Saddle for longer distances?

[murielalex]

So, I've spent the last week obsessively searching and reading up on saddle choices while I'm waiting for my road bike to arrive, which won't be for another month. I get that I'll probably be trying out a few until I find one that works for me, but I'm hoping to learn from the experience here to maybe make that process shorter. I'm getting a custom frame Gunnar Sport. I plan to use it for weekend club rides in the 20-30ish mile range, but starting in late Spring, I will begin training, along with a team of co-workers, for the Nov. Smart Ride, a two-day, 165 mile ride from Miami to Key West, with a couple centuries planned throughout the summer as part of the training. I've been looking at the Brooks Saddles (I read the whole thread here, and searched at other forums), but the reality is that I have no idea what I'm talking about or, outside of measuring my sit bones, where to start. I'd rather not buy a saddle I'm happy with for short rides if it's not going to work for longer. Thanks, in advance, for helping this newbie out.

[Wahine]

Unfortunately murielalex, it's kind of like shoe shopping. How the saddle fits has a lot to do with your anatomy and even with the right information in that department to steer you in the right direction, the right saddle may not feel good to you due to personal preferences. Did I use "right" enough in that sentence?

When you have problems with a saddle, what are they? Here are some of the common complaints I hear from women that helps me decide what type of saddle to test drive with them when I'm doing a fitting.
1) Chafing. And if there is chafing, is it around the labial and/clitoral region or more towards the sit bones
2) Pressure type pain in the pubic area
3) Pressure type pain at the sit bones
4) Irritation of the tendons up high on the inner and/or backside aspect of the leg

Do any of these issue apply to you now?

[murielalex]

I don't yet have a road bike, so I'm not sure what issues I'll have. I do know that when I had the pre-purchase Retul fitting, we tried out about five saddles just to get an idea of what might work, and the one I liked best overall, and the only one that I didn't get pain in the up front region, was a Planet Bike ARS competition:

http://www.speedgoat.com/Images/products/P-23323-t.jpg

The one thing about it, though, is that it's a bit cushy, which, if what I've been reading is true, won't support my sit bones well for the distances I plan on riding, and won't be a good choice. I don't know that if this means anything or makes a difference or not, but the fitter noted, that along with my long femurs, I seem to be most comfortable when I'm sitting further back in the saddle.

I am aware that I'll be trying out different saddles, but do want to have a couple choices as a starting point.

[ny biker]

Do you know your sitbone measurement yet? That is an important place to start, since it could rule out some models based on size alone.

[Wahine]

According to the website, the saddle that you are showing there is 6.5" wide. That converts to more than 160 mm, which is probably the outside edge measurement of the saddle for shipping purposes, not the width of the supportive area for your sit bones. Having said that, it's pretty wide so you're probably looking for a saddle that is around a 155 mm "width". Since the cut out seems to be helpful to you, you want to look for a saddle with a cut out.

I would agree that you want a firmer saddle than that for longer distances.

By no means do I know every saddle out there but you might want to try to Specialized BG 155 (it might be 153). The Sella Italia Diva looks good. I also really like the profile of the Selle San Marco Aspide Glamour. Unfortunately, none of these saddles are cheap. But the moment you start looking for a "performance" saddle, which is what a lot of the firmer saddles are listed as, you will pay more $$$$$.

I did see this saddle (http://www.rei.com/product/801783/respiro-athletic-bike-saddle-womens) and it is inexpensive but it's about the right width and shape. It might still be too cushy for what you want. But it's much less expensive and might be worth a try. The same saddle is available in an even wider version and has some reviews written here (http://www.rei.com/product/768506/respiro-moderate-bike-saddle-womens), including a review from a woman that rode RAGBRAI on it.

One word of caution on the cutouts, they tend to break down around the cut away area and when that happens, you'll start to slide forward on the saddle, off the sit bone area and begin putting too much pressure on your hands and bits of your pelvis that are not designed to take pressure. Just watch for that. When I used to ride the Terry cut outs, I had to replace my saddle about once per year. I was riding a lot and much of that time was in the aerobars, so I would expect the average user should get more life out of that saddle than I did.

I hope that helps some.

[murielalex]

Thank you so much! That does give me some ideas to start with, and I'll get my sit bones measured, officially, tomorrow. I'm not worried so much about cost. By June, I should be riding 200+ miles a week, increasing more over the summer, and if I can get a saddle that suits me sooner rather than later, no matter the cost, it will be worth it.

[murielalex]

I measured my sit bones using the playdoh method I read about here (thanks, people!), and it looks like my insides are 76 and my outside are 133. I also did the "do you need a cut out" test I read here, and although not too squished, gonna guess yes for starters.

[murielalex]

It's truly from the outside. I measured five separate times since I had a hard time believing it. My actual hips bones are fairly wide.

EDIT: just re-rolled the playdoh, and it hasn't changed. Center to center is 95.25

[Owlie]

It's truly from the outside. I measured five separate times since I had a hard time believing it. My actual hips bones are fairly wide.

EDIT: just re-rolled the playdoh, and it hasn't changed. Center to center is 95.25

Then you have a ton of options available! I'd say to try looking at men's saddles.

[ny biker]

The Bontrager Affinity WSD comes in 134mm, also. No cutout but there is a divot in the nose.

[murielalex]

Yes, stay away from most women's saddles. Though Specialized in a 130 will work. You can try any of those saddles that are around 130 mm or so. (A lot of mens saddles are 130, 132, 135,... you get the picture. That's the correct range).


Forgive my newbieness, but doesn't 130 in a saddle represent the outside measurement of the saddle? If my sit bones end at 133, wouldn't that be too small? I'm confused.

[Wahine]

Forgive my newbieness, but doesn't 130 in a saddle represent the outside measurement of the saddle? If my sit bones end at 133, wouldn't that be too small? I'm confused.

No, you are right. You want to get a saddle that is at least the same width as the outer measurement, I would even add 2 mm to be on the safe side. But yes, if your sit bones are that narrow you could get away with most men's saddles quite nicely. However, as long as the nose is narrow enough, there is no danger in getting a saddle that is slightly to wide.

[murielalex]

Well, just to update folks. After reading the threads here, I decided to try out a Brooks B17 from Wallbike. I've had it a week now, and after making a couple adjustments, I find it quite comfortable, and I haven't yet tried it out with bike shorts. Today, I did about 20 miles, my longest ride so far. I can't imagine how it will feel after I get it broken in. I know I need to find out how it feels in the 50+ miles range, but for now I feel like one of the lucky ones: found my saddle!