Saddle nose comparison help

[CyborgQueen]

Need help with Saddle nose comparison.

Some of you may remember and some may not of my saddle woes.

Sitbones measurements - Outside to outside - 135mm, C-to-C - 112mm, I have no idea whether it's considered to be narrow sitbones or wide.

Saddles I've tried:

Terry Butterfly - didn't like the "too dome" shaped, and felt like my sitbones was falling off the edge a little.

Bontrager inForm Affinity - a little too firm in the back, and did not like the notch in the back, kept digging in my butt. Good for short rides, but hated it for longer than 20mi

Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow - LOVE the seat area. I'm not quite sure if I would be more happier with a wider saddle (such as SI Ldy Gel Flow or Ruby/Jett), even though my sitbones seems to be narrow. This is 153mm. Hated the nose part because it's too wide, putting pressure on my leg tendons. I really wanted to love this saddle, but too much of a discomfort for me.

Fizik Vesta - Notch didn't bother me, hated the seating area (I suspect too dome shape, because I was having the same issue as the Butterfly), but *love* the nose width, narrow enough that there's no pressure on my leg tendons/muscles. However, yesterday on a long ride, I experienced girly-bits numbness (first time on a saddle ???), and I suspect that it's too tilted up or possibly that I do need a cutout, will adjust it, but I am not crazy about the seating area. This saddle made me realize that I should be looking for T-shaped saddle with a flatter seating area.

I know one of the most popular saddles here is the Specialized Ruby 155 or the Jett. I'm wondering if this saddle is the happy medium between Diva and the Vesta. The seating area should be wide enough, but I'm wondering about the nose. Is the nose for these two saddle narrow like the Vesta? I'm assuming that the Ruby and the Jett has more flatter shape like the Diva/Bontrager, which is what I need.

Is 155 going to be too wide? I have bit of a big butt, so I'm kind of surprised with the sitbones measurements.

Thanks everyone!

[OakLeaf]

The wider the rear of a monocoque shell saddle (vs. a tensioned leather saddle with a rear cantle plate), it appears, the more gradual the transition to the nose has to be in order to support the "wings." So if you need a very T-shaped saddle, I'd agree with Muirenn that you want to be looking at models that are narrower in the rear and that "men's" saddles are an option for you.

Last year SI came out with the "SLR Monolink Friction Free" which advertises a much sharper T-shape. If you sit more upright this saddle might be too narrow for you, but if you sit more toward the narrower forward parts of your sitbones it could be worth a look. Some SI dealers (http://www.selleitalia.com/eng/dealers_world.php) have test kits, though I'm not sure whether they include that particular saddle or not.


ETA - haha, great minds think alike.

I'll hazard a guess that the reason you feel like you're too wide for the more wedge-shaped saddles, is that the wedge forces you forward so that you're sitting on the nose rather than on the wide rear. That's how it works for me.

[CyborgQueen]

Question: do you want a cutout? Do you think a saddle without a cutout that actually fits might work?

The Selle Italia Monolink friction free might be good for you. Or perhaps the Turbomatic, either with a cutout or without. The outside distance of the Turbo is 153, but the available seating area is more for someone with your measurements. It is domed, but apparently if feels more flat, the dome just makes it more T-shaped, so the nose is nice and narrow.

The Bontrager didn't have a cutout, and if I can recall correctly that it wasn't much of a problem not having a cutout, so I could go either way.

I know, I'm even shocked about the measurements as well. I got a big butt...doesn't make sense.

I was just thinking the same thing (Monolink/Turbo). I'll see if my LBS has them in stock. EDIT: Ironically, I looked at the SI test center, and the NEW bike shop has the test saddles.

Thanks for the suggestions. I can always go down a size for the Ruby/Jett.

[CyborgQueen]

From what I understand, if you don't need a cutout, it's best not to have one. Something about pressure of the cutout causing problems,...Not sure, really. But the friction-free (read, T-shaped) SLR Monolink comes with or without.

Bone size for the pelvic outlet has nothing to do with Butt-Size.

Can't believe I just wrote that. :rolleyes:

roflol....i'm not sure what's funny...the "Butt-Size", or the "Pelvic Outlet"...only on TE...:-)

[CyborgQueen]

Went to the bike shop that does Test SI saddles. Unfortunately they have NO women's saddles. Wtf...SI Ldy Gel Flow is one of the most popular saddles here on rides. He never heard of Turbomatic, and he tests SI and sells Selle Italia saddles (he only had the SLR. No women saddles...wow, but says he can order it).

I did ask about the Monolink, but you need to have a special seatpost in order to use that saddle. Aerodynamic...I just have a standard carbon seat post. So Monolink is out of the question.

*sigh*
I'm going to give the Vesta another shot. I looked at it, and it's too tilted up. When I first rode on it, I didn't like how it kept tilting my pelvis forward, and it felt like I was too forward. I may have had the nose tilted too much, hence causing the numbness. So I'm willing to give it another shot. But the seating area...eh, not fond of it. I need flat.

Meanwhile, I will go to the bike shop that sells Specialized saddles and see what they've got. There's like 6 or 7 major shops here, and they ALL sell different things!! So annoying...

Thanks for the help though!! :-)

[nscrbug]

Went to the bike shop that does Test SI saddles. Unfortunately they have NO women's saddles. Wtf...SI Ldy Gel Flow is one of the most popular saddles here on rides. He never heard of Turbomatic, and he tests SI and sells Selle Italia saddles (he only had the SLR. No women saddles...wow, but says he can order it).

I did ask about the Monolink, but you need to have a special seatpost in order to use that saddle. Aerodynamic...I just have a standard carbon seat post. So Monolink is out of the question.

*sigh*
I'm going to give the Vesta another shot. I looked at it, and it's too tilted up. When I first rode on it, I didn't like how it kept tilting my pelvis forward, and it felt like I was too forward. I may have had the nose tilted too much, hence causing the numbness. So I'm willing to give it another shot. But the seating area...eh, not fond of it. I need flat.

Meanwhile, I will go to the bike shop that sells Specialized saddles and see what they've got. There's like 6 or 7 major shops here, and they ALL sell different things!! So annoying...

Thanks for the help though!! :-)


Wow...that's pretty sad when a bike shop that is an authorized dealer and demo tester of the Selle Italia product line, doesn't even know about ALL the saddles in that product line. I'd be hesitant to make a purchase at a LBS that isn't familiar with their product lines. I hope you have better luck at the Specialized dealer. ;)

[CyborgQueen]

*crossing fingers really really tight*

I've found SADDLE NIRVANA!

I got the Specialized Jett 143.

I really had to question the Specialized dealer a few times because I cannot believe my sitbones were that narrow. I could fit on a 135, but he said it would be really really tight, and I'll be a little uncomfortable, so 143 it is.

What a HEAPLOAD difference! No more upfront pressure issues that I had with the Vesta. I loved the narrower nose of the Vesta, but hated the domed shaped back.

It has a gel seat, so it kind of does feel like I'm on a SI Diva (which is what I really liked about it), but not so much padding like the diva. It looks hot and fast!

For kicks, after test riding the Jett, I switched it back to the Vesta.

I wore just plain black shorts, no padding. Rode the Vesta, adjusted the saddle more forward. Went for a short ride, and I could immediately feel pressure on the pubic bone I tried to tilt my pelvis back a little, but that's a little uncomfortable. And I could feel the little pressure on the sides due to the channel. It was "okay", but it wasn't perfect.

Switched to the Jett. O.M.G. what a huge difference! No pressure on my sides nor pubic bone pressure. The sitbones area will need to adjust, but so far it's great!

The Specialized dealer will order the Ruby for me in case if this didn't work out. I have a longish ride tomorrow, only that will tell if I'm truly in Saddle Nirvana.