new saddle needed for bony bum

Missybiker

I have just bought a Specialised Ariel ladies hybrid which comes with the usual slim style saddle. My current bike has a more recreational style saddle (broad at the back and well padded). Having rode home from the shop on my new bike (3 miles) and then done 12 today, I can confidently say that the saddle on the specialised is horrid. My seat bones hurt really bad after a few mins and I kept manoevering around until I found that the only comfy position was me with my pubic bone sitting on the 'nub' of the saddle (the front bit). I realise that this will NOT be good for my nether regions.

Problem is that when you go into bike shops the staff are all men, how the hell do I say that my minge is rubbing and explain how women's anatomy works?

Interesting, the one thing I do like about the saddle on the Specialised bike is that the narrow bit really is good for my chubby little thighs.

I think I need a more padded seat for sure and have seen many including gel filled ones. Can anyone make a recommendation.

Dandelionclock30

If you bought it in a Specialized store and explain that its unsuitable then they will swap it for free. Even if you didnt then if you go to one of there stores they can measure your sit bones by sitting on a special cushion and then you will be recommended a saddle.
Different women get on with different saddles and you dont have to go into all the gory details with a shop assistant. All you need to say is that your current one was uncomfortable, that says it all really.
Some shops also have trial saddles, you could ring round where you live and ask.

Missybiker

Thanks for that dandylionclock! If I could afford the pay cut I would love to work in a bike shop! It would be good to speak to a woman. I look forward to sitting on the seat measurer. Ta

mrushton

You need to explain that the soft tissue at the front is rubbing/under pressure. Go to www.cyclefit.co.uk and read the article that featured in the Guardian re a saddle fitting/pressure map. My wife had this done back in April and it was revelatory for her. After 10,000s km she finally has a suitable saddle on all her bikes. If you struggle with bike saddles it's a process I'd recommend but you'll have to spend £150 and 3 hours+, at least we did but the outlay in time/money was worth it

Missybiker

Thanks Mrushton! Will look into cyclefit

sungod

are you wearing padded shorts?

if the saddle is a road saddle, which it looks like in the pictures, you may need padded shorts

the other thing is that it does take a while to get used to a road saddle if you've not ridden one before, if you ride too much at the start you may end up sore/bruised, it'll then take even longer, so best to build up riding time gradually

a softer saddle is not necessarily better, if you sink into it further it can actually increase pressure on soft tissue, from what you describe i'd suspect you might be better off with a wider and maybe less squidgy saddle

awavey

definitely try and get a sit bone measurement at a Specialized store, it might not cure the problem straight away, but at least youll know then what size to try with other saddle makes, and its free, which is alot cheaper than the 200-300 quid cyclefit.

and the saddle may look narrow, but it will actually be 155mm width on your bike (they measure across the width at the back), which is wider than most saddles because the average womans sit bones are meant to be wider apart, but we arent all average sized and this is where the problems occur in bike fit.

I had a 155mm Specialized saddle and I found it very uncomfortable on the sitbones after about 1hrs riding, and I finally caved in and went to the Specialized store, didnt have to share any gory details I just said my saddle hurts my sitbones can you help, got measured up and it turns out Im better suited to the 143mm widths instead.

WeBike168

I'm semi newbie to road cycling as well. My husband has been riding for years. I never knew how important it was to get padded shorts and the right saddle.

For the padded shorts, went to Performance Bike to try out the different models and went with the store brand because the fit was better. As for the saddle, went to the local bike shop and they basically let you sit in this gel/mold and dropped 2 little bearings into the mold after you get up and measured the "seat bone" distance. That is how I was able to get the right sized saddle.

Hope this helps!