Check your position first and foremost. Have in mind that having a position where the body weight is not properly distributed will lead to pain, suffering and numbness on wither your hands or your "bazooka". Try lowering or lengthening the stem, or both. After you find the "right" fit, then you may try different saddles if necessary. I experienced a similar numbness issue and solved it by lowering the stem 2cm. This allowed not only to distribute the weight better, but also to sit on my bones rather than on the soft tissue. The more you lower your torso to reach the bars, the closer the sitting bones get to each other. Also make sure you have good pedaling habits and not rotate your knees outwards, but rather keep the knee rotation limited inline with your feet. Kicking your knees out promoted opening of the hips and it can too lead to numbness. Hmmmmm... I can't think of anything else... My 2 ¢...

Hi,

Not so sure about a solution.
It's an individual thing which could or could not be solved by proper fitting.
What is a crying shame however is that this problem, which to my mind falls into the professional hazard category even when it's not necessarily professionally induced, is all too often reduced to something that's just in your mind. Be that by your partner, your doctor or the general public at large.
To them it just can't be.

In reality however vessels do get compressed for hours in a row, nerves do go numb and your life suffers. For some reason beyond me most medical care services do not seem to take this as a serious dysfunction. It is.

That being said, I hear a good amount of praise about SMP saddles. Cutouts in saddles just don't work for me. Never heard of anyone claiming these did work for them but it's not entirely impossible.

Ciao,

I'm a fan of the older Selle Italia SLK. I have them on every bike I own as well as a number of extras since they are no longer made. I haven't had any numbness issues since I began using this model of saddle and have no plans to switch. I'll pay to have them recovered when necessary, which is cheaper than buying new saddles. I guess my point is, when you find something that works for you, stick with it.

I appreciate this advice and understand that I might have a basic set-up problem beyond just needing a new seat. I did get a 'professional' bike 'fit' (computer aided session) but they seemed more focused on efficiency and power than comfort. I read one article about fitting that suggests being able to comfotably support the weight of your torso while seated but still in the bent over position...as if this would lead to correct weighting on the sit bones. Any truth to it? Also saddle angle......if I am going numb do I tilt down a bit to lower the nose away from the soft tissue or tilt the saddle up to stop from sliding forward?

If only this was simple

BTW, I found this posted on another site and it sounds exactly the same as my problem! Maybe an SMP is in my future. Too bad they don't have wide ones (145mm+) that are also light weight.

I have been riding the SMP Composit (the one with no padding, just leather wrapped carbon). for several years now. It is the best saddle I have ever ridden. I am getting a little older, and have considered the Evolution, but my butt is sooo used to the Composit, I am sticking with it. Prior to this saddle, I rode an Arione, and had frequent "numbness" issues. I was constantly out of the saddle, letting my "parts" wake up from the numbness of the ride.

I'm confused by this post. Are you saying that numbness/compression/whatever is often reduced or denied by medical professionals and wives, but not vehemently so by riders themselves? I think it's the other way around. For example, I'm open to any excuse that blames fit vs the act of just sitting on a saddle. Seems like a problem that doesn't permeate the pro peloton the way it plagues hobbyists.

I'm also still interested in whether comfort can accurately serve as a guide for saddle "safety". Some here and in literature claim that vessels and nerves get compressed even riding in comfort, but I question to what extent.

I never have had any trouble while using the original SI Flite saddles, and I still have one on my mountain bike, but must say that the total lack of pressure on the perineum while riding a Selle SMP Full Carbon is a whole lot more comfortable. I run mine with the forward high point 11 mm lower than the rear high point.

What's the padding like on the SLK? Is it as hard as, say, what's used on the Turbomatic (non-gel/flow version)?

You need to try the Dash Strike.9. Two prong design like the Adamo, but more comfy IMHO. And completely WW approved at around 100g (padded) or you can get the integrated saddle/post at about 200g or so.

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