Thank you all for taking the time to write and imparting with excellent advice.
I am proceeding with an open mind and experimental approach.
531 Colin -
However, I would take a small wager that it isn't the saddle alone that's the problem
completely agree "it isn't the saddle alone"
949Arnold
You say you have already had a 'bike fit' , has something changed?
When I first bought the bike I had a fit which went through everything, testing the seat, measuring up my saddle, position, everything. And since then the saddle mapping and swapping saddles a few times.
At the saddle mapping the new saddle the bike shop gave me was more suited to a male pro racing rider! The saddle was as hard as an ironing board and I was in agony the first ride I did on it. Though I tried it in the shop, that wasn't enough time. Ideally I need to take out a saddle on a test but there aren't many cycle shops in my area that do that.
Slowster
"I can imagine that putting more power in the stroke through your good leg and/or compensating for the ACL weakness/pain by slightly shifting position during the stroke (which could have become an ingrained habit even if you are now fully recovered) might also increase the pressure under the sit bones."
Yes, one of the biggest differences to my cycling, since having the ACL injury and operation, is that I don't get out the saddle anymore up hills. I am now rammed down and almost stuck to the saddle instead of taking the weight off my bottom/sit bones. Pre-injury I used to get out and attack hills. Now those long, hard pulls of a hill, with my weight pushed forward, is where its really uncomfortable.Cycling on the flat its less of a pain than up a hill. Maybe till I get "over" the mental barrier of getting out the saddle that it won't give me any release on a long ride. I can stand up, but its completing a full rotation with the damaged leg that's a mental block. I'm thinking physiotherapy on a bicycle
So... yes a combination of saddle tests, physiotherapy etc
Vorpal
The type of pain you have can make a difference to the solution. Is it bruising? Pressure on the skin? pressure on the muscle between the saddle and sit bones? Chafing? Are you able to tell?
Yes, it's my sit bones and pressure on them making it really uncomfortable after say 20 miles. I have to keep getting off the bike to get some respite from the saddle.
Agree that the fitting experience
Many bike shops will be fitting someone on a road bike for an athletic position & best efficiency, which isn't likely to be the most comfortable position.
I find bike shops are geared for mainly male/racing bike cyclists.
I think that ultimately I'll end up getting a comfy tourer. My friend has a Dawes Galaxy. And its a combination of things that make it a pleasure to ride. Firstly, the triple chain ring. The bike is too big for me but when I have borrowed it I've loved the feel of it as it is effortless up hills, and so smooth. Its now becoming a bit of a vintage bike so I am not sure I will find one the same. But I am sure that the frame and build absorbs the road bumps. The saddle is a larger gel one to my Orbea too.
Back to the drawing board ... thank you all.