Hurting (PP)

[Bad JuJu]

Get more info than you ever wanted about saddles in the Gear & Accessories forum. There are threads for "Favorite Saddles" and "Most Hated Saddles"--knock yerself out.

[Aquila]

All the other folks have great saddle advice.

Did I understand you to say you've got a boil? OUCH!

I had a tiny boil (or a huge pimple) develop. I'd shaved near the panty line and then gone for a long ride, and it started developing. And boy, did it hurt! But I don't think the problem was from the saddle, but from having shaved and then ridden.

I lanced the boil/pimple, which helped immediately (it was ready, I could see it, and there wasn't bad infection), and used a topical antiobiotic ointment until it healed fully. And then decided not to shave there and to use A&D ointment or bag balm for lubrication. Things healed up, and have stayed healed.

I'd seriously consider going to a doctor if I were you. If you take care of the boil, and prevent further boils, then maybe you can figure out the seat problem (if any) more easily.

There's tons of helpful information here from more experienced riders about preventing and dealing with saddle sores and such, too.

If I misunderstood about the boil, then my apologies. And good luck!

[Cyclo Kitty]

We (DH and I) did have Serfas saddles on our commuters for while. I gave mine up for a Brooks B17, which I had on the cross bike.

The Serfas seemed like a great idea after an awful Bontrager, but eventually the foam compresses and loses all the qualities you liked in it. And it is not slippery so it's harder to readjust (I wiggle on the saddle on long rides). I rode it every day for about a year (~1250 miles) and it was not what it was at mile 10 or even 500, whereas a leather saddle is better by mile 100 and usually quite firmly yours by mile 200 if you get it in the summer.

Our LBS has a saddle trial program in which you can test ride and return a saddle. You can ask if your LBS has a similar thing. Could help you find the right one.

Good luck-- there is good advice on boils on this site as well as on saddles.