Newbie saddle woes

So I'm a newbie -- got my first road bike ever, and first bike since I was about ten, about three months ago. And I love it, love it, more than I ever expected, but I'm having saddle woes. I replaced the awful Bontrager it came with almost immediately with a Terry Damselfly. At first I loved it -- hardly even noticed I had a saddle -- but I was doing short rides, 10-15 miles. As I'm starting to do longer rides (30+ on a regular basis, did an 85 mile ride yesterday), though, I'm getting horrible soreness more or less on my pubic bone -- not so much trouble with chafing or sore tissue, more like the bruises I got on my sit bones when I first got the bike. I've been fitted, so I don't think that's the primary problem. (Though as I ride more I notice I want to be higher and further forward than the bike shop put me, though that's a separate issue).

I think one reason I'm having problems on longer rides is that I tend to hang out more on the drops when I'm on the bike for hours -- putting me further forward on the saddle.

Anyway, sorry for the long winded post, I think the cutout on the damselfly is part of the problem - when I'm down on the drops, I think my pubic bone actually falls in and rests on the front edge of the cutout. So I'm thinking of trying a saddle without a cutout (Arione looks appealing) -- does anyone have suggestions, advice, thoughts?

Thanks!

Welcome Liza. I too am new. There are a lot of wonderful saddle threads. I fell in with the Brooks saddle crowd and love my Brooks. I have a B17S, it is already settling into my shape. :-) Everyone is different and I am so new that I do not have much advice to offer. All I can do is tell you I love my Brooks-and they have a 6 month policy, if you still do not like it after 6 months, you can still return it.

Thanks, bikingmom!

Has anyone tried the Fizik Arione tri saddle -- and if you've tried it and the road Arione, how do they compare? Is the tri too cushy? In pictures it looks squishy.

Also, how about Selle San Marco Aspide, and similar Selle San Marco saddles?

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Originally Posted by liza

Also, how about Selle San Marco Aspide, and similar Selle San Marco saddles?

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I ride the Selle San Marco Atola Gelaround (women's) saddle and love it. It's pretty small, narrow, and not super cushy, but for the first time ever I don't get chafing or saddle sores. The cutout is kinda diamond shape and very soft on the edges - no pinching of the girly bits. And it's nice looking. I can't say enough good about this saddle!

Emily

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Originally Posted by emily_in_nc

I ride the Selle San Marco Atola Gelaround (women's) saddle and love it. It's pretty small, narrow, and not super cushy, but for the first time ever I don't get chafing or saddle sores. The cutout is kinda diamond shape and very soft on the edges - no pinching of the girly bits. And it's nice looking. I can't say enough good about this saddle!

Emily

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Like Emily I am a Selle San Marco Atola Gelaround fan. I have this saddle on both of my road bikes.

Happy saddle hunting.

I have the non gelaround version of the Atola and like it too after many, many trials and errors. The cut out is just right for me.

Can I ask ( it is a little off topic) if anyone has compared the gel vs non gel around versions? Am I missing out on an even BETTER ride??

Sue

Lots going on here.

First of all to newbie Liza, if your pubic bone in on the edge of the cut-out, you are sitting wrong on that saddle, or the saddle does not fit you. It is usually the soft-tissue that is attacked by cut-out issues. Take the bike to the shop & ask them to check your seating position, you might be sitting crooked & hanging off to one side, which would put pressure on the pubic bone. Better yet, have them measure your sit-bone width. Maybe you are too wide for the Damselfly. That saddle is not known for comfort in a more upright riding position.

The width of the Arione is similar to the width of the Damselfly. It is flat & has no cut-out. I ride this one as I can't abide a cut-out. The tri version is very soft up front, it's all gel up there, and the nose is wider. I have no interest or need to try that one as I don't ride much in the drops, & wider up front would be higher potential for chafing up there.

Selle San Marco Aspide is a hard saddle. The Atola & the Aero both have good cut-outs with no sharp edges. These 2 are also wider (140 & 145 mm vs about 130 for Damselfly & Arione), so if you need more area to space & support your sit-bones, they are a better option. There doesn't seem to be much difference between the gel & non-gel versions of the Atola. There is a considerable difference in the Aero as the gel version is much softer all around than the non-gel. Just personal preference, the gel version gets hotter so the non-gel might be better in warmer riding conditions.