Quads are Burning/Saddle Adjust/Anatomica

I just got a Selle Anatomica due to sitbone issues with my other saddle. This one looks promising, but I am having a devil of a time trying to dial in on this saddle, despite the pamphlet that comes with it.

Other Saddle: A Specialized Avatar. This one is dialed in perfectly in terms of feel in the cockpit and my most maximum power output, except sitbone pain becomes real noticable at 42 miles or so. I just got refit in April and got a longer stem as I like a bit of an aggressive position. No quad burn.

This new Anatomica. My first trial ride was 20 miles and I could hardly feel the saddle was there. Except I'm tweaking it until the cows come home because of other issues. Up, down, fore, aft, nose up, nose down. The problem I seem to be having is no matter what, my quads burn and I seem to get lactic acid buildup very quickly, on sections of rides where I never got quad burn before, even on flats. Also in areas where I know what my mph should be, well, overall my mph seems to have decreased by 2-3 mph overall and I just don't feel like I'm getting the optimum power output like I was before. I actually get fatigued. Didn't happen with the other saddle.

I guess my questions are before I might have to go back for another fit:

1. Is there a general saddle position combination that provides the best leverage to maximize the output. Where might I need to move it? What works for some of you? I usually like knee just behind pedal axle.

2. I've never really had to try a saddle for a long period. I usually know almost immediately if they will be good. Is this really a matter of fit? Or do I really need to retrain my quads to behave with this saddle and wait till they stop burning. At this point in the season I'm fairly conditioned. It seems if I have it dialed in right I should be able to go, go, go. Right now it feels like the first ride after winter.

3. What have you other Anatomica gals have had to do? Have you swapped out to shorter stems as what is sometimes recommended with this saddle? Was there a long adjustment period?

If you find that with your riding style etc. too much of your energy on the Anatomica is going into deforming the leather instead of into moving the bike forward but you like the leather saddles in theory, you might want to consider a Brooks. (think about how it feels to ride a bike with a suspended seatpost vs your regular seatpost - lots of energy goes into "deforming" the suspension)

Since a Brooks doesn't have a cut out and has stiffer thicker leather, less of your energy will get diverted into flexing the leather. BUT, a Brooks is less forgiving! It can take 100-200 miles (maybe even 300) to get it broken in. Plus, if you are a devotee of cut-outs, well, you're out of luck on a Brooks.

I think MimiTabby has played with Anatomicas. She rides Brooks B67 and B66. I think BikerZ is also struggling with her Anatomica's cut-out. Might be helpful to PM either or both of them.

If your quads are burning you might try lowering your seat a touch. If it's too high you can't recruit your hamstrings & gluts so effectively and then need to use your quads more. You might also have to stretch your quads and psoas(hip flexor) more between rides.

I purchased a Selle Anatomica Titanico saddle with cutout earlier this year. I also had some issues with it - and it is now off my bike - I am going to list it for sale soon. I also had issues with adjustment - and the power transfer issues - as the saddle deforms when you ride it. I used the laser Wobblenaught system to fit my bikes - and we had a devil of a time getting the seat height right with this saddle. Also - it kept "deforming" and I had to keep tightening the leather tension knob - and soon saw that this saddle was just not going to work for me. Comfort on the saddle was great - but comfort alone was not enough for me. I also had some issues with "squeaking" for lack of a better word - when I would really crank on my bike - the saddle would "creak" and it sounded like my bottom bracket - but alas it was my @ss!! - People were looking at me funny on group rides!!!

Hope this help you!!

Debi

My DH has a Sella An-atomica, not me. and he loves it. He owns 2 of them, has them on two of his bikes. Interestingly enough, my son rode the bike with that saddle on it a few weeks ago and he hates it.
His normal saddle is a cheapo that came on his bike.
Brooks saddles can squeak and Knot has done extensive work to get rid of her squeak. I'm used to the squeak, haven't done anything about it.

Mimi, does your Brooks saddle have springs?

Back when I rode a Brooks w. springs, I found that the springs squeaked, but none of my non-sprung Brooks saddles (all B17) squeak.

Only one of my B67 saddles (with springs) squeaked.

It turns out it was the ball-n-socket joint at the very nose of the saddle. Bill at Wallingford talked me through greasing various parts of the saddle frame, and greasing the ball and socket solved it. No more squeak at all.

My 2nd B67 (honey leather for the gold bike) I greased right away. Not a peep!

The springs definitely add to the risk of squeaks and creaks. Once I figured out what part of the frame my cycling style made squeak and greased that, all was good. I really do like the springs. They are worth it to me!

I had a great ride today. It was the best ride yet with my new anatomica. I started over with the adjustments and again got it as close to my old saddle as I could. As soon as I felt I got the height and fore/aft, I really started focusing on the tension screw adjustments and I really tightened it up good while still being kind to the sit bones.

My legs felt like they're back to their old self on this ride; I was getting my old mph and in some cases, despite 17 mph headwinds and first day cramps, I was faster in some parts. Yay! I may have had leg fatigue on some hills where a short recovery on a grade decrease quickly remedied, but at no point during the ride did I have quad burn. Yay!

Two very new feelings...

1. Now I know what it feels like to have a saddle disappear beneath you. Sit bones and girl business were happy. Yay!

2. How nice to be able to plant your butt in the saddle and it stays there. The only time I needed to shift was for climbing, and not due to discomfort. Yay!

Ok, I can move on from the 20-25 mile trial rides to longer rides and we'll see how it goes.

I have followed this thread with interest MM, but everyone else posting was giving sound advice, so I didn't respond.

However, now I feel the need to pipe up and say WOOHHOO!!! Great news!
So pleased to hear comfort issues have been resolved! You should feel comfy on your bike, so I am glad that you finally are :D