Tri saddles...need help!

[trigirl97]

Hey everyone,
I see there's lots of great discussion about saddles and I'm in desparate need of a new one.

After only a 15-mile ride last night, I realized it's good my partner and I aren't having kids because my bike is likely going to halt that!

So, here's my situation...I ride a road bike with clip-on aerobars for triathlons. I have been riding for four years and when straight road cycling (no aero position), I loved my Serfas women's Rx saddle.

But with the Serfas, I found the cutout got smashed when I dropped into my aerobars, and as others have so cleverly referred, my 'girlbits' got pummeled.

I've tried the Terry Butterfly Tri Gel and recently added a DeSoto neoprene seat cover. Still no relief. In fact, last night was ready to throw my bike in the lake last night out of frustration.

But I LOVE riding and don't want to grimmace everytime I think about hopping on my bike.

Have any of you had success with saddles that you use in the aero position?

I've read online that using ones with no cutout are best. I'm looking at trying the San Marco Aspide or Azoto. Anyone tried these?

Thanks for any help/feedback!

[SadieKate]

Do the aerobars pull you farther forward and down? You may find that you have to change the tilt of your saddle. Have you tried this?

[trigirl97]

Yep, I've tilted it down a hair and had a professional fitting. I think fit is a key issue but that leaves me wondering...get fit again first or buy a new saddle and settle on it first then get another fitting?

[Try-Chick]

I have the San Marco Aspide tri saddle and find it's too long and all the squishy gel feels good when you push down on it with your thumb, but doesn't do squat for me while I'm actually riding aero. I've been looking for a new saddle too because I'd prefer NOT to have my tender parts pulverized. It's not the sitz bones that is the problem, it's the soft tissue.

[Nanci]

I have the Fizik Vitesse, which I ride in aero position about half the time. The nose is long and narrow, so if I sit on it right (and I found out I did this without even thinking about it, it just happened) the bits are off to one side or the other, and not squished at all.

But I think it's all very personal preference, and what works for one person doesn't work for another.

Nanci