A question about cut-outs that's probably been asked before

[slinkedog]

I'm currently riding (between trainer and road) about 7 hours a week on my bike. I've been riding bout that frequently for about 2 months, now. (Should my privates be pretty tough by now?) My saddle is a Terry Butterfly Tri Gel and it does have a cut out in the center.

Now for the question: Are my privates supposed to fall down into the cut-out? The cut-out in my Terry is way too narrow for that to be happening. It doesn't seem to make a whole lot of difference to have the cut out if everything just ends up mashed on top of it anyway. I've been researching saddles for a while now, and it looks like the cut-out in the Selle Italia and some of the Serfas saddles is wider and I wonder if that might be a good thing, or would it pinch?

Any advice, Ladies?

[bounceswoosh]

I'm currently riding (between trainer and road) about 7 hours a week on my bike. I've been riding bout that frequently for about 2 months, now. (Should my privates be pretty tough by now?) My saddle is a Terry Butterfly Tri Gel and it does have a cut out in the center.

Now for the question: Are my privates supposed to fall down into the cut-out? The cut-out in my Terry is way too narrow for that to be happening. It doesn't seem to make a whole lot of difference to have the cut out if everything just ends up mashed on top of it anyway. I've been researching saddles for a while now, and it looks like the cut-out in the Selle Italia and some of the Serfas saddles is wider and I wonder if that might be a good thing, or would it pinch?

Any advice, Ladies?

Erm, I think most everyone agrees that stuff falling into the cutout is bad. The idea of the cutout is simply to relieve direct pressure, not to let things relocate.

That said, I have a Serfas cut-out saddle and like it. My parts don't fall in. I'm not really sure how anyone's parts fall in when wearing lycra with a chamois inside, but I guess it does happen occasionally to some people.

[slinkedog]

Well, I guess that's sort of what I mean. Not fall in, exactly, but be where the cutout is and not be totally smashed. I tried out a Fizik saddle with no cutout or channel at my LBS and I honestly didn't feel any difference from my Terry with a cutout. I hope that clarifies a little.

[SadieKate]

Some parts toughen up and some parts don't; your "sit bone" area will but not the other parts (I don't even want to think about calluses there). No, you need a different saddle. Go check with your LBS about which saddles have return policies so you can try them. I personally love the new anatomic cut Avocet Air 02. There is an indentation in just the right place for these parts that I haven't seen in other brands. Avocet used to have a return policy. I've never tried a cut-out saddle so I can't compare, but I have heard that you either love them or hate them -- no middle ground.

[slinkedog]

Hey Sadie... I saw in another post about your happiness with your Avocet saddle. I went onto their website but was unable to ascertain exactly which one you have. I'd like to give it a go. I sent their Customer Service an email trying to figure it out and I'm awaiting their reply. Where did you get it?

Thanks for your response, Ladies. I'm still trying to figure this all out, and unfortunately, even though my husband knows a lot about bikes, he just can't quite relate to this specific issue.

[nuthatch]

Parts bulging into a hole or parts smashed against a seat.... I'm thinking the parts shouldn't have so much pressure on them to make it an issue if your sit-bones are sitting right on the appropriate spot and the seat is tilted at just the right angle to make that happen. So far, I haven't been able to get my seat to that "sweet spot." Parts are a pain - we ought to be able to zip them up into a pocket when we ride! I don't even want to think about what happens to boy parts.