Saddle Sores - Sorry maybe TMI

[seeker]

Thanks ladies. I see your point about the cutout, however I am putting all my pressure on the nose of the seat, not over the cutout. That is why I thought tilting the seat back would help. When I had the seat level, my bits were right at the tip of the seat. We tilted it back slightly and now my bits are almost to the cutout but not quite. I wanted the LBS to tilt it back some more and they wouldn't do it. They don't think that will solve my problem. But they don't have a clitoris either. And yes I do move around a lot because I'm trying to shift my weight to the back of the seat.

I have tried shifting things around but I can't seem to keep my labia from separating. I know I'm not seated properly but I'm not sure what to do. I can't sit on a folding chair or a wooden bench without sitting on a pillow. If I sit directly on the hard chair, I'm sitting right on my sit bones. I don't have much padding there. I actually keep a pillow in my car because I can't handle the church pew. So I know if I were sitting on the saddle properly, I'd probably feel it in my sit bones. But I don't. It's all up front.

I'll see if I can get a picture but that might be a problem. DH is not supportive of my biking. And I'm not sure he can even operate the camera. I'll have to work on him.

If you have any more suggestions, please give them to me. As I mentioned in my first post, my tri coach has seen me on the bike. He thought I was seated properly. He didn't understand my discomfort and I was finally able to talk him into tipping my seat back. The LBS have seen me on my seat numerous times and they also feel I'm seated correctly so I don't know what the heck to do. I was hoping a simple saddle change would fix the problem.

emily, I may get in front of the mirror and see if I can measure the distance from sit bone to sit bone.

Thanks.

[seeker]

I just read your post Oakleaf. I will get these measurements. Thanks.

[OakLeaf]

Just to clarify, do measure your sitbones. The other things make a difference but aren't easily measured, any more than they are before you try on a pair of jeans.

[sundial]

Yes, by all means have your sitbones measured. Check and see if your bike shop has a butt-o-meter to measure your sit bones.

[OakLeaf]

Read Knott's comments on sitbone measurement here.

[Trek420]

That is why I thought tilting the seat back would help. When I had the seat level, my bits were right at the tip of the seat. We tilted it back slightly and now my bits are almost to the cutout but not quite. I wanted the LBS to tilt it back some more and they wouldn't do it.

Seeker, without seeing you ride I really can't say for sure. Nobody here could. And I'm not a wrench or bike fitter. It's just an impression from reading your posts between your feeling like you should slide back, tilt the seat back, all that movement. When I ride my upper body is fairly still.

So go ahead and measure those sit bones, find a seat. If it still hurts maybe a seat post with the right set-back amount. But if you're not having fun on the bike I'd find a new and different shop for a fitting.

It's supposed to feel gooooooooood when you ride and be fun and after the ride

[KnottedYet]

Somebody mentioned that your reach might be too long, and that's what I'm kinda thinkin' too. Sounds like your pelvis is trying to move forward or collapsing forward, and tilting the saddle is supporting it and forcing it back.

A new saddle (especially one that fits) will likely make a lot of difference, but I'd also look into bike fit and core strength. Your reach might be too long for your structure or too long for your core to support.

(now you have a gazillion things to check, don't you feel reassured? )

[Trek420]

Your reach might be too long for your structure or too long for your core to support.

New saddle and a set of matching PI arm-short'ners? we can shorten our reach?

[KnottedYet]

New saddle and a set of matching PI arm-short'ners?

Nuh-uh, arm-lengtheners!

[Trek420]

Can I get leg-lengtheners? Do they sell them on TE?

Ah never mind, I'd need a new saddle, new bike fit, even a new bike and I finally got that figured out .... If i need longer arms or legs I know where I can borrow them from a tall person.

[seeker]

I haven't found anything soft to sit on to measure my butt imprint. I'm going to look for some foam today.
My coach, whom I trust, watched me on the bike when I first bought it. He tilted my handlebars forward. He said I was reaching too far. I couldn't get into the drops at all and reach my brakes and I could barely reach the hoods. My bike certaily looks a bit different from most road bikes. When I had my bike into the LBS last week to see about a new seat, they freaked out when they saw the handlebars. Remember, the had fitted me with it set up properly. They kept blaming my seat issues on the moved handlebars. I told them I was much more comfortable with the tilted handlebars, I felt I had more control of the bike, my ride was smoother and my butt issues were not as severe. They didn't buy it. They believe in a tradional set-up. Well then I had a conundrum. I like and trust my coach. I've made huge gains with him and I've ridden with him. Plus I pay him for his advice. It doesn't make sense to me to listen to the LBS guys when I'm paying to listen to someone else. My coach rides, he's riding an Ironman this weekend. And he successfully coaches other men and women. When he moved my handlebars, he said, "it looks funny but your fit is much better".
My bike is a Jamis Ventura. It is women specific.

I haven't given up. First I need to get a butt imprint. That is on my agenda for today, that is if work doesn't get in the way.

Oh, and just so you know, I don't have a freakishly large clitoris. Honest. It looks like an average clit. I just think I may not have enough tissue in front to protect it. Sheesh, I don't even talk to my Gyn this way.