If you're on and off the seat often, like in a spirited group ride in a set of rollers, it's there to avoid catching your shorts when you sit back down. Happens to me every now and then on my Toupe.

Many years ago, I discovered that one of the many benefits of lycra bike shorts is it hugs the body and no longer catches on the seat. You should try them.

Anti-friction, sweat wicking, low wind drag, on and on.

+1 on using the cutout saddles. Some time ago I read about a scientific article about impotency in cyclists and they specifically mentioned Selle SMP. It doesn't have to be the Pro. If you get the Glider or some other model, it can do the job without the overly tilted front. Also, the purpose of the cutout is to avoid pinching your nerves or restricting blood flow. Standing up during a ride could be a good way to prevent this as well. I read a study where there was a correlation between numbness in the hands and impotency.

^^^This

My Bontrager Race saddle on my old Trek 2.3 was awful. I didn't get any numbness, but soreness during and after the ride was common.

The Fizik Arione on my R3 is nice (I like the flat surface and there aren't any pressure points), but I don't think it's wide enough for my sit bones to be on that sweet spot of the saddle. My sit bones feel like they are right on the outer edge of the saddle, so there is some slight discomfort if I stay seated for a long time. I tend to get out of the saddle a lot so it's not that big of a deal, but I'm still looking for a replacement saddle.

I'm thinking about the Fizik Antares since it's a bit wider like the Aliante, but more flat like the Arione.

Long story short (no pun intended), bike riding can cause permanent nerve and blood flow damage if not addressed through saddle/fit adjustment, according to my doctor (an avid cyclist who keeps current on this subject).

Circulation/fluid storage compromising positions on the bike can also lead to chemical epididymitis, a serious infection. This can cause sterility in severe cases. I have all of the kids that I want, but I assume that you do not. Chemical epididymitis can, in turn, lead to kidney infection or even blood infection, both of which can be fatal if not addressed with a serious does of antibiotics (and even then, serious long term issues can persist). I’m just emerging from a couple weeks of this hell; time will tell whether long term damage occurred, including to my left kidney.

Bottom line, don’t fool around with saddle related pains/numbness, especially those in the groin or lower back that linger well past your ride time. Do all of the saddle fit things suggested here, but also see a physician who is familiar with cycling if this does not go away.

+3 on the SMP.

I tried a lot of different saddles - these were the only ones that worked for me. I also don't mind the nose bend, and do think it helps to prevent snags (not that it happens very often with other seats...). I use a Pro on my indoor bike and a Glider on the outdoor bike - for whatever reason, the wider one works better 4 me inside.

I do wish they were cheaper, tho!

I linked to the Selle SMP U.S. patent in my post, and it explains the reason for the eagle-beak nose. I really hoped I wouldn't have to spell it out. Figures 9 and 10 are explicit enough so that some here may be offended, so rather than me posting them, you can just look at them in the patent document.

Explanation of the nose configuration from the patent document:

Lastly at the front part of the saddle 8, 8’, where the seat of the pelvis terminates, are the sections 9, 9’, sloped downwards in an eagle-beak configuration on a non-limiting angle of 30° - 45° for the racing saddle and a non-limiting angle of 75° for the touring saddle, as can be seen in FIG. 2. At the front end of the saddle the two sections 9, 9’ unite in a substantially semi-circular form with a diameter of approximately 4-3.5 cm to maintain the two portions, 1, 1’ united at the front.

Such a strong slope of sections 9, 9’ FIGS. 9, 10, prevents any crushing of the testicles, in the case of men, and the clitoris, in the case of women, when the saddle is in use, in compliance with the above-mentioned scientific urological research surveys.

Moreover, this also prevents the compression of the body of the penis, the deep dorsal artery and vein, thus maintaining normal blood flow.

The parts 9, 9’, which on the racing bicycle saddle are sloped downwards at a non-limiting angle of 30° - 45° are of considerable help to the athlete during the final sprint, or during timing races, at the moment when he moves the pelvis forwards, to provide a minimum support for the gluteus muscles, thus preventing all compression in the anus and in particular, on the prostate.

For me, function and comfort trump aesthetics every time.

The Selle SMP is no panacea. I had to try a whole bunch of saddles until I found one that worked for me (Fizik Antares Versus). For me, the big cut out saddles like the SMP solved the numbness issue, but the edges of the cutout just killed me. Felt great for about 10 miles but after that all I wanted to was stand. I had the same issue with Koobi (which I think is a better saddle than the SMP). Where I found a workable solution was with the Versus line of Fizik saddles. They have a recess area, but not a whole through the saddle. That relieves the pressure but doesn't give you the opportunity to extrude your soft tissue through the hole in the saddle.

If you like the cut outs, then look at Koobi (https://www.koobi.com). Great saddles and I do ride one on my mountain bike and my wife likes her's on her road bike.

Look at the Fizik saddles. Start with the standard Arione (narrowest) to the Antares and then the Alliante. According to my LBS, these saddles solve 90% of fit issues. If that doesn't work, then investigate the Versus versions of the same saddles (the recessed ones) - those should solve it. Also, many bike stores have all of these in stock and so the lending programs are easy. Not so (at least around here) for the SMP's.

Finally, the saddle that a lot of tri riders are using now is the ISM. That's worth looking at if any of the above don't solve your problem.

J.

No single saddle is a panacea; saddle fit and comfort is a very individual thing.

^^^ +1

j.

As others have said, saddles are a very personal thing. I had a Fizik Arione and that was the must uncomfortable saddle that I have ever sat on. I couldn't ride it for five minutes without being in extreme pain. I have heard others say that it is a great saddle but I couldn't ride it.

My suggestion would be find a bike shop that allows you to test out saddles. A 10 minute ride will not be enough to know it if is the right saddle. Some shops will let you take a demo saddle for a week. This is how I ended up with an SMP saddle. I would have liked to try a Koobi but no one near me carried them. The shop where I got my SMP told me that they had never had anyone return one and I can see why.

Some online sellers will let you take a demo saddle and just pay the shipping for it. I think Koobi might do this.

The stock Prologo seat on the CAAD9-5 is a good, good saddle. No complaints at all. Plus they gave me a black one because I asked for it. So double yay. For that matter, I also got the new 5700 105 with mine

LOL'ed! But seriously, get a bike fit and start demoing saddles. If you're going to be riding a lot/already are riding a lot, don't delay! Long term damage comes from prolonged numbness.