In search of the perfect saddle (AKA when bigger isn't better)

Ahead of a sponsored bike ride from Manchester to London next month - and with a new saddle causing her all sorts of mischief - Helen Pidd went for a professional saddle fitting session. But is it worth 150?

I owe quite a few people an apology. To everyone over the years who got a new bike and moaned about their bottom hurting, only for me to say breezily, "you just need to break your bum in": I'm sorry. I was wrong. Having hit it lucky with the saddle which came with my old road bike seven years ago, I didn't understand the very real pain that comes with a seat that rubs you up in all the wrong ways.

Then I got a new saddle. My old one was knackered. So, after crowdsourcing the sages of my cycling club, I decided to upgrade to a Selle Italia Diva Flow, which many women swear by. I'm training to cycle from Manchester to London (M2L) in one day next month (please do feel free to sponsor me: it's for Ambitious About Autism) and I knew comfort was key. I recently spoke to one woman who did Rapha's M2L last year and confessed she couldn't actually urinate for some time after the ride because her saddle had done her bits such a mischief.