Archerobx

My butt feels better when I sit on the back of the saddle, widest part. Problem is after an hour, my unmentionables get numb. I Lowered front of saddle thinking more room but then I feel like I'm sliding forward and putting a lot pressure on hands. I then adjust saddle so I wasn't sitting as far back, this is not comfortable but seems take longer to get numb.

So my question is, is this a saddle issue or am I sitting wrong on seat or is the seat height/postion wrong?

thank you

cb400bill

Carbonfiberboy 

Wrong saddle. Possibly too narrow. Maybe you need one with a cutout if this one doesn't have it. Numb is always a saddle problem. Try something like a Selle Italia MAN saddle, assuming you're male. Google.

philbob57

Your saddle could be too high or stem or top tube too long.

I fought this problem for 3 years. I tried Avocet Touring I (which worked for me for 30-odd years up to 100 miles, but stopped working in 2013), Fizik Aliante (good for 7-10 miles), Brooks B17 Imperial (good for 10-15 miles), one of the ISMs (good for 15 miles), and a Selle SMP TRK (good up to 50 and probably more, but that's as far as I've ridden on it).

For saddle selection info, I suggest you start with this: https://www.cervelo.com/en/engineeri...f-road-saddles.

Check out the design considerations for Selle SMP (a copy of their patent app is at Bicycle Saddle (Selle Smp S.a.s. Di Maurizio Schiavon)) and ISM (for example, https://www.ismseat.com/technology/). Cobb used to have some offerings based on good theory, too, but I can't find their website today.

Brooks (especially their Imperial), Selle Anatomica, Spesh (especially the Power), Terry, Selle Italia all have their partisans for fighting perineal numbness.

Selle SMP's and ISM's arguments make the most sense to me. I tried both, and Selle SMP has been working for me for 1500 miles. ISM didn't work for me, but it does for many people. Both were available via Amazon with free returns, which is why I tried first ISM, then Selle SMP. Next on my list to try, if neither ISM or Selle SMP worked, was one of the Ridos.

I did not try out any the the fully noseless seats because I believe the argument that one controls the bike in part with one's thighs pushing against the 'nose'. The ISM looks like it has a nose. It doesn't, but the horns do allow control via one's thighs.

The reason there are so many different saddles available is that no design is perfect for everyone. With luck, your current saddle is just a little too high. If you have to hunt for a new saddle, you have my sympathy.

Archerobx

saddle: contact forward giant, came with bike

seat post: it is stock. It doesn't curve or anything.

bike: 2016 giant contend 3

Archerobx

thank y'all. going to look at those links and saddles.

skycomag

does it have nose to tail cut out?

Archerobx

skycomag

this is the saddle I've been using for te last 3yrs:.https://www.planetbike.com/store/pro...seat-1024.html
no pain or numbness, my boys and butt are happy campers.
here is a good video to watch on choosing the right saddle:

Carbonfiberboy 

Photos of you on bike, side view:
1) Normal riding position on hoods, pedals in line with seat tube.
2) Hands on hoods, pedals horizontal, forearms horizontal

surak

I had the same saddle, just replaced it yesterday with a Fizik Antares VS that Seattle Forrest generously gave to me. I never had numbness with the Giant, but some minor discomfort on my sit bones after more than 2 hours of riding. It definitely wasn't comfortable riding too far forward, and I tilted the nose up slightly so I could stay back.

The Fizik's shape is not much different than the Giant's, and I've only ridden 90 minutes on it so far so I can't say whether it's better for me, but Fizik has an interesting take on how to find a suitable shape called Spine Concept that I used to determine that the Antares VS may actually be the right Fizik for me.

What you can consider before getting a new saddle is moving around more on long rides, especially if you ride essentially planted to the saddle. Do some pedaling standing up, change hand positions to shift weight around, possibly even gear up if you typically pedal at a fast cadence with your feet not bearing much weight.

Brian25

Could be that you are spending too much time seated and not getting off the saddle enough. Try counting one foot going around and get off the seat about every 100 revs for a 10- 20 count.

Archerobx

Archerobx

I do not move out of saddle much. good point

Wheever

Carbonfiberboy 

Thanks for the photos. Everything looks well within the limits of normal. Not fit.

My guess is that both the saddle and the width of the channel are too narrow. Go to your LBS and get your sitbones measured. Wear running shorts or similar. I think all shops have that capability now. They'll recommend a saddle width and probably try to sell you a saddle. Sit on it on a chair or step or something and see how it feels. See if they'll let you try it and take it back if it doesn't work. If they will, my advice on any candidate saddle that feels nice with running shorts is to go on one long ride with it. My preference would be 60 miles+, but as long as is reasonable for you. Also look into other saddles recommended that are the width the LBS recommended and have a wider cutout than your current saddle. Performance Bike is an excellent online source of saddles and they have an unlimited return policy. When returning a saddle, wash it and replace it in the original packaging, complete with zip ties.

Good luck.

Standing every 10 minutes is always a good idea, but is not a replacement for a properly fitting saddle. Get a saddle you can sit on for hours at a time AND stand every 10 minutes.

Archerobx

thank y'all for your help

I just measured my sit bones for ****s and giggles. I got 95mm

Carbonfiberboy 

What was your method?

Archerobx

sitting on tinfoil and measuring center of indentations. I didn't add the extra mm

Carbonfiberboy 

OK, so saddle width say between 130 and 140, kinda in there. I suggest looking for a flatter saddle with a larger cutout.

pesty

Assuming that you've been properly fit to the bike (I've become a big proponent of a pro fitting over the last couple months); one thing you may also want to consider is the possibility of it having too much padding. I personally have found that I get numbness issues with saddles that have too much padding. Takes a couple weeks for your sit bones to get used to a harder saddle, but that ended up working well for me. After trying a few Specialized and Fiz'ik saddles, I finally found a shape that I like with Brooks Cambium saddles and I can sit and grind for very extended periods, only really getting out of the saddle for more power or to just stretch the legs. Inexplicably, the downside is that in general saddles with less padding cost more.

Archerobx

The saddle I was using did not have padding. I posted photo earlier in thread.

Archerobx

UPDATE:

A friend let me use an extra Brooks saddle he had. I rode 50 miles with it. No numbness, but I was a little sore between my legs. Wasnt sure if this was because I wasn't use to the saddle or it wasn't a cut out.

pass the peas

If your friend is up to letting you continue to borrow it, do a few more rides of different durations and see if you get used to it. You might be on to something.

Archerobx

He said I can borrow it for my ride at end of June. So Im going to use it. Plan on doing 2 hours on trainer tonight.

Im not really sure what a proper seat should feel like. I had some sore spots and thats understandable, but I was really happy I wasn't numb.