Saddle Sore From Hell, Need Help Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ChickWithBrains]

Definitely not a bartholin cyst -- the area she described isn't quite right for them, and unfortunately they don't go away with conservative treatment! (A doc needs to open them up.)

Bought a Serfas Carma a few months ago after a disastrously sore spot on a stock Allez. Life has never been better!

[Frayoch]

Hi Ladies, I came here seeking answers to the very same problem, chaffing! I ended up at the DR's cause I thought it was something bad and it was chaffing. I haven't figured out yet when it actually starts - definitely on long rides but everyone says lots of lube but what kind? This is more an internal chaffing some lubes I am fairly certian shouldn't be there!

I also ride a terry liberator which has a cut out, I kind of wish there was a bigger cut out and no padding in my shorts there......

[mimitabby]

welcome to TE, frayoch, it's clear why you are here.
Try getting fitted to your bike first?
as you read this particular thread, you can see that the original complainer
switched saddles and her problem went away. So that's related to fit to.
IMHO, the cutout doesn't help women. (but that's just my opinion)

I use chamois butter.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Perhaps the edges of the cutout are irritating your sensitive bits.

[Trekhawk]

Perhaps the edges of the cutout are irritating your sensitive bits.

Or it could be the type of cutout. I went from a Terry to a Selle San Marco Atola saddle and voila no more problems. Personally I love cutouts but not all cutouts are equal.

[velogirl]

Or it could be the type of cutout. I went from a Terry to a Selle San Marco Atola saddle and voila no more problems. Personally I love cutouts but not all cutouts are equal.

And not all girly-bits are equal. Ask any gynocological nurse, some women have more soft tissue and some women have less. Women with more soft tissue tend to like cut-outs (or suffer numbness with a saddle without a cut-out). Women with less soft tissue don't seem to need a cut-out as much. No scientific study to back this up, just my experience fitting a variety of women over the years.

It also depends on how aggressive your riding position in. If you're a recreational rider and your bar is equal or higher to level of your saddle and you sit firmly back on your sit bones (like sitting in a chair), then a cut-out won't be as important to you as it would to a rider who tilts forward at the pelvis and rides in a more aerodynamic position with a lower bar and sits more on her soft tissue than her sit bones.

[lizbids]

I'm actually using that Donna Butterfly (the breast cancer edition), trying to break it in for my tour. The good news is that I haven't felt any problems, even from day one. I like it better than the stock saddle on my bike, and I like it better than the Terry Liberator (which I felt was too wide).

Granted I only ride 25 miles in abut 2 hours in the park, going up and downhill, etc. So hopefully I will still continue to like the saddle, as it supports my sit-bones as well as minimize chafing. Oh, and I wear Sugoi shorts. I've had the saddle since late February, and I figured I'd know by now if I want to return it.

I guess the good thing about Terrys is that you can return them...which seems to be the case often, as all of us girls are unique