Han

Hi,
Newbie here.
I'm having a Bad Saddle Time. After years of biking shorter distances on a hybrid bike, I recently started riding longer distances (20-40 mi) and upgraded to a road bike. Well... I have been messing with my handlebars, changing the stem, etc. to get myself a little more upright, but the new road bike position is squashing my soft tissue in the saddle and it's miserable!

I used to have a Serfas RX on my hybrid, which I wasn't totally happy with. Now I have a Trek Women's CRZ+ Comfort, tilted slightly down. I thought it would help because the cut-out goes almost to the tip of the saddle nose, and most of my squashed soft tissue is toward the front of my sit area. But I am not happy with it. Can't stay on my sit bones, and the cut-out doesn't seem to help much. I am wondering... has anyone tried this weird-looking saddle (or one like it)? I am trying to get more info before I spend the $80: https://www.bycycleinc.com/

Thanks!

Han

Guest

DON'T DO IT!

I heard bad stories about this saddle- I've also heard of a high number of returns....

I was having horrible problems and saddle sores and bad chafing, and I couldn't get comfortable when I started doing longer distance riding. I finally got a new saddle- I think it's made by "Planet Saddle", and the seat is the "Comfort" seat. If you check through the Women's Cycling section, I did a post in one of the threads about the saddle.

You can also do a check under my name if you can't find the thread- the thread should be 1- 3 pages from the front page, if it's not on the fron page of the Women's Cycling forum.

Koffee

Han

Ah yes... I found them...
https://www.planetbike.com/saddles.html , right?

Hmm... I wonder if the Comfort model would be ok... I keep wondering if I need the cut out to help prevent tissue-squashing... though it's obviously not working so well right now. It's really reasonably priced... perhaps I will investigate...

Thanks, Koffee!

mlwschultz

I'm using the same seat - Trek Women's CRZ+. Tilting the nose down helped with the soft tissue problems, but now the back is killing me. My sit bones hurt when riding & my tailbone hurts long afterwards. Time to call the LBS & get their next recommendation.

OctoberBlue

I like the Terry Butterfly saddle. On my road bike, I had been riding a Selle Italia stock saddle which never was very comfortable, especially when I was riding in the 'drops'. (Numbness of any kind is BAD.)

Earlier this summer, I switched to the Butterfly on recommendation of the LBS. They said if I wasn't happy with it after 2 weeks trial, they'd take it back. Well, I'm still riding it. Very comfortable even after a 175 mile weekend. It's not a 'beefy' women's saddle, but the padding is in all the right places and the location of the cutout is perfect. No need to tilt the saddle any which way... level is best.

Of course, as with any saddle, YMMV. Cutouts/padding are a little different for each manufacturer. I'd recommend talking with your LBS folks and see if you can 'test ride' a few over time until you find the one that's right for you.

mlwschultz

I called my LBS (using the CRZ+ now - see above) and they said they all ride Terry saddles & that's what they suggested I try next. I'll know soon enough once I get the new saddle on there. One good long ride will tell me how it'll work out.

Han

yep... i am still searching for an LBS that i really like... but i think i can still return the CRZ+ saddle to the LBS i got it from and get a terry instead. i think that's what i'll try next... because i looked at one today--the butterfly--and it was nice and level, and i am tired of rolling into the "valley" of the CRZ. ouch!


so... as soon as i finish moving into my first house (!) i will be able to get on my bike again and try out a terry... and i will report back!

thanks!

Guest

If the Terry doesn't work, try the saddle I recommended- the Comfort actually has a nice groove right down the middle, and with the slightly wider saddle, you get a very comfortable fit on the saddle. I did my first century on my Specialized saddle and almost cried when I got home. A week later, I did my second century on my new saddle, and I returned home with absolutely no discomfort and feeling pretty darn good.

Koffee

Inoch

As mentioned before, Numbness of any kind isn't good. after tweaking the stem, saddle height, different saddles I purchased a trico split rail last fall. Really for the first time, I am comfortable, totally comfortable, on my road bike. I also now have one on the MTB also. anyhoo, this saddle works for me and my parts.

mlwschultz

I've tried the Terry Butterfly & the Serfas Curva, with no success. No problems in front, but my sit bones are killing me. I don't get too many (if any) butt breaks during a ride, so need a comfortable saddle. I'm now back to the Trek CRZ+, wondering if a gel seat cover will help?

Guest

I keep telling folks, that saddle I moved to is perfect for alleviating pain in the sit bones- the Planet Saddle got me from fidgeting in the saddle with my old specialized saddle to sitting comfortably with very little shifting and being comfortable with doing century rides. The Comfort saddle series for Planet Saddle does the trick- plus has a nice groove down the middle to alleviate pain in the 'nether regions'.

Koffee

1oldRoadie

www.wall.bike.com this is your only true answer!!

mlwschultz

Koffee - Which Comfort saddle do you use? They list several on their website. I only tried the Terry for 1 ride, but it was so hard & uncomfortable I couldn't wait to change it (the LBS gave me 2 seats to try last time I was there). I tried the Serfas for 3 rides, but each ride it was worse. The last time I was nearly in tears at times. My husband says I'm expecting too much. I don't expect to be completely comfortable on the saddle, but I don't think that expecting not to be sore after getting off the bike is too much to ask for. And when you can't wait to get home from your ride so you can get off the saddle, then you've definitely got the wrong saddle.

1old Roadie - What am I looking for once I go to that site? Looks like a lot of info available.

Thanks!

Guest

This one: Comfort web spring for suspension seat posts#5010 going for $24.99. It's the saddle second from the bottom of the page listed in the link I gave earlier on in this thread.

mlwschultz

Thanks Koffee!