Thanks for the advice all, I hadn't looked closely enough at the saddle to realize there is a metal-on-metal pivot in the front. A little complimentary package of Proofhide came in the box, I think I still have it.

That Thudbuster seat post looks like a cool idea, I had a preconceived notion that all sprung seat posts were pogo stick devices.

Anyhoo..... gotta do something, the way it is now the only way I have to let sleeping dogs lie is to stand on the pedals and coast.