Triathlon - Saddle Comfort probably more for the guys

All right guys. I rode all through last year without too many saddle issues. This year, I am almost on the exact same setup, but for some reason, 20-30 miles into the ride my taint gets sore. I have my saddle to the left just a touch. I ride a saddle with a thick gellish front. my saddle is level, riding with it pointed down a little helps but then my shoulders get sore.

I'm going to try lowering my saddle a touch for the next week and see what happens and maybe pickup some chamois butter. I have a 65-70 miler this weekend. We'll see what happens.

I'm a smaller guy, so I think the thick nose on the saddle creates more rubbing than it should. Any smaller guys like a specific saddle? I was thinking about going for a really race specific saddle and sitting on the back wider portion, it seems a lot of the pros use ridiculous saddles.

thanks for any help

Try Specialized Body Geometry Saddles.

I'm not a guy, but I've had plenty of saddle issues. I'll pass on some of the stuff that I've learned, in no particular order. Sometimes the saddles with the cutouts aren't better, esp. if the edges of the cutouts hit you wrong. Saddles that have a built in contour, or slight dip in the center, might force you into a spot or position that really doesn't work for you. Narrower in the front is generally better for issues of chafing, which I think would be more important for a man. Level is good. Chamois cream is a good thing. Too much gel is not a good thing.

This week I went into my LBS to buy a new saddle and I talked with my bike fitter (a woman) about this stuff. I wound up buying a Fizik Vitesse, which I'll try for the first time tomorrow (weather permitting). It's very flat (no contours), it's wide in the back but narrow in the front, and has no cutouts. She also recommended the Fizik Arione because it gives you lots of freedom to move around on the saddle - pushing back further or sliding forward when necessary. But it was about twice as much so I opted to try the Vitesse for now.

Good luck. I think the quest for the perfect saddle is something most of us have to go through at some point. :(

I've got the Arione on the Soloist, and the Arione Tri on the P3. Did my first long ride last weekend (70 miles on Sunday) on the Soloist and didn't have a single bit of saddle discomfort.

Well I did a 50 mile battle(15-20mph winds) last weekend and got some numbness and a 65 miler this weekend. Both rides included numbness and chaffing beyond what I would call average. SO I came home and ordered a Selle Italia SLK, it's narrow and has a generous cut out. Cheap for such a great saddle at under $75.

Of course the shop I got it from tried to sell me the $150 Toupe which really upsets me because I knew what I wanted and the toupe wasn't it. He couldn't even give me a reason that answered my needs.

I love the saddle that came on my team sl and I put a forte pro(or whatever performance calls their light/thin saddle) after ditching the QR saddle that came on my Kilo, I dont like to much padding and that thing felt like a sponge, along with most of the tri saddles I have sat on

Well my SLK came today. I only got about 5 miles on it and here is my very initial impression, to be updated tomorrow. I ride my saddle at the very far end forward so I can sit on the back part, but I was told the saddle would hold well even on the end of the rails.

Well the saddle is hard, but it feels way better than my old one for various reasons...

1st it is smaller so I can move around on it just a little bit, which I like, and never get much chaffage.
2nd the cut out was doing it's job so far.
3rd the hardness also limited my chaffage

Tomorrow is 30 miles.

How much discomfort should be considered "normal?" I've ridden for a few years and on my two bikes (and 3 saddles) I've always encountered some soreness after 35-40 minutes, usually around the sit-bones or whatever they're called and need to start standing some for a little relief. I figured this was just a normal byproduct of riding, but many people on these boards act like if you're ever the least bit sore you have the wrong saddle. What's normal? Thanks.

Well you're sitting on a small piece of plastic and foam, so there should be some minor side effects. I think a saddle has to fit the person though, which is what I found out with this new one. I'm smaller, I rolll my hips and keep my knees in, so it turned out I needed a skinny saddle in back with a small nose and a cut out.

Do you ever feel like your saddle comfort keeps you from riding more? If so then I'd recommend switching saddles.

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[url]http://www.saddleco.com/flowmain.html (http://imageshack.us)

Anyone try this? I just don;t know.

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[url]http://www.saddleco.com/flowmain.html (http://imageshack.us)

Anyone try this? I just don;t know.

Yeah, can someone please review this? And why doesn't it come in multiple widths? If it came in a 155mm I woulda bought it instantly. But since it only comes in a width of 152 I just dunno.
Opinions? :(

How much discomfort should be considered "normal?" I've ridden for a few years and on my two bikes (and 3 saddles) I've always encountered some soreness after 35-40 minutes, usually around the sit-bones or whatever they're called and need to start standing some for a little relief. I figured this was just a normal byproduct of riding, but many people on these boards act like if you're ever the least bit sore you have the wrong saddle. What's normal? Thanks.

Well, no discomfort is what should be normal and certainly not after only 35 minutes. Can you imagine riding a century that takes hours to complete or touring 7 hours a day for a week or two with that saddle? If something is mildly uncomfortable in 35 minutes, it will be a torture device in 3 hours. Of course, if you haven't been riding in months and suddenly start riding, your rear will be a bit sore, but this should pass in a week or two and there should be no pain or numbness after that. Of course, if you never really ride regularly you may never get over that intial soreness(ie once a month riders).

Short article in Men's Journal last month on penile blood flow rates with various seats. The problem being, less blood flow leads to thickening of the arteries, which...ahem...makes those cialis commercials much more meaningful at a younger age. The reviewer hooked up oxygen sensors to his unit and monitored the fall off in perfusion with time in the saddle. His 'trusty' saddle he thought was comfy dropped his penile blood flow to something ridiculous like 15-20% in the first 5-10 minutes versus the reviewed Body Geometry saddle from Specialized which never got lower than 85-90% baseline--basically equivalent to sitting at your desk. I don't know if this was an under the table commercial for Specialized or not, but I was happy my Tarmac came with a BG saddle!