Need help with selecting a new saddle..

I presently have a WTB Rocket V Sport SS which is OK - I've ridden close to 6500 miles on it. But, the problem I've been encountering with it on medium-long rides is the seams on the top of the saddle itself seem to dig/chafe into my sitbones, and occasionally, the nose will cause chafing on my thighs. Also, even though it does have a 1 cm wide channel, it doesn't seem to alleviate much pressure on my soft-parts. The width of the saddle is ok, the length & width of the nose is ok too.

What I'm looking for I guess is a saddle without seams on top, maybe without a channel (or a wider one?), and something that won't squish my female parts..

Build wise, I've got what I consider fairly big inner thighs and wide hips, even though where my legs end is fairly wide.

Any recommendations?

Also, I'm preparing to do a birthday century this week; should I stick with my old saddle for the ride? I'm thinking that would be best because trying to break in a new saddle on a LOOOONG ride might not be such a good idea.

Thanks in advance! :D

go to a Specialized dealer, get your sit bones measured with the ***-o-meter, buy a saddle based on your measurement. They make three or four different widths for different size skeletons. They are not gender specific, they are bone structure specific.

Irulan

trying to break in a new saddle on a long ride can be disastrous -- I've done it not once, but twice, and will not do it again. My worst experience was a long ride I did alone, a long ways from home, with my transport driver out on a separate ride. 10 miles out I started having problems, which only got worse over the next 50+ miles. I managed to complete the ride & limp back to the car, but I was in sorry shape for days afterwards. Now I will only break in saddles close to home where I can abandon & get back easily if the saddle is a complete bust. If things go ok, then I start cautiously adding time + mileage. I would stick to the devil I know until I'm really sure about a new one.