Coree,
I wrote you a response and when I went to send it I was logged off. I will try to highlight the post.
The Terry Ti is more for an "in the drops" position. My girlfriend has a Motobecane Older Touring Bike. She has had a lot of discomfort with saddles. She is almost 5'7", a very fit 106 pounds. I purchased a Terry Liberator X saddle for her. She rode it for about 250 miles and was disappointed with it. It was designed for a more upright position. In fairness, Terry makes some excellent saddles and she may be unique. If we had had more than a 30 day trail period, it might have worked. That saddle hurt whether 3 miles or more. Normally, she is fine for the 1st 40 miles then after that pain. Here are a few suggestions:
1. She is currently riding a Serfas Woman's Saddle with a large cut out and a wider rear. It is better but not
perfect. We may try a Womans Brooks Professional Saddle or another option, I described later in this text.
2. You said you were riding a Surly, I assume a Long Haul Trucker? What size frame? I went to purchase a Surly
and I had two issues with it. I did not want 26" wheels, matter of personal preference only, and the top tube
stem combo tends to be long. You could adjust the stem length but be careful not too short or it may affect
handling.
3. If you haven't already, pay the money and get a good fit session. It may fix some of your issues.
4. Bontrager (Trek) offers a saddle called the Inform Saddle. They basically guarantee fit with a 90 day trial period.
They have you sit on a gel that turns colors to see where your sit bone is on the saddle. You simply, match the
color of the gel to the color on the tag. I like that they offer a number of widths for woman.
Now some on the forum might think this is nonsense, a bit of hocus pocus, but the bike shop, I saw it in, Bicycle Outfitters of Seminole, Fl. swear by it. They are a store that caters to bicycle touring and they actually stock Surly's. So.....
I personally ride a Brooks Professional Saddle. I found it extremely uncomfortable, for the first 400-500 miles and after using the proof hide to soften it up some and becoming road hard, it is the best saddle I have ever owned. I use it with a Comotion Norwester Tour. I am able to ride 80 plus miles before noticing any soreness.
I hope you get your saddle issues sorted out prior to your trip. Try the Inform Saddle, you have nothing to lose and plenty of time to break it in. If it doesn't work return it. If you find a saddle, that you really like, please let us know. Thanks Bob & Dot P.S. Also look at your bike shorts and go with a pair of Terry shorts, that may help too.
