How many hours/miles do you put on a new saddle before you decide to take back?

I replaced the saddle on my bike from the original seat (forgot to get the name before they took it off) with very little padding to a Serfas with a little more padding and a cut out. (The bike I had before had a descent saddle, but not great) It's definately better than the first one was, but sit bones and the area just in front of that are still pretty sore after a longish ride. I've put about 100 miles on it and I'm debating on whether to try another saddle to see if I can get a little more comfortable. I did 30 miles today, and I'm sore. Not 'unable to walk or sit' sore, but definately feel it even now, 3 hours after the ride.

Now I know there's no such thing as no soreness, but I'm trying to guage what is 'normal' and what can possibly be improved. I'm doing STP next month so I want to be as comfortable as I can in the saddle.

The bike is a road bike with drop handlebars if that makes a difference. (I rarely ride in the drops, usually on the top bar) The bike has been 'fit' so I know I'm okay with that, and my sit bones feel like they hit the padding in the right places - in other words, I don't think the seat is too narrow.

There is such a thing as "no soreness," but it can take a very long time to find.

I can ride 8 hours in my drops, on the hoods, and on the flats, and not have any soreness after the ride.

Don't forget to check that your shorts aren't contributing to the problem. Sometimes no chamois and no padding on the saddle can be the most comfortable solution, however odd it may sound.

If you are doubting this saddle after only 100 miles, you might want to consider trading it in.

If the area "just in front" of the sit-bones is sore, you might be on a saddle that is too pear-shaped for your pelvis. Even if the width is right, the shape could be wrong for you.

Have you had a day's break away from cycling? Otherwise, you'll never be able to figure it out...

Meanwhile check around for different saddles to try.. When you feel better, if it seems whatever saddle you're trying for even a short distance (ie. under 15 miles), if it feels sore and you're still sore several hrs. later, and even after adjusting the seat adjustment, then the saddle doesn't seem right.

A short ride even up and down hills, you should not be saddle sore several hrs. later.

I've rented bikes in different cities over the years for vacation times, when certain trips just didn't justify the cost of shipping my bike and so this is the basis of my opinion. I did tour with loaded panniers with such rented bikes for several days. Oh yea, I do own 3 bikes each with different saddles.

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Originally Posted by shootingstar

Have you had a day's break away from cycling? Otherwise, you'll never be able to figure it out...

Meanwhile check around for different saddles to try.. When you feel better, if it seems whatever saddle you're trying for even a short distance (ie. under 15 miles), if it feels sore and you're still sore several hrs. later, and even after adjusting the seat adjustment, then the saddle doesn't seem right.

A short ride even up and down hills, you should not be saddle sore several hrs. later.

I've rented bikes in different cities over the years for vacation times, when certain trips just didn't justify the cost of shipping my bike and so this is the basis of my opinion. I did tour with loaded panniers with such rented bikes for several days. Oh yea, I do own 3 bikes each with different saddles.

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Thanks for replying. :) Yes, I've had a two day break from riding. I just wasn't sure if I should be looking at something different again, or if it takes time to 'break in' the saddle. I'm going to the lbs tomorrow and look at some different saddles.

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Originally Posted by Presto

There is such a thing as "no soreness," but it can take a very long time to find.

I can ride 8 hours in my drops, on the hoods, and on the flats, and not have any soreness after the ride.

Don't forget to check that your shorts aren't contributing to the problem. Sometimes no chamois and no padding on the saddle can be the most comfortable solution, however odd it may sound.

If you are doubting this saddle after only 100 miles, you might want to consider trading it in.

If the area "just in front" of the sit-bones is sore, you might be on a saddle that is too pear-shaped for your pelvis. Even if the width is right, the shape could be wrong for you.

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This tells me it's time to look at other saddles, I didn't even think about the shape being wrong, so I'll look in to that, and I'll re-think my shorts too. This is the first time with a cut out for me, so maybe the shorts are making a difference with that. Thanks!

Silly question, but did you work up to that 30 miles slowly? Your behind needs to get used to spending that much time in the saddle. You can't blame it all on the saddle if you didn't step up your mileage slowly.

I ditto the shorts--I've spent as much on shorts as I have on my saddle. I save my expensive shorts for longer rides.

I use a brooks saddle.

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Originally Posted by cunninghamair

Silly question, but did you work up to that 30 miles slowly? Your behind needs to get used to spending that much time in the saddle. You can't blame it all on the saddle if you didn't step up your mileage slowly.

I ditto the shorts--I've spent as much on shorts as I have on my saddle. I save my expensive shorts for longer rides.

I use a brooks saddle.

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Yes. I had done a 12 mile and a 15 mile earlier that week, and about the same the week before for this saddle. 30 miles is my usual average ride on a Saturday and/or Sunday.

I went to the LBS this morning and we switched it out for a Lithia 743. I asked about what would be normal for 'break in' on a new saddle, and he asked about my normal ride (12 to 15 miles at at time durring the week due to time constraints) and he said I should know by the third ride if it's working for me or not, so we'll see.

I'm definately going to investigate the shorts issue as well. I have two pair of Shebeest that I love and a pair of Pearl Izumi that are okay. But I'm just getting in to the cut-out version of saddles, so maybe that's part of it. I'll do a ride or two with regular shorts and see if that makes a difference.

Thanks everyone for the input! I really appreciate it.

A note about shorts: Something I learned is that TOO much padding on shorts can be just as bad... it causes 'squishing' thus causing discomfort.

I love my sheebeest and wear them on all of my rides!

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Originally Posted by polly4711

A note about shorts: Something I learned is that TOO much padding on shorts can be just as bad... it causes 'squishing' thus causing discomfort.

I love my sheebeest and wear them on all of my rides!

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I agree. I love my Shebeest too. But the Pearl Imzu, not so much. I bought them because I thought I wanted more padding, and found they chaffed too much without tons of lube.

Tried my new seat out today and I'm cautiously optimistic. Only did 15 miles, so the real test will be this weekend when I can do a longer jaunt.

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Originally Posted by polly4711

A note about shorts: Something I learned is that TOO much padding on shorts can be just as bad... it causes 'squishing' thus causing discomfort.

I love my sheebeest and wear them on all of my rides!

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Yup, same for me. More padding does not equal more comfort. I still use my PI's but I much prefer the Sheebeest!

I wanted a longer distance saddle, and for me, the pain and ugly would set in at about 3 hours of riding, so I was happy when I managed to do 7 on a new saddle. Made it difficult and expensive to try out saddles, though.

I find, like the others who've posted, that some depends on the shorts, though, especially on longer trips. I did 320k over 3 days and found out that one pair of my 3 didn't work too well.