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My last three pairs of bib shorts have all worn out in exactly the same place (see picture). The latest pair started wearing after about 5 rides. I average about 100 miles a week. Do you think my position is off? I feel like my sit bones are in the right place on the saddle when I'm riding and I don't have any discomfort. I've had a bike fit. The shorts are all high quality (at least expensive) Specialized and Pearl Izumi.

  • Bike: 2013 Specialized Roubaix SL4 Expert Compact
  • Saddle: Body Geometry Toupé RBX Comp http://wheelworld.com/images/library/zoom/spec_toupe_rbx_comp_blk_13_z.jpg

Here is a picture of the saddle and the clamp from above. I'm holding a level to show how the clamp extends past the saddle. I think that is what is causing the wear.

Saddle and clamp

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    The saddle looks quite sharp edged. I had to replace one similar shaped Specialized saddle with rounder one because it chafed at the same points your shorts have holes.
    – ojs
    Jul 29, 2017 at 18:54
  • When seated. do the wear points in your pants match the corners of the saddle - where the D is, at the end of Specialized in the above stock photo ?
    – Criggie ♦
    Jul 30, 2017 at 9:15
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    @criggle. Thanks. It's very similar. Same shape. I think I may have found the problem. When I'm on the saddle the wear points are directly over the clamp at the narrowest point. I'd say about 2 inches back from the Troupe. I have my seat set pretty far back and the clamp is a little wider than the narrowest point of the saddle. I can even see where the paint has worn off the clamp. Not sure what to do now. I guess I need a saddle that is wider in the middle?
    – yothenberg
    Jul 30, 2017 at 17:05
  • That saddle looks rubberised to me. Is it in real life?
    – alex
    Jul 31, 2017 at 6:52
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    @Michael Nothing strange about the clamp. It's a standard clamp as far as I can tell. The stem is a Specialized Comp, FACT carbon. I've posted a photo that tries to show how much the clamp is extending past the point where my shorts wear. There are no real sharp edges but where the rails and the clamp meet there is a lip. I think that lip might be causing the wear. I think I'm going to have to change my seat post as Noah suggests or get a different saddle with more width at that point.
    – yothenberg
    Jul 31, 2017 at 17:55

2 Answers 2

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It looks like your saddle is positioned quite far back, relative to the post.

Swapping the seatpost for one with more layback (offset) should allow you to keep the same saddle position relative to the bike but clamping the rails further back, where the saddle is wider.

Clamping further back on the rails may also reduce the risk of bending the rails.

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I ended up buying a new saddle, Fizik Arione, and it has completely solved the problem. As others have suggested a new seat pin with a clamp that is more offset would also have worked.

I think the wings of the saddle bent in over time because I haven't changed my seat position and I didn't get any rubbing for the first couple of years on the bike.

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