Which saddle is for you?

[The Walrus]

I find that most posts offer some kind of help!

The 'squishy gel bumometer which can be found in most Specialized stores' determined that I was 147mm but I cannot be sure as the guy didn't clarify that and just said 143mm saddle is for me!

I am finding the pain down the middle where the weight goes and a bit on the sit bones. Once off the saddle it goes quite quickly but I sat on a concrete wall yesterday and it felt like it was digging into my sit bones, possibly from trying so many saddles in a short time.

Toupe
Romin
Henge
Chicane
Phenom

They all feel very very hard and after 15 k's its getting painful. After 30 k's I have to stop riding!

You should not be sitting on the squishy part in the middle.
You should be sitting on the sit bones.

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Thats what I thought but I feel like my weight is spread on different parts of the saddle and feels painful/uncomfortable in many areas, including the sit bones!

[Mulger bill]

Get a Brooks. It may or may not feel a touch NQR while you break it in but then...

[il padrone]

Get a Brooks. It may or may not feel a touch NQR while you break it in but then...

+1

Seems you've been and tried just about everything else, time to hunker down for the real saddle

Brooks looks quite good on a road bike.

[sumgy]

I have one.
It is comfortable but if he is somehow sitting on his "squishy bits" a Brooks is not going to help.
Setting his saddle up properly is the only thing that will help.

Walrus, can you post a pic of your bike?
Something is not right.

[The Walrus]

I have one.
It is comfortable but if he is somehow sitting on his "squishy bits" a Brooks is not going to help.
Setting his saddle up properly is the only thing that will help.

Walrus, can you post a pic of your bike?
Something is not right.

Sure can but with what saddle on it?

[Mulger bill]

I have one.
It is comfortable but if he is somehow sitting on his "squishy bits" a Brooks is not going to help.
Setting his saddle up properly is the only thing that will help.

Walrus, can you post a pic of your bike?
Something is not right.

Sure can but with what saddle on it?

I'd suggest the one you find least objectionable, set up in your normal position.

[sumgy]

I have one.
It is comfortable but if he is somehow sitting on his "squishy bits" a Brooks is not going to help.
Setting his saddle up properly is the only thing that will help.

Walrus, can you post a pic of your bike?
Something is not right.

Sure can but with what saddle on it?

Whichever.
Just set it up how you would normally set it up.

[The Walrus]

Ok will do.

Was out on the MTB today for about 40k's path and off road. Very sore at the 30k point. I think I've ruined that saddle now

[Nobody]

Ok will do.

Was out on the MTB today for about 40k's path and off road. Very sore at the 30k point. I think I've ruined that saddle now

I'll ask the obvious question unless it wasn't covered before. Are you getting off the saddle over bumps and irregularities?

Also, as has been suggested before. If in doubt, get a wider saddle.

[il padrone]

Was out on the MTB today for about 40k's path and off road. Very sore at the 30k point. I think I've ruined that saddle now

I seriously doubt that this is the case. All the saddles you have used are modern plastic-based saddles. They really don't change shape or get "ruined" by use. Even a Brooks leather saddle, which does change shape, will not easily be ruined - only prolonged use with poor tension, over-tensioning, or use when the saddle is very wet will cause damage to a Brooks.

From some of your earlier comments I actually suspect you have been poorly advised on saddle width and have one that is too narrow for you, or you are sitting incorrectly on the saddle due to an incorrect saddle set-up (for & aft position, tilt). Photos of the saddle set-up will help others to give advice, anything else is pure speculation.

[sumgy]

From some of your earlier comments I actually suspect you have been poorly advised on saddle width and have one that is too narrow for you, or you are sitting incorrectly on the saddle due to an incorrect saddle set-up (for & aft position, tilt). Photos of the saddle set-up will help others to give advice, anything else is pure speculation.

Agreed.

[rjk]

From some of your earlier comments I actually suspect you have been poorly advised on saddle width and have one that is too narrow for you, or you are sitting incorrectly on the saddle due to an incorrect saddle set-up (for & aft position, tilt). Photos of the saddle set-up will help others to give advice, anything else is pure speculation.

Agreed.

+1.

i had the selle anatomica from USA on my long distance comfy bike (salsa casseroll) and it was one of the most comfortable i had, similar to a brooks imperial but with more cutout also it is not affected by rain you dont have to cover it up.

I finally broke it and decided i wanted something different, i tried all of the specialised ones and after riding up mt buffalo i ended up walking like a cowboy for 3 days, i have wide sit bone and as someone said here i am shaped more like a hippo i still have the 155 ronin still at home (anyone want it)

i eneded up in a store that has the selle smp range, and i tried there test range for quite a few weeks.

because i am wide in the sit bone area i tried the stratos first, and it was dam good after a few weeks, i then tried the lite 209 and man i was in heaven, they are still a little hard when i first jump on but after a 100km ride i still jump off feeling great. mine is 3deg down at the nose

it was so good i bought a 2nd one for my cx bike, thats not my bike i sole the pic from BNA

[The Walrus]

Ok will do.

Was out on the MTB today for about 40k's path and off road. Very sore at the 30k point. I think I've ruined that saddle now

I'll ask the obvious question unless it wasn't covered before. Are you getting off the saddle over bumps and irregularities?

Also, as has been suggested before. If in doubt, get a wider saddle.

Yes I'm always moving off the saddle and Im thinking a wider saddle is worth a thought! Might try and get some measurements of my own done!

[The Walrus]

Was out on the MTB today for about 40k's path and off road. Very sore at the 30k point. I think I've ruined that saddle now

I seriously doubt that this is the case. All the saddles you have used are modern plastic-based saddles. They really don't change shape or get "ruined" by use. Even a Brooks leather saddle, which does change shape, will not easily be ruined - only prolonged use with poor tension, over-tensioning, or use when the saddle is very wet will cause damage to a Brooks.

From some of your earlier comments I actually suspect you have been poorly advised on saddle width and have one that is too narrow for you, or you are sitting incorrectly on the saddle due to an incorrect saddle set-up (for & aft position, tilt). Photos of the saddle set-up will help others to give advice, anything else is pure speculation.

I didn't mean I had literally ruined it, just ruined the experience as it was once a very comfy saddle and since my road bike saddle issues it doesn't seem as comfy as once before!

But I'm losing patience with the LBS over this as I think they just see what others I haven't tried and throw another one on!

[The Walrus]

From some of your earlier comments I actually suspect you have been poorly advised on saddle width and have one that is too narrow for you, or you are sitting incorrectly on the saddle due to an incorrect saddle set-up (for & aft position, tilt). Photos of the saddle set-up will help others to give advice, anything else is pure speculation.

Agreed.

+1.

i had the selle anatomica from USA on my long distance comfy bike (salsa casseroll) and it was one of the most comfortable i had, similar to a brooks imperial but with more cutout also it is not affected by rain you dont have to cover it up.

I finally broke it and decided i wanted something different, i tried all of the specialised ones and after riding up mt buffalo i ended up walking like a cowboy for 3 days, i have wide sit bone and as someone said here i am shaped more like a hippo i still have the 155 ronin still at home (anyone want it)

i eneded up in a store that has the selle smp range, and i tried there test range for quite a few weeks.

because i am wide in the sit bone area i tried the stratos first, and it was dam good after a few weeks, i then tried the lite 209 and man i was in heaven, they are still a little hard when i first jump on but after a 100km ride i still jump off feeling great. mine is 3deg down at the nose

it was so good i bought a 2nd one for my cx bike, thats not my bike i sole the pic from BNA

I'm liking the look of these...however, I will see if I can try a 155 saddle and see if it helps. If I can try the 155 Ronin and it fits you could have a taker!

[sumgy]

Still waiting on pics.
No use in trying yet another saddle if you still set it up wrong.
My experience is that the Romin is very similar to an SMP shape (minus the hooked nose).
So if you are not comfortable on the SMP, you are probably not going to be comfortable on the Romin.

[The Walrus]

[The Walrus]

[misterhorsey]

I'm not sure a picture of a saddle in isolation form the rest of your body is really going to be able to tell you much. Have you ever thought of getting a proper bike fit?

Get it done through a physio and you can claim it back on insurance if you are with a fund. Will save you money that you might otherwise spend flipping saddles.

Anyway, how can you be sure the saddle is the issue if:

- you aren't sure whether the seat post height is right - either too high, stretching the legs or too low, putting too much strain on your legs.
- you aren't sure whether your reach is too far (too long top tube, stem, seat position is causing pressure on neck and back, causing you to burrow into your seat).

Ideally your weight should be evenly distributed across your bars, your pedals as well as your saddle. It can be challenging figuring out their balance without someone with some understanding of biomechanics to assist.

My seat was uncomfortable. Kept on cycling into injury. Turns out I have relatively short legs and arms/torso for my height. Obviously all my height is in my head and groin! So while I am happy to sing the praises of the Selle SMP, I think the bigger issue is having the right size bike and having that bike fit properly.

[sumgy]

I'm not sure a picture of a saddle in isolation form the rest of your body is really going to be able to tell you much. Have you ever thought of getting a proper bike fit?

Get it done through a physio and you can claim it back on insurance if you are with a fund. Will save you money that you might otherwise spend flipping saddles.

Anyway, how can you be sure the saddle is the issue if:

- you aren't sure whether the seat post height is right - either too high, stretching the legs or too low, putting too much strain on your legs.
- you aren't sure whether your reach is too far (too long top tube, stem, seat position is causing pressure on neck and back, causing you to burrow into your seat).

Ideally your weight should be evenly distributed across your bars, your pedals as well as your saddle. It can be challenging figuring out their balance without someone with some understanding of biomechanics to assist.

My seat was uncomfortable. Kept on cycling into injury. Turns out I have relatively short legs and arms/torso for my height. Obviously all my height is in my head and groin! So while I am happy to sing the praises of the Selle SMP, I think the bigger issue is having the right size bike and having that bike fit properly.

Agreed.
Was hoping to see something that was extremely obvious but not to be.
You need to wpork out whether your seat height and setback is not to be.
Find my Steve Hogg links.
Read and implement them.

[The Walrus]

I'm not sure a picture of a saddle in isolation form the rest of your body is really going to be able to tell you much. Have you ever thought of getting a proper bike fit?

Get it done through a physio and you can claim it back on insurance if you are with a fund. Will save you money that you might otherwise spend flipping saddles.

Anyway, how can you be sure the saddle is the issue if:

- you aren't sure whether the seat post height is right - either too high, stretching the legs or too low, putting too much strain on your legs.
- you aren't sure whether your reach is too far (too long top tube, stem, seat position is causing pressure on neck and back, causing you to burrow into your seat).

Ideally your weight should be evenly distributed across your bars, your pedals as well as your saddle. It can be challenging figuring out their balance without someone with some understanding of biomechanics to assist.

My seat was uncomfortable. Kept on cycling into injury. Turns out I have relatively short legs and arms/torso for my height. Obviously all my height is in my head and groin! So while I am happy to sing the praises of the Selle SMP, I think the bigger issue is having the right size bike and having that bike fit properly.

I had a proper fitting when I got the bike. I agree that I don't know if it is actually the saddle or something else. I've struggled with bar position and flipped the stem etc and that's feeling better now but the saddle has never been that comfy.

I did say in an earlier post that I questioned how the test of each saddle could be of any real value if its not correctly positioned. The LBS said once I know which saddle is for me then they can adjust everything around that! Starting to think that LBS could stand for Local Bull Shi!!

I didn't know a Physio could do a bike fitting, I just assumed it was bike shops. Specialized do one that costs $500!

[sumgy]

I have seen lots of professionally fitted cyclists who are obviously far too high or else have something else wrong with the fitting so that they sit off to one side.
I dont trust any professional fitting where they rely on angles or computer generated models to arrive at the perfect position that they then want to contort your body into.

[misterhorsey]

Yeah, i'm sure some licensed builders can put up a retaining wall that will last a few years before toppling over and some builders can do one that will be fine for decades. Every fitter is different, in their approach as well as their execution. Word of mouth recommendations either from someone you know, or even via this forum, could be a good start.

I had my bike 'fit' by the LBS when I first got it. They put me on a bike that was approximately 3 sizes too big, with a top tube that was too long by about 3.5cms/4cms. Too many LBS people judge bike size according to height, when the limbs that make up our height differ from person to person, including significantly wide variations according to genetic/ethnic background.

I was attracted to getting a bike fit by a physio because of their deeper understanding of biomechanics than your typical bike shop guy, who might be experienced with bikes, but may not have knowledge of biomechanics beyond their own anecdotal experiences. The amount of times bike shop guys have advised me that 'xx' crank length should be fine for me, as it is fine for them, where there was a significant and observable height difference between us, was astounding!

Obviously not every physio will do bike fits, but mine does. The health fund extras refund certainly softens the costage.

Anyway, good luck with it. Would be good to get you to the stage where this problem is a distant memory.

[The Walrus]

Thanks horsey!

Yes I would love to get this sorted as its really stopping me from doing longer rides. I'm now wondering if the original seat could be totally fine and its other elements that are wrong!

I am in a health fund but have no idea if any local physio's do this service, I'll start looking. Does a database of any kind exist?

How do you think the Specialized BG fit system compares to a physio fit?

[misterhorsey]

I'm not familar with the specialized BG system. But my first query would be how likely is it for a system designed by specialized to recommend a non-Specialized saddle?

At least a bike fitter has the world of saddles at their disposal and can recommend a saddle regardless of make.