intro and saddle prob

[papaver]

Professional female cyclists mostly use the Selle Italia Diva Gel flow or the Lady Gel flow. I find the Diva slightly better because it's not too soft.

if you have pain in the front you better point the front of the saddle a little (1/2 cm) downwards...

Hope you'll understand my Dunglish.

[SheFly]

Welcome to TE!

I am also a TT person, although over a much shorter distance than you . On my bike, I use the Fizik Arione and I like it. HOWEVER, it is a bit more rounded on the nose of the saddle, which many claim is pretty uncomfortable. Since my race is so short (9.75 miles), I am usually only on the nose of the saddle anyway. I had DH point the nose slightly lower, and this seems to work for me.

I use the same saddle on my regular racing bike, FWIW, and also find it comfortable there over longer distances.

The issue is that the saddle that works for me might not work for you... There are a few other TT ladies on the forum, so I'm sure that some of them will chime in as well. Good luck!

SheFly

[OakLeaf]

Search this forum on saddle fitting. There's a lot of helpful information on where to start. You can narrow your search quite a bit by knowing:

(1) how wide are your sitbones?
(2) do you need a cut-out, or not (probably more likely in TT position)?
(3) "pear" shaped or "T" shaped?

That information (plus knowing that for long distance performance riding you want something very firm and as light as possible) should get you down to five or six saddles you think you might want to try. IMO the width and length of the nose is fine-tuning.

If many of your sister time-trialists have gone through the search without a trial program being available, then they must have lightly used saddles lying around their basements and garages. What about a team saddle exchange, formal or informal?

Also, in the US, if you order direct from Specialized, you can return the saddle within 30 days if you don't like it. Terry has a similar policy. Check whether they have the same policy in the UK.

[ridebikeme]

Are there any shops in your area that might have a saddle demo program? Lots of shops are incoporating that into their inventory, so hopefully you'll be able to find one.

Congrats for getting back on the bike and racing!!!

[Suechoccy]

Just measured my seatbones by sitting on the floor crouched forward with legs bent. They seem to be 130mm point-to-point.

So does that mean I need a saddle at least 140mm wide, or at least 160 to allow 10mm either side of seatbones?

Sadly the only shop that hires out saddles in Cambridge area only hires out touring/commuting saddles, not racing/tri saddles.

I guess I need a cutout or at least a groove because I'm sitting forward in the tri position.

What's T-shape and pear-shape? Please tell me examples of each and I'll google them.

I think I need a soft padded wide nose too. (Reason being that's when I ride the Madison, it has such a nose and seems comfy on the touring bike).

Of the Selle Italia range, I can see 3 models: Diva Gel, Gel Flow and SLK Gel Flow for women. How wide is the nose (measured across about 1cm back from tip) on these saddles? Are they all the same or are they different? Which has the squishiest nose?

Thanks!

Sue

[SheFly]

I guess I need a cutout or at least a groove because I'm sitting forward in the tri position.

I sit in the Tri/TT position on my TT bike and DO NOT have a cut out on my saddle.

SheFly

[Grog]

Sorry I don't have measurements but I just got a Selle Italia SLR Lady Gel FLow (different from the Diva Gel Flow and from the Lady Gel Flow - it's pretty confusing, they have millions on their web site). The cutout is HUGE, which comes with its own problems, but maybe for the TT position it would help. It is a t-shaped saddle, compared to the pear-shaped Lady Gel Flow. Longer nose, more drastic drop between the nose and the sitting area.

If the "scene" is friendly around you, aren't there bike shops that would allow you to try the saddle for a week and bring it back if it doesn't work out? It's pretty common practice here. The saddle just has to be "like new" so obviously you can't ride the hell out of it but it gives you enough time to have at least a tentative "yay" or a definitive "nay."

Perhaps tilting the saddle nose a tiny bit (and I really mean tiny bit) would help? My first day on the SLR Lady Gel Flow was a comedy of pain, and then I dialed the angle just right and I'm a happy camper.

Good luck. I understand that saddles for TT can be a big issue... especially over such long distances!

Enjoy your return to cycling!

[Jiffer]

Can't help with your saddle problem, but wanted to say hello and welcome!

Other than your saddle problem, I did want to suggest you try A&D ointment, if you haven't already, or don't already have a "healing" type of lubrication you like. I apply A&D directly onto skin (and under labia where my main issues arise) and then squirt Chamois Buttr into my shorts. The Chamois Buttr gives me lubrication and the A&D heals and protects. I sometimes use A&D when not riding if I'm sore, but I don't have too many issues as long as I use it on long rides. And I imagine with TT, you are pretty much set in that saddle in the same position for LONG periods, which can cause even more problems than a typical cyclist might have that can get up and out of the saddle more often. I have experienced this from riding tandem. Can't move around and stand whenever I want. I have to "coordinate" it with my pilot!

Anyways, welcome to the forum. I'm 39 (40 next month) and just got into cycling a few years ago. Good for you for coming back to it after all these years and congrats on your accomplishments as a young cyclist. That's awesome! Good luck training for your first 100 mile TT! (In however many years it's been.) And I hope you find the right saddle soon.