Saddle Sores - Sorry maybe TMI

[VeloVT]

I ride a saddle without a cutout. I had many more problems with chafing, bruising, pinching, pressure WITH a cutout than I have since I started riding saddles without cutouts (I've had good luck with a few different Fizik saddles). We are all different, and I know many if not most people swear by cutouts, but they aren't right for everyone... Just something to consider, you shouldn't necessarily take it for granted that you will be most comfortable on a women's saddle or a saddle with a cutout.

Good luck!!! Sounds like your saddle is no fun right now!

[Kano]

Recently, I went into my LBS, convinced I needed to try a narrower saddle with a different shaped cut out.

Bike Guy John came out of the service department, and asked how he could help. So, I explained my situation. He asked if I'd bought the bike along. Nope, I hadn't -- I can put a saddle on my bike, didn't figure there was any need.

I want to see you on the bike before I'll sell you a saddle, he said. "I think it's a reach issue." I thanked him and said I'd be back in a couple of days with the bike.

I have the same saddle and I'm much happier on it now. I have a shorter stem that's been angled up a bit more, and my saddle is farther back, down a bit lower, and angled a bit differently. No charge for the hour of his time or the parts.

Except that I bought some socks, and dragged DH in to figure out his wheel problem the other day.

We may still change the saddle, after I put more miles on it with this set up, but it's MUCH better than it was!

Maybe someone else needs to look at you on your bike, along with the possibility of a different saddle?

Karen in Boise

[aicabsolut]

My bike came with a saddle that was too narrow for my sit bones, so I wound up putting more pressure in the wrong area. This led to bruising and soreness on the pubis, but not chafing or pinching in the crease of the leg or on the sitbones.

I then switched to a wider saddle. Things were better, but then I started getting chafing in the hot months.

I finally switched to a harder, thinner racing saddle (still with a cutout), and a lot of the chafing and pinching went away, because I now have the maximum stability under my stibones. Now the only problems I have are definitely correlated to the shorts--seams, looseness in the chamois area over time, or the fabric covering the chamois. I can only do so much about that, because I go with what the team gets. I just try to get the snuggest fit that I can and lube up.

FWIW, I ride with the saddle pretty nose-down for a girl. My crit racing position is even lower than where I may put it for long rides in the fall, to make it even more nose-down and comfortable when I'm in the drops. I don't think I'll have to move this saddle any, though, because it's gotten very broken in and molded to me, unlike the others.