noseless saddles and the quest for comfort?

[Eden]

Also, the bike shop fit expert told me that if I did have any issues adjusting to cornering, to use the top bar and I wouldn't miss the nose on the saddle.

?!?!?!?! I'm sorry...... I wouldn't trust any "expert" who told you to corner on your tops for more control..... For optimum control of your bike you, especially in a fast corner you always corner in your drops.

Most of the control you have over turning your bike comes from your body, not from turning your handlebars. If you are going to consider a noseless saddle you best be very careful when adjusting to it and be even more careful if you plan on taking any fast corners. Some of them look very dangerous to me.

[lph]

?!?!?!?! I'm sorry...... I wouldn't trust any "expert" who told you to corner on your tops for more control..... For optimum control of your bike you, especially in a fast corner you always corner in your drops.

I assumed she meant using (pressure against) the top bar of the bike frame, instead of the nose of the saddle. Or doesn't that make sense?

I'm one of those who can't really imagine not having a nose on my saddle. I'm used to riding a mtb, and I'm up and down and in and out of my saddle all the time, and I use the nose quite actively. I don't actually use the nose to sit on or lean forwards onto, but I use it for steering, and it keeps the rest of the saddle together

I suspect how happy you are with a noseless saddle may have quite a bit to do with riding style. For me, I was happy with finding a saddle with a large enough cut-out that doesn't give pressure on the soft parts. I have had too narrow ones, that felt like sitting on an axe.

[KnottedYet]

I assumed she meant using (pressure against) the top bar of the bike frame, instead of the nose of the saddle. Or doesn't that make sense?

I'm still with Eden on this one, even if the "expert" meant top TUBE rather than top BAR. Anyone who would recommend that kind of contortion and distortion of proper form, ESPECIALLY while cornering, is worrisome.

(The lack of control and the need to stay in the saddle to maintain contact with the bike is why I had to give up on the noseless I bought. I don't sit like a princess; I haul the bike around with my body and shift weight all the time and am in and out of the saddle, and am generally like a monkey in a tree on my bikes.)

[Biciclista]

I don't sit like a princess;

I disagree. you DO sit like a princess