Paul_Smith SRCC
www.plsmith.co.uk
- Location
- Surrey UK
I would go back to the bike fitter and explain that you still have an issue. There is often no magic wand with instant noticeable improvement, sometimes you simply need to use the data and feedback you have then experiment to find the best solution; especially with saddles and especially when it comes to soft tissue issues. Often this can not be concluded in one session, so yes get back in touch with them, a good fitter will offer more assistance until the issue is resolved as much as it can be.
In fairness to the bike fitter there is only so much analysis we can actually offer a lady, sit bone width and looking at your posture on the bike or the two factors that most will focus on; a 'sit up and beg' bike will normally require a different saddle to a 'long and low time trial machine' for example. We can normally recommend a saddle that matches the correct width to the correct posture, but that is where our analysis normally comes to an end; soft tissue can be a very sensitive area and indeed a sensitive subject, there are only so many questions that arguably for a bike fitter it is appropriate to ask and analyse, I have over thirty years experience in the cycle trade, bike fitting included; but I'm no doctor or gynaecologist. That is not to say with the information we have that we can't help with your choice of saddle and help you find the most appropriate one possible.
Saddles are occasionally bought on recommendation of another rider, but, it can be difficult, even folly for one rider to recommend a saddle to another, one may swear by a saddle where another may justifiably swear because of it! Saddle manufacturers are often well aware of the limitations of matching a saddle to the rider's personal data, as such most bike fit stores provide a service whereby you can try a saddle, they may have a variety of test saddles or a brand like Bontrager offer a comfort guarantee for example. I would imagine that the store who fitted you will offer a service along these lines enabling you to try some to find what you find personally works the best for you.
One thing you have mentioned is slanting the saddle helps (assume nose down), yet you feel the need to adjust your position pushing yourself back "up every minute"; this may not only be that the saddle angle is to acute. As rule of thumb on a road bike with relatively steep seat tube you would expect a lay back seat pin and saddle set back on the rails, positioning the saddle and rider as far behind the bottom bracket as possible, seldom will this equate being too far behind the 'bb', it is if anything often not quite far enough! Generically if your saddle set back is correct your 'core' is engaged, if the saddle is very slightly lower at the nose (emphasising only slightly lower) you should not feel like you are slipping off the front of it, as your core is in effect supporting you and all you are doing is reaching for the bars, not using them to prop you up.
If the saddle is set to far forward you may find your core is not engaged in the same way, so it will not be supporting you as lean forward reaching for the bars as well as if the saddle was positioned further back. Plus, although the distance to the bars is reduced, it can in some respects actually feel longer in as much as you may make the same compensations as if it was actually longer. This is because when your core is not engaged and your posture is as a result wrong you are having to use your arms to support you far more and you may feel more tension through your lower back, neck, shoulders and arms as a result. When set to far forward this also changes your posture on the saddle and that contribute to saddle discomfort; you may feel like you are often having to push back "up every minute." as you have mentioned; intuitively you may pushing back to engage your core without even realising that is what you are doing.
Much of bike fitting is spotting 'tells' like that, in effect the rider is showing to an extent where they need to be in part by the compensations they are making for the wrong set up. In my example above if the saddle is set to far forward and your core is not engaged, you may keep fidgeting on the saddle pushing back to intuitively engage your core, it may be less to do with the saddle pointing down, it can be more to do with how far forward the saddle is and how that effects how well your core is supporting you; or not. Note for all I know you are indeed perfect in that respect and it's purely a saddle issue!
On the subject of saddles, you have one with a cut out but the size and positioning can vary between models and manufacturers, some saddles are flatter than others and overall shapes and padding also vary and the comfort achieved as a result; so potentially try a different brand. In conclusion yes do flag the issue to the bike fitter; it may well be something as simple as a more appropriate saddle.
In fairness to the bike fitter there is only so much analysis we can actually offer a lady, sit bone width and looking at your posture on the bike or the two factors that most will focus on; a 'sit up and beg' bike will normally require a different saddle to a 'long and low time trial machine' for example. We can normally recommend a saddle that matches the correct width to the correct posture, but that is where our analysis normally comes to an end; soft tissue can be a very sensitive area and indeed a sensitive subject, there are only so many questions that arguably for a bike fitter it is appropriate to ask and analyse, I have over thirty years experience in the cycle trade, bike fitting included; but I'm no doctor or gynaecologist. That is not to say with the information we have that we can't help with your choice of saddle and help you find the most appropriate one possible.
Saddles are occasionally bought on recommendation of another rider, but, it can be difficult, even folly for one rider to recommend a saddle to another, one may swear by a saddle where another may justifiably swear because of it! Saddle manufacturers are often well aware of the limitations of matching a saddle to the rider's personal data, as such most bike fit stores provide a service whereby you can try a saddle, they may have a variety of test saddles or a brand like Bontrager offer a comfort guarantee for example. I would imagine that the store who fitted you will offer a service along these lines enabling you to try some to find what you find personally works the best for you.
One thing you have mentioned is slanting the saddle helps (assume nose down), yet you feel the need to adjust your position pushing yourself back "up every minute"; this may not only be that the saddle angle is to acute. As rule of thumb on a road bike with relatively steep seat tube you would expect a lay back seat pin and saddle set back on the rails, positioning the saddle and rider as far behind the bottom bracket as possible, seldom will this equate being too far behind the 'bb', it is if anything often not quite far enough! Generically if your saddle set back is correct your 'core' is engaged, if the saddle is very slightly lower at the nose (emphasising only slightly lower) you should not feel like you are slipping off the front of it, as your core is in effect supporting you and all you are doing is reaching for the bars, not using them to prop you up.
If the saddle is set to far forward you may find your core is not engaged in the same way, so it will not be supporting you as lean forward reaching for the bars as well as if the saddle was positioned further back. Plus, although the distance to the bars is reduced, it can in some respects actually feel longer in as much as you may make the same compensations as if it was actually longer. This is because when your core is not engaged and your posture is as a result wrong you are having to use your arms to support you far more and you may feel more tension through your lower back, neck, shoulders and arms as a result. When set to far forward this also changes your posture on the saddle and that contribute to saddle discomfort; you may feel like you are often having to push back "up every minute." as you have mentioned; intuitively you may pushing back to engage your core without even realising that is what you are doing.
Much of bike fitting is spotting 'tells' like that, in effect the rider is showing to an extent where they need to be in part by the compensations they are making for the wrong set up. In my example above if the saddle is set to far forward and your core is not engaged, you may keep fidgeting on the saddle pushing back to intuitively engage your core, it may be less to do with the saddle pointing down, it can be more to do with how far forward the saddle is and how that effects how well your core is supporting you; or not. Note for all I know you are indeed perfect in that respect and it's purely a saddle issue!
On the subject of saddles, you have one with a cut out but the size and positioning can vary between models and manufacturers, some saddles are flatter than others and overall shapes and padding also vary and the comfort achieved as a result; so potentially try a different brand. In conclusion yes do flag the issue to the bike fitter; it may well be something as simple as a more appropriate saddle.
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FWIW, I did both.
