Not sure what to do - shorts & new seat

HI All!
I got a new seat put on my bike yesterday and it's a lot different then the old one.... the old one was gel and this one has a cut out.. no gel.

Also, my shorts are gel - but I need another pair b/c they don't fit like they should.

So... do I:
A) buy the same shorts with the gel in a better size (cost about $50)
B) spend and extra $50 on some SHEBEEST shorts, cause I hear they are great
C) keep my current shorts and wait to get some long biking pants since it will be cold out sooner then later.

Since I don't know if the current seat will be "the one" or not since I've only had it on one 9 mile ride I'm not sure what to do about the shorts ( I hear that the seat and the shorts go together - as in a seat will feel good with one kind of short and not the other, etc.)

Also, the new seat doesn't really match my bike, and that kinda bugs me - it's that girly thing, I'd like the bike to look nice :o So, if this isn't the saddle for me, then I'm back to if the shorts are going to work... :confused:


Any thoughts...
Thanks a bunch!!

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Originally Posted by Fish Lady

( I hear that the seat and the shorts go together - as in a seat will feel good with one kind of short and not the other, etc.)

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I've never heard that before.

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Originally Posted by Fish Lady

Also, the new seat doesn't really match my bike, and that kinda bugs me

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I don't think I'm going out on a limb to say it would probably bug each and every woman here.

First you need to find the right saddle.
Then consider new shorts.

Fish Lady, I feel your pain. I've just been through this. I agree with Zen that you should work on getting the right saddle for you. However, this can be tricky if you have shorts that are uncomfortable, making you think it's the saddle. I speak from experience. I thought I needed a different saddle because I was so uncomfortable after 1-1/2 to 2 hours but, after much trial and error, and REALLY uncomfortable saddles, I am back to my original saddle (Selle San Marco Aspide Glamour) with a better quality short and a much more comfortable chamois. (I recently got a pair of Sugoi RS Flex shorts and they are wonderful! I've got a couple pairs of Shebeest on the way.)

My problem was that the shorts I had been using were bunching and the material around the chamois itself was folding and creasing and that was the source of my discomfort - it wasn't actually my saddle. I can't believe it took me so long to figure that out, but it was EVERY pair of shorts I had that was bunching in one way or another and getting between me and the saddle.

I tried three different saddles and there was no short in the world that was going to be comfortable with any of them, so I do agree that the saddle is where you should start. If you're uncomfortable, try to determine the source of it so you know if it's the short or the saddle.

Best of luck! :)

a 9-mile ride isn't enough to tell you anything about either the saddle, or the shorts.

the seat & shorts going together or not is pretty simple to figure out -- one is either too big or too little for the other. some chamois are really small & narrow, so a switch to a wider seat might make a short unbearable because there isn't anything between you & the saddle.

take your pick as to which part of the puzzle you want to fix first, shorts or saddle. and just because some think a short is great, doesn't mean it will work for you. you need to find your own faves, and only riding in them will tell.

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Originally Posted by koala

a 9-mile ride isn't enough to tell you anything about either the saddle, or the shorts.

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Oh, but I beg to differ.
A bad saddle or shorts make themselves evident to me at just about that mileage.

my new saddle caresses my cheeks the moment I sit down :D

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Originally Posted by Zen

my new saddle caresses my cheeks the moment I sit down :D

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Wow, sounds like you might have to leave a tip at the end of your ride :D

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Originally Posted by Zen

Oh, but I beg to differ.
A bad saddle or shorts make themselves evident to me at just about that mileage.

my new saddle caresses my cheeks the moment I sit down :D

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WOW, sounds great! What kind of saddle is it???? :):)

After a longer ride and a shorter one, I think I need something to change... just don't know which one.... saddle or shorts ... I may try to change the postion of the saddle and see how that goes tomorrow.

I used some cheap shorts when I first started riding, I made sure I found the right saddle to get the most comfort. Then I moved to better chamois shorts. My suggestion, don't do long rides with a new and uncomfortable saddle. I was riding with friends, and "just couldn't change it" and I paid for it for 3 days. When you get the right saddle, you will know. It took me like 3 or 4 before I found the right one. Both of my saddles have cut outs and gels. They are from the same maker but different styles. Make sure your shorts are well fitting, my friend didn't want "tight" shorts and her chamois pad was drooping off of her. I've convinced her to go a size smaller in shorts so the chamois isn't hanging. She doesn't have that bunching feeling anymore. Ill fitting shorts cause problems too.

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Originally Posted by Fish Lady

WOW, sounds great! What kind of saddle is it???? :):)

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It's a Terry Falcon X and it's on a road bike.
Now if I can just find a good saddle for the hybrid :o

Shelly's right about the shorts too. Tight,tight,tight and no center seams!