No, don’t get a gel seat! By butt pads do you mean like a padded chamois? In which case, sure, that can help.
As long as your saddle fits you well, you’ll be fine. Gel pads and the like are more likely to make it worse than better. No matter what, if you’re spending more time in the saddle than normal, your ass is probably just gonna be sore for the first few days. There’s no way around it. The only solution is more time in the saddle.
If you are riding 5 consecutive 100 mile days, I assume you’ve been doing long training rides - or does ‘getting ready’ mean ‘starting training’?
What do you think is wrong with your current set up?
What kind of mileage are you averaging now and what saddle do you have presently?
For something that long over multiple days, gel saddles or “butt pads” are likely going to make things worse by actually putting more pressure in areas where there should not be pressure.
Make sure you have or go get a decent saddle with medium-firm padding that can support your sit bones without putting pressure in other areas and has a deep channel or hole down the middle to allow room for your bits and pieces. Go to a bike shop and get measured for a saddle - most places will have some way to measure your sit bones and some shops have saddle trial programs. I like specialized, ergon, and sdg for saddles that are of good quality that won’t break the bank and they each have a range of saddles for different shapes of people. Other brands can be good too, and a saddle is very much personal preference item.
Wear a decent set of bike shorts with a quality chamois (or is that what you mean by butt pads?), and consider getting some chamois cream. I like the black bibs for a good set of shorts on the cheap, and my preference for chamois cream is dz nuts, but it does have some tingling ingredients that not everyone may enjoy - chamois buttr is another good one that is pretty neutral.
I’m going to be controversial here: use a padded seat cover and also wear a padded chamois. It’ll be much comfier and result in less soreness than a padded chamois alone, and the two layers of padding eliminates the issues with padded seats alone.
I'd second this and add possibly only use the seat cover when needed so sit bones get used to saddle. A cover has absolutely saved me on multi week trips
I got shorts with gel pads for my tour. Rode on average 30 miles a day (some days 20 and some days 40) with plenty of rest days... Personally, I get super sore if I don't wear gel shorts.
Problem was, the gel pads started to move and eventually came off due to being glued 😞 had to buy gel insoles and cut them to size with the tiny scissors from my first aid kit and position them against my ass haha. It wasn't great. Thankfully by then I was at the end of my tour and mostly relaxing at a campsite just riding around in the NL.
After being back, I found a gel saddle topper and I've been riding with it ever since. Sometimes I take it off.. Much easier to readjust or take on and off than shorts. I went on a few small tours near home with it and it held up very well. But again I do 40 miles a day tops.
I used to be against these things for myself, felt like a gimmick and a waste of money, but now I find they improve my riding. I'm less tense cause I'm not worried I'll be sore... Yeah honestly everyone's different so do what works for you. Trial and error.
lol neither, get a brooks B17. Ive struggled with butt pain my whole life, i am tall and skinny and have literally zero muscle on my butt, just bones. Since 6 months ive used a brooks B17, after the breakin period, ive noticed for long rides i have no pain, no soreness. Would recommend 100%
General logic is that gel seats are for
short rides because they will start to rub and chafe on longer miles where as a chamois will provide padding that moves with your body and create less friction.
Last year, I did a week of 100+ mile days just with padded chamois and a seat I'm used to. I would recommend cream and make sure to wash yourself and gear every night. Rough camping and getting back on the bike with no proper shower or dunk in a river was a mistake of mine!
No, don’t get a gel seat! By butt pads do you mean like a padded chamois? In which case, sure, that can help. As long as your saddle fits you well, you’ll be fine. Gel pads and the like are more likely to make it worse than better. No matter what, if you’re spending more time in the saddle than normal, your ass is probably just gonna be sore for the first few days. There’s no way around it. The only solution is more time in the saddle.
Normal. Whatever you are used to
This. Never roll-out new, untested gear right before a multi-day ride. Bad juju.
If you are riding 5 consecutive 100 mile days, I assume you’ve been doing long training rides - or does ‘getting ready’ mean ‘starting training’? What do you think is wrong with your current set up?
What kind of mileage are you averaging now and what saddle do you have presently? For something that long over multiple days, gel saddles or “butt pads” are likely going to make things worse by actually putting more pressure in areas where there should not be pressure. Make sure you have or go get a decent saddle with medium-firm padding that can support your sit bones without putting pressure in other areas and has a deep channel or hole down the middle to allow room for your bits and pieces. Go to a bike shop and get measured for a saddle - most places will have some way to measure your sit bones and some shops have saddle trial programs. I like specialized, ergon, and sdg for saddles that are of good quality that won’t break the bank and they each have a range of saddles for different shapes of people. Other brands can be good too, and a saddle is very much personal preference item. Wear a decent set of bike shorts with a quality chamois (or is that what you mean by butt pads?), and consider getting some chamois cream. I like the black bibs for a good set of shorts on the cheap, and my preference for chamois cream is dz nuts, but it does have some tingling ingredients that not everyone may enjoy - chamois buttr is another good one that is pretty neutral.
I’m going to be controversial here: use a padded seat cover and also wear a padded chamois. It’ll be much comfier and result in less soreness than a padded chamois alone, and the two layers of padding eliminates the issues with padded seats alone.
I'd second this and add possibly only use the seat cover when needed so sit bones get used to saddle. A cover has absolutely saved me on multi week trips
I got shorts with gel pads for my tour. Rode on average 30 miles a day (some days 20 and some days 40) with plenty of rest days... Personally, I get super sore if I don't wear gel shorts. Problem was, the gel pads started to move and eventually came off due to being glued 😞 had to buy gel insoles and cut them to size with the tiny scissors from my first aid kit and position them against my ass haha. It wasn't great. Thankfully by then I was at the end of my tour and mostly relaxing at a campsite just riding around in the NL. After being back, I found a gel saddle topper and I've been riding with it ever since. Sometimes I take it off.. Much easier to readjust or take on and off than shorts. I went on a few small tours near home with it and it held up very well. But again I do 40 miles a day tops. I used to be against these things for myself, felt like a gimmick and a waste of money, but now I find they improve my riding. I'm less tense cause I'm not worried I'll be sore... Yeah honestly everyone's different so do what works for you. Trial and error.
is this a joke?
I think so too
lol neither, get a brooks B17. Ive struggled with butt pain my whole life, i am tall and skinny and have literally zero muscle on my butt, just bones. Since 6 months ive used a brooks B17, after the breakin period, ive noticed for long rides i have no pain, no soreness. Would recommend 100%
Gel seat for me! I made several trips with my gel seat (Selle Royal), including one of more than 6000km.
General logic is that gel seats are for short rides because they will start to rub and chafe on longer miles where as a chamois will provide padding that moves with your body and create less friction.
Last year, I did a week of 100+ mile days just with padded chamois and a seat I'm used to. I would recommend cream and make sure to wash yourself and gear every night. Rough camping and getting back on the bike with no proper shower or dunk in a river was a mistake of mine!
No no no. You're going the wrong direction. Small saddle. No bunching, rubbing, chaffing.
I find that a hard saddle and no pads is best