Saddle Quest 2011

[TrekTheKaty]

What Knot said. I'm drinking wine;-)

However, as a side--my numb toes came from a back problem--a pinched nerve between lower back and hip.

Did she say Keen sandals? I found them way too narrow.

I also recommend a Brooks.

Bike fits aren't the end all--I started riding farther forward on my bars and tilted my seat down ever-so-slightly.

[hulagirl]

Post Metric Century Update:

(as we are discussing saddles, girlie bits may be brought up, just FYI!)

So, I completed a wonderful Metric Century ride yesterday with my Try Fitness training gals. I rode the Terry Liberator X Gel for the 2nd time ever. It was a very interesting experiment.

First off - we had a horrible head wind for the first 20 miles. Then a cross wind/head wind for 10. We kept a pace-line with 3 minutes at the front and then about 18-20 min in the pack. Heading out we fought to maintain a 15 mph average and were told NOT to go over 16. Gotta work at everyone's abilities, not just your own.

I spent a lot of time in aero/drops when I was rider 1 and 2. Just made life easier all around. And helped keep the hands, arms, shoulders, happy.

So - having lubed up with Hoo Ha ride glide (love that stuff!) I was a happy girl for most of the ride. At around the 25k mark, I was getting an "oddness" down below. It was mostly in the front. Not near the sit bones or even in the middle. Almost felt like things were getting jammed up front. I kept trying to pull my cycling shorts back towards my bum. It was up front in the pubic mound. (Such wonderful names for these things.) 60 miles of mashing that into a saddle has left its toll.

The Terry does have an opening, but due to the cushioning, I think it closes off. The SMP's have a more rigid construction. And the opening does not close. It was wonderfully comfortable for aero and drop riding! But everything else made me cry! But they don't make a wide enough version for me so blah to that!

My LTS (Local tri shop) that this saddle is a demo from (brand new demo too) texted me after the ride asking how it went. I told her the issue and she said I should try to tilt it down just a hair. Which I will. (it's currently level)

Everything else on me - sit bones, rami, etc doesn't even FEEL like I did ANYTHING yesterday. No rawness, no tenderness, no pressure points, NOTHING. Did the saddle "disappear"? Not 100%. Maybe not even 50%. But it was DRAMATICALLY different than the other 6 saddles I've ridden.

And one other thing - there wasn't even a tingle of toe/foot numbness the whole time!

I'm quite happy with my post-ride feelings. I think the (hope) the pubic mound pressure can be eliminated with a down tilt. I have a sprint Tri coming up this Sunday. Short bike ride, but I will spend a lot of the time in aero so I'll see how that goes.

Hopefully this info will assist anyone with my wide-a$$ sit bones.

Denise

[Biciclista]

sounds like you are doing great! what does SMP stand for again?

[hulagirl]

sounds like you are doing great! what does SMP stand for again?

That's the Selle line of saddles.