Saddle choice... yes, I know...
Discussion
Yes, I know it's completely personnel, but hoping for some real world comments.
First off, I'd love to go to my LBS and let them help me but (a) the doors are locked at the moment, and (b) despite the claims on their website, they have tried to sell me what they've got in the past, not what I was looking for... in fact, exactly what I'd said 30 seconds earlier I specifically didn't want... so I don't really trust them to sell me what is right - maybe just the closest thing they've got on the shelf.
I'm tall/heavy (6'4"/100kg) but seem to have fairly narrow sit bones - about 110mm, although they don't seem to stick out enough to get a good accurate reading with any of the internet methods.
Not a racer; my bike is lightweight touring/audax biased so fairly relaxed geometry and I spend a lot of time on the hoods.
I'm pretty flexible - I can touch my toes with no great trouble; as far as I can tell I don't rotate/move my hips/pelvis while pedalling (or when running, apparently, which is why I'm rubbish at that).
Current saddle is a San Marco Rolls, 20+ years old, stood for most of the last decade. I used it for 1000s of miles in my 20s/early 30s and while maybe not my dream saddle, it was ok.
But I've not been happy with it since getting back on the bike. I've spent a fair few miles fiddling with its position and angle, and I think I know now what's wrong with it. Despite being officially a fairly flat saddle, I'm finding I really notice the slight rise to the rear. This may be due to the saddle sagging/giving in the middle with old age? (Happens to the best of us
)
But I'm constantly finding I've moved slightly forwards off it, and therefore off the sit bones, and starting to get numb bits after a while. Moving the saddle further forward than I have it now is just wrong for the pedals. Giving it a little more nose up results in numb bits all the time; a little more nose down means I'm constantly pushing back against sliding forwards.
I'm guessing a properly flat saddle would suit me; and maybe one with a cut out/channel. Width of 145mm-ish
Just after comments/thoughts from anyone who has gone a similar direction, and perhaps some confirmation that the direction I'm heading sounds right for me.
Saddles in general are not cheap enough to go buying without a plan...
First off, I'd love to go to my LBS and let them help me but (a) the doors are locked at the moment, and (b) despite the claims on their website, they have tried to sell me what they've got in the past, not what I was looking for... in fact, exactly what I'd said 30 seconds earlier I specifically didn't want... so I don't really trust them to sell me what is right - maybe just the closest thing they've got on the shelf.
I'm tall/heavy (6'4"/100kg) but seem to have fairly narrow sit bones - about 110mm, although they don't seem to stick out enough to get a good accurate reading with any of the internet methods.
Not a racer; my bike is lightweight touring/audax biased so fairly relaxed geometry and I spend a lot of time on the hoods.
I'm pretty flexible - I can touch my toes with no great trouble; as far as I can tell I don't rotate/move my hips/pelvis while pedalling (or when running, apparently, which is why I'm rubbish at that).
Current saddle is a San Marco Rolls, 20+ years old, stood for most of the last decade. I used it for 1000s of miles in my 20s/early 30s and while maybe not my dream saddle, it was ok.
But I've not been happy with it since getting back on the bike. I've spent a fair few miles fiddling with its position and angle, and I think I know now what's wrong with it. Despite being officially a fairly flat saddle, I'm finding I really notice the slight rise to the rear. This may be due to the saddle sagging/giving in the middle with old age? (Happens to the best of us
) But I'm constantly finding I've moved slightly forwards off it, and therefore off the sit bones, and starting to get numb bits after a while. Moving the saddle further forward than I have it now is just wrong for the pedals. Giving it a little more nose up results in numb bits all the time; a little more nose down means I'm constantly pushing back against sliding forwards.
I'm guessing a properly flat saddle would suit me; and maybe one with a cut out/channel. Width of 145mm-ish
Just after comments/thoughts from anyone who has gone a similar direction, and perhaps some confirmation that the direction I'm heading sounds right for me.
Saddles in general are not cheap enough to go buying without a plan...
It’s hard to a definitive answer.
I can only say that going down the sit bone width route solved my issues when getting back onto a road bike.
I went through numerous saddles to get the right one.
I also found the ones with a cut out were worse. The two ridges created as a result of the cut out were just not comfortable for me. Now I’m on a Fizik Antares which is very flat and no cut out.
Padded and wide won’t necessarily mean more comfort, plus you can go too wide if you’ve narrower sit bones.
Regarding moving forward, is your saddle flat rather than tilted forward? Saddle too high or bars too low forcing you forward. Maybe a complete bike fit issue?
I can only say that going down the sit bone width route solved my issues when getting back onto a road bike.
I went through numerous saddles to get the right one.
I also found the ones with a cut out were worse. The two ridges created as a result of the cut out were just not comfortable for me. Now I’m on a Fizik Antares which is very flat and no cut out.
Padded and wide won’t necessarily mean more comfort, plus you can go too wide if you’ve narrower sit bones.
Regarding moving forward, is your saddle flat rather than tilted forward? Saddle too high or bars too low forcing you forward. Maybe a complete bike fit issue?
I got into riding and picked up a new bike a few weeks back and have ended up in a similar position - I need something better fitting but have no idea what!
I’ve bought a charge spoon on a whim as they seem so solve issues for quite a few. Fitted yesterday, first long ride this afternoon. I didn’t want to buy through guess work, but at under £20 was worth a shot.
I’ve bought a charge spoon on a whim as they seem so solve issues for quite a few. Fitted yesterday, first long ride this afternoon. I didn’t want to buy through guess work, but at under £20 was worth a shot.
I tried one of these new shorter saddles but as it was 143/145mm wide it was too wide for me. If you've narrow sitbones I think they might not suit you if it's that width you are aiming for.
I'm only 1.67m & 60kgs so I'm a wee bit smaller than the OP.
I've a Mason bike which came with a Fabric saddle and is comfy and seems to get good reviews.
It's all so personal a choice but as they aren't that expensive it might be worth trying one.
I'm only 1.67m & 60kgs so I'm a wee bit smaller than the OP.
I've a Mason bike which came with a Fabric saddle and is comfy and seems to get good reviews.
It's all so personal a choice but as they aren't that expensive it might be worth trying one.
bristolbaron said:
I’ve bought a charge spoon on a whim as they seem so solve issues for quite a few. Fitted yesterday, first long ride this afternoon. I didn’t want to buy through guess work, but at under £20 was worth a shot.
And how was it?mikecassie said:
I tried one of these new shorter saddles but as it was 143/145mm wide it was too wide for me. If you've narrow sitbones I think they might not suit you if it's that width you are aiming for.
LM240 said:
I also found the ones with a cut out were worse. The two ridges created as a result of the cut out were just not comfortable for me. Now I’m on a Fizik Antares which is very flat and no cut out.
Padded and wide won’t necessarily mean more comfort, plus you can go too wide if you’ve narrower sit bones.
Regarding moving forward, is your saddle flat rather than tilted forward? Saddle too high or bars too low forcing you forward. Maybe a complete bike fit issue?
The width of the Rolls is 143mm, which feels fine when I am on the wider/sitbones area, and no thigh rubbing, so I don't think it's a width issue. As LM240 mentions, I am worried that the cut-out type may not be comfortable... and after all, I don't have numbness problems when I'm in the right position.Padded and wide won’t necessarily mean more comfort, plus you can go too wide if you’ve narrower sit bones.
Regarding moving forward, is your saddle flat rather than tilted forward? Saddle too high or bars too low forcing you forward. Maybe a complete bike fit issue?
Saddle is at the only angle that works at all, which is basically flat (depends exactly how you measure it, including the kick at the rear or not)... even a tiny bit either way is worse. I've got slightly dodgy knees - the main reason I got back into cycling for my exercise - so I'm fairly sure I'd know PDQ if I'd got the height wrong.
The Antares is one I've kinda looked at... as is the Spoon - which like my Rolls also seem to have been around forever, but may be a bit too racy for my riding??
Moving the bars up is something I'd not considered, though... and as that's free, it's the first thing I'm going to try
Most LBS' are open so you should be able to get a proper look at saddles.
Unfortunately you are correct, no one on here can tell you what saddle to buy, it's as personal a thing as you can get.
What I would say though, is less is more. Lighter less padded saddles work out comfier as the less that is touching you the better.
If all else fails, buy a spoon.
Unfortunately you are correct, no one on here can tell you what saddle to buy, it's as personal a thing as you can get.
What I would say though, is less is more. Lighter less padded saddles work out comfier as the less that is touching you the better.
If all else fails, buy a spoon.
I'm fairly insensitive to saddles outdoors. I've got an old road bike bike with a rolls, an old mountain bike with a flite, and newer road bikes with the saddles they came with, a GT and a Trek. I always wear padded shorts. I naturally rotate my hips a fair amount.
On the trainer I was getting a bit of numbness after about an hour, so I switched the Bontrager Saddle on the Trek to one with a huge cutout, a Selle Italia SLR Boost Superflow. Really comfortable for longer rides and its amazing just how much of me bulges through the bottom.
I think I got lucky though, if the edges of the cutout don't match your anatomy it'll be worse than a saddle without a cutout.
On the trainer I was getting a bit of numbness after about an hour, so I switched the Bontrager Saddle on the Trek to one with a huge cutout, a Selle Italia SLR Boost Superflow. Really comfortable for longer rides and its amazing just how much of me bulges through the bottom.
I think I got lucky though, if the edges of the cutout don't match your anatomy it'll be worse than a saddle without a cutout.
smn159 said:
1. Invest in a proper bike fit if you haven't had one. It may be that too much of your weight is too far back, which won't help.
2. It can take a few weeks to acclimatise to the saddle - you need to ride consistently if you're to already doing so
3. Charge Spoons are great
1) I've considered this... living in deepest Wales doesn't make it easy (tho there are some done-by-video options) and I know that I used to get on with this bike for thousands of miles... I'm really thinking that I'd save a fit until until I'm looking for a new bike... which will be a year or two in the future, if I keep riding.2. It can take a few weeks to acclimatise to the saddle - you need to ride consistently if you're to already doing so
3. Charge Spoons are great
2) 5 or 6 days a week at the moment
3) That's 2 votes for a reasonably priced option... tho I'd kinda like an excuse to spend a bit more money on something flash
... sounds like the first to try if raising the bars doesn't help defblade said:
1) I've considered this... living in deepest Wales doesn't make it easy (tho there are some done-by-video options) and I know that I used to get on with this bike for thousands of miles... I'm really thinking that I'd save a fit until until I'm looking for a new bike... which will be a year or two in the future, if I keep riding.
2) 5 or 6 days a week at the moment
3) That's 2 votes for a reasonably priced option... tho I'd kinda like an excuse to spend a bit more money on something flash ... sounds like the first to try if raising the bars doesn't help
Ok if you fancy some flash, I used a Bontrager Paradigm rxxl for a while and it was sublime.2) 5 or 6 days a week at the moment
3) That's 2 votes for a reasonably priced option... tho I'd kinda like an excuse to spend a bit more money on something flash
... sounds like the first to try if raising the bars doesn't help Thick end of £250 though, and I broke it.
Brads67 said:
Ok if you fancy some flash, I used a Bontrager Paradigm rxxl for a while and it was sublime.
Thick end of £250 though, and I broke it.
Thick end of £250 though, and I broke it.
You're not selling it!
Just been out for a 30 mile (sorry, 48km) ride with the bars lifted half an inch-ish... no difference to the saddle issue. Definitely going to look for something flat to try (quite possibly a Spoon).
Just for fun, and off topic, today at a very windy North Dock, Llanelli:
Even if you decide not to have a proper bike fit then go for a proper saddle fit.
It will work out exactly how you sit on a saddle and therefore which saddle is best for you, then how you actually sit on that saddle to see if it is better for you or not.
If you were to couple it with a proper bike fit then it should look in how any change in position effects how you sit.
I had one recently and whilst the “fitter” said he thought my chosen saddle wasn’t really the right one for my style, dimensions, sit etc as I wasn’t complaining of any issues with my arse it couldn’t be too much of an issue and then looking at the results of the fit there were a couple of yellow areas (On a green is good and red bad scale) when re-tested after a change in saddle position reduced the yello areas.
It will work out exactly how you sit on a saddle and therefore which saddle is best for you, then how you actually sit on that saddle to see if it is better for you or not.
If you were to couple it with a proper bike fit then it should look in how any change in position effects how you sit.
I had one recently and whilst the “fitter” said he thought my chosen saddle wasn’t really the right one for my style, dimensions, sit etc as I wasn’t complaining of any issues with my arse it couldn’t be too much of an issue and then looking at the results of the fit there were a couple of yellow areas (On a green is good and red bad scale) when re-tested after a change in saddle position reduced the yello areas.
defblade said:
bristolbaron said:
I’ve bought a charge spoon on a whim as they seem so solve issues for quite a few. Fitted yesterday, first long ride this afternoon. I didn’t want to buy through guess work, but at under £20 was worth a shot.
And how was it?
bristolbaron said:
defblade said:
bristolbaron said:
I’ve bought a charge spoon on a whim as they seem so solve issues for quite a few. Fitted yesterday, first long ride this afternoon. I didn’t want to buy through guess work, but at under £20 was worth a shot.
And how was it?Although I played around some more with my current saddle today and managed to find a much better position... still not the best thing ever, but much more stable. Will still swap it out when the spoon arrives.
Spoon fitted and it's ... grippy. Really, really, grippy compared to my old saddle.
So much so that I was aware (to start with, at least) of my skin moving against the pad in my shorts, rather than both moving against the saddle.
I'm now thinking that maybe there's nothing wrong with the Rolls apart from I've worn it smooth/slippy over the years?!
Anyway, did a quick half an hour or so on the Spoon and maybe needs a little more nose down... but I've got a second hand seat post coming that should be much easier to do small angle adjustments with, hopefully, so I won't fiddle before that turns up.
So much so that I was aware (to start with, at least) of my skin moving against the pad in my shorts, rather than both moving against the saddle.
I'm now thinking that maybe there's nothing wrong with the Rolls apart from I've worn it smooth/slippy over the years?!
Anyway, did a quick half an hour or so on the Spoon and maybe needs a little more nose down... but I've got a second hand seat post coming that should be much easier to do small angle adjustments with, hopefully, so I won't fiddle before that turns up.
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