Is it the saddle or me?

[Bethany1]

I know which test you are referring to so I'll have to take another look.

[rebeccaC]

discomfort from the front of the saddle may be an angle problem. you might want to tilt the nose up just a bit and see how that feels. tilted down can cause your hips to move forward.

[Bethany1]

This is probably TMI but I'm so bruised and swollen down there. Is this a saddle problem or a fit issue?

I'll check into another professional fitting. The LBS that gave the best went under a couple of years go but I'll call a couple of stores. I had the bruising problem once over the summer. I went for a couple of days..an hour or so each day for 3-4 days and ended up with the same problem. I was off the bike for 3 weeks until I healed up. Maybe a center opening would prove useful. I thought I was doing good until today.

[ny biker]

This is probably TMI but I'm so bruised and swollen down there. Is this a saddle problem or a fit issue?

I'll check into another professional fitting. The LBS that gave the best went under a couple of years go but I'll call a couple of stores. I had the bruising problem once over the summer. I went for a couple of days..an hour or so each day for 3-4 days and ended up with the same problem. I was off the bike for 3 weeks until I healed up. Maybe a center opening would prove useful. I thought I was doing good until today.

If you haven't yet measured your sit bones, start with that. It's free (unless you need to buy a tape measure) and you can do it at home.

As for the cutout, if the problem is chafing, then a cutout might help. If it's bruising from too much pressure, then a cutout will not help and may make it worse.

Look here for more on measuring sit bones and testing to see if you could use a cutout.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=39475

[Bethany1]

Thanks for the links to all the saddle threads. Have read them again. I believe I have a men's 4ZA Stratus on my bike. It's their lowest end saddle. My next question is, how do you tell what shape a saddle is? I think my B17 is considered pear and my saddle is T shaped? I put an order in on Amazon.com for a Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow saddle. If it's more of a T-shape problem, cancel the order or give it a try? I haven't measured my sit bones..can't find my measuring tape at 1 am..lol but I think the last time I did a test I was around 150 something.

[ny biker]

If you have the men's saddle, it's either 130 or 145 mm. Either would be too narrow if your sit bones are ~150 mm. Looking at the dimensions diagrams, this saddle looks pretty pear-shaped to me.

http://www.4za.com/saddles/stratos

I think the Brooks is considered more t-shaped.

The SI Diva looks to be 160 mm, which would probably be better for you, but may be too wide (which would cause chafing). But the only way to know would be to try it.

[Sky King]

yes, a sit bones measurement is in order. Sounds like most of your weight is on your soft tissue instead of your bones. I think many of us "sit" differently when on a trainer which can also add
to the problem. I tend to find myself more upright and as I am stationary I somehow seem to change the curve of my back which can shift the weight to the soft tissue spot instead of the sit bones.

Wishing you luck! Hate the saddle hunt. I had a B17 imperial on my new bike and realized the "fenders" of the Brooks aren't for me so am ordering a new Rivet Pearl in black (matchy, matchy)
Love my Rivet!