Rob944

I just did 30 miles in the rain on the new seat and the last 10 were agony. I have previously used Specialized BG seats but my last one was causing problems to the crease where my legs meet my but. That area gets no friction with the E3 but the area below the sit bones is now very inflammed. This is the first "hard" seat that I have used and I am hoping it is just a matter of getting used to it and breaking it in but, damn its going to be rough. Anyone have a any advice?

SesameCrunch

I don't have any advice for you since I don't know your circumstances. However, as someone who owns two E3 Form saddles, I can give you some assurance that they CAN work. Hope you find the right answer.

Eyeseeu

I am using the E3 too, but for me it was comfy from the first ride. Either it will take some getting used to, or hits in a bad spot for you. How soon did it start hurting? Might need a few short rides to see if you will adapt.

Rob944

My sit bones were uncomfortable from the start and just got worse. I'm going to give it some time. Hopefully my but just needs to get used to a hard seat. I have 3 weeks before the tour de cure to get it right.

Downshift

I tried the E3 and found it very uncomfortable. Actually, it was fine for the first 15 miles or so, and then AGONY for the rest. It lasted about 3 rides. I found the same thing with the Fizik Arione that replaced it.

If it doesn't get right soon, there's always a Brooks. (Just thought I'd be the first to say that in this saddle thread!)

daver42

When I first rode using the E3, I could feel my sit bones sort of slide back and forth on the seat. Only used it on my 5-mile commute to break it in. After a few days, I found the sweet spot on the seat and my sit bones have been happy ever since. Did a 50-mile ride this past Saturday with no complaints down there. Give it some time. I'd recommend mounting the seat with its rails level. Also, when riding, try starting with your butt as far back in the seat that's comfortable. While you ride, you may naturally progress forward to the right spot.

cs1

When will you all learn? Can you say Brooks? It ain't new, it ain't trendy, it ain't carbon, and it sure ain't light. It is comfortable. Enough said.

Tim

iNewton

Wow, that's my exact seat and exact same problem. You had a small seat?

Rob944

Good to hear, thanks. I do have it mounted level. Regarding the Brooks posts, I dont have anything against them but are they not also very hard?

Rob944

I'm not sure what you mean by a small "seat"? I had and original BG seat and a BG Milano, both about the same size. I'm 6'3 and 195 so my "seat" is not too small I found that the BG's are very comfortable and eliminate any numbness issues. Once I started doing more than 30 miles or so regularly the softness of the seat and the width of the nose of the seat caused the problems with my "creases". Try a seat with a narrow nose.

iNewton

I was under the impression that the BG specialized saddle came in different sizes, nevermind if not.
I think my problem is I move too much on the saddle though, I may have to tilt the front up a little and play with that. What was your seat angle? Were you level?

Rob944

You are correct, the new ones come in different sizes after you get measured on the assmeter Mine came with the bike. I rode it level. If you are getting sores where I was I think it is because the nose of the saddle is too wide. The E3 is great for solving that but it is much harder than the BG.

Scooped

This one is very confortable from the start I have about 2-300 mi on it I had a pro link lite that I put on my other bike. Like that one also

cydewaze

Actually, it's probably become the most retro-trendy saddle on earth. I'm sure a Brooks is super-comfy, but I don't know if three weeks is enough for the OP to break one in.

SesameCrunch

This was exactly the same experience I had when I first got my E3 (last Sept). After finding the sweet spot (towards the back of the saddle), it was very nice. I've since done Centuries in the saddle.

Because of the narrow nose, the "sweet spot" (ie. comfortable sitting area) is pretty small, so this saddle doesn't support a lot of shifting around of your riding position.

Rob944

I sent an email to Josh Cohen and he responded. His advice is to give it some time, keep it level and make sure the sit bones are over the widest part of the seat. He also recommended moving around on the seat and standing regularly regardless of the seat. Nice guy. I 'm going to try some shorter rides and see how it goes. Thanks for the help everyone.

rsty2fan

I use the E3 form and not the gel seat. I love mine. I guess I got lucky from the get go. No pain what so ever. Just make sure that puppy is indeed level. I have about 100 miles on mine so far and no complaints.

Monoborracho

I broke with my tradition and bought a flat bar road bike last weekend, a Fuji Absolute. I got it all gussied up with bottle holders, and nearly new Cateye from a mountain bike, took the old SPD's off my tourer, and took off for 30 miles of (to me) higher speeds.

Three blocks from the house I turn around, strip the Brooks B-67 off the tourer also (it really looks sad now) and head out with no problems. Amazing the difference.

Am ordering a new B-17, Flyer, or maybe a B-67 today to fit the new bike.

Why hurt when you don't have too?

Rob944

Well I gave it about 100 miles and the pain was only getting worse. I downloaded Josh Cohen's book about how to choose a bike seat and went to the LBS to get measured with the Specialized assmeter (I dont know what they call it). Anyway, I ended up with a Specialized Avatar 143. It is wider than the E3 and slightly more padded but much more comfortable for me. I have 3 rides in and it looks like it will be a winner.

dspyder

E3 was my fourth saddle and it works for me.... I echo 100% the comments on small sweet spot and saddle adjustment being _CRITICAL_. I had to go back and slanted down quite a bit. It definitely hits me in a different spot than the Arione did. I was going to go the Specialized route next, then Brooks as an absolute last resort. However, the E3 works awesome for me!

Not all butts fit all seats... the E3 was such a cheap experiment it was difficult NOT to try it.

MillCreek

I bought one on a lark a few weeks ago when Performance was selling them at $ 29 rather than $ 75. After dialing it in a bit, I have to say this is my most comfortable saddle yet.

knobster

Got mine this weekend and put 75 miles on it today. I had a lot of adjusting to do before it became comfortable. The first 30-40 miles was hell. I had to put it forward a bunch, raise it about a quarter of an inch and tilt it every so slightly down at the nose. It worked. I did the 75 and had no ill effects. The level position was painful in the places that it shouldn't be. I think I would try it level first though. Your mileage may vary.

bung

To get mine dialed in I had to push it farther forward than other saddles. Also, the best position for me is to have the very nose slightly pointed up.