Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Saddles and (ahem) enlarged prostates....

This is an offshoot from an earlier post..... As a returning cyclist in my seventies, I found I could no longer tolerate "normal" saddles. I've tried many, many saddles (I've got a utility room full of them) and found that no matter how I positioned them, no matter what their material and style, none would be up to the job. I finally got a couple of nose-less saddles, The Easy Seat and The Moonsaddle, and after some experimentation, finally got them mounted in a way that allows me to do hard training rides of 20-35 miles without pain or discomfort. I think that they may be my salvation, but I want to make sure that there isn't some wonder saddle out there that I don't know about.... my current saddles still allow too much forward pressure on my hands and shoulders, I believe, but I think I'm okay with them. Any of you had the same problem? What was your solution?

Have you ever had a fit done on the bike by someone competent? Sometimes what feels like a saddle issue could be a symptom of a deeper fit related issue.

I do not have an enlarged prostate but I fall into the group of people who love their Brooks B17. I just got another bike and I will likely be giving the B17 imperial a shot out of curiosity. http://www.brooksengland.com/catalogue-and-shop/saddles/touring+%26+trekking/B17+Imperial/

If you never find anything that works you can always look into a recumbent for your really long rides and use the upright bike for the shorter fast rides.

I owned and rode a Brooks back in my youth...don't know how it got away from me. Might try that imperial, cut-out model.... and a fit.. thanks for the suggestions.

I have the imperial on my road bike and the regular b17 on my big dummy.... The imperial, for me at least, is awesome... I have prostititus, and also had to go through many saddles. Good luck

Not exactly the same problem for me, but riding in the drops & fast bikes killed my love affair with Brooks saddles. I've been riding the Selle SMP Pro on a few of my bikes, like the saddle very much. The cut-out / depression runs the entire length of the saddle, and the down beaked nose keeps the saddle away from the package. the width is similar to a Brooks b-17N, so plenty of support on the tuberosity. It does need to be angled perfectly, but once dialed in it's the perfect platform for me. Be sure you find an LBS that allows a demo, or buy from an on-line seller that gives full refunds... lots of different sizes and firmnesses to SMP saddles.

http://www.sellesmp.com/smp4bike/en/pro

I'm also in the group that can't ride any flat saddle, especially including Brooks, entirely the wrong shape for me. When (not if) you are at the start of an SIR brevet, you'll see a few Brooks. Mostly ordinary modern saddles with cutouts. LD riding does attract an older crowd.

At 58 I guess I am one of those older guys who is taking up longer distance riding. I am 6'3" and having saddle trouble. It seems my sit bones like a 143-146 width saddle. I have tried Obrea, Specialized and right now a Bontrager RXL. But after @60 miles I get sore, real sore. I have good shorts. But I need some suggestions. I weigh 225.

At 58 I guess I am one of those older guys who is taking up longer distance riding. I am 6'3" and having saddle trouble. It seems my sit bones like a 143-146 width saddle. I have tried Obrea, Specialized and right now a Bontrager RXL. But after @60 miles I get sore, real sore. I have good shorts. But I need some suggestions. I weigh 225.

Sore is vague and real sore is really vague. ;) If you give some more detailed descritpion of what you're dealing with it would help. Are you having numbness, chaffing, saddle sores or whatever. Be descriptive! I'm almost identical height and weight as you and don't have any pain so it can be done.

My solution was to get a recumbent. After years of trying different saddles and bikes, I was ready to spend the money. After my first longish ride and the only thing I had wrong was tired legs, I knew I made the right call.