Jux25

I know I know I know, fitting is everything. I've been fitted twice, helps a little but not the best. Saddles aren't supposed to be shaped flat - bottom line - its a bad design. Can anyone tell me if they've used the Koobi or ISM saddles?

John Hood

You don't really give enough information here. What kind of cyclist are you? 10 miles a week? 100+ miles a week? What kind of condition are you in?

Different saddles will work better for different types of riding. Generally the more hunched over you are the narrower the saddle should be. For upright type riding I like a wide leather saddle with springs. On my road bike I really like my Brooks Cambium. I tried it for awhile on my mountain bike though and didn't like it at all. I was sitting too upright and supporting more of my weight on my butt and I got sore by the end of my ride. I did 16 miles on it yesterday on the road bike though and it was great.

Getting in really good shape helps a lot. When you're pedaling hard most of the time, then your weight is on your feet rather than your butt and your crotch.

I have found very soft saddles to be quite comfortable for very short rides, but after half an hour or so they can become miserable. Generally, I prefer leather saddles.

phoebeisis

What John Hood says-is right and covers all of it-ignore my rant(too little coffee-only 6:30am-4 cups in-not "right" until at least 5).
But I would extend his thoughts
It is probably a bad idea to ride-crouched/bent over a bike-for hours.
The usual aero bike position- ISN'T COMFORTABLE
The upright 1950's bike position
the position 1,000,000,000 Chinese and 900,000,000 Indians rode in until they recently became more affluent
and every human being who actual HAS to ride for transportation rode in- is upright
Is much more comfortable-
but bikes just aren't "good" comfortable for much over 45 minutes-

As OP has discovered- "fit" is boloney -your perineum just wasn't/isn't designed to be weight bearing
lotta some-what delicate structures there
sure crouched over is faster-more aero-but it sure as heck isn't comfortable
45 minute ride is pushing the limits of comfort-and good sense-
If you ride in the usual crouch-and are male(or female-lotta delicate also)-get a saddle with a BIG cutout-keep your weight off the center of your perineum-
Yes this means more pressure on your "butt bones" and yes you will feel like you are sliding off
but eventually you will get accustomed to it-and your wedding tackle will thank you for it
Bike saddles-aren't comfortable-not in the usual aero bike position-too much weight on structures not designed for it
We are designed to walk-run-not to ride Trial and error is how you find a saddle-
Chasing FIT-is as you have discovered-BS- strictly trial and error
What works for someone else-might be torture for you
But a BIG CUTOUT-is a good idea

Just look at the position Actual Transportation Riders ride in- ZERO DROP BARS ZERO CROUCHED OVER BIKES- only "po folks" in the USA are actual transportation riders-meaning ZERO FOLKS on this site.
Sport riding recreation riding exercise fun riding -is what we do-comfort is secondary since if we don't want to ride-we don't ride

Like John Hood says-soft is great for short rides-I ride 45 minutes-ride a HUGE SOFT SADDLE- bolt upright-
Long rides-trial and error-find what works for you-forget about paying for "a fit person" that is a gimmick
He is right-really wide-isn't great for bent over riding-obvious why
Really narrow-best for really bent over-but it means more weight on less surface-
and if you value your wedding tackle-big cutout means EVEN LESS SURFACE AREA- even more pressure on the contact surfaces-
So ride fast-let your feet-driving foot-and hands shoulders-carry the weight
Yeah ignore my rant-John Hood said it all-except for the wedding tackle cutout

auldgeunquers

... I think someone was just waiting for an excuse to post the phrase "wedding tackle", that's what I think ...

If we were in this for the comfort of it we'd all be on recumbents.

That said - agree with the above - and have never used the weird fancy saddles - they don't usually show up on the roadside the thrift store donor bikes that form my usual parts source. If the saddle works, it stays. If not, it goes. When I think about it it is amazing how many different style of saddle that have stayed.

The surprising exception - the big honking gel comfort/cruiser saddle - really comfortable for about 10 minutes, then all downhill - and the hill just keeps getting steeper.

gsa103

I've used Koobi and Selle SMP. Koobi was alright, but nothing too special. The PRS system is really more of a gimmick than anything. It didn't help that I got the Enduro model, and later realized I need far less padding. Selle SMP is very good, but definitely takes some getting used to. Specialized Romin was also very good.

Also, bike position is everything. On a road bike, I need an SMP or equivalent to be comfortable. Just about anything works on a more upright MTB.

Dave Cutter

+1

And when you're fit you'll also more likely stand and pedal for that extra burst of speed from time-to-time. After all.... once you've become a cyclist it doesn't take long for a butt to toughen-up. But if you get tired and plop your weight of the seat (because if your sitting on it... it's a seat not a saddle) then of course the blood is going to pool there in you large muscles. And that it going to be sore. Period.

Big, wide, fat, heavily padded, and cushioned with coil-spring seats are still a seat. And putting all that weight on a butt is going to hurt after a short spell.

John Hood

One other thing I find helps a lot is changing your position often. Stand up to climb sometimes. It might be more tiring than sitting and spinning, but your butt will feel better. Ride hands free for 1/4 mile or so. It does wonders for any soreness in your back and both standing and hands free take the weight off your perineum.