Saddle Sores - Sorry maybe TMI

[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.

[KnottedYet]

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.

Yup. Reach too long.

Can we play with a picture (from the side) of your bike, and one of you (from the side) on your bike? There are so many chickies on this board who have so much knowledge (and the same general anatomy) and have done so much wrestling with their own saddles and set ups, that I'm sure there will be a few great ideas bouncing around if we get some pictures.

(besides, any excuse to see bike pics, eh? )

[Trek420]

It doesn't make sense to me to listen to the LBS guys when I'm paying to listen to someone else.

I'm sure your coach is fine, and I'm sure he's a fine athlete. I don't have a coach but I have an amazing LBS. (see Seven vs. Habanero thread).

If my wrench said "we're setting you up this way, and this is why (he always explains it)" I'd do it. You pay a coach but a great shop is priceless.

[seeker]

If my wrench said "we're setting you up this way, and this is why (he always explains it)" I'd do it. You pay a coach but a great shop is priceless.

My LBS are the ones who set me up where I couldn't reach my brakes!

Ok, measurements. Inner edge sit bones - 3 inches
Outer edge sit bones - 6.25 inches.

Do these measurements tell me anything?

No pic as yet. That requires cooperation from DH. I might be able to get one tomorrow.

[KnottedYet]

Ok, measurements. Inner edge sit bones - 3 inches
Outer edge sit bones - 6.25 inches.

Do these measurements tell me anything?

No pic as yet. That requires cooperation from DH. I might be able to get one tomorrow.

Cool!

Ok, first I convert to metric, cuz that's just the way my brain works. 6 1/4 inches is near enough to 16.5 cm to make my brain happy.

Saddle width: take your outside measurement and add a centimeter or two to either side to give you a saddle width that will completely support your sitbones (lifting you off your soft tissue) and give you wiggle room to shift as you change position and effort.

16.5 cm plus 2 cm (1 cm each side) is 18.5 cm
16.5 cm plus 4 cm (2 cm for each side) is 20.5 cm

That gives you a saddle width range of 185mm-205mm or 7 1/4 inches to 8 inches.

Saddle top contour and profile: T or Pear, curved or flat, narrow nose or wide nose, I don't know any shortcuts to figure out what works best. It seems to come down to trying a saddle, making note of the shape and contour, assessing comfort, trying another saddle, etc. There are pretty distinct chafing patterns for mis-fits. (like a saddle that is too pear-shaped will chafe in the "panty-line" of your buttock)

Cut-Out: I found this groovy cut-out home test, and don't remember where. So, my apologies to the universe for my plagiarism. Sit in perfect posture on the forward half of a hard wooden chair clad only in your underwear. Keeping your back straight, hinge forward from your hip joints until you can rest your elbows on your knees. If your soft tissues in this position are getting smooshed against the chair seat, you need a cut-out. If it feels like you could sit this way for a while, you might need a saddle wide enough to support your sit bones completely (like the chair is) or a saddle with less padding to bulge upward and crush into your tissues (like the plain wooden chair has no padding).

Edit to add: I went back and looked at the link you gave to the saddle you have now. 138mm (5 1/2 inches) doesn't really match up well.
(When you find a saddle that fits buy a couple. Your bones are what matter, and they'll stay pretty constant... unlike the saddle styles! Seems like as soon as anyone finds the perfect saddle, that one goes out of production!) Oh, and hip width rarely has a hot correlation with sitbone width for women. Tiny women can have wide pelvic outlets and vice versa. Nobody can really look at a woman and determine what width saddle she needs, they gotta get all intimate and measure those critters one way or another!

[Trek420]

My LBS are the ones who set me up where I couldn't reach my brakes!

Well, sometimes LBS and even wrenches within LBS are like saddles, or dating or whatever analogy you want to use. Sometimes you have to kiss a few frogs. But when you find a good one .... priceless.

Till then there's always TE gals to try to help.