Embarrassing Seat Injury?!

[L-Bell]

Thank you - I did peruse the saddle threads, I think I'm just rushing and panicking a little b/c my "big" ride is a week from Fri and I'm hoping to find some relief (and re-gain some sensation) before then.

My LBS (hee hee using acronyms) did spend 2+ hours with me when I bought the bike, fitting and making adjustments, and everything else feels pretty good. When I stopped in yesterday, the fitting/saddle guy I needed had just started a new fitting, so someone else helped me choose a new saddle based on the pain I described. He said what I'm hearing here - that squishy may look tempting but is not the way to go. They have a 30-day exchange policy and said to try it and and come back as often as needed until I find the right one.

Great to know a little more about butter usage (didn't want to get carried away and ooze right off the bike, and never would have thought it could go right on chamois) - I think a little will help with the irritation as I get going again.

Tonight I will get out a chair and tape measure, read those threads, and work on finding a longer-term solution! Thanks again as always for the advice.

[lph]

Tonight I will get out a chair and tape measure, read those threads, and work on finding a longer-term solution! Thanks again as always for the advice.

Yes do! It's quite an enlightenling experience to realize what part of your anatomy you're actually trying to support, and how to do it.

My personal experience is that a too narrow saddle is total he11 from the first 5 minutes, it feels like you're being split up the middle. No can do. A wide enough saddle will usually work somehow, but if it's too cushy you'll get chafed along the inner thigh. Think of trying to run wearing a diaper. A firm saddle can feel uncomfortable to begin with, and you will get sore at the pressure points. But it's a bruised kind of feeling, very sore to begin with, eases off after a little while in the saddle, and goes away completely within maybe a week. If you're feeling numb and pins and needles soft tissue and nerves are getting compressed, and you might want to try a saddle with a cut-out. I can hardly ride a saddle without one. Just a few tips to get you started.

[murielalex]

One thing I also learned: I need to activate my core muscles. My saddle wasn't the problem. It was me. When I'm using my abs to more or less suck in my belly, I'm in perfect position. When I forget, I'm basically letting the lady parts press into the saddle, and after a few miles, they'll let me know things aren't good.

[airrace]

Well, even if you think that the problem was you - just check if you have to "concentrate" too much on the way you sit. After all, a good saddle should make you sit comfortably from the start.