Like many saddle woes, the right saddle and proper bike fit can go a long way in preventing these maladies.
“Saddle sore” is a bucket term for everything from infected hair follicles (folliculitis), chafing, and open ulcerations-all of which have the potential to be quite painful. “Along with testing various saddles, get a good professional bike fit.” That means dialing in your reach (being too stretched out places pressure on soft tissues), your handlebar height (both in and out of the drops), your saddle height, fore and aft angle, as well as the shape and size of your saddle. You want the majority of your weight to be resting on your ischial tuberosities (the hard bones you feel when you sit down) or the pubic rami (the pelvic bones further forward), depending on how aggressive and aero your position is, and not on your perineum. “The right saddle in the wrong place is as bad as the wrong saddle in the right place,” says Pruitt. Treat and Prevent Common Saddle Issues for Women
