Tomm Willians

I have a B17 on my Soma touring bike that should be well broken in as it has around 500 miles riding on it. I did a century on it last year and ended the ride with only very minor chaffing.

I returned to the Soma after several months of riding my other bikes and now find I cannot endure a very long ride without chaffing. I use an anti-chaffing lube and have taken it out recently on several rides with the same end result.

I’m considering going to a Selle Anatomica as my wife can’t say enough about hers or I also have an SMP on my Orbea gravel bike that is quite comfortable. I’m wanting to attempt a double century before summer but highly doubt I can do it on this B17.

Has anyone else encountered similar where it seemed to work and then..... didn’t ?

MarcusT

I don't believe chafing has as much to do with the saddle, but rather clothing.
The B17 is one of the smoothest saddles (slippery), I have found, but then you should ensure the angle, height and back-set are adjusted.

cjenrick

if they get wet they will take the skin off quicker than a wood rasp.

also, sometimes the bottom edges can flare out , you can kind of work those edges in by squeezing the saddle a bit,

a good pair of shorts can help also.

Branko D

Maybe it needs retensioning, if the leather becomes a bit saggy then it can sort of flare out more to the sides.

If you've gained a bit of weight there might be more thigh to get rubbed there, too, where you didn't previously.

shrtdstncrdr

You haven't ridden for a while. My guess is your butt needs to be reconditioned to riding again. People who ride all four seasons don't have this problem (and I'm not one of them). It's as much your body aging as it is lengthy periods out of the saddle. Same reason sports have preseasons and individuals have warm ups.

Phil_gretz

I've been riding leather slung saddles for decades. Just the same, I'm only an expert when it comes to my own butt.

Can you be more specific about the chafing? For example, inner thighs versus the actual sit-contact points? That kind of thing.

Normally, as I understand it, chafing results from moisture combined with athletic activity and friction. So, try to diagnose by working backward. Has anything changed since last year?

Is the saddle sagging more, or are the skirts flaring outward under the pressure of you on the saddle? Have you changed shorts, or are they worn out? Do you keep them and that area of your skin clean?

Sorry for more questions than answers. Maybe the discussion can help pinpoint things better...

Koyote

Might be too wide if the chafing is on your inner thighs - in which case you might want a B17n (n=Narrow).

On the other hand, the Selle Anatomica does seem pretty popular.