Sorry, but another sore hoo-hoo thread.

[ny biker]

1. Measure your sit bones and make sure the saddle is wide enough for them.

2. If sliding back feels better, do you need to move your saddle forward a bit? I recently experimented with moving my saddle back a few millimeters and found a marked increase in pubic bone pain and soft tissue chafing. Even if that doesn't solve the problem completely, it might make your current saddle more bearable while you search for a better one.

3. Other t-shaped saddles:

- Selle San Marco Aspide Glamour (155 mm; very firm; no cutout, though the Arrowhead model has a cutout).

- Bontrager Affinity (designed for your riding position, based on your description of saddle height vs. bar height; comes in 3 widths and 3 levels of padding; no cut out; widest WDS Affinity is same size and shape as Aspide Glamour, if you like that shape but want more padding; Bontrager offers 30-day guarantee.)

- Specialized (Ruby, Jett, Lithia, depending on amount of padding you want; has a cutout; comes in 3 widths; Specialized website offers 30-day guarantee though local stores might not.)

[Scrappy]

Thank you for the responses. My sit bones are in the 150-155 size. The current Velo Orange saddle is 150mm at the widest. It is shaped like a lollipop. I am still fiddling with the saddle adjustment, I'll try moving it forward next. My backside loved the brooks B17 imperial, but the hammock effect caused chaffing terribly up front even after I tightened it several turns with the wrench.

I borrowed a Team PRO S (women's model) hoping that the stiffer leather would not give so much, but it also is shaped like a bowl and chaffed up front like the B17. I'm seriously considering a Brooks B15 Swallow, but the $209 price tag for the base model is putting me off.

The Bontrager Affinity does look very good. So does the Selle San Marco. Thanks for the direction! I'll see if I can find any of those in my area.

I've tried a couple of Specialized models and they feel great for the first 25 miles, but after that the cutout starts to chafe.

[OakLeaf]

I've had issues with the cut-out on Spec' saddles, too. It's early days yet, and my longest ride so far on my SI Turbomatic is only 56 miles, but so far I'm very happy with it.

It may just be that the Jett is still too padded - I never did try a Ruby. That was going to be my next try if I hadn't found such a great deal on the Turbomatic.

[GLC1968]

I also had a lot of trouble with soft-tissue chaffing. For the first 5 years of cycling, I just assumed I had to 'toughen up' up front every season. Ugh!

Relief came to me with the Bontrager inForm RL (WSD). It's similiar to the Affinity but I think it's slightly more T shaped. Comes in three widths - and it's no where near as padded as it looks in the images! The indentation in the front region turned out to be significantly more comfortable (and less chaffing) to me than any cutout I'd tried. It may be worth a shot.

[Scrappy]

Today I tried a few different saddles - Fizik - don't remember which model but it had a long groove down the middle ... Horrible... couldn't stand it even on the trainer.

Brooks Team Pro Mens - My sitbones loved it, but it had the same contact/chafing points as any other Brooks I've tried.

On a whim, I grabbed one of the Adamo noseless saddles not really expecting anything good because it seemed rather narrow, but it took about 5 seconds on the trainer to go "Oh, now this is worth trying!" The guy at the store couldn't help himself and had to give it a go as well, and surprised himself by finding it rather nice.

So this is what I'm trying for now. Thanks for the input everyone. I'll let you know how it works out.

[GLC1968]

I'm happy you found something that feels better. Especially with that ride coming up!

Don't think I've ever heard anyone say they didn't like the Adamo. Just curiouis, which model is it? I know the measurements are not at all like regular saddles, but don't understand how they are supposed to fit, really.

I didn't like the Adamo. I tried all three (road, race and podium) and they were all too wide up front for me (rubbed in the leg crease). The missing nose and flat back part were excellent though!

I hope you've found the answer, Scrappy!

[Scrappy]

I picked up the the Adamo Road model. That's all they had in stock at the store. The saddle fitting is very different with this. It seems like the idea is to ride on the front or cutout part, or be rolled forward more onto the pubic area which is narrower than the sitbone part. That must be the reason why the 135mm width doesn't seem too narrow. Any other standard type saddle would be far to small for me at that size.

I have noticed the wide nose for sure, and the more gradual transition rubbing my ehh..hmm.. generous thighs a bit, but I havn't spent much time fiddling with the adjustment yet. I plan on going for a 28 mile shakedown ride tomorrow.

The website lists another model that may work for me if this one won't. It's called "The Century" and it specifies a wider 145mm sitbone platform and a narrower nose to reduce chafing, but it also has a lot of padding which I usually avoid.

I'll report back tomorrow after the ride and let you all know how it's going. Thanks for the support!