Can a new saddle affect my toes?

[ny biker]

As I've mentioned in various other threads, I've used the same Wylder Juliana saddle on my road bike for years, but it is now worn out so I am searching for a new one.

I've tried two different saddles so far, and in both cases I'm having problems with the middle toes on my left foot going a bit numb after about an hour. So I'm wondering if the saddles are causing this problem, or if it's just a coincidence that this started happening around the same time as the saddle tests. The right foot is fine.

The details are: In July I put the Bontrager Evoke RL (154 mm) on my bike. It's close to the Juliana in size and shape, but the contours of the tops of the saddles are different, for example the Evoke has an indentation in the nose that the Juliana did not have. I noticed that I started to feel some numbness in the middle toes of my left foot after about an hour of riding with this saddle.

For a variety of reasons, I decided the Evoke will not work on this bike. There are other comfort issues, and since it's intended for mountain biking and therefore designed for a more upright riding position, I'm planning to put it on my mountain bike where I think it will be okay.

A couple of days ago I put a Bontrager Affinity RL saddle (144 mm) on the road bike. There is a small indentation in the nose but it's not as deep as the one on the Evoke. I took it for a test spin last night. Toward the end of my ride, the middle toes on my left foot started to feel numb again.

Shoes, cleat positions, etc. have stayed the same. The fit guy at the LBS made sure the Evoke was positioned correctly for me, and the Affinity (same length as the Evoke) is in the same position. As for the different saddle widths, the Bontrager measuring thing indicates I should go with the 144, which I ignored with the Evoke because the Juliana is about 155 mm. But since the 154 mm Affinity is not in stock at the store right now, and my best efforts to measure my sit bones came out to ~135 mm from outside to outside, I figured I'd give the 144 a try and see how it felt. (There's a 30-day guarantee if I don't like it.)

So, that's my tale of toe woe. Any ideas?

Thanks!

[HillSlugger]

My guess, you are probably getting pressure on a nerve.