Butt-cheek chafing = too-wide saddle?

I'm suspicious that my Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow saddle is a bit too wide (I'm also not convinced that the cut-out goes far enough forward to keep my inner labia bits from being squished and cranky, but some of this could be indoor-trainer discomfort that DH insists should be better once we are riding outdoors). I'm getting hot spots where the outer edge of my chamois is sewn onto the shorts and coincides with the edge of my saddle...right where my butt cheek creases.

Or is this simply a chamois seam issue that would be there regardless of saddle width?

That sounds like a pretty classic case of chafing from a saddle that is too pear shaped for your particular anatomy.

As your hip joint flexes and extends the pear-shaped transition from "sit" to "nose" gets in the way and rubs.

Usually chafing in the creases where the butt meets the leg.

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

That sounds like a pretty classic case of chafing from a saddle that is too pear shaped for your particular anatomy.

As your hip joint flexes and extends the pear-shaped transition from "sit" to "nose" gets in the way and rubs.

Usually chafing in the creases where the butt meets the leg.

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Ok, shape was my 2nd suspicion after reading around. And my saddle does seem fairly pear-shaped. Does this mean I likely need the t-shaped sort of saddle? Any suggestions on models that would also have a cut-out? I've been curious about the Specialized Jett or Selle Italia SLK--would either of these likely serve me better than my current saddle?

I went ahead and ordered a Jett 143 directly from Specialized. I'll try that for a few weeks, then return it per their return policy if it doesn't work. I'm thinking it should be a better size/shape for my booty. I always feel like I have to push my butt back on my current saddle, regardless of nose angle. Then my girly bits are not seated over the cut-out right. It seems logical to me that a narrower/t-shaped saddle should help my issues. When I measure my sit bones with fabric tape I always am in the 120-130 range, but the current saddle is 160.

Wow...2 hour-long rides on the Jett and I realize just what a bad fit my Selle Italia saddle was. No more butt-crease chafing and my girly bits aren't complaining a bit. The cut-out ends up further forward on the Jett, so I'm not pressing against the front of the cut-out. As a result, 0 pain, 0 numbness. And my sit-bones don't mind this saddle a bit, either. I had read some reviews that had me a bit nervous, but the Jett and my butt seem very compatible! :cool:

Awesome, we love happy endings!

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Originally Posted by kermit

Awesome, we love happy endings!

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Me too--and I'm glad I didn't listen to my husband (even though he is generally very knowledgeable about cycling issues). He was certain that the girly-bits issue was due to riding on the trainer and would improve outdoors and that butt chafing is normal. Uh...if my rear is chafing after just an hour, what would I end up with after a 4-5 hour ride? :eek:

I'm also glad I asked around. I'm looking forward to getting outside very soon and having a great shorts and saddle combination so that I can start tackling some longer rides ASAP! :D

Glad to hear that the Jett is working well for you. It's one of the saddles on my "list" to try.

I did manage to get out for my first ride of the season today...testing out my new Selle Italia Prolink Light Gel Flow saddle. I only rode 28 miles, so I'll need to do a few more substantially longer rides to figure out if it's working for me. It wasn't bad, but still too soon to really tell. My sit bones generally don't start hurting until I hit the 35-40 mile mark, so I'm not at all surprised that the saddle felt okay after just 28 miles. Stay tuned....

Ok...rode 40 miles today, and my butt was not really liking the SI Prolink all that much this time. Not sure if it was the added mileage or what...but the main issue today was pressure on the girly bits, particularly the labia. It felt like it was "folded" over or something...at any rate, it was NOT GOOD. I'm now beginning to wonder if the cut-out on the Prolink just isn't situated in the most ideal spot for a female rider...seeing as it is a men's saddle and the cut-out does seem to be really narrow and short. I'll try it for a few more rides, but I'm already gearing up to order a new saddle soon. Will likely try the SI SLK Lady Gel Flow next...as I like the "split-design" of that saddle because it enables the rear of the saddle to flex and move with the rider.

The SLK was going to be my next try if the Jett didn't work out. Report back on how you like that if you end up ditching the Prolink. It does make sense that the cut-out could be placed poorly for a female, since the areas that need pressure relief aren't situated quite the same on a guy. But I had that same sort of folded/pinched sensation with the Lady Gel Flow, so maybe it's an SI thing...?

I tried the prolink and the cutout was not big enough or in the right place. Take a look at the SI max flite. If you need a wider, 150-ish saddle, this is the one. The cut out is even bigger than the Specialized saddles I've tried, I love it.

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Originally Posted by kermit

I tried the prolink and the cutout was not big enough or in the right place. Take a look at the SI max flite. If you need a wider, 150-ish saddle, this is the one. The cut out is even bigger than the Specialized saddles I've tried, I love it.

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Yes, I have considered the Max Flite...however the 150 width is bordering on too wide for me, so I'm a tad bit hesitant to try it for that reason. I've also been eyeing up the Turbomatic Gel Flow, but that saddle is even wider (153) than the Max Flite. If there was a place near me that would allow me to test ride the various saddles that I'm interested in, I'd do that...but so far, I haven't encountered a shop that does it. My hubby is getting a bit upset with me trying all these different saddles...so I wish I could find "the one" and be done with it.

Thought I should update this thread...I SUPERMEGAHEART my Specialized Jett. Really, this is the saddle I should have been on all along. I don't think about my butt (or my girly bits) while on my bike, which is the way it should be. :D

Eventually I'm thinking about getting into cyclocross, so the saddle choice will be easy--a black Jett 143. :)

Yeah, another happy ending!

+1 for the Sp Jett!

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Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

I went ahead and ordered a Jett 143 directly from Specialized. I'll try that for a few weeks, then return it per their return policy if it doesn't work. I'm thinking it should be a better size/shape for my booty. I always feel like I have to push my butt back on my current saddle, regardless of nose angle. Then my girly bits are not seated over the cut-out right. It seems logical to me that a narrower/t-shaped saddle should help my issues. When I measure my sit bones with fabric tape I always am in the 120-130 range, but the current saddle is 160.

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new on this measuring. how do you measure your sit bones with a tape measure? :confused: I have been having problems with chafing in between the inner thighs and I strongly believe my saddle isn't right for my shape. This past week I did get a narrower shaped saddle with a 30 days satisfication guarantee. Going to try it out tomorrow on the trails.

Also what does LBS mean?:confused:

LBS = local bike shop/store

Measuring...I did a really un-scientific measure with a flexible measuring tape. I felt around to find the sit bones, then pressed the end directly over one side, then stretched it across to my other sit bone and marked the span.

Ladies -
I'm glad to hear that there are others that feel my 'pain'...literally. I have been to 3 bike shops and had 2 bike fittings...tried about 20+ different bike seats and dread getting on my bike. I've gotten chafing, saddle sores, numbness, etc. It's been 1 1/2 years and I can't get comfortable but I haven't given up yet!

The last recommendation was that the seats I have been trying are too wide for me. I'm 5'3", 120 pounds. It was recommended that I get a men's seat - 130 mm. I just ordered the Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow as I guy friend recommended it highly since he loves it. At this point I'll try anything. I see from the various string that the Specialized Jett comes in a 130mm seat as well.

Any thoughts? Anyone have similar needs - I'm highly sensitive. Just bought the Sugoi RS short as well - just not sure I like them b/c of length and mesh make up. Any other recommended shorts??

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am still LOVING my Jett...have done as long as a 50 miler and my butt was as happy as I can imagine it being for that distance and my noobishness.

My favorite shorts are the Pearl Izumi Symphony...I have the shorter 6" version, the Symphony Cut. But I'm thinking about getting the regular 8" length next time...to have less area to have to slather with sunscreen. I LOVE the flat front panel, instead of elastic all the way around. Very comfy.

Great to hear, I am going to get the Jett, I have the same problems with the Terry saddle what you mentioned. On top of it, they must of changed the product/material, the color is coming of on to my skin and chamois...and there is to much padding...

And another for the Specialized Jett. I just built myself a fixie & wanted a white saddle - so I bought the Selle Italia as it has suited me in the past (& you can't get a Jett in white in the UK). I also felt that the Jett might be a bit hard on the bum bones on a fixie. Sooo - I was wrong - the Selle Italia is hard on my front parts - the hole just isn't large enough or in the right place. The Jett's the one for me. Now I have to visit the US this summer just so I can buy the white version (or rather, 3 of the white version).

80% of our business is bike fitting & so far no one has loved the feel of my Jett - I think they are scared by how hard it feels. But on the road it is so comfy & just sits in the crease at the top of my legs without causing any chafing. I am about 5'1" & a size 4 (US) - but I take the widest one. I tried the narrower one for ages because I though it looked nicer (shallow, moi?) But basically went back to the 155mm - I do wonder if some people might need an even wider one. I think it's a bit odd that Specialized do the same widths in women's & mens' saddles.

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Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

I'm suspicious that my Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow saddle is a bit too wide (I'm also not convinced that the cut-out goes far enough forward to keep my inner labia bits from being squished and cranky, but some of this could be indoor-trainer discomfort that DH insists should be better once we are riding outdoors). I'm getting hot spots where the outer edge of my chamois is sewn onto the shorts and coincides with the edge of my saddle...right where my butt cheek creases.

Or is this simply a chamois seam issue that would be there regardless of saddle width?

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+1 on this...I had really high hopes for this saddle, but I'm having the exact same issues as you. Big time ouchy after 25+ miles and I'm constantly squirming around tryign to find a better "placement". Will try the Jett next.

Zoom-zoom, are you me? I'm having similar issues with the same saddle. By about mile 15 I'm squirming around a bit. I haven't noticed any chafing, but the girly bits are unhappy, and I feel like I need to keep scooting back. It was made worse by the chamois in the cheapy shorts I wore today.

I've never noticed it before to a significant extent the last few times I rode similar distances. I get a bit of sit bone pain, and a teeny bit of short-lived girly-bit discomfort which goes away with more riding. I'll give it a few weeks of regular riding and see, but the Jett is going on my list of things to try.

Fri. I am planning on my first metric century...I'm hoping I still love my Jett as distances increase. I have heard some reviews where riders have found the saddle a bit too firm for longer rides. If that happened I think I would try a Ruby (and save the Jett for a future cyclocross bike), which appears to be shaped the same, but a bit cushier directly under the sit-bones.

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Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

Fri. I am planning on my first metric century...I'm hoping I still love my Jett as distances increase. I have heard some reviews where riders have found the saddle a bit too firm for longer rides. If that happened I think I would try a Ruby (and save the Jett for a future cyclocross bike), which appears to be shaped the same, but a bit cushier directly under the sit-bones.

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I have rode (or is it ridden?) with both a Jett and a Ruby on my bike, and the Jett has significantly more padding/cush to it. I changed to the Ruby because it is much flatter and thin. The Jett padding combined with the padding in my shorts was causing discomfort in the soft tissue and since switching to a lesser padded seat, this issue was eliminated for me.

I did the rough sit bones measurement...about 133 mm. So reading the Jett recommendations, do you go for the 130 or the 143? There are so many saddles that don't give the measurements. I was looking on the Terry website but didn't see measurements for saddles. Ugh, this is a horrible process. Can't wait to find the right saddle!

http://www.specialized.com/specs/spe...eometrysaddles

This chart helped me understand what size, relative to my position, my saddle should be.

ETA: My sitbones are exactly 130 mm. That puts me right between a 143 and a 155. I am currently on a 155 but find that as my position becomes more aggressive, I might be more comfortable on a 143.

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Originally Posted by bffhusker

I did the rough sit bones measurement...about 133 mm. So reading the Jett recommendations, do you go for the 130 or the 143? There are so many saddles that don't give the measurements. I was looking on the Terry website but didn't see measurements for saddles. Ugh, this is a horrible process. Can't wait to find the right saddle!

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Definitely not the 130...I think I was between 120-130 for my sit bones and the 143 fits me well, but if my sit bones were any wider I would want the 155. I'm thinking the 143 might be a hair narrow for you, too.

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Originally Posted by bffhusker

I did the rough sit bones measurement...about 133 mm. So reading the Jett recommendations, do you go for the 130 or the 143? There are so many saddles that don't give the measurements. I was looking on the Terry website but didn't see measurements for saddles. Ugh, this is a horrible process. Can't wait to find the right saddle!

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Terry does indeed give saddle measurements...however, they give it in "inches", rather than in "millimeters". All you have to do is take the measurement and plug it in to a metric conversion calculator (just google metric conversion) and it will convert inches to millimeters. I'm currently eyeing up the new Terry FLX, which is 10.25 x 5.6 inches...converted to millimeters those measurements come out to 260 x 142mm. Many of the Terry saddles are 6 inches wide, which is 152.4mm.

I thought if I looked long enough I'd find the thread in which Knott posts a lot of essential saddle fit for women (and some men) tips. Knott is very wise :cool:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=25954