Saddles not supporting the sit bones - what to try next?
I'm not sure where to go from here. My old saddle was very comfortable, but I wore it out and it's not manufactured anymore. It was a Juliana, made, I think, by Wylder. It was pretty t-shaped, about 155mm wide, and the "crossbar" of the T was pretty substantial. I think it was designed for mountain biking, although I used it on my road bike, too. Here are some photos:
https://picasaweb.google.com/bowmand...laceThisSaddle
The problem I'm having with most of the new saddles I have tried is that I am not being supported (enough) by my sit bones. There's too much weight on the bones in front of them and between my legs (I think the rami?), leaving me feeling very sore at the top/insides of my legs. I am not having problems with chafing.
My sit bones are about 135 mm from outside to outside. I have tried various Bontrager Inform women's saddles, including a few different widths, to no avail. I did ride the Inform Evoke (155mm) for several months last summer, just because I needed something on my bike.
http://bontrager.com/model/08749
Next I tried the SSM Aspide Glamour. I think the size and shape of this saddle is close to what I need, but it is way. too. hard. Painful from the first minute I started to ride it. But more of my weight seems to be on my sit bones with this saddle.
http://www.amazon.com/Selle-San-Marc.../dp/B000O8BECQ
Now I'm trying a Selle Italia saddle that I bought used at a non-profit bike shop. All I know about it is that is says "Ldy" on the nose and it has a channel down the middle rather than a cutout. I haven't found anything similar online, so I guess it's an older version of the SI Lady Gel Flow. It's also about 155 mm.
http://www.wekeepyoucycling.com/en/p...ow-saddle.aspx
So far I've used it for one 30-mile ride. It was better than the Bontrager Evoke, but still left me sore in the wrong places. I will try it again this weekend -- I think it was a bit too far forward before -- but I don't think this will solve the fit problem with this saddle. It is the best so far, but still not ideal.
So, does anyone have ideas on what to try next? Has anyone concluded that that Aspide Glamour was too hard, but the FX version did have enough padding? I've been avoiding Specialized saddles because I don't want a cut-out, but is there one I should try anyway? Something else?
Any thoughts are hugely appreciated. Thanks!!
p.s. I have what I think it is a non-aggressive position on my bike -- saddle is about level with the handlebars, and my hands are always on the hoods or the tops, not in the drops. All of the Bontrager saddles were positioned on my bike by the fit guy/manager of the LBS. I put the Aspide Glamour and Selle Italia in the same position relative to the stem and bottom bracket.
Last edited by ny biker; 03-17-2011 at 10:33 AM.
Reason: added links to show what saddles look like
- Gray 2010 carbon WSD road bike, Rivet Independence saddle
- Red hardtail 26" aluminum mountain bike, Bontrager Evoke WSD saddle
- Royal blue 2018 aluminum gravel bike, Rivet Pearl saddle
Gone but not forgotten:
- Silver 2003 aluminum road bike
- Two awesome worn out Juliana saddles