General Cycling Discussion - Saddle Problem: Aero Bars

I ride my road bike on clip-on aero bars a lot, not a super-low position, but it's pretty comfortable and fast. I've been using an ISM Adamo Road (http://www.ismseat.com/products_road.htm) saddle.

Everything was fine for 5000 or 6000 miles, and now all of a sudden I'm having pain where I sit on the prongs. In the last month it went from comfortable to significant discomfort after just 10 minutes. Today it even hurt riding on the hoods and drops. I ride anywhere from 10 to 50 miles a day year-round.

I gained some weight (15 lbs) 6 months ago, but the onset of this problem is more sudden. The tips of the prongs seem a little softer than the rest, but I'm not sure if they were always like that or what.

Bottom line is, this saddle isn't working for me any more. I was hoping you guys might be able to shed some light on this.

Could that saddle have worn out already?

Any ideas for a replacement saddle?

Weird saddle..
there are saddles with added nose padding, given shifting forward is normal,
in time trial efforts.

perhaps a forward Tri position seat post too.. ?
[perhaps one from like Profile , or the Italian saddle makers

I wouldn't want to sit on prongs , Makes me think of antelope horns..

It is an unusual saddle. When I saw the word "gel" I cringed, but that's just me. I have had less than positive experience with gel in connection with bikes. It's OK in the bedroom...

Do you use cycling shorts?

Here's what I'd do. Go to a bike shop. Tell them your problem. See if they have a "stock" saddle that came off a new bike you can buy for cheap. Try it. Then get back to us with your experience.

I have had less than positive experience with gel in connection with bikes. It's OK in the bedroom...



You use a gel saddle in the bedroom?

I totally understand your use of the ISM Saddles! And if the others responding to your post don't understand, well, they probably haven't started having crushed tissue problems in their undercarriages yet. But it's only a matter of time until they start to experience urethral infections, erectile dysfunction, penile or clitoral numbness, urethral strictures, or any of the other fun things that will eventually result from crushing the soft tissues.

You might consider buying a Plan-B saddle: An ISM Touring or Sport model.


http://www.ismseat.com/products.htm


.

Do you use cycling shorts?

Here's what I'd do. Go to a bike shop. . . . See if they have a "stock" saddle that came off a new bike . . .

Yes, I wear cycling shorts. Most people find stock saddles totally unsuitable for this kind of riding (image source (http://www.slowtwitch.com/Products/Timo_Bracht_s_Cucuma/Walser_142.html)).

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/2752/759mediumtimo11.jpg

My position is not as low as that rider's, but my back is pretty flat and my pelvis rotated forward. In that kind of a position you have to be very careful about support, since the forward rotation can put a lot of pressure on the wrong places with a stock-type saddle.

Hence the weird design on the Adamo.

It's actually been really comfortable for me. Being on the aero bars is 1-2 mph faster, more in a headwind, but it also is way more relaxed for me. I can rest on my forearms all day long, I'm not down so far I have to crane my neck, and I have plenty of room to breathe.

But now all of a sudden I am having this pressure issue.

One of the saddles I am considering is this one by Serfas (http://www.serfas.com/product_details.asp?ID=575).

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/9163/tri3s.jpg

That saddle should not cause a problem but where you are sitting on it will.

Find out where your "Sit Bones" are and get them way back on the wing of the saddle- the flared out part at the back of the saddle. Angle the saddle so you cannot feel the "Prongs" underneath you.

Basically you are sitting too far forward and supporting the wrong part of your anatomy on the wrong part of the saddle.

Yes, I wear cycling shorts. Most people find stock saddles totally unsuitable for this kind of riding (image source (http://www.slowtwitch.com/Products/Timo_Bracht_s_Cucuma/Walser_142.html)).

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/2752/759mediumtimo11.jpg

My position is not as low as that rider's, but my back is pretty flat and my pelvis rotated forward. In that kind of a position you have to be very careful about support, since the forward rotation can put a lot of pressure on the wrong places with a stock-type saddle.

Hence the weird design on the Adamo.

It's actually been really comfortable for me. Being on the aero bars is 1-2 mph faster, more in a headwind, but it also is way more relaxed for me. I can rest on my forearms all day long, I'm not down so far I have to crane my neck, and I have plenty of room to breathe.

But now all of a sudden I am having this pressure issue.

One of the saddles I am considering is this one by Serfas (http://www.serfas.com/product_details.asp?ID=575).

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/9163/tri3s.jpg

That's more like it. But what I was suggesting for very little money trying out some thing different. Heck, a bike shop that thinks you might buy a nice saddle like the Serfas from them might let you try it out for free.

But back to the Adamo, I guess I am unobservant but I've never seen one of those on the pro time trial equipment I see profiled on sites like bikeradar.com

I guess I'll have to pay closer attention.

beezaur, I've used aerobars for years, primarily on my distance bikes. The worst part is setting the initial fit, but you're past that so I suspect it is the extra 15 lbs. and or some sort of a break down of the saddle.

I haven't used that model of Serfas, but I have used Serfas saddles and their quality is (was?) first rate.

Brad