Constant Saddle Sores

[tinysmom]

I ride approximately 150 miles weekly and have suffered from saddle sores for years. I got a professional fitting on my bike and have changes saddles (from Terry to Specialized Ruby and now using a Cobb). I buy good shorts and take them off immediately after my ride. I use the appropriate creams/salves. I am wondering if I need to try another saddle. Typically the sores are NOT on the soft tissue area but are instead on the sides.
Does anybody have suggestions?

[Sky King]

When I had that issue is was because the saddle I was riding was too pear shaped (gilles berthoud aspin), once I switched back to more of a t shape the problem went away. As soon as my foot heals I am going to try a Selle An-Atomica but at the moment I am on a fizik vittesse sport (old one) some women hate them but it fits me perfectly. Am assuming you have looked at all the fantastic saddle posts? Have you measured sit bones?

[OakLeaf]

+1 - irritation at the butt crease or inner thigh area could be a sign of a saddle that's too pear/wedge shaped. Cobb saddles are about as wedge-shaped as they get.

Were you getting irritation in the same places with the Ruby (much more T-shaped)? What is your sitbone measurement and what size Ruby did you try?

[nscrbug]

In total agreement regarding Cobb saddles being very wedge-shaped, not to mention extremely narrow (130mm) for most women. It was the very reason why I ditched my Cobb after just 2 weeks. I would suggest what others have - measure your sit bones. I'm currently on a Ruby 155, and while it is not always perfect, it seems to be my best option at the moment.

[cmc]

Are these pimple/boil sores, or chafing sores?

[bluebug32]

I was getting saddle sores after I flipped my stem to get in a more aero position. I thought it was the saddle, so I went through a bazillion of them trying to find the right one. Finally I flipped my stem back over, put the original saddle back on and the sores went away. I don't know your setup, but just something else to consider.