Saddle-sadness one more time

[Crikey]

This is a great resource of chick-specific information. I think I have been suffering alone too long. I ride at lot, currently on the Damselfly, have hideous problems with ugly sores that turn to ulcerated areas on the skin between thigh and privates - and I just keep riding and more sores keep developing. I can't even sit on a guys saddle so I know a cutout is worthwhile for me, but I was about to get both the Terry new ZeroX and Liberator Ti Race to try.
My question for you experienced and communicative ladies is 1) when you ride, can you feel your weight entirely on the seat bones in your bum? 2) is your saddle level or as some suggest tipped down at the front (which I would think has your weight forward thus off the bum bones). I would imagine tipping the nose up would throw your weight back on your bum with the risk of irritating more sensitive parts. I also have my saddle as forward as the rails allow (partly for triathlons).
These nuances are hard to describe but information as to where your weight is and how your seats are set up would be useful. I have been fitted by 2 different bike stores, but they are guys and don't really understand....

[Veronica]

On my road bike my saddle is canted slightly up. Bear in mind my handlebars are at the same height as my saddle. On our tandem my saddle is tilted slightly down - handlebars are lower. All of my weight seems to be on my sit bones. Both saddles are all the way back on the rails. My knees like it that way. Could it be that your shorts are irritating that area. If I wear certain jeans to work (I commute on my bike) I sometimes have a similar problem. Now I just don't wear those, unless I'm driving.

V.

[CorsairMac]

My saddles are pushed as far back on the rails as they'll go and the noses are as level as I can get them. I may tilt the road bike nose slightly as I get more used to riding it but to answer your question, I sit on my sit bones. and boy can I tell when I get tired or lazy and shift off them coz it becomes most uncomfortable!
I ride Specialized saddles on all my bikes right now.
Corsair "sits on my sit bones for just about everything anyway " Mac

[alison_in_oh]

I ride at lot, currently on the Damselfly, have hideous problems with ugly sores that turn to ulcerated areas on the skin between thigh and privates - and I just keep riding and more sores keep developing.

This sounds like my problem. Last week I finally installed the first saddle that hasn't either destroyed my girlparts or bruised my butt. However, when I took the bike out on Saturday I had serious chafing about where you describe -- for me it was in the butt-crease where buttock meets thigh. Thinking hard about it, I found that I was setting myself perched on the back of the saddle when I wanted to go hard, finding that I got better leverage. But in that position I didn't have enough clearance and my leg was rubbing the saddle on each pedalstroke. It didn't help that my shorts and saddle were creating weird friction -- the nose of the saddle was chafing my inner thighs to boot. I came back from that ride with about 6 saddle sores and general redness and soreness.

I tilted the nose up a bit (to get my weight off my hands -- another problem -- and onto my buttmeat ), moved the saddle to the aft (as far back as the rails allow, actually!), increased the saddle height a smidge to compensate, and wore my better shorts the next day. Fifteen more miles than the day before, and the only discomfort after ~3.5 hours was a general feeling of having sat too long -- similar to how I felt after 4 hours in the car on a recent road trip!

So, hopefully a few adjustments and/or a different saddle will help.

[CorsairMac]

way to go allison - I know the problems you've been having! I'm am so glad to hear you're getting them worked out!

[alison_in_oh]

way to go allison - I know the problems you've been having! I'm am so glad to hear you're getting them worked out!

Thanks CM, it was a relief to ride more than 2 hours without real pain!

[Crikey]

Sounds like try inch saddle up a tad, tilt up a tad and slide back a tad -perhaps each change one at a time while waiting on new saddle. I am sure my bum is wider than the damn damselfly (5"1) although I haven't done the paper trace test, I do have hips.
I see one person out there loved the Liberator. Has anyone tried the Zero X?

[alison_in_oh]

Sounds like try inch saddle up a tad, tilt up a tad and slide back a tad -perhaps each change one at a time while waiting on new saddle. I am sure my bum is wider than the damn damselfly (5"1) although I haven't done the paper trace test, I do have hips.
I see one person out there loved the Liberator. Has anyone tried the Zero X?

I asked about it recently and got no response. I'm still interested, as I fear the current saddle is too squooshy for me in the long term. Here's hoping you get some answers, or at least relief!

Oh, and fore/aft adjustment should be simultaneous with height adjustment per my DH -- something about effective saddle height lowering with the shift backward.