New Saddle needed - But want opinion on what may be causing pain first.

[Glover Fan]

Hi all,

Out of the £1000's I seem to spend on cycling, there is one item that has been neglected and to be honest is causing me the greatest miscomfort. It's the bargain basement Concept SL saddle that came with my Focus Cayo.

Now, I know I need a new saddle, i've measured my sit bone distance using a tin-foil technique I read about which put my sit bones at 130mm apart, meaning according the a Specialized saddle guide i've got means I would need a 143mm saddle which is a medium. My current saddle is over 150mm.

Now the pain I get, isn't actually around my sit bones. It is actually (and ladies you might not want to think about this too much) just behind my scrotal area and where my bum crack starts. I have high quality Santini bib-shorts with the best padding I have sampled thus far. So when I get home it feels really quite uncomfortable, makes passing stools a challenge and can make wiping my derriér quite uncomfortable also. I am quite an experienced cyclist and I only really get the pain about 30/40 miles +, got back from a 100km audax yesterday and the pain was pretty bad.

I've got a 200km ride organised for June and a 300km ride organised for August, so I think after pay-day I really will need to fork out on a new saddle. I really don't want to be spending much more than £50, which I understand is not a lot. I've had my eye on the Specialized Avatar range, my untrained opinion is suggesting that the "cut out" in the saddle could be what I need to relieve my current pain. I have noticed a lot of saddles are also only about 135mm wide. Will this cause me an issue? Is it better to have too narrow a saddle, or too wide? I went on Sheldon's site and it didn't really say.

Thanks in advance,

Jon.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Saddle Library you may want to see if any saddles here suit. At least then you're not shelling out for something you might hate

FWIW the Cayo Pro I had came with a Fizik Aliante which I was always happy enough with. My CAAD has the stock Fizik Arione which I'm starting to have some comfort issues with, and my commuter currently has a Charge Spoon, and at the moment I freakin' hate it!

 

[Manonabike]

Jon,

You are not alone with a saddle problem.

The measuring technique using tin-foil is not one that I trust. I suggest you visit your LBS and ask to be measured with the specialized sit bones measuring device. If you do then pay particular attention to replicate your sitting position on then bike.

I guess you have already tried all the options with regards to saddle adjustments. Sometimes one can try several positions and never find anything that makes riding longer distances comfortable. I had a saddle that used to give me a very similar problem to what you get so I understand the kind of pain you are talking about. I have gone with brooks saddles and that has solved the problem.

The Avatar range might be just the saddle for you and you will only find out by trying it.

I could also suggest the Charge Spoon saddle, very popular with riders here. It costs about £23 and you can sell it on here easily if so you wish to do. I got one but it didn't work for me so I sold it to a chap here and he is happy with it.

Hope you find a solution to the problem.

 

[Glover Fan]

Wiggle are selling the 2011 charge spoon cromo saddle at clearance for £14.99, so I have just taken a punt and see what it is like.

 

[User269]

Also have a think about your position, maybe you need to be leaning further forward, or back.

 

[numbnuts]

for a long time now I have used Brooks, but after 60 miles + it was a pain so I changed to this it seems to work for me
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=23428

 

[Enw.nigel]

I sympathise with your problem as I have saddle problems as well. I changed my Cayo Concept saddle to a Prologo Zero and that didn't solve the problem. I would be interested to hear how you get on with the Charge Spoon chromo though.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Wiggle are selling the 2011 charge spoon cromo saddle at clearance for £14.99, so I have just taken a punt and see what it is like.

Hopefully better than I did. I'll be selling mine just as soon as the Wiggle offer ends!

 

[cyberknight]

I have had numerous saddles in an attempt to get comfy, assuming you have your saddle height,set back and tilt right( i use a spirit level on mine).
heres the site i use for fit..
http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bikefit.html
Charge spoons are highly recommended as a saddle and although they are comfortable i find that i prefer to move forward and backward on the saddle depending on how i am riding and the spoon feels like i am locked into 1 position.
The saddle that i have found the most comfortable is the fizik clones on boardman bikes,you can pick them up from ebay cheap and i have done many miles on them with no discomfort.

 

[RoyPSB]

Hi all,

Out of the £1000's I seem to spend on cycling, there is one item that has been neglected and to be honest is causing me the greatest miscomfort. It's the bargain basement Concept SL saddle that came with my Focus Cayo.

Now, I know I need a new saddle, i've measured my sit bone distance using a tin-foil technique I read about which put my sit bones at 130mm apart, meaning according the a Specialized saddle guide i've got means I would need a 143mm saddle which is a medium. My current saddle is over 150mm.

Now the pain I get, isn't actually around my sit bones. It is actually (and ladies you might not want to think about this too much) just behind my scrotal area and where my bum crack starts. I have high quality Santini bib-shorts with the best padding I have sampled thus far. So when I get home it feels really quite uncomfortable, makes passing stools a challenge and can make wiping my derriér quite uncomfortable also. I am quite an experienced cyclist and I only really get the pain about 30/40 miles +, got back from a 100km audax yesterday and the pain was pretty bad.

I've got a 200km ride organised for June and a 300km ride organised for August, so I think after pay-day I really will need to fork out on a new saddle. I really don't want to be spending much more than £50, which I understand is not a lot. I've had my eye on the Specialized Avatar range, my untrained opinion is suggesting that the "cut out" in the saddle could be what I need to relieve my current pain. I have noticed a lot of saddles are also only about 135mm wide. Will this cause me an issue? Is it better to have too narrow a saddle, or too wide? I went on Sheldon's site and it didn't really say.

Thanks in advance,

Jon.

The Selle Italia saddle that came with my new Wilier I found very painful so I'm on the lookout for a new one. I got my sit bones measured at a Spesh concept store. They were just under 130mm so the guy said I should get a 130mm saddle. You've been measured the same and advised to get a 143mm.

Was I given bad advice?

 

[Glover Fan]

Probably not, I was using a chart I found via google. Not exactly scientific!

 

[Glover Fan]

I just for fun adjusted my saddle, I had it as far forward as I could get it all the time thinking it would force my sit bones into the saddle, but somehow moving my saddle back along the seat post is eliminating pressure around the perineum! Does this correlate? I had a quick whizz around the block and it seemed to feel like I was actually resting on my sit bones rather than my perineum.

 

[Tomba]

The Selle Italia saddle that came with my new Wilier I found very painful so I'm on the lookout for a new one. I got my sit bones measured at a Spesh concept store. They were just under 130mm so the guy said I should get a 130mm saddle. You've been measured the same and advised to get a 143mm.

Was I given bad advice?

According to THIS the guy gave you the wrong advice. I had to double check as I got measured and was 130mm and looked at the guys chart which suggested 143mm saddle.

I ended up buying the Specialized Romin and have found it excellent. Done a 65 Sportive a few weeks ago and no pain or numbnuts. And the saddle used previously was the Spoon. I reckon its more to do with the cut out slot though.

 

[RoyPSB]

According to THIS the guy gave you the wrong advice. I had to double check as I got measured and was 130mm and looked at the guys chart which suggested 143mm saddle.

I ended up buying the Specialized Romin and have found it excellent. Done a 65 Sportive a few weeks ago and no pain or numbnuts. And the saddle used previously was the Spoon. I reckon its more to do with the cut out slot though.

Thanks Tomba - I think it's the 143 Romin for me also then.

 

[Glover Fan]

Received my spoon today. Have fitted it, made sure it is level. Had to raise the seat post slightly higher as I have measured from the middle of the cranks to get my ideal fit. Haven't had a chance to have a ride yet, but already seems promising from just being sat on it with my cycle shorts on, slightly firmer than my previous saddle which is good and the pressure relief groove looks like it will solve my perineum pain.

Jon.