Fitting a Saddle

[andrearae13]

I have just returned home from a 4 hour saddle search. I spent the whole four hours at my LBS trying out the saddles they have there (Bontrager (WSD), Fizik (men's), one Terry). I was totally unsuccessful. I would like to try some other saddles, but fear I'll need to purchase them on-line to get a good variety (and return policies). What I need to know is, how can I try out new saddles at home? I don't have a trainer, so I'd want to put the saddle on, ride and adjust as I'm riding.

Is it possible to do this? And how do I do it correctly?:confused:

Thanks!
Andrea

~~~~~~
Trek WSD 2.1, Bontrager CRZ stock

[andrearae13]

First thing: measure your sitbones.

According to the Bontrager system I am about 140mm...

More specifically:

~My bike has been professionally fitted
~I need a new saddle
~If I get a saddle on-line, how do I put it on correctly so that I don't have to keep going back to the LBS
~Is this possible?
~What other measurements do I need (and how to take them) to try out saddles at home without the help of the LBS?

[andrearae13]

Muireen,
Thanks so much! I'm concerned about not being able to get the saddle correct if I do it by myself. The guys at the LBS make so many adjustments and use a tape measure and I am just worried. I feel more confident now after spending a total of almost 6 hours trying out different saddles in the LBS. I did purchase a men's Fizik today with the option to return after I try it out on a longer ride outdoors. But I really think I need a cutout, 'cause this saddle seems to have too much pressure up front. Thanks for the information about places to buy saddles. I never thought this would be so difficult, I'm beyond annoyed by the whole process...

[zoom-zoom]

If your sit bones are 140mm I don't know how a Fizik saddle would work for you. I seem to recall that the men's Fiziks are all around 130mm, so your sit bones wouldn't even be ON the saddle (which means your crotch will be supporting your body, instead of your sit bones--ow!). You'd want AT LEAST a 155mm saddle.

[Kathi]

In addition to the information here I found this http://www.wekeepyoucycling.com/en/p-260-cheek-to-cheek-the-sit-bone-measuring-tool.aspx

This bicycle shop claims that after you measure your sitzbones they will help you chose a saddle.

I can't help you with the proper placement issue as I've not been able to get my saddle back on correctly after I've taken it off. Therefore, it's a job that I delegate to my bike fitter.

[ny biker]

First thing: measure your sitbones.

According to the Bontrager system I am about 140mm...

More specifically:

~My bike has been professionally fitted
~I need a new saddle
~If I get a saddle on-line, how do I put it on correctly so that I don't have to keep going back to the LBS
~Is this possible?
~What other measurements do I need (and how to take them) to try out saddles at home without the help of the LBS?

Do you mean the Bontrager measuring thing indicated you should get a saddle that is about 140 mm wide, or your actual measurements are 140 mm?

My sit bones are about 125 mm center to center and 140 from outer edge to outer edge. The Bontrager and Specialized measuring things both indicate that I should use a mid-width WSD saddle, which generally 143-145 mm wide. Currently I'm using the Bontrager Affinity WSD at that width and it fits my sit bones well.

[andrearae13]

Do you mean the Bontrager measuring thing indicated you should get a saddle that is about 140 mm wide, or your actual measurements are 140 mm?

My sit bones are about 125 mm center to center and 140 from outer edge to outer edge. The Bontrager and Specialized measuring things both indicate that I should use a mid-width WSD saddle, which generally 143-145 mm wide. Currently I'm using the Bontrager Affinity WSD at that width and it fits my sit bones well.

Yes, the Bontrager measurement system said I should get the 140mm saddle (I tried the Inform R and something else, Race maybe?) Both made me feel like I was sitting right on the groove of the cut-out (well on these saddles it is more like an indention)....

Yes my LBS is great but they have a very limited selection of saddles and this concerns me. I'm not sure it is okay to bring in just any old saddle I find to have it fit. I guess I'll have to ask them.

And yes, the Fizik does feel like I'm supporting myself in front too much...

Sorry, I'm not good at the quote application here.

I guess the biggest thing is I need to be patient and maybe try a couple other bike shops. I live in Salem, Oregon and there are three bike shops right on the same street, so maybe I just need to branch out. :)

Thanks, keep the advice coming. I've been scouring this site (and others) the information is overwhelming. But hopefully I'll get this figured out. :rolleyes:

[ny biker]

We can help with some good suggestions if you know the actual measurement of your center to center sitbone distance.

Question: did you buy the bike from the bikeshop that helped you with the saddle? If so, a fitting came with the bike. Adjusting a long succession of saddles is included in the cost of the fitting.

If you paid for a bike fitting, but got the bike elsewhere, the saddle selecting, fit, and adjustment/readjustment should be included. Even if you bring in an outside saddle. You tried theirs, after all.

If you did not buy the bike there, didn't pay for a bike fitting, and they helped you, then, that sounds like a wonderful shop since they spent so much time helping, but yes, you are correct about not bringing X amount of saddles there to be adjusted.


:)

The shop where I bought my bike helps me with saddle adjustments for free when I buy the saddle from them. If I bring in a saddle that I bought elsewhere, they would charge me for adjustments.

[andrearae13]

Yeah this is the same LBS where I bought the bike. They are beyond helpful, I guess I'm sort of starting to feel guilty.

[nscrbug]

Here is what I do, when I want to try a different saddle. I've had a pro fit too (3 of them, actually). I'm pretty happy with where the position of my saddle (height, fore/aft) is at the moment, so what I do is I just take a quick measurement from the nose of the saddle to the center of the handlebar right where the stem intersects it. I jot that measurement down on paper, and try and position the new saddle as closely to that measurement as possible. Most of the time, it's pretty close. I understand that this method isn't the most "scientific", but it's a quick and dirty way of testing out a new saddle without having to shlep my bike back to the LBS to have them do it.

Linda

[OakLeaf]

As much as measuring the fore/aft, you want to measure to get the seat height right. Different saddles are taller or shorter, so stand your bike upright, put a flat piece of something (ruler, shoebox, whatever) across it, so that it extends beyond the sides at the same height you'll be sitting. Then measure from that to the ground with a plumb line.