Girlie Bits

[Custardcup1]

I know the saddle issue has been discussed over and over, but I am having such a hard time with pain in my girlie bits when I ride. I have had an expert fitting, tried moving the seat up, down, forward, back, nothing seems to help.
The bike fitter ( a guy) seemed to think the issue was my butt and where it was positioned. But it is not the butt that is the problem, I just feel like the saddle is causing my labia, etc. to get scruched up, pinched, etc. I need to know what saddle is best for preventing this problem. The Selle Italia Gel Flow seems to get really good reviews. Does the cut out really help this problem?

[indysteel]

For some of us, a cut out is the answer to what you're describing (including me). It's certainly worth a shot. But make sure whatever saddle you choose to try otherwise meets your requirements, especially in terms of sit bones width.

[Catrin]

For some of us, a cut out is the answer to what you're describing (including me). It's certainly worth a shot. But make sure whatever saddle you choose to try otherwise meets your requirements, especially in terms of sit bones width.

Yes - also be aware that there are differences between saddles with cutouts. For example, the Selle Italia Lady (LDY) Gel Flow turned out to be MY saddle, but the the Selle Italia Diva made me numb because the cutout was longer/wider than the Lady Gel Flow. See if you can find an LBS in your area that will allow you to demo saddles. For me, I found they all felt pretty good until I rode further than 20 miles...so parking lot tests were not useful to me.

[ny biker]

What saddle are you using now?

[Custardcup1]

I am using the saddle that came with my bike. I have a Felt ZW 75 bike.

[zoom-zoom]

The way you describe your issues sounds EXACTLY like what I've gone through. The best saddle I've found is the Bontrager InForm Affinity RL. I wish it were a bit more T-shaped, but I can deal with sore inner thighs after long rides...I can't deal with chafed, pinched, numb, bleeding labia.

Keeping the hair at a minimum also helps greatly. If laser hair removal worked well on blonde hair I'd happily spring to have it gone. Once it gets much longer than 1/8" I start having some chafing woes.

[Biciclista]

many many of us had to dump the saddles that came with our bikes. Good reviews doesn't mean it will work for you. Sounds like you need to go somewhere else for a bike fit as well. if the front of your crotch is what hurts there is something that is drastically wrong. You can't SIT there. you must sit on your site bones.. good luck. find a fitter!

[Jiffer]

I haven't read through all the replies, but I would certainly start trying different saddles. What works for one often doesn't work for another. Some people think they are not a cutout person, and then find a cutout saddle that magically works for them, and visa versa. There are so many variations to cutout saddles. My first one had a very thin cut out and I was definitely "squished" all the time. I tried another with a much wider cutout that I thought I liked at first, but DH and I decided that the edge of the cut out was so sharp that it caused different issues than my first.

We both ended up liking the San Marco Mantra. (Very odd, indeed, to have the same saddle as your husband!) It has a very large cutout and the edge of the cutout is softened more than the previous one that was similar.

Just know that while there are some saddles labeled women specific, the fact that they have a pink flower and a feminine name does not necessarily mean they only work for women, or more importantly that a "men's" saddle doesn't work for women. According to my LBS, saddles are saddles and work for both men and women. The one my husband and I use is not a men's saddle and it is not a women's saddle. It is just a saddle. Some maker make women's versions of their regular saddles, but there is nothing different about them other than the name and color. Sometimes they are a bit shorter in length, but that doesn't really change how it feels to sit on compared to the regular version.