Horrific clitoris (Page 2)

Wondering if moving your saddle forward a little would get your tendermost bits centered over the 'dip' in the saddle, rather than crushing them on the nose of the saddle?  My saddle has to be all the way forward on the rails...I have experienced similar issues, but not nearly as bad with my saddle moved forward.  I use a Terry saddle with the cutout.

Also, I tend to do better with a thinner pad in trishorts rather than a thicker chamois in bike shorts. It's sort of counterintuitive, but I think the thickness makes the seams bother me more (that's more for that side of the labia soreness), though I haven't cleared that problem completely yet and just know that during season I will have a saddle sore or few.

Lube...I like Hoo Ha Ride Glide better than ChamoisButter.  I think I tried DZ Nuts Bliss once, but don't recall how I liked it.  Tried Assos cream for a while, but Ride Glide is now my favorite.

Good luck!

Finding the perfect cut-out on my saddle was crucial for me. When I started riding, I went through many (expensive) bike fits and even bought a new, better fitting bike and still found no relief. Really tight, thinly padded bike shorts helped a little, a better bike fit/new bike helped a little, but honestly, nothing could relieve the pressure until the direct contact with my clit was gone. And the saddle I needed was exactly like you describe- the cut out needed to go to the very tip of the saddle, and when I found that saddle, I knew immediately that it would work. I had a wonderful saddle that I found as a stock saddle from felt, but I have not been able to find it again. When I wore that saddle out (rode on it for 4 years), I switched to a Cobb V-Flow, and it has been mostly good. I would suggest trying the Cobb (since they have a satisfaction guarantee policy) as well as the Adamo through tri-sport, so you don't have to pay full price just to try it. 

Thanks for being so open about your issue!! I believe this happens to a lot of women, but most are too embarrassed to explain, precisely, where it hurts, and so either try to endure the pain, ride in a less aggressive position to relieve the pressure, or give up on riding altogether. I'm also convinced that there aren't many women designing bike clothes and saddles. A seam right in the precise spot where my clit meats saddle?? Ummm...you've got to be kidding me!! And the fact that there are maybe 3 saddles out there with the cut out all the way to the nose?? Grr... (Cobb, Adamo and Selle, I believe, but there may be more). I hope you find relief!

I want to offer a contrarian perspective on saddle cut-outs for your consideration.

Most cut-outs don't work.

Really.

About a year ago I did a quick project where I photographed cut-out style saddles from below with a rider seated on them. Guess what, for many of them, the weight of the rider simply pressed down on the saddle padding, closing the cut-out.

The saddle on the left is a relatively inexpensive triathlon specific saddle with soft foam padding and a comfort cut-out. It's an easy sell because, intuitively when you are on the website or standing in the bike shop this seems exactly like what you would need. Problem is, you aren't looking at it the way it will be used: With a 110-190+ pound person seated on it.

The saddle on the right is a Cobb Cycling saddle with a much more advanced (and more expensive) memory foam used in high end mattresses and orthopedic devices. This foam is up to ten times more costly than generic closed cell padding foam used in less expensive saddles.

Also- notice the difference in the location of the cut-outs: One relatively far back, the other relatively far forward.

Two points:

1. Saddle cut-outs seem intuitively "correct". They don't always work under a rider's weight.

2. Not all saddles are created equal. The material used to make the saddle makes a big difference in how they perform.

Think deeply and shop carefully...

With all due respect to Cobb, because they do offer superb service and a great product, I wouldn't both with them for you, Kathy.    The nose of the saddle is quite wide.   You can see this in the pics that Tom posted above, actually.

I would certainly try moving the saddle forward to try to maximize use of the cutout - that's an easy thing to try.

But yea, it sounds like Adamo saddle is the thing for you.

Good luck! 

When I read the triathlete Bible, I used it to do a self=fit.  I rode BMX and Mountain bikes for years.  Setting up my road bike with aeros was completely different. 

Cleats moved so ball of foot is centered over the pedal axle.  For seat height, I put my barefoot heals on the pedals and legs straight with no rocking.  For seat tilt, I lowered the front of the seat just below the back using a carpenters level. 

For the handlebar height, I again used the carpenters level.  I set the aero arm pads 1 inch below level.  To do this, hold a 4 foot level on the seat so the bubble is level, then set the bars using a tape measure to one inch below (25.4 mm = 1 inch).  My forearms are about 1/2 way to 2/3 of the way to the elbow so that my elbow makes a 90 degree angle.  This sets your hand position.

The seat forward was set using a plum bob (or a weight on a string works too).  I held the string where my leg bones meet and lined it up so the string also ran through the axle of the pedal. 

For all of this I set the bike on a trainer and set it so the top tube was completely level (needed an inch or so of books or wood under the front tire).

My big issues were my seat was about an inch toow high and the bars were 2 inches too high.  I also moved the seat forward about 2 inches.  That's a lot of movement, but it feels tons better now.  A professional fit is of course better, but hopefully some of these techniques can get you started and might help with a remote fitting.  Best bet barring a pro is to get the bible (my library had it) and read through the section.  There are lots of pictures to help.

Good luck.

1.) I would give the Terry saddles a try if possible.  They are very woman-friendly.

2.) "Horrific Clitoris" is now the name of my imaginary punk band.

I hope you contacted Todd about fit.

I ride Selle SMP saddle and the cut out is so large, my soft tissue doesn't touch the saddle. No squishing at all. I used to have an issue that made it incredibly uncomfortable to ride at times on various other saddles with small or no cut outs. The cut out is big enough to put my hand through it. I have the Glider model. I haven't tried Adamo or Cobb.

Sounds to me like you are struggling sitting on your saddle correctly.

Sit in a hard back chair and lean forward in what would be aero position like you do on your bike and see position of your pelvis. Next try to sit and pretend you had a tail you are holding it up which makes your lower back engage.  Now move into aero position keeping your tail up and you should be sitting on your sitz bones as you roll/rotate your pelvis not just lean over. Not sure that will make sense but play with it sitting. If that analogy doesn't work try moving your pelvis in various positions while sitting and then moving forward into aero position. You should feel a difference. You may want to search some you tube videos to see if they may help.

Do you live far from Coz? I wonder if you could find someone from BT or ST coming down there who might bring a saddle for you.

That may be half your problem right there....I tried one of their "inform" saddles a couple years ago and after 5 min I was in pain.  My son tried it and said the same thing.  He affectionately dubbed it "The Taint Buster 2000".  It went back to the store.  

Thanks.  I'll look into that.  The Adamo concerns me as I'd think the "nose" area would be rather wide due to the cutout and I wonder if that creates yet another problem.  I'll check your recomendation.  Thanks again!

Thanks so much Jazz/Aliana.  The thing about Cobbs that confuses me is that it looks like the cutout is not where I really need it but hearing your experience is helpful.  I wish I could try various saddles but not living in the US makes the Trisport deal difficult to take advantage of.  Thanks again!

Sulross - you are sweet to offer the cream but shipping would be expensive here and rarely arrives anyway (5 weeks now waiting for one package and I suspect it is "lost").  Another vote for the Cobb.  I had thought the cutout would not address my issue but maybe I need to check into them.  Thanks so much for the ideas! I'm currentlyusing ChamoisButtr (think that's it), Desitin and vaseline. 

Tom - I'd generally agree (that cutouts don't necessarily work) but I'm looking for a nose cutout, but thanks for the photoevidence.

KTsdad - thanks so much for the instructions.  I'll try that today!

Kathy - I checked into them but as I have no trainer (or clue where to get one to use) I'm not sure I can even get a video together, but the rest of your post was GOLD (as usual).  I tried some of what you said last night and after swapping saddles with my husband's I found that relaxing my lower back was very helpful.  I think I've been unintentionally arching away from the seat due to pain and got a glimmer of hope that maybe I can help some of this with position.  I was able to get into aero but only if I sat to the "side", but also found that when I swapped seats with DH's that I wasn't moving around on the seat so much.  I still need to tweak the height with his seat (I swapped mine back and couldn't even sit anymore and rode the last 20 min out of the saddle, tired at the end...) height to see, but that was golden advice.  Thanks so much!

Lakesandsledder - that was very helpful to hear.  My DH bought the seat and he tried it last night and loved it but maybe this is a seat issue .  thanks so much for your experience!

Fgholloway - you know, I was starting to wonder this myself.  I see so few posts about this issue I was beginning to think just maybe...  I'm going to work on position and positioning and see what that does since the only issue I've even had with genitalia is this particular one.  But thanks for the idea.

Lucerolite - I took 2 weeks off and got everything healed up, but unfortunately I'm almost back to square one.  But after last night's ride (different seat at one point and positioning) I think I might have a glimmer of hope.  But thanks!

And more thanks to anyone I did not directly address.  You guys have been a real source of ideas.

While I'm menopausal, I do occasionally use a DIVA cup but I fail to understand the application here.  Care to elaborate?

It does for some people, not for others.  You can make the nose somewhat more narrow by drawing the prongs together with a zip tie.

Lol, from some of the responses in this thread (from men), I am afraid they don't know where the clitoris is....