Are cutouts and channels really that helpful?

[Luci]

Hi all!

I'm getting back into biking (doing a rail trail trip in a month) after being out of it for about 8 years while I was so busy training my horse. I have an ancient and heavy GT -that still works great after many hard mountain biking trips.

I'm going to be doing 50 miles on a rail trail the first day. Do I really need a cut out or channeled seat?

I still have the ancient saddle. I'm thinking maybe I should just keep the darn saddle! I get sore with that sadde, but it's just pressue sensitive sore instead of the chafing sore I got today.

I just bought a great new pair of PI MTB shorts. The chamois KILLS me. Guess it's too wide or ???? The bulk pushes up and chafes me . So . . . it's out. I'll slip some other lycra shorts into it. Basically $84.00 for a cute pair of board shorts.

PI shorts plus new cut out seat for a 10 training ride this am (remember I'm out of shape! --hehe and like old) and husband is not allowed to even look at me. YEOUCH!!!!!! I have NEVER had this happen.

I'm a MTBer though so not really used to sitting for 45 min. at a time when I was riding so much.

I bought a cheapie cut out that seemed like a good idea at the time. Serfas I think.

Thanks for your advise!!!

[KnottedYet]

I haven't found a cutout or channel to be all that helpful for me. I'm one of the Brooks saddle converts ( www.wallbike.com ).

A firm, unpadded saddle that is wide enough to completely support my sitbones and with an abrupt enough transition from nose to wide part does more for me than any channel or cutout.

I had the Sefas Niva ($40 with a sun face on the seat) which was ok. Switched for a Brooks B67 and am very very pleased.

The wadding chamois is a definite issue. Nanci posted some great comparison pictures of chamois. I'm happy with the sculpted non-bunching style.

[Luci]

Thanks! I'll see if I can find her thread. I think I'm customizing the pair of PI's I bought.

In English horse riding saddles, they come in medium and narrow twists that correspond to pelivs structures. It would be so wonderful to have shorts and bike saddles with that listing. It's a lot of the same issue and makes shopping easier.

I'll see about trying some different saddles. I thought it would be so easy.

[KnottedYet]

Most upper quality bike saddles give you the width and length measurements. Then you can compare that to your sit bone measurements. That will let you know if the width is ok, then you just have to know if you ride better on pear shaped seats or "T" shaped seats. (I don't know of any easy way to figure that out, other than by riding each style and seeing how each feels)

There is a thread in "Favorite Saddles" that talks about how to measure your sit bones. If you've already measured them for your narrow/medium english saddles you are ahead in the game!