Butt-cheek chafing = too-wide saddle?

[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?

[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.

[zoom-zoom]

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.

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?

[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.

[zoom-zoom]

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!

[kermit]

Awesome, we love happy endings!

[spacecandy2001]

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.

new on this measuring. how do you measure your sit bones with a tape measure? 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?

[zoom-zoom]

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.

[buffybike]

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?

+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.

[Owlie]

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.

[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.

[rubywagon]

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.

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.