Padded saddle life

[Tokie]

Miranda - I sent you a PM about your SLR saddle. Did you see my thread about Pronetcycling.com? They will send you women's SI demo saddles to try out. That's how I picked out the Lady SLR. There are other companies that also have demo saddle programs for men's saddles, since you are trying them. I can't remember if it is Competitive Cyclist or Colorado Cyclist. Tokie

[Colleen]

I'm new to TE, but I thought I should start joining some of the chat boards. Since I found the TE forums from saddle searching, I'll start here!

I had other problems with my uber-padded dolce saddle that came on my bike. I think the thickness of the padding made the saddle too tall, and I started to get bruise-like soreness on the tops of my legs. This didn't happen until this year, even though I have had the bike for a couple of years, but I attribute that to more intense and regular riding this year. So the saddle search began.

These are the ones I tried. If anyone has a suggestion, I'm open to ideas! I might not have given them all a fair try at times when I was sore...

Jett 143--the first I tried. I measured between the 143 and 155, but the 155 seemed to irritate the sore spot from my old saddle, so I went with the 143. After adjusting to the saddle firmness, I got terrible saddle sores on both sides, which seemed to indicate that I was sitting inside of my sits bones. I did have contact with the sits bones b/c they got very sore on a longer ride I did, but maybe they just weren't fully supported?

Glamour Aspide--Loved the width and the firmness. Did not love the soft tissue numbness.
Glamour Aspide Arrowhead--Cutout didn't help the soft tissue pressure, which was a bummer, because I thought this saddle would work and be the one.

WTB Diva--Again, lack of cut-out was a problem. Also seemed narrow.

Terry Falcon X--Only rode on it for a couple of rides, but it really irritated the saddle sores I had, so then I sat out for a month and returned it because my 30 days were up and I didn't want to get stuck with it. This was the only non-flat saddle I tried, and it seemed like the curve made it actually narrower than a similar width flat one. But I could be making that up.

Terry Butterfly Ti--Have this one currently and only rode on it 2xs, but I don't think I like it because a)it is very tall, albeit a bit less so than the dolce b)it causes soft tissue soreness unless I tilt the saddle down, putting too much pressure on my wrists.

Selle Italia SLR Lady Gel Flow--I didn't give this one much of a chance b/c it was much narrower than the 155mm it is listed as (I guess that measures around the curvature rather than the flat surface). It also caused soft tissue pain. I wanted to make sure the saddle was in new, returnable condition, so I just repackaged it to return.

Something has to work eventually, right? I'm thinking of trying the Jett 155 again, although I'm worried it will cause the same problem with my legs hitting the seat as the dolce did.

[Andrea]

Try the Specialized Ruby in a 155. I've had a bad time finding a saddle for reasons similar to yours & it's been the best so far.

[kermit]

Ditto on the Ruby. I will be sending the SI prolink back, cutout is too small and too far back. The ruby is nice, perfect cutout and the gel seat gives enough cushion, but not too much. I have not had any saddle sores or chafing without butter. So far so good. Check on ebay there are some on there for a good price.

[Colleen]

Kermit and Andrea--Thanks for the info! I'll give that one a try.

In the meantime, I've started to run again (my original love anyway). I think I have to be more patient with the saddles.

[kermit]

Just did another ride with the Ruby, I am out of town in Georgia. HILLS! I gotta say 30 miles and no soreness/chafing. Really like the Ruby. Good Luck.