best saddle for flat-bar hybrid?

[Trek420]

I have the Sella Italia Ldy gel on both my road bike and CX. Both are fit slightly upright, even the road. It's an excellent saddle for me.

[Awsmile]

Based on what you said, and what everyone else recommends, I suggest the Romin Comp Gel. It's not like the regular more extreme Romins in that it is flat, and suitable for more upright riding, has a large cutout, and rubs the area you describe less than other saddles like the specialized Ruby and Toupe. They do not have this equivalent shape in the women's line. I've used both men's and women's specialized saddles, and they are essentially unisex.

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/ftb...n-evo-comp-gel

Also, you mention that your current saddle is quite large, have you measured your sitbones? Larger, more padded saddles tend to be more pear shaped. Could be making it worse.

Thanks, Muirenn! I've measured my sitbones but am going to have a fitter measure them next week (umm, not like the last post.) I like the cutout and am just a little worried that I might need more padding, from reading some of the reviews. My estrogen hit the road long, long ago, so I have absolutely no natural cushioning. I started a thread when I first joined TE about older riders, but no one seemed to have the same delicate - or indelicate - problem. Right now, looks like the Romin comp gel or Selle Italia Diva. I just KNOW I could do 75 if I could just endure the darn saddle! Thanks for your help!

[Crankin]

I think there are (were) quite a few people with that "delicate" problem; I was one. There probably already was a thread about this. More padding on the saddle is not the answer, or at least it wasn't for me.

[Awsmile]

The Comp has a lot more padding than the Expert and higher end Romins, which is likely the ones they are referring to. I have both. But, the Comp is still lightly padded compared to most saddles, so won't have the issue where the padding compresses and causes pain. The expert romin is on my Pinarello, my fast road bike, and the comp romin is on my Le Monde, my older style steel road bike. I'm a lot more sensitive when I have my period, and I prefer the comp during that week. (Yep, I have a period bike. Sue me. ).

I'll try to put a photo of the two bikes with their saddles up later.

I have a Specialized Gel Toupe on my CAADX, that bike is more upright than the other two, so I can deal, but the cutout on that bike is not a large, hence the Romins are on the regular road bikes. (CAADX is a Cyclocross, and it is about 1.5 cm higher in the front than the others, plus, I set it up to be higher, so the saddle to bar drop is less. It's about 7 cm's on the road bikes. Maybe 3 on the CAADX (though I haven't measured that saddle to bar drop). Different use for that bike, so different setup.

Specialized has a 30 day return policy. If you get it from them, you can send it back if you don't like it.

Hi Muirenn, and thanks again for the info. I was measured by Bike Rack in Burlington VT, by a woman - yay! - who was really helpful. My husband ended up buying the Romin comp gel that you recommended . I loved the cutout but it was too hard for me, and I ended up with the Lithia. Wow, I love it! Haven't gone more than 30 in a day with it yet, but absolutely no soreness and I'm finally sitting on my sit bones. Thanks again for your help!