Originally Posted by
phughes
IN reality, once broke in, the leather saddle would actually be less firm than the Selle SMP. THe SMP has a much harder base, which will not give, so once the cover/cushion is compressed, it is hard. The leather saddle will flex. Whether or not a leather saddle will work for you personally is something you would have to investigate.
I understand what you're saying; however, and maybe I should re-phrase my question, what about what's happening in the rump when I compress the cover/cushion and get to the firmer part of the Selle SMP saddle, could that be the issue? When I've used Brooks, I recall a feeling of 'not sinking' into the saddle, just resting on top of it.
Thing I like about the Selle SMP is the size of the channel/cut-out and how it seems to be helping me avoid any issues down below (I had some previously, maybe not from the type of saddle but fact that I hadn't stretched certain pelvic floor muscles...ever). Whereas the B17's I have, when positioned well for my sit bones, had the nose sticking upwards and without a cut out may have been an issue for me. I won't go back to that saddle, but I'm curious about leather saddles that do not have padding, have a cut out and where the centre of the saddle through to the nose sit lower, but without encouraging a slide forward (the Selle SMP checks all of those boxes, minus the soft padding...which isn't actually that much padding).