Hear here! I was having progressively horrible rides on my Brooks Swift and was about to write it off. I tried to get a Selle Anatomica before my next century but they are so busy, he said he could not get it out in a week. I did buy the paper written on fitting handlebars and saddles from the Selle Anatomica website. Even though I've had 3 professional fittings and read lots of articles, this one seemed to say some things in a way that were new or more emphatic to me.

1. Don't set your saddle too high - you'll grind your butt to shreds if you do.
2. Rotate the saddle (left or right) to accomodate for certain assymetrical conditions.
3. Raise the nose of the saddle 1/8 to 1/4 inch higher than level.

According to the guideline measurements in the article, my saddle was 1 1/2" too high! I did not have the patience to sneak up on a good fit. I lowered the saddle 1". I raised the nose 1/4" and I rotated the saddle 1 degree to the right (I always get sore in the same place on the left side).

As soon as I started riding, I knew something was different. The saddle was way more comfortable than it had been. I was able to peddle at 100 cadence without bouncing. I still had a saddle sore from my last 60 mile ride, but it was not bothering me.

Now I am experienced enough to know that I really haven't tested it fully. I've done two 25 mile rides to see if I was anywhere in the ballpark. For me, significant pain starts setting in around 40 miles if things are not right. Tomorrow I am going to ride a 55 mile test ride over a well know route that I've used for saddle testing in the past. At the end of that ride I will know whether I am onto something or this is another false start.

I have come to the conclusion that Brooks saddles are very unforgiving of a fit that is even slightly off, but must be pretty sweet if you ever find that good fit.

A Selle Anatomica is in my future if I don't converge on something good with the Brooks in the next 200 miles.

Bob