how long to determine that a saddle is not right?

[TraderJane]

I experience this exact type of pain. The best way I can describe it is a bone bruise all along my sitbone area. I don't experience any discomfort while riding, the pain sets in about an hour after my ride is over. I'm a beginner cyclist. I purchased a Specialized Dolce from my LBS a few weeks ago. I've only ridden it four times for approximately 30 minutes each time, wearing what I lovelingly call my diaper shorts. After my first ride, my girly bits were none to pleased with my saddle. I realized that the saddle was positioned too far back and I wasn't carrying my weight on my bum, but on my inner thigh region instead. I moved it forward an inch and voila! My girly bits are happy and now my sitbones are angry. I've experienced the post-ride sitbone pain with no improvement for the past three rides. I expect there is an adjustment period, but seriously, how long does it last? I have to wait four days or so in between each ride for the bruising to subside. This is really dampening my spirits on riding. What is a typical adjustment period for a beginner? When do you decide it's the saddle, not your bum, that's the source of the problem?

[ilima]

Three weeks sounds like you gave it an honest try.

There have been some saddles I have rejected pretty much instantly (Fizik Arione), but others have take more time. And some didn't reveal how bad their uncomfortableness was until about 40 miles in.

The saddle that worked for me (SSM Aspide Glamour) felt a bit hard at first, but within minutes I had forgotten about it. I've never had any major discomfort, even on long (70+ mile) rides.

[TraderJane]

Update: I purchased a squishy "recreational" saddle last week and it is much better. It's a 155, same size as my original saddle. I am so happy that I can now ride my bike everyday instead of waiting four or five days for the bruised feeling to dissipate. The guy at my LBS tried to discourage me from going to a softer saddle because they are extremely uncomfortable after a couple hours of riding. I think I told him about five times, "yes, but I only ride for 30-45 mins at a time and it will be many months before I ride for more than 90 minutes, so the fact that it is uncomfortable after two hours is irrelevant." I think my point was lost on him, which was kind of disappointing. My advice to the ladies with tender tooshies like mine: buy the squishy saddle!

[Tuckervill]

But know that you'll be buying a new one when you're up to the longer rides!

The bruised feeling will go away over time. You'll have to adjust to that when you change saddles again.

Karen

[shellkay1212]

I had a fit and we moved my saddle back to get my knee position as close as possible to the correct place.

But, my saddle - oi - the bruise feeling is not on my sitbones. They are absolutely fine. It's more toward the front- the girly parts. My LBS guys are working with me. In fact, I stopped in there to get my super blinky Saturday and one of the fit guys asked if I had gotten the issue resolved.

Um, on one hand, I'm glad the guy who did my fit consulted him but uhhhh, it is sort of weird to think that they are discussing my bruised girly parts!