Back in the Saddle Again- YOuch!

[Miranda]

I didn't like the SMP. The version I had was like riding a couch cushion. I'm about 140 sitz bones. It bumped my ham/glute on the downward part of the pedal stroke. Just a bit wide-ish for me.

The Brooks is hard, but supposed to be perfect after you break it in. The proofhide is your friend they say. I didn't get that far because I felt like I needed a cut out.

Selle Anatomic I had some different issue with defective purchase (not from TE, btw) and didn't re-try... it's sorta like a Brooks with a cut out.

Brooks was coming out with the Imperial. Which is a basic Brooks with the cut out. There was a huge thread on BikeForums of people test riding them with the Brooks company. I'm not sure if it's out for sale yet or not.

For me, I have now figured out my saddle, and other things, are related to my bike being too big for me (read pelvis rolled too far forward). So, I'm starting over. It will be interesting what I find with a properly fitted ride. But, it sounds like you have a good fitter?

Even with all my saddle issues, or hopefully very little to none with new bike, I stand often when riding. Vary my positions, etc. I read that in one of my cycling books that pros even do.

Even on the spin bike at the gym a lot of it has to do with riding position and fitness. When I am not feeling so strong, or start to get tired, I let my pelvis sag forward. This starts to put pressure on the lady bits. When I tilt my pelvis back ever so slightly on my sitz bones, hold my back and core properly/strongly, my lady bits don't get hurt.

In one of my other cycle books on fitting, I read this great point...

Newer cyclists (or you can ALSO read, been taking a break--not been on the saddle a while) tend to "sit" on their saddles. More experience (read, stronger/set into the season riding) cyclists tend to "suspend" themselves over their saddles with their legs. Hmm...

My spin class example is exactly what happens there. When my legs start getting tired at end of class on jumps, I start coming down with more force on my saddle (ouch lady bits). At the start of class, I can glide and hover back onto my saddle from standing with barely swishing the lady bits (zero pain).

Also, I assume this trainer set up has a riser block for the front tire? If not, you are on down hill all the time and that could be added pressure to the front. Plus, the trainer is going nowhere... I just think outside you shift your weight so much even turning corners etc. that you lady bits get varied pressure--vs being stationary inside.

FWIW... Good Luck.

EDIT: Lady bits and hormones... My 20+yrs experience gyno doc is also a cyclist (& his wife). I asked him about my saddle pain after reading here on TE about estrogen cream. The threads I found were of ladies who had previously been ok with their saddles and with changing hormones had problems. My gyno doc said as we have babies/age etc. things change. The tissues can get dry and thin. The estrogen cream can help "beef things up" down there as he put it. Sorry if TMI, but some "girl chat"... I know I'm boney-er (if a word?) down there in perimenopause. I have the cream, but not used it yet to report back. For this last reason, I have even considered a tri saddle that has more overall padding on the nose. If my anatomy will not hold padding anymore, maybe my saddle can do it for me instead. Pus, no one does it around our area, but the doc said there is such a thing as collagen injections you can get down there too. I know it sounds brutal. Some porn stars do this he said (to look more umm, well you get it)... and some ladies just for their over-all sexual comfort in relationships with their DHs after hormones change--it's like a cosmetic vaginal rejuvenation thing. Kinda interesting. I did have a GF with scar tissue/nerve pain sensitivity issues get steroid injections--it worked for her too. Just some more thoughts...