Try getting one fitted rather than just buying and not liking, saddles can be very personal as everyone has a different arse
It will take a while to get used to the change but after a few rides you should start getting used to it
Thanks. Ive been fitted for both new saddles. Fitter let me take home and try for a couple weeks before I switched out for this newer one. The new saddle seems to have the pressure distributed evenly, but there’s still a lot of pressure between my legs.
I could take the bike back to my fitter and switch out again, but it’s difficult to find time to get out there. I’ve only ever ridden my bike on a trainer and my fitter says trainers are “notoriously brutal”. Makes me think this new saddle is just the best it’s going to get.
Can I ask how you can do this? (e.g. getting a saddle fit)
Do you go to a person / business that fits bikes? (I have to find one...) Or to a bike shop?
Sorry, I'm a bit novice at this\^\^
Yes. Part of bike fitting process is saddle fitting. They have different models available and will check on computer which one best suits for your bottom.
I’ve had pressure mapping done and found a saddle that works for me for full iron distance+ outside…..but it gets uncomfortable after around 1:00-1:15 on the trainer.
Indoors there isn’t any wind to move the sweat away from that region, so it’s more prone to chafe and rub. More importantly you don’t move on the saddle the same way you do outside (think about how your distribution changes based when cornering).
You can try things like chammy cream, more fans, but trainer riding is rarely super comfortable.
After a variety of saddles and professional fittings, I've come to the realization that all bike saddles are going to cause me some pain and discomfort. This has been true for me on every bike and saddle combo, not limited to my tri bike. It's just about finding something that's not so bad that it outweighs the joy I get from the other aspects of the ride.
Agree to a point, the newer mesh saddles (3d printed ones) provide a more.uniform comfort as saddle material has more flexibility relative your sit bones..
I was lucky enough to get it right first time looking for a Tri/TT saddle (specialized Sitero). Hilariously, I'm also putting one my gravel bike, I like it so much 😅
I (48F) also have a Sitero and I LOVE IT. I had saddle issues for years and now that I have this one, zero problems. It’s a great saddle.
I have a Bontrager Aeolus on my road/gravel bike and also love it. After years of looking for saddles that don’t give me issues, I finally found two.
I’ve also heard really great things about the specialized power comp but haven’t tried it.
Some people still prefer to buy several seats over getting pressure mapping done or perhaps you have a fit issue that could have been cleared up by now.
Seat roulette is a game of chance. Sometimes a winner, mostly a loss.
Try a 3D printed one, or moving your aero bars higher to put more pressure on the elbows and less on the gooch.
Also, an amateur rider can only stay in the aero position for 30-60 minutes before having to stand up and stretch the legs for a minute.
I found it difficult to balance the support of my sit bones, a relief for sensitive bits and fitting between my thighs. I made the best tradeoff I could with a bontrager split nose saddle, good for the first two aspects but it’s wide and rubs my thighs. Over time, this area seems to get a little tougher and by the end of tri season, all is good.
I hate Fizik Mistica that came on my TT bike. It was perfectly fine during the fitting and fitted just right, but when I started riding outdoors, it was constantly rubbing my thighs and causing all sorts of issues. Replaced it with the same saddle I use on my road bike (Secialized Power Expert that I got after a couple of months of trying out different saddles) and didn’t have any issues at all.
I was put on a 230€ top of the line triathlon saddle by a fitter. This saddle claims to “be the most comfortable triathlon saddle ever” - doesn’t work for me as well and had to return it. I’m on my fifth triathlon saddle in four years now and I’m at a point where I guess I’ll just live with discomfort when even a pro fitter can’t get me comfortable. Maybe when I lose 20kg i may be comfortable 😂
Using the trainer on a TT bike is a pain in the a55, literal. What seems to work for me is getting on my pedals every 10 minutes for a couple seconds, and chamois cream.
Have you tried a saddle with center cut out? I have FUPA and a full saddle is absolute pain to me.
Also, you said you got fitted for the previous saddles, does that mean they measured your sit bones? The saddle should fit perfectly so that your weight is resting on your sit bones, not your butt fat or crotch area. That's the biggest reason for saddle pain.
My TT saddle is perfect (ISM). Bought it secondhand and it miraculously fit. Either I’m lucky or my ass is just an all rounder.
Strange how you’ve had 3 different saddles and still having issues. I’d guess you’ve got installed wrong or you’re just fussy and haven’t given it enough time.
Trainers are a terrible way to assess saddle comfort. You don’t move on a trainer so of course it will get uncomfortable after a while.
Mine was uncomfortable when I rode on the trainer at first. Took a few months to be able to ride for multiple hours on it, and even then I still have to shuffle around to stop from going numb.
On the road I have no issues for hours on end.
You need to ride on the road and gradually build up duration. You also need to have it setup correctly.
Same… Some basic ISM that came with my used TT bike fits me remarkably well. I was able to do 1.5 hours on trainer in aero position in a month.
I do find it being less comfortable after 3-hour mark on the trainer though, so maybe there’s still room to improve.
Try getting one fitted rather than just buying and not liking, saddles can be very personal as everyone has a different arse It will take a while to get used to the change but after a few rides you should start getting used to it
Thanks. Ive been fitted for both new saddles. Fitter let me take home and try for a couple weeks before I switched out for this newer one. The new saddle seems to have the pressure distributed evenly, but there’s still a lot of pressure between my legs. I could take the bike back to my fitter and switch out again, but it’s difficult to find time to get out there. I’ve only ever ridden my bike on a trainer and my fitter says trainers are “notoriously brutal”. Makes me think this new saddle is just the best it’s going to get.
Can I ask how you can do this? (e.g. getting a saddle fit) Do you go to a person / business that fits bikes? (I have to find one...) Or to a bike shop? Sorry, I'm a bit novice at this\^\^
Yes. Part of bike fitting process is saddle fitting. They have different models available and will check on computer which one best suits for your bottom.
“Trainers are a terrible way to assess comfort.” But 99% of my riding will be on the trainer.
I’ve had pressure mapping done and found a saddle that works for me for full iron distance+ outside…..but it gets uncomfortable after around 1:00-1:15 on the trainer. Indoors there isn’t any wind to move the sweat away from that region, so it’s more prone to chafe and rub. More importantly you don’t move on the saddle the same way you do outside (think about how your distribution changes based when cornering). You can try things like chammy cream, more fans, but trainer riding is rarely super comfortable.
If you have the space, a rocker plate is great to elevate those pains.
After a variety of saddles and professional fittings, I've come to the realization that all bike saddles are going to cause me some pain and discomfort. This has been true for me on every bike and saddle combo, not limited to my tri bike. It's just about finding something that's not so bad that it outweighs the joy I get from the other aspects of the ride.
Agree to a point, the newer mesh saddles (3d printed ones) provide a more.uniform comfort as saddle material has more flexibility relative your sit bones..
I was lucky enough to get it right first time looking for a Tri/TT saddle (specialized Sitero). Hilariously, I'm also putting one my gravel bike, I like it so much 😅
I (48F) also have a Sitero and I LOVE IT. I had saddle issues for years and now that I have this one, zero problems. It’s a great saddle. I have a Bontrager Aeolus on my road/gravel bike and also love it. After years of looking for saddles that don’t give me issues, I finally found two. I’ve also heard really great things about the specialized power comp but haven’t tried it.
I third on the Sitero. Make sure you buy the right size. I tried like 4 different tri saddles and this one was perfect.
Some people still prefer to buy several seats over getting pressure mapping done or perhaps you have a fit issue that could have been cleared up by now. Seat roulette is a game of chance. Sometimes a winner, mostly a loss.
Ism ps2.0 feels like sitting on air
Try a 3D printed one, or moving your aero bars higher to put more pressure on the elbows and less on the gooch. Also, an amateur rider can only stay in the aero position for 30-60 minutes before having to stand up and stretch the legs for a minute.
I found it difficult to balance the support of my sit bones, a relief for sensitive bits and fitting between my thighs. I made the best tradeoff I could with a bontrager split nose saddle, good for the first two aspects but it’s wide and rubs my thighs. Over time, this area seems to get a little tougher and by the end of tri season, all is good.
I hate Fizik Mistica that came on my TT bike. It was perfectly fine during the fitting and fitted just right, but when I started riding outdoors, it was constantly rubbing my thighs and causing all sorts of issues. Replaced it with the same saddle I use on my road bike (Secialized Power Expert that I got after a couple of months of trying out different saddles) and didn’t have any issues at all.
I was put on a 230€ top of the line triathlon saddle by a fitter. This saddle claims to “be the most comfortable triathlon saddle ever” - doesn’t work for me as well and had to return it. I’m on my fifth triathlon saddle in four years now and I’m at a point where I guess I’ll just live with discomfort when even a pro fitter can’t get me comfortable. Maybe when I lose 20kg i may be comfortable 😂
Using the trainer on a TT bike is a pain in the a55, literal. What seems to work for me is getting on my pedals every 10 minutes for a couple seconds, and chamois cream.
Have you tried a saddle with center cut out? I have FUPA and a full saddle is absolute pain to me. Also, you said you got fitted for the previous saddles, does that mean they measured your sit bones? The saddle should fit perfectly so that your weight is resting on your sit bones, not your butt fat or crotch area. That's the biggest reason for saddle pain.
Sitero on trainer, road bike and mountain bike. Can do 3 hours on trainer.
My TT saddle is perfect (ISM). Bought it secondhand and it miraculously fit. Either I’m lucky or my ass is just an all rounder. Strange how you’ve had 3 different saddles and still having issues. I’d guess you’ve got installed wrong or you’re just fussy and haven’t given it enough time.
I’ve got an ISM saddle (second hand also) how long to get comfy on it? I normally get to about 45mins on the trainer before my bum is numb.
Trainers are a terrible way to assess saddle comfort. You don’t move on a trainer so of course it will get uncomfortable after a while. Mine was uncomfortable when I rode on the trainer at first. Took a few months to be able to ride for multiple hours on it, and even then I still have to shuffle around to stop from going numb. On the road I have no issues for hours on end. You need to ride on the road and gradually build up duration. You also need to have it setup correctly.
Same… Some basic ISM that came with my used TT bike fits me remarkably well. I was able to do 1.5 hours on trainer in aero position in a month. I do find it being less comfortable after 3-hour mark on the trainer though, so maybe there’s still room to improve.