Comparing Terry Saddles

[LadyDian]

I am looking for a good saddle for a century. I am pretty well decided on either a butterfly or a falcon. Does anyone know the difference between the two? I know one is a tri saddle, but what does that really mean?
Thanks gals!
Di

[Thorn]

Did you see this page on their site?

http://terrybikes.forest.net/ftp/pub/2007_saddles.pdf

Weight, size, material differences are laid out in a table.

[LadyDian]

No, I had not seen that. Though comparing the two on the charts, they still look pretty darmn similar. It looks like one reduces heat build up, and one relieves pressure. Thank you!~

[Thorn]

I believe Terry has a 30 day trial run policy. So, you could pick the one that sounds closer and give it a spin.

I used the Butterfly Tri for a while, but, for me, it was too narrow. For a while I swear I had that chart memorized trying to figure out which one to buy. In the end, I couldn't use Terry's saddles.

[LadyDian]

May I ask what you did go with? I am aiming toward the falcon as when I ride pressure is an issue on the rear of the saddle. (Or my saddle to be exact:rolleyes: ) I am a bigger rider 5'8 175.

[Thorn]

There are a couple of threads here on measuring your "sit bones". It is a bit of contortion, depending upon your..uh...errrr...natural padding level, but worth it. When I did that, I discovered that my 6' frame did indeed have a wide sit bone distance. So, then I started looking for saddles that were a little wider than the spacing of my sit bones. Argggg.....the struggle began.

The saddle I've gone with is the Selle SMP Strike "Lady". It is wide enough to support my sit bones and has a generous cutout to relieve pressure. It is, however, a bit softer than I'd like, but I haven't found much alternative. The primary complaint about the saddle is the width of the nose--it is wide, but, for me, it works. It is best I've found.

One of the wise ones on these board said that they know the saddle is wide enough when the sit bones hurt after a long ride. For me, riding the Butterfly, my sit bones never got sore. What would happen though was after riding for a while, when I stood up, I'd have terrible pain in the coccyx area--it was as if I'd stretched out the muscles and they were slowly moving back into to place. Hard to explain, but, in retrospect, I believe that is the indication that the saddle was too narrow for me. I wasn't sitting on the sit bones--I was sitting on soft tissue.

Anyway...if you haven't tried to figure out your sit bone width, you might want to search for the older threads. From what I've read on the board, height isn't necessarily a good indicator--it all depends upon your bone structure.

[LadyDian]

Yes, I found the measuring of the sit bones thread last night. I have yet to try it, but I think my adventure is just about to begin. The saddle issue seems to be the most talked about one here, (and now I know why). Thanks for your input. I am looking for a saddle that will survive a century in September. I know I have to start getting used to it now. I am just debating on if I should order all three saddles and try them out and then return them or just buy one. I have not checked my LBS, but the prices on the internet are so much better I hate having to go to one. Well, off to measure I go.

Dian

[sundial]

I ordered in a Falcon and what I liked about the saddle is there is a very slight dip in the middle of the saddle. So as you shift your weight backward, you will probably relieve the pressure of your girlie parts.

That being said, I went with a Specialized saddle because the Terry saddles slope more whereas the Specialized seems to be a flatter saddle with a more gentle slope on the sides. I used a Terry saddle and my sitbones were actually sore on the inside from the saddle being too narrow. Terry doesn't give width dimensions for the sit bones so it's a trial and error when choosing one of thier saddles. Some of the Specialized saddles come in 3 widths and I chose the Alias in the 143 mm (the most common size).

[LadyDian]

Well I did the measurement thing and my sit bones are pretty close together 4 1/2 inches which came out to 12 cm which came out to um...120 mm. I am thinking a saddle that is not too wide should do ok. I actually don't get to sore on the saddle that came with the bike, but I haven't done more than 50 miles in the saddle yet. Hoping to nip any problems before they come up.
Thanks!

[Thorn]

120mm....oh, the world is yours! You have saddles to choose from!

But...if you don't get sore on the current saddle, it might just be a good saddle for you. Changing might make things worse?

Good luck.

[KnottedYet]

120mm! Yup, you get plenty to choose from in the saddle world!

Me and my honkin' 170-180mm sitz are joyful members of the Brooks cult. I used to love the Terry Sport (not made anymore) which was nearly wide enough and didn't have a cut-out and wasn't too padded. Now I've got a Brooks B67 which *is* wide enough, doesn't have a cut-out, and has no padding.... ah, bliss.

When you do find your blissful saddle (and you will, have faith!) buy two.

[7rider]

Well I did the measurement thing and my sit bones are pretty close together 4 1/2 inches which came out to 12 cm which came out to um...120 mm. I am thinking a saddle that is not too wide should do ok. I actually don't get to sore on the saddle that came with the bike, but I haven't done more than 50 miles in the saddle yet. Hoping to nip any problems before they come up.
Thanks!

In the immortal words of Ann Landers, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Try doing a >50 mile ride before you decide to get a new saddle.

[Stellar1]

Stellar1 here. I just purchased a Vitesse Sport saddle yesterday and am planning (for better or worse!) a long ride today. This saddle replaces a Terry Butterfly which was pinching places I'd rather not have pinched. This new saddle appears harder so I hope it's going to be OK. I like aerobars so have more weight forward when using them. LBS gave me a lecture on riding back further on the saddle so I'm more on sit bones.

Off on long ride now. Hope new saddle is OK.

Stellar 1:

[cyclingmom01]

I bought the Terry FAlcon and like it, but it seems a little too cushioned. Found the ping Terry Butterfly @ my LBS yesterday and bought it yesterday. Did an easy 20 miler this morning with my hubby and I think I like the butterfly better. Am sending the Falcon back tomorrow.

[Zen]

individual anatomy dictates.
I like my Falcon X.

[cyclingmom01]

Your exactly coorect Zen. Anatomy dictates! The butterfly is working for me. The Falcon seemed too cushiony.

[trichef]

i ride on a terry butterfly ti saddle. for me it isn't the best saddle but heck, i haven't ridden any other saddles in the past so no point of reference. not the best because i feel pain in my (you know where) after 1.5hours of riding. my girlfriends are riding on selle italia lady saddle (not sure the exact model, though) and they attest to the comfort and no-pain anywhere promise.

[Skierchickie]

trichef: i ride on a terry butterfly ti saddle. for me it isn't the best saddle but heck, i haven't ridden any other saddles in the past so no point of reference. not the best because i feel pain in my (you know where) after 1.5hours of riding.

I had issues with the Butterfly, too, and abandoned it after 2 or 3 rides this summer. I got it maybe 3 seasons earlier, but at the end of the season, and then barely rode the next 2 summers. I had soft tissue issues, it was too wide in the rear, and kept pushing me forward, and I had some inner thigh chafing. One thing I did like about it was that at the end of a ride on a really hot day, the saddle was actually cold to the touch in the area of the cutout - very weird, but very intriguing. It will probably end up for sale here pretty soon. I've tried several that are much better since then, but still have not found the Holy Grail.

[redrhodie]

I have the Terry Zero X, and also had inner thigh chafing and chamois bunching at first. I really wanted this saddle to work cause the color is so purdy (metalic pearl), so instead of trying a new saddle, I bought some Terry knickers, the ones with the pink chamois. Tah dah--magic! No more issues. The Terry saddle/shorts combo is great.

My old shorts were Specialized, and were great with my Specialized saddle. Maybe when saddles are being designed, the company uses their own brand of shorts to test comfort? Just a thought.