Another saddle question....

Hello!

I'm a fairly new rider (started seriously in February of this year), and so far I've logged about 3600 miles on the Specialized Ruby saddle (size 143) that came on my Ruby Pro. However, try as I might, I've been unable to find a saddle position that will relieve the pressure and numbness caused by the nose of the saddle on my soft tissues. While the saddle is the right size (I've been sized on the BG foam thing) and supports my sits bones well, I think I tend to slide forward while pedaling so that my thighs don't rub the saddle where it starts to flare out (this is likely the reason there's extra pressure on my soft tissues). I kept hoping this issue would go away as I became a more experienced rider, but now I'm ready to throw in the towel and try a new saddle.

Has anyone else had a similar problem, and if so what would you recommend? I've been reading all the saddle threads here at TE, but it's still hard to know where to start (though I may try out my husband's Fizik Arione in the meantime!!).

Thanks! :)

hi south jersey girl
did you read some of the other threads on saddles?


if you measure the same as the saddle, you might try a slightly wider size. also
before you put DH's saddle on your bike, try tipping the nose UP on your saddle just a little bit.
I think trying your husband's saddle is a great second step

A lot of us have discovered that a really narrow NOSE on a saddle and a wider back end is helpful. I ride a Brooks myself and do not have any soft tissue issues at all.

Thanks for the suggestions. I've tried tipping the saddle up, down, moving it front, back...nothing seems to work, and in fact all my tiny adjustments only made things worse compared to where I originally had it positioned. I think you're right that a narrow nose and wider back would be best...it's just tough to know what model to try first (I don't want to end up with a ton of saddles in my garage!!). :)

I'm kind of in your same position, and unfortunately I haven't even seen a picture of a performance saddle that's any more T-shaped than Spec's line.

Snob or not, I hate to put a Brooks on an 18-lb bike, and I can guess you'd hate to put a Brooks on your 16-pounder. :(

Saddle manufacturers, are you listening???

I can understand about the weight thing, but... we don't hesitate to drink down an 8oz. glass of water before our bike ride cause we know it will make our ride more comfortable...yet we won't try a more comfortable saddle that might add a few ounces? I'd hate to have my crotch burning and numb...

Yeah I know, I was only half serious, although there is a real difference between sprung and unsprung weight.

A bigger issue for me is that I need a large cut-out (which the Spec saddles have). The Selle An-Atomica cut-out is about a third as large as what I'd need - doesn't look a bit comfortable - and gets mixed reviews that don't encourage me to try it.

for the benefit of the OP i will say this: do you have discomfort while you are sitting on a wooden chair in the same position you would sit on a bike?

that's kind of what a brooks saddle is like; firm support. some of those cutouts make it even worse for the areas they are supposed to be protecting.

I love the T-shape of my Brooks. I ride in bike shorts on weekends, but I commute every day in jeans. No soft tissue issues at all. I only have 2 points of contact with the saddle – my sit bones. No rubbing, no chafing. Not cushy, but comfortable.

Deb