choosing a saddle
 

Hello All
I have just purchased my first real bike. I am wondering if there are any tips/tricks in choosing a upgraded (more comfortable saddle).
I purchased what i thought would be a better saddle, it was more cushy and a little wider than the stock one. However after 15 miles the width of the seat was rubbing my legs raw. So i am thinking i am looking for a narrow but more cushy option.
Any tips would be great,

Thanks All, this looks like a great site

Use the stock saddle and get some saddle time. Comfort on any saddle is usually determined on how well your ass can adapt to the saddle and the consequent time on the bike. If the discomfort continues after 2-3 weeks of constant riding, then consider a different saddle. Padded saddles are generally considered to be less comfortable and as you have already discovered a wider saddle is not for you.

Put the saddle that came with bike back on and ride that for a while. Soreness from an activity you have not done in a while or do not do on a regular basis will cause some sort of discomfort at the beginning. Give it time.

more cushion usually equals more discomfort after about 10 miles.
You can go to a specialized dealer, and they will put you on the ass-o-meter to measure your sit bones. They also give loaner saddles too.
I would try to ride the stock saddle for awhile and see how that feels before doing anything though.
Fit also has alot to do with saddle comfort.

thanks for your help everyone. I have put the stock one back on and will get use to it.

Thanks again

as mentioned above, measuring your sit bones is key to getting a saddle of appropriate width. as far as shape, cut out vs. no cut out, nose shape, etc. it is just a trial and error thing. some shops will let you try a demo for a while, but you really need some time on the saddle (and some longer rides 3-4 hours) to know how well a saddle agrees with your backside.

specialized has the ass-o-meter to measure sit bones, or you can google it and find some at-home methods.

Assuming that the saddle position is correct (height, fore/aft and tilt), time in a saddle is what helps determine the right one for you. As you have stated, the wider one was "just not it". But, as for the stock saddle, please be sure you have had a fit session by someone who knows about a bike fit. Did you get the bike new from a bike shop? If so, they should help with a fit. Otherwise, picking out a saddle and then doing some honest ride time with it will help find the right saddle for you. There is a break in period, and usually after about 3 weeks of ride time will tell if the fit is good. By all means, if it just flat out hurts to ride it in the break in period, switch saddles and try again. The saddle is the most personal part of the bike and must feel good to you.
Cheers

I hated my saddle, until I got padded biker shorts.

Hated the one that came with the bike because it was too flat, liked the second one I bought because it had a cut-out and was more shapely, then ordered S, M and L saddles from Specialized and picked the one I liked most, sent the other two back.

Most stock saddles are not very good.

First, that's the absolute best reason to upgrade (comfort).

Second, a lot of bike shops have a policy where they'll let you borrow a saddle for a few days and see if you like it. It's called a saddle demo program. That's the best way to choose a saddle.

And that's why you need to try them first. It's even worse, the one that's best for me might not be good for you at all.