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So, I'm having saddle issues. Basically after 10mins of climbing up a fireroad where I'm just sat spinning things start going numb. Those thing should are my genitals and it's a) disconcerting and b) concerning! I also sometimes to a lesser extent get tingling in my feet, well left foot generally, not sure if that's related or due to a separate back issue.
I tried to drop the nose of the saddle with little effect. The current saddle is a SDG TiFly which isn't exactly the most forgiving.
My first step is a new saddle. I'm thinking of something with a channel rather than a full cut out. Possibly a SDG Circuit which has a cut out in the solid base but is covered in material.
My sitbone width is about 105mm centre to centre so I think I need something relatively narrow.
Any recomendarions or advice appreciated.
This thread will not be updated with photos! 😂
Have you tried lowering the saddle a bit? Even a few mm will take some pressure off your whatsits.
you don't say if you're wearing padded shorts. If not, then try some? if you are, how old are they? Perhaps they need replacement?
as you say the fly isn't exactly a forgiving saddle, the Fabric Scoop seems to get good reviews. I've a narrow arse, and find that the WTB Silverado is a good balance between padding and a narrow rear (phnarr)
Check the saddle height first, leg straight with heel on pedal is close enough for starters. Is your bike too big for you? If you are stretched out then that's going to cause you to tilt forward more and lessen the effectiveness of your sit bones and consequently put pressure on soft tissue.
Saddle nose down by about 5 degrees. I've the SDG Circuit on two of my bikes (Solaris and fat bike both with rigid forks). I used the Solaris for last year's HT550 with no problems in the seating area. Similarly for two and a half weeks in France this year on the same bike.
The saddle probably isn't even really at optimum pedalling height as it is. It seemed to happen at all saddle heights as I spent the day rising the saddle to get it to the right height.
I wear decent padded shorts. The current ones are relative new fox liners.
I'd suggest going and sitting on one of the 'arse measurer' things from Specialized & try a few demo saddles.
I found SDG saddles rubbish (and they creaked like nobodies business), Fizik don't work for me either with the shape. Ironically it ended up being a Specialized saddle that fitted me best (Romin Evo). They arn't cheap, but I prefer not to feel like i've anaesthetised that area when I ride my bike 🙂
The bike is a better fit than my last one which was too small / short and it happened on that one on long climbs, I'm probably a bit more stretched out so it's happening faster but I wouldn't want a shorter frame. In fact it feels like the best fitting bike I have had.
Saddle height if anything is possibly a bit low rather than too high, I'm definitely not over extending the legs.
Ill have to see if I can find a Specialized saddle fit locally as I don't have lots of time to spend.
@Whitestone what's the Circuit like for padding? I was looking at that one as it has a cover cut out but mostly because my sitbone width fits in the middle of the ORA (optimal riding area). I'm coming from a TiFly which isn't the softest...
The Circuit is, ahem, lightly padded. Very firm on the nose but I can push my thumbs in about 3-4mm in the middle of the wings.
I didn’t get on with sdg saddles either. I had the same issue with my giant saddle on my road bike as it didn’t have any sort of cut out, I swapped it for a charge spoon that I run on my other bikes and my chap is fine now.
The angle can make a big difference too, i found dropping the saddle nose a few degrees helped me.
(FWIW i hated the SDG Circuit)
I had a Charge Spoon and really hated it. This was one of my changes in trying to sort out my bike fit. It was the last change before I tilted the saddle nose down. When I did that it was a complete difference, night and day. When the Spoon wore out I got the SDG Circuit. My FS has a Fizik saddle and it's not quite right somehow, it's not "uncomfortable" but I don't seem to be able to sit on it for long distances in the way that I can with the SDG.
I have a very similar issue ... And find Spoons that seem great for everyone else, are a pain in the prostate.
I bought an Ergon saddle , can't remember which, as a result of advice on here, and it ahs made a ge difference. I have had to play aroud with the nose angle ... but certainly the pressure points have hugely reduced ...
I also bought a Fabric saddle of the same style, so a big pressure relief channel ... but I have yet to try that ....
I've tried dropping the nose, in fact I move tried doing it quite exaggeratedly but with the same issue, plus the added problem of then sliding forward on the saddle.
I think I'll try something a bit more forgiving with a bigger channel.
Hate saddles that curve down at the edges. Something that curves up a bit for me. And something relatively hard (no padded shorts either, they just warm things up and add pressure, not take it away IMO).
I like the charge spoon a lot. It's big enough so my sit bones are clearly the things I'm sat on, not my taint...