The Bottom Line on the V-flow Plus Saddle

The new V-flow plus saddle is working out great, and I’m keeping it! I’ve had the saddle for two full months now, and logged about 700 miles on it. Wow, am I really biking 350 miles a month? Lucky me!

The V-flow plus saddle comes with a 180 day money back guarantee. It took a bit of tweaking and persistence to get it just right. I am extremely picky about all things bike related, and I also have very sensitve skin which is prone to issues. (Remember my poision ivy rash?) The bottom line – the thing that really did the trick – was moving the saddle down 1 cm.

After I installed the saddle according to the instructions, I shot some video. John Cobb looked at my video and recommended I move the saddle down at least 1 cm. I tried this, and felt that my pedal stroke was less powerful, so stubbornly put it back up and kept riding.

Eventually, I got more butt pain and blogged about it. John Cobb saw my post, and emailed me, once again asking about the saddle height. With his permission, I am including that discussion below. Some of this is kind of embarrassing talk about female butt pain. But, if it can help someone else avoid some misery, it’s worth my embarrassment!

John Cobb:
I was reading your Blog and saw that you had more seat issues. First, I think you did the smart thing by taking your wrenches and making adjustments. So, I’m trying to decide how I can help you, are the saddle sores located more to the front or rear? It sounds like you have a good plan for chamois creams etc. personally, I like to ride in Tri shorts more than the thicker bike shorts when I’m outside. For grinding out hours on the trainer, bike shorts seem to help. Let me know if I can help.
Thanks,
J Cobb

Carol:
Thanks for checking in. I used to like wearing tri shorts alot better than bulky bike shorts, too. That was on my road bike with my old-old saddle. That saddle just didn’t seem to work on the tri bike, which is what led me to this quest!

The new saddle sore is in the front part of my butt, on the right side of my labia a bit toward the center. My old saddle sore, which is gone, was near the back on the right. It was the right leg that you said needed a spacer, btw. Have not yet explored that idea!

A week ago, even tho that long ride was good, I was feeling too much pressure on the pubic bones, and had alot of bone soreness afterwards. So I had tried tipping the nose of the saddle up to relieve that, as your instructions said to do. I was also trying to ‘glue’ my butt to the saddle while I rode without ‘scrubbing’. Those two things, and wearing my tri shorts, is what led to my latest pain episode!

If you have any ideas, I’m all ears. I know it’s hard to tell much based on an email message tho!
Thanks, Carol

John Cobb:
Carol,
I believe that your seat hight is still to high causing all of this missery. Try lowering the seat at least another 1cm. I’m pretty sure that doing the cleat shimwould be a good thing also. I’m working on finding you some shorter cranks to try, that will cure all of these things. Keep after it.
Thanks,
J Cobb

Carol:
I tried lowering the seat when you first recommended it, but I didn’t feel powerful that way, so I put it back up. I don’t have a power meter…I just go by feel. Does that make any sense?

John Cobb:
Yes, that is why a lot of people have issues. Their seats are to high because it feels good. It’s one of those “trust me” things, lower it and give it a couple of rides.
JC

Carol:
Hi John,
I tried lowering the seat, and I think it did the trick. I’ve done
three rides, 2 short (30miles) and one 60 miler. No serious butt
pain, yay! I have never, ever done a 60 miler without serious butt
pain!

Can I quote what you said on my blog, about lowering the saddle, and
trust me, and how lots of folks make this mistake? I think this would
benefit my readers alot. Thanks! carol

John Cobb:
Carol,
Feel free to quote me, I’m just trying to help people find comfort on their bikes. A taller seat height always “feels” better, it’s just not really better. The further you ride the bigger the problem grows as your muscles get tired. I sent you some shims for your right shoe, they should be there anyday.
Thanks,
J Cobb

Footnote:
After this conversation, I still tweaked the saddle a bit by moving it forward because I found myself inching forward on the saddle anyway. I also played with the tilt of the nose because I was feeling little too much pressure on my pubic bones. I spent one long ride stopping alot and getting off the bike to tweak the saddle (forward and nose tilt only, NOT height!). I tried to make it feel so that my sit bones were taking the brunt of the pressure, and there was not much pressure on my pubic bone. I figure sit bones are made for long periods of bearing pressure.