Simon Brooke said:The basic question is 'how soft is your saddle?' If it's at all soft,
your sit bones (ischeal tuberosities) will sink into it, transferring
weight onto soft tissue, and that's what does the damage.
If the sit bones sink too far, yes, but ALL the weight won't be transfered
if there is SOME padding. With just the right padding, the sit bones will
still be supported or suspended. In any case, not absolutely all the
weight will be on the sit bones even with a hard saddle of best possible
shape for the rider if using a typical road bike position.
Quoted message said:So:
* You /don't/ need a gel saddle (indeed, that's probably what's doing
you in)
* You /don't/ need a saddle with a hole in (unless of the female
gender)
Why do you think any women need a hole if the whole problem is to do with
sit bones? There won't be any weight on any soft tissue, according to
your theory. Men also have an area that can benefit from some protection!
Quoted message said:* You /don't/ need a saddle with a groove down the middle
You need a plain, hard, saddle that's the right width across the skirt
for /your/ sit bones. I use two different saddles on my bikes: the
Brooks Professional, an old favourite because I find it extremely
comfortable:
Good for you but not everyone can tolerate a plain hard saddle. I can't
and I've tried many, including various Brooks's. They make my (not very
well padded) backside ache. Selle Italia FLX Trans Am* works better than
anything else for me -- that's a relatively well-padded saddle with a
hole. The padding is deep but reasonably dense foam that isn't too
squidgy.
* Note. This particular model will be too wide for a serious racing
position.
~PB