Discussion: I'm amused...

... in a Starbucks sizing kind of way about "Elite" being the most plebeian level, below Race and Pro. That's rather a bewildering array of options in their line of saddles - I've been riding a Scoop Radius Elite for three or four years now on the recommendation of my local bike shop and I'm glad they didn't have the full range in the store for me to experience decision paralysis over. Comfort has been quite good; durability somewhat less so, although the saddle has worked fine for me for a year or two now since the initial outer layer or fabric peeled completely off.

Also glad to know you didn't take the exclusively toughening your posterior approach to negotiating the conflict between your body and your saddle too much longer. It was very in character but there's definitely a point, if one is a masochist, beyond which being yourself can honorably yield to being a version of yourself with less attachment to suffering for its own sake.

I also need a new saddle, since the one I have is wearing out. Technically the bike belongs to my brother and the saddle is one that was made by a company he worked for in the early 1990s. He was primarily in charge of the sales department, but I think he played a role in the design of the saddle, however I don't think he every really believed in their product. Since it's his bike, I think he's going to find me a replacement.

Thanks for the saddle tip! After some research, I decided to order one. Hopefully it will resolve some of the discomfort I've been having, both during and after rides.

JTorrance - agreed that Fabric's nomenclature is strange. I didn't quite know what all the terms meant until I stumbled on their key on the website. Still, they seem a creative company.

JJ and Phil - I'm no expert, but the general assessment seems to be that you want as much weight as possible on the bones, the ischial tuberosity, and minimized pressure on the perineum. There doesn't seem to be consensus on whether a central channel or cutout is beneficial. My previous saddle, which had adopted a dome shape, seems backwards in its effect. I'm sure you both have more experience than I, so surely you will find something suitable.

Phil - I am surprised that you are trying to resolve some discomfort rather than prolong it; this is out of character.

I used to be purely a leather saddle guy, because that was what my father preferred. Oldskool. Neats foot oil.

Well, this may be tmi, but I'm more concerned with the effects I've been having after long rides, then the discomfort during the ride. You're right that I'm generally willing to suck up the pain if I perceive some benefit from it.

I've avoided the central cutout in the past because those saddles were just too hard on the bones, but apparently Fabric has figured out how to solve this. I'll see.

I had the world's worst bicycle seat on my old unicycle for a while (a unicycle shouldn't have a bicycle seat at all). Rigid plastic thing. If I were to tell you why I decided to replace it, that would definitely be TMI.