…to spite the ischium?? Thanks to a study first published about 15 years ago, bike seats have improved quite a bit. They are lighter, more comfortable and possibly safer/healthier than the old versions.
Ischial anatomy
THIS COLLECTION of studies shows the risks to both male and female riders of a traditional (non-ergonomic) bike seat.
The two approaches to relieving pressure from the perineum are to remove the nose of
Noseless saddles
the saddle entirely (like these saddles) or to have a large channel running down the seat (like these saddles). Both designs achieve their purpose: reduced perineal pressure. The noseless ones, however, may be causing other problems.
In the past year I have treated 27 cases of proximal hamstring tendinopathy or ischial bursitis. 19 of those patients had been using saddles similar to the Adamo design—a noseless seat. If you peruse cycling forums, you will find countless people suffering the same problems from the same seat design. My current theory is that by taking pressure off of the perieum, it has to “go” somewhere else. Namely, the proximal hamstring tendon and/or bursae. The only good thing to come out of this is that I have designed a very good protocol for treating this condition. It’s unfortunate that my experience had to come at the expense of several elite cyclists and triathletes.
I won’t advise against using a noseless design on your bikes, but will suggest that you monitor for any pain/discomfort in the proximal hamstring region, and get a proper bike fit from a knowledgeable fitter.
Brooks Saddle
After all, cyclists have ridden millions of miles over decades on saddles like THIS ONE from Brooks.