numbness

[jennyrc]

So I'm in the market for a saddle...I've been looking around on the boards for a while but there is so much information it's hard to process.
Right now I am using the saddle that came stock on my bike (bontrager affinity 1). At this point, I am only having one problem with it, which is numbness. No chaffing or anything like that, but numbness sets in within half an hour of being on the bike (and goes away quickly once I stand up, etc, so I'm assuming it's a blood flow thing...)
Can anyone offer what sort of bike seat might take care of this problem? I'm thinking some sort of cutout, but the numbness seems to come from the front...
Any recommendations would be appreciated, I'm hoping to get an idea of what sort of saddle I may need before going to the lbs.
Thanks!

[Biciclista]

I am presuming that the numbness you are feeling is on or around your most sensitive parts, NOT your sit bones.
You need a fitting and/or a saddle. Knowing it's a bontrager, I'd say you need a new saddle but you absolutely should NOT be pressing hard enough on those areas to be going numb..
rush thee to a bike shop. HOPEFULLY you have one where someone can help you.
if not, PLEASE read the dozens of threads about this issue and on saddles.

[jennyrc]

Yes, sorry, numbness is in the sensitive parts, sit bones feel fine actually

[ny biker]

You might just need to lower the saddle a bit or make sure the nose is level.

The Affinity is actually not a bad saddle. It is available with less cushioning, if that is the problem but the size/shape is good.

The Selle San Marco Aspide Glamour is the same size and shape as the Affinity 155mm, and it's much harder.

I've heard they're getting rid of/changing the regular Inform, although I haven't been able to confirm that.

[hulagirl]

Or try lowering the nose. But watch that you don't put too much pressure on your hands. It's a fine adjustment.

[jennyrc]

Thanks for the tips. My first thought was to lower the nose, which I will try for the next ride. If there's no luck with that, then I'll go to the lbs and see what they have. Thanks for the saddle recommendations too, it's nice to have a list of saddles that are similar to what I have

[Catrin]

I had a big problem with numbness last year and it turned out to be my saddle. I went through multiple saddles before I found THE one. I like it so much that I put the same road saddle on my new mountain bike - though if it doesn't work for that bike I will have a spare

I hope you are able to solve this quickly!

[jennyrc]

So...I'm hoping not to jinx myself but I think I've found a saddle that works. Specialized Ruby 155...Now mind you, I've only taken it for one ride (an hour and a half). I put the saddle in the same position (or as close as I could) as the affinity (which I had fitted at the bike shop the end of last summer). No numbness! And I could ride down in the drops comfortably (before, when I went down to this position I would last 10 seconds before I wanted out of that position because of the pain). I think the cut out is key for me, the rest of the saddle is very similar in shape to the affinity, but with less padding but more flex from the carbon base (I think, but what do I know). Anyway, maybe I'm jumping the gun, but I was in pain to begin with (from my "long" ride Friday) but feel great now after the ride, so I am hopeful. I sure hope I got lucky on my first saddle pick!
Thanks everyone for input

[nscrbug]

Good choice on the Ruby 155...it's what I'm currently using and I'm quite happy with it. I will start to feel some sit-bone pain as I near the 80-mile mark, but I think it's fair to say that most of us start to feel a little "uncomfortable" after sitting on ANY saddle for that long. I hope the Ruby turns out to be "the one" for you.