For me the bleeding taint experience came from riding with cycling shorts over underwear. I had no idea cycling clothes were designed to go commando.

For me, the quality of the saddle is relatively important, but the conditioning of my butt is more so. Learning to keep my sit bones in the right spot made a huge difference in comfort.

And then El Niņo came along this year and I couldn't ride for a month and a half. (The apartment I'm in while the house I bought gets renovated has nowhere I can keep a wet or dirty bike, and also nowhere to clean it) -- my butt almost completely forgot how to be comfortable on the saddle.

It's only taken about 120 miles to remind it.

The other taint destroyer for me is those special times when I think I've clipped in, my foot slips off the pedal and the nose of the seat makes a full-body weight crater.

Managed that one today.