Originally Posted by rpenmanparker

I'm no physician, but this is fairly common knowledge. Assuming you are a guy, as you get older you may need to focus your attention not just on the nebulous "soft tissues" but on the specific prostate gland. Most saddle related pain dissipates very quickly after you finish a ride. Prostate inflammation can continue for days or longer. Your mention of long lasting pain is what suggests prostate to me. I think generally it would feel less like a site-specific pain and more like a cramping in the overall area. Riding probably doesn't cause the problem, but can make it worse. For sure an inflamed prostate is intolerant of riding while it is sore. If you have that broad area cramp like pain, burning or otherwise painful urination, inability to fully empty your bladder, frequent urination, etc., then you should see a urologist.

As for a saddle that will irritate the generic soft tissues and specific prostate less, sure a channel saddle is a possible choice. But why go half way? There are no drawbacks to the well designed CUT OUT saddles. Why not go right to the best available remedy? My favorites are the ones made by Terry. These are not the ones most frequently mentioned on the 41, but they have helped me with prostate inflammation and allowed me to continue to ride. They are light, sleek, and come in a variety of widths. I need a slightly wider saddle, so I like the Falcon Y (The X is for women.). YMMV.

Originally Posted by rpenmanparker

Of course, it can't be a conclusion, just a suspicion. OP is not talking about numbness in the sex organ or pain at the sit bones. Soft tissues means perineum to me, directly above which is the prostate. Press on the perineum, you press on the prostate. Then he says three things that suggest prostate to me, he is getting up in age, he used to tolerate a flat saddle but not any more, and the pain lasts for days after the ride. The change in response to a flat saddle doesn't compute with other explanations, but would be consistent with an episode of prostatitis; not necessarily caused by cycling, but not friendly to it either. Just sayin' that if the pain presents itself like prostate pain and is accompanied by other urinary issues, he should see a doctor about it. Truth is, once you have had prostate problems, that is what you always think of first. Just another viewpoint about a unresolved problem.