Oh my aching arse...

[sundial]

Mtdarby, maybe the shape of the saddle is wrong for you. I think the Dolce has more of a pear shape, right? It looks to be a full-figured saddle compared to the Avatar, Alias and such. I am actually riding a mens saddle, the Alias, and I have nary a pain in the inner thigh/pantyline area.

[DebW]

What about the tilt of the saddle? Try loosen the bolt holding the saddle and tip the nose down a bit.

[Torrilin]

I don't know of a place in Madison that does "professional fit". I haven't been to Yellow Jersey or Machinery Row tho, so they may. Budget Bikes doesn't claim to do fitting, but when I've gone in with a specific fit problem, I've had mechanics help me out, and so far the suggested fixes have worked. They're not willing to change many things at once, which I view as a good thing. Willy Street Bikes tends to ignore customers. When you can *find* help, the help is helpful. REI might be worth a try, since there's a saleswoman there who has a fair bit of clue.

When I have trouble, I try to take a few days off the bike. Or even *sigh* a week mostly off. Letting things heal really helps me judge how an adjustment worked.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Are you able to raise your handlebars a bit? That would place your posture a little further back onto your sitbones and off your front bits.
Maybe this happened because when he raised your saddle higher that made you bend down lower to reach the bars- thus putting more pressure on your front girly parts.

Do try a thinner chamois as well- the more stuff and "upholstery" you put between your bits and the saddle front, the less room you'll have, and the more pressure pushing back against you there will be.

[Xrayted]

Dar - I agree with Deb W on tipping the saddle down a bit if you are going to leave your seatpost and handlebars at that height. Also, try a thinner chamois for the very reason Lisa mentioned. It made all the diff with me. No more sore bits. Also, PI isn't exactly the best short on the market, they just price them that way. They actually gear their market towards beginners. Sugoi and others are infinitely better than the PI's. Usually, once you try another brand, you realize what you are missing. Everyone sells PI's though so they are just easier to find. I've pretty much abandoned mine and may just give them away soon. Try a tri chamois and see if you like it. Good luck!

[SadieKate]

Also, PI isn't exactly the best short on the market, they just price them that way. They actually gear their market towards beginners. Sugoi and others are infinitely better than the PI's. Usually, once you try another brand, you realize what you are missing. Everyone sells PI's though so they are just easier to find. I've pretty much abandoned mine and may just give them away soon. Try a tri chamois and see if you like it. Good luck!

So a $120 PI microsensor short is geared toward a beginner?

http://www.pearlizumi.com/product.ph...duct_id=759506

I'm not a fan of PIs either but I sense that Dar's saddle and shorts combo is fine. All the pain started after her bike fit. Dar, if you paid for this fitting you should be able to go back and give them some pain, if you know what I mean.

[sundial]

And remember, when you raise the seatpost, you will need to bring the saddle forward about the same amount.

[mtbdarby]

The problem became pronounced after he raised the seat AND tilted the handlebars back toward the seat. I lowered the seat back down a bit though because it wasn't comfortable on my legs.

Deb and X - on the metric I did stop 3 times to tilt the saddle down - just a millimeter at a time. I think my stuggling to find a comfortable position during the long ride just bruised things up a bit more. I tipped it down more on Tuesday for a short ride but I might have tipped it too much. Ugh. I only have 4 weeks to the duathlon and I really can't afford time off the bike. I need to figure it out ASAP.

I think I will try a thinner chamois down the road Lisa. I have a couple pairs ready to retire. I have noticed the PIs are a bit bulky, but I didn't have a problem with the PIs and the saddle for the century so it really seems its coming from the lbs changes. It wasn't a paid fitting so I really can't yell at them, ya know? I took my chances and wound up on the losing end