upper base layer/pants. Just a little bit of exposed skin can lead to some significant cooling. Most of my upper base layers are super stretchy and able to do this just fine.
There is some validity to keeping other parts of the body warm and the body then using the colder parts for heat management/radiation. It seems like it always takes my body a few rides to "figure this out" in the winter, but then in the colder times I tend to use my face to regulate heat, as in covering it more and more, while the rest of my body is pretty well covered up. Another example is the down jacket-less sleeves I have. Yes, some people have sleeve-less jackets, but I have jacket-less sleeves. It's some sort of dorky hammocking product, two down sleeves attached with a strap, but hell if these don't boost the heat in my arms and to my hands. That way I can get my hands warm without turning my core into a sweat-fest. Yesterday when it was 0 to -5F I kept trying to put on my down jacket, but it was just too "warm" for that, but the down sleeves are a nice in-between. This is mainly to keep my hands warm, but the idea being that keeping one part warmer may keep something else warm. My lower legs are a combination of my Wolfgar boots, whatever sock combo I'm wearing, and snow-gaiters. I almost always wear the snow-gaiters, real tall OR 1000 denier ones that come up to about my knee. This means that between these and the chamois shorts, there's some significant wind blocking or insulation on most, but not all, of my leg. So what I'm working towards is that if your entire lower leg doesn't have anything but the thermals and pants, maybe that's contributing to making your butt cold?
The moisture thing is interesting to me, not from your experience, but my own and how everyone raves about wool. Just for shits and giggles, I got some "high end" smartwool layers this year to try out. I'm generally not liking them. They soak too easily and take too long to dry. This makes me colder. With exertion you have to remember to open everything up/unzip to have a chance, but it's usually too late when you notice it getting all clammy and stuff. I'm still convinced the wool industry sells this shit like the best thing every when the truth is much more in between. Wet synthetics do retain heat, but slightly less. They are warmer for the weight (synthetics). The wool can deal with more uses before requiring washing. The quickness at which synthetic dries/transport moisture though seems to win out though IME. I'm going out on a branch here, but I'm wondering if all of this pushing towards wool this and that isn't partially responsible for why some people are getting so sweaty and wet. Overdressing and not changing layers with conditions and output is probably partially it-as in the people that wear "hard" shell layers that won't breath with any exertion. Every ride I do with the wool base layers I end up noticing and am colder.
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They don't make these in mens sizes but the womens xl fits me. these suckers are warm. I have used them riding down to 32 and snowshoeing down to 5F. windproof and water resistant. I originally got them for training endurance horses in the winter. now I use them on my bike and hiking in the mountains in winter, suckers are indestructible too.
www.bigdweb.com
Irideon Windpro 3 Season Knee Patch Breech Big Dee's Horse Tack & Vet Supplies
Irideon Wind Pro 3-Season Breech.Rain, snow, wind and mud-resistant - really! Designed and patterned in the saddle for the perfect fit, no-chafe, overlocked with edge stitch seams for a flattering, tailored look. Perfect breech for unpredictable fall, winter and spring weather.
www.bigdweb.com
I learned something new today, I wouldn’t have been able to answer “what is a breech?”
I probably would have guessed something related to britches, though.
I probably would have guessed something related to britches, though.
I SUIP'd it last night and just trudged on with a frozen ass, though my thighs also froze at the end.
My pockets and inside of the pants felt warmish and moist, so I think the heat is there. But maybe part of the problem is that these pants are too tight when I'm in the seated pedaling position? I started to feel warmer as soon as I stopped for a few seconds last night to take a few pictures.
Been using the pants for a few years, but only just realized last night looking at the tags that they are a slim fit design. And they are hiking pants, so probably not the best shape for biking with?
I think they are a previous version of these: https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5053-465/Ferrata-Pants
Tonight I'm going to leave the bottom layer off and just wear a bigass butt pad.
My pockets and inside of the pants felt warmish and moist, so I think the heat is there. But maybe part of the problem is that these pants are too tight when I'm in the seated pedaling position? I started to feel warmer as soon as I stopped for a few seconds last night to take a few pictures.
Been using the pants for a few years, but only just realized last night looking at the tags that they are a slim fit design. And they are hiking pants, so probably not the best shape for biking with?
I think they are a previous version of these: https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5053-465/Ferrata-Pants
Tonight I'm going to leave the bottom layer off and just wear a bigass butt pad.
I find that slimmer layers are better for heat retention and wicking, the looser layers will make it so there's no fabric on contact with my skin, that leads to moisture and cold pockets IME. If you are using a base layer, the outer layer doesn't have to be super slim or tight, that is ok to to have a little baggy, but the base layer should always be a stretchy-base layer IME.
Most of my lower layers are windblocking, whether xc ski or backcountry ski. The backcountry ski are light, but they are inherently looser. I don’t wear a base layer with the xc ski pants, but I do with the backcountry pants and I use them for generally warmer colder temps. Both of these with a chamois underneath too.
the base layer issue I ran into is when the base is loose, then I would get crazy cold pockets, my theory is the moisture wasn’t transporting.
It's like this in terms of hierarchy:
shorts with base layer or yoga pants
XC ski pants with chamois underneath
backcountry ski pants with base layer and chamois underneath
marmot full side-zip hardshell over XC ski pants with chamois underneath
backcountry ski pants with xc ski pants with chamois underneath
full side zip mountaineering puffy pants over backcountry ski pants with base layer and chamois underneath, these are like the full on -20 to -40F setup.
the base layer issue I ran into is when the base is loose, then I would get crazy cold pockets, my theory is the moisture wasn’t transporting.
It's like this in terms of hierarchy:
shorts with base layer or yoga pants
XC ski pants with chamois underneath
backcountry ski pants with base layer and chamois underneath
marmot full side-zip hardshell over XC ski pants with chamois underneath
backcountry ski pants with xc ski pants with chamois underneath
full side zip mountaineering puffy pants over backcountry ski pants with base layer and chamois underneath, these are like the full on -20 to -40F setup.
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Well there's your problem right there...
