Saddle Issues

[jones.mrgrt]

OakLeaf : Fantastic questions that I really should have answered from the start.

I am a racer, or at least getting back to training after an extended time off due to an injury, so aero or at least not upright is pretty important.

I have fewer issues in a more upright position but it's still not terribly comfortable.

I went out for a ride yesterday and played around with that lower-back flexibility and where/how I sit. What I learned :

• I'm pretty sure I need a cut out or channel
• When I get more aero with my current saddle I get WAY too much pressure where it shouldn't be
• If I shift back in this more aero position it alleviates most of those issues

My current saddle has a cutout, it's pretty tiny and in the middle of the saddle. What I'm pretty sure I need is a larger cutout or channel that extends through the nose of the saddle so that all the pressure isn't on soft tissue when I go aero.

That is why I was looking at Fizik (the arione donna).

I'm going to be off the bike again for two weeks or so for a silent meditation retreat. I'm not going to be able to try anything before leaving but I want to gather information so that I am ready to go when I get back.

I've read about saddle shape, pear vs T, and some of the important points but I still don't really understand anything about it.

M-Rad : I am pretty sure that riding more aero will always create a different weight distribution between soft tissue/sit bones

[OakLeaf]

Well, I'm all about my SI Turbomatic Gel Flow. They're not cheap and last I checked they weren't in SI's trial program, but if you can find one to try, it's I think as T-shaped as it gets in a 153 mm width, and the cut-out is very generous (both in width and front-to-back) thanks to the domed shape.

Shifting back, but not being able to stay back, says one of two things to me (possibly both) - your cockpit is too long, and/or your saddle is too wedge (pear) shaped.

What saddle are you riding now - what else have you tried?

[M-Rad]

I ride a Fizik Vesta.

I tried moving the saddle forward today so I was more on my sit bones even in an aero position but after 4 hours of riding, decided I def need a cutout.

I love the generous cutout on the Selle SMP but I've tried 3 that didn't work. I will try another next week.

You are probably right that I need more of a t-shapped saddle but I'm so bad at distinguishing between a pear and a T. how can you tell the difference. Do you know if the SI SLR Lady is a T? That is the next saddle on tap to try out.

[Miranda]

http://www.amazon.com/TERRY-BUTTERFL.../dp/B0007656NI

Oh this link above is probably in vain, but fwiw... that's my beloved saddle: Terry Butterfly Tri Gel.

I have it on 2 of my bikes, and a different Terry on the 3rd.

It's probably not all super racer light as you would like. But when you are not in pain and comfortable, you perform better all the way around.

Since you commented you were off the bike for injury (been there), and are getting back into racing... are you sure things overall are fitted to you properly?

Just some food for thought as the saddle I mentioned was one I tried before in my VERY long saddle search... to learn it wasn't the saddle so much... it was my ill fit on the bike... that exact same saddle with a good fit is what worked.

Good Luck!

[jones.mrgrt]

I'm currently riding a "Skye" saddle. Not sure where it came from. It's pretty narrow, has a decent cut out. Similar to these other skye saddles. http://forums.mtbr.com/weight-weenie...le-370575.html

From what I remember I've tried is a bontrager something (went to my LBS measured my sit bones and was told to get it). No cut out but a small groove, squishy, and hell on my race bike. It is currently on my commuter and it works fine, largely in part to not having a long enough seat post, so I am much more upright and the squish helps the sit bones.

But when you are not in pain and comfortable, you perform better all the way around.

True that.

My mom's boyfriend/my coach, as well as my LBS, other part time coach, and other friend, have all looked at my position. All people I really trust and who know their stuff. I worry about my position, especially because of my injury (medial meniscus damage), but I'm pretty sure that it was caused from not stretching enough/at all. I go through a pretty hard core stretching routine in the mornings and follow my rides with ice. I've been working with a chiropractor, who is also a cyclist, and it seems to be helping. (The chiropractor says it's probably due to tight hips and muscle imbalance.)

Pretty sure my fit is okay. Although that is a really good point and something that I should double, triple, quadruple check.