Is it the saddle or me?

[Bethany1]

You learn a lot about fit while sitting on a trainer especially for a longer period of time. Hoping that the weather will let up for some outside riding, but no chance. Turns out my hips were rocking side to side hence the back pain..duh. I ride rural so bouncing over rocks hid that problem. Lowered the saddle and had a better ride. No back pain but my rear end hurts as the saddle is pressing into me especially the nose. Even moving back doesn't help as it's worse since you are lowered. Would lowering the saddle a cm or two cause that much pain? Or make you feel like you are sitting too far forward?

It's a base saddle one that came on my bike last year and really haven't had problems until starting to ride more often over the past week. I've had several bike fits over the years so I have a general idea of where I'm supposed to be.

Or is it the padding on my shorts causing the problem and not the saddle itself? They aren't my favorite pair but everything else was in the wash. I lasted 45 minutes before I couldn't take it anymore with the constant shifting and chaffing.

I'd love a new saddle, but haven't figure out what works. The one I tried with a cut out made me feel like I was sinking into a black hole. The Brooks one I kept sliding forward because the leather was too slippery regardless of what you did with it. It seems like most women favor the Terry or the Selle Italia saddles. If I'm doing a century and even more than 20 miles, I need something that will work. And shorts or bibs that fit comfortably when I get the chance.

[Catrin]

Sitting on a trainer isn't the same as riding outside, your body and the bike interacts differently. Both are far more dynamic on the road/trails, others will have more saddle specific comments, I am sure

Cut outs aren't the same, they are all different. Some cutouts are longer, some are wider, some rails have more "give". Have you tried Knotted's cut-out test? It is here on TE, sadly I don't have time to go look for it. I learned the hard way that while I really did/do need a cut-out, there is still some searching to be done to find the one that your body likes.

[Bethany1]

I know which test you are referring to so I'll have to take another look.

[rebeccaC]

discomfort from the front of the saddle may be an angle problem. you might want to tilt the nose up just a bit and see how that feels. tilted down can cause your hips to move forward.

[Bethany1]

This is probably TMI but I'm so bruised and swollen down there. Is this a saddle problem or a fit issue?

I'll check into another professional fitting. The LBS that gave the best went under a couple of years go but I'll call a couple of stores. I had the bruising problem once over the summer. I went for a couple of days..an hour or so each day for 3-4 days and ended up with the same problem. I was off the bike for 3 weeks until I healed up. Maybe a center opening would prove useful. I thought I was doing good until today.

[ny biker]

This is probably TMI but I'm so bruised and swollen down there. Is this a saddle problem or a fit issue?

I'll check into another professional fitting. The LBS that gave the best went under a couple of years go but I'll call a couple of stores. I had the bruising problem once over the summer. I went for a couple of days..an hour or so each day for 3-4 days and ended up with the same problem. I was off the bike for 3 weeks until I healed up. Maybe a center opening would prove useful. I thought I was doing good until today.

If you haven't yet measured your sit bones, start with that. It's free (unless you need to buy a tape measure) and you can do it at home.

As for the cutout, if the problem is chafing, then a cutout might help. If it's bruising from too much pressure, then a cutout will not help and may make it worse.

Look here for more on measuring sit bones and testing to see if you could use a cutout.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=39475

[ny biker]

You learn a lot about fit while sitting on a trainer especially for a longer period of time. Hoping that the weather will let up for some outside riding, but no chance. Turns out my hips were rocking side to side hence the back pain..duh. I ride rural so bouncing over rocks hid that problem. Lowered the saddle and had a better ride. No back pain but my rear end hurts as the saddle is pressing into me especially the nose. Even moving back doesn't help as it's worse since you are lowered. Would lowering the saddle a cm or two cause that much pain? Or make you feel like you are sitting too far forward?

It's a base saddle one that came on my bike last year and really haven't had problems until starting to ride more often over the past week. I've had several bike fits over the years so I have a general idea of where I'm supposed to be.

Or is it the padding on my shorts causing the problem and not the saddle itself? They aren't my favorite pair but everything else was in the wash. I lasted 45 minutes before I couldn't take it anymore with the constant shifting and chaffing.

I'd love a new saddle, but haven't figure out what works. The one I tried with a cut out made me feel like I was sinking into a black hole. The Brooks one I kept sliding forward because the leather was too slippery regardless of what you did with it. It seems like most women favor the Terry or the Selle Italia saddles. If I'm doing a century and even more than 20 miles, I need something that will work. And shorts or bibs that fit comfortably when I get the chance.

Have you had a fitting with your current bike? If so, and they set your saddle height high enough to cause your hips to rock, then it may not have been a very good fitting. If not, you would probably benefit from a fitting on your current bike.

If you feel too much pressure from the nose of the saddle, it could mean that the nose is tilted upward, or that the saddle is too narrow to support your sit bones. Use a level to check for the first issue and measure your sit bones to check for the second one.

Also if your seat post is at an angle, then moving the saddle down may also have moved it forward.

And yes, riding on an indoor trainer is generally less comfortable than riding outside. You shift around much less (or not at all) when you're on the trainer. (Which reminds me, I was supposed to do some indoor spinning tonight, but got carried away planning a ride that I hope to do in the spring...)

p.s. as for specific saddles, many folks here also like various Specialized saddles. I personally like the Bontrager Affinity RXL. Bontrager offers a 30-day comfort guarantee, and I think Specialized might also allow you to return a saddle if you don't like it.