New Saddle Break-In Time?

[AsaG]

Hello
I just joined these message boards today after having enjoyed reading them for a few days. I am a little nervous about posting for the first time but here it goes.
I decided to jump in here as I am having an embarrassing problem in the nether regions and need to think about what is causing these embarrassing problems. I just bought a wonderful new bike but I seem to be having some troubles with the saddle that came with it, but it might also be the new shorts (Pearl Izumi attack short) that I bought at the beginning of the season. The thing is I get pain in the soft tissue so I thought maybe a cut out saddle would be good but now I seem to have developed a saddle sore in the crouch (not sure if that is the right word to describe the area) that would probably be aggravated by the cut out would it not??? I was thinking about Terry Liberator Ti but is seems that it is not getting very good reviews on this message board.
Otherwise I just want to thank everybody here for some very useful information.
Thanks
Asa G.

[CorsairMac]

I Hated the PI attack shorts - the padding was just about the bulkiest thing I"d ever worn and I seemed to be allergic to something they use in the padding. I also tried a Terry Sportco saddle and couldn't get it OFF the bike fast enough. Sounds like you're going thru the great experimentation phase right now *shakes head* it could be the shorts, the saddle, both, neither - just make sure you can return whatever you decide to try! and good luck!

[SimpleCycle]

AsaG, I have a Terry Liberator Ti Race and I like it quite a bit. At first I thought I had made a huge mistake, but realized my bike wasn't fitted correctly and I was sitting on my soft tissue, not my sit bones.

But I would recommend trying out different saddles if you can, or getting your sit bones measured at a Specialized store, or both. I think I got lucky with the Terry saddle, and I'm not 100% sure that it's the BEST saddle for me, just that it works for me.

Now that I know I was sitting in the wrong spot, I wonder if my men's Selle Italia saddle that came on the bike would feel just fine now.

[wingsonwheels]

The first saddle I bought was the Terry Liberator...It was too soft and created "hot spots". Then I tried the Vitesse, which I tried very hard to like, cause it's such a sexy saddle.

Cut to chase, I'm happier with a firmer, narrower mens saddle with a cut-out (A Selle Italia Flite with ti rails). It takes time to get used to sittiing on the bike for hours, it takes a while to figure out what works best for the shape of your pelvic floor, and I also think your needs change as you develop as a rider.

If you have a saddle that's making you miserable, no shorts in the world will save your @$$...

[AsaG]

Hey
The PI attack short are way to bulky, I just wanted higher tan lines, guess that will teach me.
I guess it is just about trial and error here, it's just frustrating when something likes this prevents me from getting out and ride.
Thanks for the tips.
Asa G.

[KkAllez]

I guess it is just about trial and error here, it's just frustrating when something likes this prevents me from getting out and ride.
Thanks for the tips.
Asa G.

Oh Asa, it is so much T&E, what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another, but don't give up! Eventually you'll get it all right...then you'll want a new bike and get to start over! I have a 25 mile test...it after 25 miles things are still not right it ain't ever gonna be right. And sometimes it takes the next day to know if it is going to work. Where am I sore? What feels off? But trust me, eventually, it will all come together.

[RoadRaven]

IMHO it should not take 100 miles to "break in" a seat.

Women have several types of pelvis' hence the several different styles of bike seats.

Find a woman in a LBS, or a man with a female partner who cycles, and get a female perspective and assistance and get a new saddle.

Get the LBS to "fit" the seat with you sitting on it - so that the seat is far enough forward or back for your length and reach.

Once you have a seat on and ready to go, you may still need to play a bit with it - if your girly bits are still feeling squished despite the "love channel" (LOL, that is what the cut out bit in my seat was marketed as) then drop the nose a tad. By a tad, I mean a mm or two... just a tiny bit at a time...

As for saddle sores, bruising, chafing and all of that... there are a couple of threads here... maybe someone could add a post with links to it? My connection takes a long time to load each page so I prefer not to do too much hunting...

If its mostly bruising, I recommend arnica in the form of pillules or liquid dropd you take internally (arnica is brilliant for bruising and shock, but should never be applied to open wounds). Arnica is also brilliant for sore muscles or bumps and bruises... (massage oil or cream).

If its chaffing or infections, wash as soon as you get home, use a chamois butter or sports cream, never wear shorts twice in a row without washing them... as I said, lots of suggestions in a couple of other threads.

[Etincelle]

Hi,

I have a new bike with a new saddle and I have feel some pain... even after more than 150km... The position on my new bike is different (the handlebars being a lot lower)... I have a feeling that I am sitting (and putting more weight) on my soft tissue.. than my sit bones...

Any suggestions for adjustment?

Thanks!