Searching for a saddle - what to try next?

[Susie Derkins]

I'm searching for a saddle for my Ruby, and could use some advice to help me figure out what next.

The stock saddle was a Specialized Lithia, which was no good for me. The nose is too wide, and it doesn't support my sit bones, so there's a lot of pressure on soft tissue.

I borrowed a Fizik saddle from my LBS (not sure which one), and it supported my sit bones much better, but didn't have a cutout. I liked the firmness (no gel), but I missed the cutout that the Lithia has.

Now I have a Specialized Toupe (143 mm) on loan from my LBS. Last night I rode for about 30 mi. on it, and I liked it best of the three. Cutout was just right, sit bones felt supported. I noticed I was repositioning myself more often than on the Lithia (is that bad?), and my sit bones were a little sore. Not bad, but a little.

My LBS doesn't have any women's saddles to borrow, so the question is what to do with what I've learned. I'm not sure I've found "it" yet. I've looked at Terry's website, and Specialized's women's saddles, and wouldn't know which ones to try. Any advice?

[Owlie]

You might want to adjust the tilt of the current saddle and see if that makes any difference.

[hulagirl]

Trying moving your current saddle forward/backward and tilting as Owlie mentioned above.

If not, you can buy saddles from REI and return them at anytime used for a full refund if you don't like it.

[nscrbug]

Since you are having some relative success with the Toupe, I would say to try either the Specialized Ruby or Jett saddles in the same size - 143. Most Specialized shops have a 30-day return policy (at least the 1 shop near me does) as long as the saddle is BLACK. They won't let you return a white one. That is where I would start. FWIW, I'm currently riding on a Ruby 155 for about a year now.

[Susie Derkins]

Most Specialized shops have a 30-day return policy (at least the 1 shop near me does) as long as the saddle is BLACK. They won't let you return a white one. That is where I would start.

Interesting! Thanks.

[OakLeaf]

Spec' dealers I've dealt with look at me crossways when I ask for a return policy, but I've pointed out to them that ordering from Spec's website gives you that option. I kept the Lithia I asked for the option on, though, so I don't know if they would've actually taken it back or not had push come to shove.

Ruby comes to mind for me too, or maybe a SI Turbomatic (expensive though, and the place I got mine at a deep discount is both out of stock and showing a higher price right at the moment).

[loopybunny]

I have a Specialized Ruby saddle and was immediately in love with it after I tried it in the parking lot so I bought it to try it out on a longer ride. It's worked out quite well so far!

[KnottedYet]

What are your sit-bone measurements?

[bluebug32]

I used the Toupe for a while. It's definitely a hard saddle. Your sit bones will get used to it, but it takes a little time. If you like a plusher saddle, this one probably isn't it.

Is your bike shop fitting you to the saddle? When you say you're moving around a lot, this could be because the saddle needs its fore/aft position adjusted. In general, you don't want to be tipping the saddle up or down to achieve a comfortable fit. This is an indication that the saddle is a bad fit and could lead to other issues (like hand numbness) later on.

Where are you at in Upstate NY? I'm in the Hudson Valley and have a great Specialized dealer, depending on where you are.

[smittykitty]

I am also in the processes of changing out the stock Lithia on my Ruby. Yesterday I rode about 45 miles on a Jett Comp. Much better, but the Angels weren't quite singing. Around mile 25 the sits were a bit sore, then got way better. Some mild tenderness in the "bones" this am, but I feel like I could get right back on and go again today.

I was also a bit aware of my bits. If I remember right, we tilted the Jett on my FX down just a hair. I'm thinking I might try doing that today. The saddle is level. And I think the Lithia was too. My FX is a couple hrs away on loan, so can't check it.

The fitter at lbs thought I might also want to try the Ruby. I know it is highly recommended by many TEers. Wondering what to expect if I were to try the Ruby.

Thanks all.

[Owlie]

Huh. The 143 Jett works reasonably well for me. If I were to replace it, I'd try a 155 to make sure, but now that I've put some miles on it, it works pretty well.

[OakLeaf]

... so can I send the Jett on to the other person who was interested?

[ny biker]

I'm searching for a saddle for my Ruby, and could use some advice to help me figure out what next.

The stock saddle was a Specialized Lithia, which was no good for me. The nose is too wide, and it doesn't support my sit bones, so there's a lot of pressure on soft tissue.

I borrowed a Fizik saddle from my LBS (not sure which one), and it supported my sit bones much better, but didn't have a cutout. I liked the firmness (no gel), but I missed the cutout that the Lithia has.

Now I have a Specialized Toupe (143 mm) on loan from my LBS. Last night I rode for about 30 mi. on it, and I liked it best of the three. Cutout was just right, sit bones felt supported. I noticed I was repositioning myself more often than on the Lithia (is that bad?), and my sit bones were a little sore. Not bad, but a little.

My LBS doesn't have any women's saddles to borrow, so the question is what to do with what I've learned. I'm not sure I've found "it" yet. I've looked at Terry's website, and Specialized's women's saddles, and wouldn't know which ones to try. Any advice?

It's not clear to me that you need to try a different saddle. If it's not level, that could explain why you kept repositioning yourself. If the fore/aft position is not right, that could also explain it.

If your sit bones are sore, that just could be because it's the the first saddle that is allowing you to actually sit on them while you ride, and you just need to toughen them up a bit.

[zoom-zoom]

You know, this thread has me thinking I need to revisit the Ruby saddle. I LOVED my Jett on my previous bike and I still really like it on my newer bike, but the more aggressive positioning seems to have me angled forward just enough to put more pressure/weight (and occasional pinching when things aren't adjusted quite right) than I would like on my girly bits. I tried a Ruby last Summer (the one that making the TE rounds) and found it to be too hard, but I really didn't try it for more than a couple of rides. Perhaps I just didn't give it enough time for my sit bones to adapt. I'm suspicious that the firmer saddle could be the cure-all for my up-front issues (which are still quite minor, really).

[Owlie]

... so can I send the Jett on to the other person who was interested?

YES! I'm sorry--where did my brain go...?

[Krysta]

I have endured my Ruby saddle for a year now and can no longer tolerate it.(born too suffer..) Pubic bone pain, only on the left, which now is affecting my pedal stoke. It's the first women's saddle I've used in 25 years and don't think I'll use another. What other saddles are people riding with comfort.
Thanks,
Krysta

[KnottedYet]

I have endured my Ruby saddle for a year now and can no longer tolerate it.(born too suffer..) Pubic bone pain, only on the left, which now is affecting my pedal stoke. It's the first women's saddle I've used in 25 years and don't think I'll use another. What other saddles are people riding with comfort.
Thanks,
Krysta

Measure your sit bones first.

Just like measuring your feet before trying on shoes, you need to know your sit bones so you know what width of saddles to start with.

T or Wedge?

If you have chafing on the lower "panty-line" where your butt meets your thigh, the transition on a saddle is too gradual for the angle of your hip joints (too wedge shaped viewed from above) and is wolloping your leg as it moves when you pedal.

Cut out or No?

Do you prefer saddles with a cut out? Wide cut-out or narrow? Short or long?

Padded or firm?

Some folks don't like padding because it jams up and chafes and causes pressure and numbness. Some folks can't stand firm saddles because it's too hard on their sit bones.

I guarantee, if you can give just a couple of these pieces of information and an idea of the kind of riding you do most, there will soon be several people with the perfect saddle who will chime in to help you! :D

[ny biker]

I have endured my Ruby saddle for a year now and can no longer tolerate it.(born too suffer..) Pubic bone pain, only on the left, which now is affecting my pedal stoke. It's the first women's saddle I've used in 25 years and don't think I'll use another. What other saddles are people riding with comfort.
Thanks,
Krysta

Pain on one side can mean the saddle is crooked. Make sure the nose is centered correctly.

[TrekTheKaty]

Pain on one side can mean the saddle is crooked. Make sure the nose is centered correctly.

NY Biker, you are a plethora of info. I just test rode a bike, and this was probably the problem. I would have ripped that puppy off of there and started over with a different saddle!

Moving around on the saddle isn't necessarily a bad thing, is it? I find I do it a lot at the beginning of the season, and less as my core muscles strengthen as the summer goes on.

Have you tried a Brooks? I find mine very forgiving.

[KnottedYet]

Pain on one side can mean the saddle is crooked. Make sure the nose is centered correctly.

It can also mean the saddle is too narrow and the rider has shifted to the side so one half the pelvis is supported. I did that on a borrowed bike (narrow saddle) and it really sucked.

[ny biker]

NY Biker, you are a plethora of info. I just test rode a bike, and this was probably the problem. I would have ripped that puppy off of there and started over with a different saddle!

I only know this because it recently happened to me! I emailed the fit guy at the LBS to ask if he had any suggestions, and he replied that the nose might be crooked, and he was right.

[Krysta]

Measure your sit bones first.

Just like measuring your feet before trying on shoes, you need to know your sit bones so you know what width of saddles to start with.

T or Wedge?

If you have chafing on the lower "panty-line" where your butt meets your thigh, the transition on a saddle is too gradual for the angle of your hip joints (too wedge shaped viewed from above) and is wolloping your leg as it moves when you pedal.

Cut out or No?

Do you prefer saddles with a cut out? Wide cut-out or narrow? Short or long?

Padded or firm?

Some folks don't like padding because it jams up and chafes and causes pressure and numbness. Some folks can't stand firm saddles because it's too hard on their sit bones.

I guarantee, if you can give just a couple of these pieces of information and an idea of the kind of riding you do most, there will soon be several people with the perfect saddle who will chime in to help you! :D
Thanks for the help on my Ruby issue. I was sized for a 143 Ruby. Previously, I have used a Selle Italia prolink, cut out, 144x 282. But my shorts would get caught on the nose when standing. It is way more padded than the Ruby, but I haven't noticed the less padding on the Ruby to be an issue. The nose is level; I do tend to move around a lot while riding, but mostly because I'm not comfortable. The pressure and brusing is on my medial ramus, if you follow your ishial tub all the way up, staying medial, that is where the pressure is. Girlie bits are ok, right side is happy. In the past, I have created two bilateral stress fractures on my pubic bones from riding and need to prevent this from reoccuring. I have a getto booty and generous gams which always rub against my saddle. (ruins my shorts) And no hips.
The 155 Ruby looks really wide compared to my previous saddle.(my gal pal uses that one). The idea of measuring your sit bones, I find very hit and miss. They are assuming you will maintain that posture while riding. I get sloppy when tired and feel my sit bones flex forward. Maybe I should have kept up with my pilates classes...
Thanks again for your help,

[bluebug32]

I find that women's saddles are too wide for me. My sit bones fall between 143 and 155. I loved my men's taupe saddle and rode it for a year a half. Then my bike fitter pointed out that I was sitting way off the back of it. I just switched to a Specialized Romin saddle. It tips the pelvis further forward, which seems to help with the IT band pain I was having.