When choosing a saddle, which is more important: making sure your sit bones are comfortable, or the "other part"?
I have tried 2 saddles so far: The Terry Butterfly felt great for supporting my sit bones, but made me numb up front for 2 days (I think the cutout is too narrow). I also tried a Serfas Terazzo, which didn't make me numb up front (the cutout is wider than the Terry), but I suspect the seat area is too narrow...the bones between my sit bones seem to hurt...it's almost as if it's missing my sit bones completely.
The last time I shopped for a saddle I wasn't happy until I got to saddle number 4, which I now have on two of my bikes. The saddle that works for me is a Fi'zi:k Vitesse: fizik.comProducts Unisex Vitesse.aspxOpen ↗. I returned two Terry saddles and one Specialized saddle after very short rides. For me, the saddles with the hole in them were worse than those with a solid top - although many people like the hole, for me it increased pressure elsewhere. And the Vitesse does not sport a center hole; it is solid but has right amount of padding for me.
Unfortunately, what works for one person doesn't work for the next. I'd encourage you to try some different saddles.
When choosing a saddle, which is more important: making sure your sit bones are comfortable, or the "other part"?
It is all individual, but to me what matters most is having my sit bones supported. I tried a women's saddle with a cutout and it was too narrow for my seat bones--no good for more than about 10 miles. I now ride a Brooks Team Pro S and am very happy--excellent support, some flex over bumps so I don't feel like I have been sitting on a rock, and no soft tissue problems. But I had a 10 lb. baby--I know I have wide seat bones.
