Originally Posted by
Redbullet
I never had so deep issues, but I felt the effect of a wrong setting of the saddle for around 1 hour with a rent mtb bike. I'd try the following, all of them at once:
- 5 days rest (or better 10?)
- Use a saddle with "nose" curved down and with large cut-off.
- Tilt down the saddle nose, especially if the handlebar is lower than the level of the saddle, or if ridding on drops. I never understood some advises to keep the saddle level (or worse - to tilt the saddle nose up) on a road bike, especially when the handlebar is lower than the saddle. It would mean to support large part of body weight on the groin - which is always a very bad thing.
Tilting down the saddle might reduce some comfort of riding, but adaptation should occur in time, whilst supporting weight on the groin will never result in adaptation, but in bigger or even permanent damage.
That's because it's been the best advice for over a 100 years. The more you drop the nose of the saddle the more your butt 'walks' forward on the saddle and you end up putting even pressure on your soft bits. If the saddle is level or slightly nose up you'll be able to stay on your sit bones much more easily. If sitting on a level saddle and reaching the bars is not comfortable you don't tilt the saddle down, you fix the bar height/reach issue. Talk to ANY experienced, reputable bike fitter and they'll confirm this.