Yeah, this whole saddle issue has been plaguing me for awhile. I was so mad last night I was ready to ditch my bike and start over.

I think I'm also having some bike fit issues but at my last fitting I was using the Terry saddle. So, I'm not sure which to address first...get a new saddle or get a fit.

My LBS has the same policy so I think I'm going there this weekend to see what they can do. I've also posted on the Team Estrogen forum so I'll let you know if any women on there have suggestion.

Oh the details...I just wanna go ride! :)

Hi,
Maybe this will help you with your seat comfort issue. I recently had a similar concern about
saddle comfort, (which is paramount if your training for an ironman).
1.
First, sit on your kitchen table and lean forward, placing your feet in a chair. This position is very
similar to the "sitting on the toilet" position, or "modified aero".

Notice that your private parts are NOT getting squashed...BECAUSE your sit bones are supported by the table top. You will be sitting on your "sit bones". This is where the weight-bearing should occur, NOT the soft tissue located between the sit bones. Weight bearing
in the soft tissue areas due to an improper rear-width saddle will cause soreness very quickly.
2.
You need a saddle that is wide enough at the rear to support your weight on your sit bones
like when sitting on the table, but tapered enough towards the middle and front that your thighs
do not rub.
YOUR perfect saddle may not be someone elses perfect saddle. It may NOT be the one with the most gel or padding, or have any cutout at all, BUT it will be the best fit and most comfortable. You may need to "test ride" many if you can.
3.
When you find this saddle, place it (completely FLAT) at the correct height on your seatpost, so your hips do not rock when you pedal. For triathlon (aero riding), a little to low is better than a little to high.
4.
Once you have achieved this, then slightly raising the height of your handlebar (and thus your clip-on aerobars as well) will further reduce pressure in the sensitive areas by changing the relation of the angle between your torso and your legs.
4.
I found that when I was able to achieve the above, then I could do 3 hour training rides in the aero position with unpadded nylon shorts and still not get sore like before.
Good luck.

I also have had major saddle issues. My road bike originally came with the Specialized Dolce Women's saddle. Can we say major saddle sores? I have never felt such pain in my life! I'd rather have broken bones than saddle sores! The problem with that saddle was that it was too wide in the nose area. Anyway, I tried out the Terry Butterfly for my road bike and it fit well. I bought it from my LBS so I could return it if it didn't work out well.

So onto my tri bike - it came with a QR saddle (I have a QR Tequilo tri bike). It didn't have a cut out and after about 40 miles I was in such pain in the girly parts. Every bump I felt like I was going to die (especially with an AL frame that is NOT forgiving!). So I researched and looked into all different saddles. I decided to go with the Terry Tri Saddle that you had mentioned since I had luck with the Terry on my road bike. So far it's much better. I've used it probably on 3 rides of 60 miles each with no problems.

But like mentioned above - what works for one person doesn't work for all. I have a problem with saddles that are long length-wise. A lot of men's saddles are really long and don't work for me. That's what I like about the Terry saddles. Also, the Selle Italia makes one similar that I considered buying - the LDY. I personally need the cutout. Without it, it's a painful ride for me!

Good luck finding a saddle. It's really frustrating because it takes a lot of the fun out of riding if you're constantly focused on the pain down there.

I have the San Marco Aspide and it is really long for me and all the gel they tout that's in the nose doesn't do squat for me when I'm in the aero position. Painful on my squishy parts. So I too am in search of the perfect saddle. I've tried the Azoto as well and found it too wide in the nose for me but I'm small...5'2" and lite. I'm trying the Terry Butterfly TI but the nose seems to be too wide, it puts me up too high on the seat post (I have no room to go down at all and that's a sizing issue, but that's another issue I have with my LBS who's staff is NOT knowlegable about the aero position and sized me too big I think)... and I'm getting a lot of chafing on my inner thighs with the butterfly. Plus the leather isn't smooth so that seems to create more friction than I'm used to.
Just my 3 cents. :(