@Jordfid see my recent post in the Support, Help forum.
Edit: I am attempting to assist you, but this site is now inoperative for me. I attempted to post in your thread and also message you, but both were rejected. And even though I can add edits to this post I am unable to paste my original content; and the site program provides no explantion and/or previous "verification" process.
2nd edit: Why alI am able to add this comment edit I have no idea.
3rd edit: in an effort to post my reply to your thread I will break down my response into smaller sections and see what happens. More wasted time!
Jordfid
I worked for quite a few years in a hospital OR and we often provided specail pads/cushions for patoents after operations and I often wondered if they could somehow be adapted for the more active patients.
Having seen those medical aids and a few different saddles of a split or open center/cut-out design I find that there are substantial differences.
Presently, there are 4 main designs out there that may address your issues:
1) single cushion tops with the centers either channeling (some more deep and/or wider channel than others). I have used a variety of these and in general dound them all to be sufficiently comfortable (I am a male); but hearing of condition I doubt they will suffice.
2) single cushion tops with a center opening. They are very similar to saddle #1, and except for the very narrow and/or shallow channel types they feel the same to me so again I doubt that they will be much better.
....continued...
3) 2 cushion saddle completely split. I have never ridden on this type so I cannot provide any personal feedback on them. I believe that some can be adjusted to expand the gap between the 2 sides, but I have not done any research to fully determine the features.
4) 2 cushion saddle where the sides articulate with the movement of the legs. As with #3 I have never ridden these. I saw them sometime ago so I am not sure if it was a short lived fad or something that evolved over time. They were quite heavy as I recall and I do not believe there was any adjustment to expand the side to side width.
As with any saddle it is an individual preference since even if you had no medical condition our bodies and manner of riding are all slightly different. I would not base my purchase on what anyone says without test riding different styles on your bike under the same conditions which normally ride (time duration, distance, terrain, etc.). If you normally ride 30 minutes for an average ride then you need to test a saddle in the same way. A saddle migjt feel just fine for 3 to 5 minute test ride around the block, but may start to be uncomfortable if used for 2 to 3 times as long or longer. Call around to some local shops and see what they have available before driving around or purchading something online. Most shops will allow sufficient testing, but even if you find one that is immediately suitable I would still recommend that you try another of different design to provide the best comparison in order to make a more educated decision.
...continued...
.
Checking Craigslist is a good recommendation and I would assume a private owner would allow you to test the item, but be advised that you need to have proper tools to remove your present saddle and install the new one as well as being sble to adjust the saddle height since the tops of different saddles will sit at different heights once clamped onto the seat post. I recommend measuring your present saddle height from either the ground (preferred) or from the top of the top tube to the top of the saddle where you would normally sit (do not measure at the rear/cantle, or at the front/nose). This will make it easier to generally adjust the saddle height without being on the bike. You may still have to micro-adjust the saddle once you mount the bike to account for much the cushioning affects your actually sitting once weight is applied.
DO NOT TEST A SADDLE UNLESS IT IS PROPERLY ADJUSTED! A good saddle improperly adjusted can be just as uncomfortable as a poor saddle if not set up correctly. Do not be sold by marketing hype or salespersons; let your body make the decision after weighing the options.
...continued...
I can provide one brand that one of my clients found to be exceptionally comfortable after testing multiple saddles. That would be Cloud 9; but he was not dealing with any medical condition, and I have no idea if they make a saddle aligned to your specific needs but would at least check out their site and see if they have some along the lines that you are looking for.
As a final note; there are leather top saddles that have no center support frame and they will conform to your body shape and you can custom cut away the center area (some have center cut-outs as a stock design that can be modified). There are many brands that make that style (e.g. Brooks, et.al.), but they are primarily of a racing and touring design and tend to be narrow comparatively, and thus do not allow for much modification without affecting the integrity, strength, and support of the leather. If that type is something you are interested in you would probably need a wider model and thus be able to remove more of the leather within reason without compromising the saddle's integrity. E.g. a Brooks standard B.17 model is ~6.5cm at its widest point, whereas a Brooks B.72 is ~8.5" wide. That applies to many leather saddles, and of course width sizes vary greatly on all saddles.
Good luck.
Jesper
![[-]](https://forums.bikeride.com/images/flatty/collapse.png "[-]")
