"Yes dear", or, questions for Selle SMP users

[nuliajuk]

My better half has been trying for ages to convince me to try one of his SMP Glider saddles. For a long time I looked at them and thought "There is NO WAY that is going to work for me."

Well, I finally got desperate enough to try one (the Aspide Glamour was a torture device) and now think it just might be a possibility. (Yes, dear. You were right.) In a 40 minute ride I had no chafing or soft tissue pressure, but did have pressure in areas I don't normally get it in. Such as the area just on the inside of the leg where underwear elastic normally sits. (No, I wasn't wearing any under my cycling shorts, that's just to describe the location.)

Is it normal for the hip aductors (inner thigh muscles that join the pelvis) to be a bit achy after a first ride on this saddle? It feels a bit like the muscle soreness I get after the first cross-country ski trip of the year, if that helps describe it. Also, my lower back was a little tired and stiff as well, something I don't normally have a problem with in cycling. I suppose that could be because I'm used to flatter saddles that let me move around more - this saddle definitely locks me in place more. He did tell me it would be very different from any other saddle I'd used and might take a few rides to get used to.

I have to say, their website is a bit strange. Choosing a saddle width by your waist size??? What's up with that? And does anyone know if there is any real difference between the mens and women's models? In most, the dimensions are exactly the same, the only apparent difference is pink stitching and fewer colour choices for the women's models. If I get a Glider, it'll be a mens' because I can get it in red to match my bike and the women's Glider doesn't come in that colour. (How shallow is that? :D)

[Marquise]

I agree SMPs are different and take some getting used to. Also agree the website is strange, but if you want to take the time, Steve Hogg explains a lot at http://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/bikefit/2011/09/all-about-smps/. The women's versions are the same as men's with "feminine" embellishments added.

[zoom-zoom]

I'd try the SMP if they weren't so pear-shaped. I can tell by looking at them that I will also have that "underwear elastic area" discomfort/chafing.

[nuliajuk]

I agree SMPs are different and take some getting used to. Also agree the website is strange, but if you want to take the time, Steve Hogg explains a lot at http://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/bikefit/2011/09/all-about-smps/. The women's versions are the same as men's with "feminine" embellishments added.
Thank you for the Steve Hogg link, he explains far better than the manufacturer what works for which person. I was surprised that he considers the Glider to be a mountain bike or upright flat bar bike saddle, but that explains a lot. The effective width is 110mm. My husband also has a Stratos, which is only 4mm narrower overall, but has an effective width nearly 17mm narrower. So, he's going to put that one on and we'll see how it goes.
I've been dutifully measuring my sit bones and choosing saddles based on that, but it seems it's only valid for very upright bikes, such as recumbents or those "pedal-forward" designs like Electra. Last week I borrowed one of the Specialized test saddles from a local shop, a 155mm Ruby, based on the recommendations of the Specialized chart for my sit-bone width, and had the same "catching" of the back of my right leg on the back of the saddle. I'm definitely fleshier on the right side.
This morning we did a ride just over one hour. A bit of pressure on the pubic bones on the left side, but I think that's because I'm fleshier on the right due to twisting over to that side to avoid soft tissue pressure for years on end. The Glider puts me in a centered position on the saddle which feels very different. One thing I'm noticing towards the end of the ride is that my upper body is more relaxed and less tired than normal. I'm more supported and don't have to use my arms as much.
I'm still hoping to compare notes with people who have SMPs. I know there are some on this forum because I did a search.

[nuliajuk]

Hogg's explanation confuses me to a point where I'd hesitate to buy. According to that, I'd be on a saddle in the 130 range. Well, the 143 Toupe I used to own was too narrow. The 155 just right, but I'd like something with more cut-out for the drops. ?????

These aren't like any other saddle. Forget all about your sit-bone width. According to the Specialized chart, I need a saddle 155mm wide, but in an SMP the 135mm feels a little too wide.
Of course, if you're sitting very upright, you might need to look at one of the wider models, like the Pro or Avant.

[nuliajuk]

...I suppose it doesn't matter, but do you know your outside distance for your sits? Mind sharing?

:confused:

Edit: after looking at it again with your information, I'm thinking maybe the Forma or the Full Carbon Lite. Thoughts? My center to center is 118, but my outside is more like 155. I'm 5'7'' and have narrow hips in relation to my waist...

My center to center sit bone measurement is about 135mm. According to conventional saddle lore, I should be using a saddle at least 155mm wide, but the Glider (recommended for a medium-wide pelvis) is 135mm with an effective width of 110mm. You might do well with a Stratos (effective width 92mm) or a Lite 209 (e.w. 102mm).

Got my own Glider in the mail on Friday, took it for a 2 hour ride this morning. No chafing or soft pressure pain! A little bruised feeling in the pelvic bones at the back, but not much. My arms felt relaxed at the end of the ride as well, no tired sore triceps muscles.

Thursday night an 80 minute ride on the touring bike on a Selle Italia Diva left me chafed and my arms were tired. One hour has been the previous limit of comfort for most saddles for me. If only SMPs weren't so expensive, I'd buy another one for the touring bike right now.

[zoom-zoom]

Interesting. My sit bones are ~125-130 and I generally go with saddles in the 145-155mm width range. Do you normally ride a more T-shaped or pear-shaped saddle? These things just look like they'd make my inner-thigh/butt meet area raw.

[zoom-zoom]

Hmmm...I'm reading a bit and thinking the Drakos or Dynamic look kind of intriguing. I'm just having a really tough time considering the price. These SMP saddles are about double the price of anything else I've tried...but nothing else I've tried hasn't drawn blood on some rides.

That's my big frustration. My Bontrager Affinity saddle is thus-far the best I've tried and sometimes I can ride for 50+ miles without significant discomfort. Other times I'm miserable within 3-4 miles. I think it's likely related to where I am in my cycle and various changes that yields down-below.

[zoom-zoom]

Gosh, the more I read, the more I think I might pull the trigger. I just wish I knew what level of padding to go with. I currently have the Affinity RL, which is their middle padding level...it feels about right.

[zoom-zoom]

OK, so I pulled the trigger on a blue Drakon (I have blue bar tape, cables, Velocity A23 rims...). I hope I like it...or this could be an expensive experiment. But I'm having a hard time finding negative reviews of any SMP saddles. Granted, most reviews are from guys. Hopefully my girl anatomy won't yield vastly different results.

[JulieBH]

The SMP Glider is a great saddle for me. I have been cycling since I was a teenager and I'm now mid 40s. I rr, TT, ride distance and dabble in MTB and CX. I have ridden a gazillion saddles and never found one that I could truly be comfortable on ALL DAY. I would say that the biggest factor in finding comfort on an SMP (beyond choosing a model that is way too wide or narrow) is the tilt. They are getting more popular so it's getting easier to find a shop that demos several different models. You may also be able to demo via the web and get it shipped to you for a week or two. The glider is NOT a saddle for flat bar bikes. It has a little less upturn at the back of the saddle than a couple of other models and a moderate amount of padding. Also, I think that measuring the sit bones is a fairly inaccurate way to determine which saddle to get. It may get u in the ballpark, but the other factors are pelvic tilt in your riding position and how much mass you have in the crotch meets butt area. SMPs are generally NOT pearshaped. If you have chafing problems with a traditional pear-shaped "women's" saddle, you may like the SMP shape. I've got them on all my bikes. I think they are worth the $$. My husband rides a stratos model and has gotten several of his friends to happily convert. Women seem to be afraid of the design, but it's way more comfortable spreading the pressure over the pelvis than concentrating it on the sit bones and "junk"

[JulieBH]

We keep you cycling has SMPs on sale

[nuliajuk]

That's a good sale price. Unfortunately, the only one they have on sale that I could (possibly) use would be the celeste green Stratos. I didn't quite get on with the Stratos. They have a few SMP models on that website that don't appear on the manufacturers site. Not sure why.

[Rebecca19804]

I went through years of pain (clit more than labia, if that helps clarify). Cut-outs didn't extend far enough up the nose. A friend has a Selle SMP Dynamic. She wouldn't "recommend it" (she's smart enough to know what works for one may not for another) but the entire concept was intriguing. I read and re-read Steve Hogg's info. Finally got a Dynamic in July. It has entirely sorted the problem out.

For background: up to July, I'd determined that I need a T-shape, quite narrow, quite hard. The best I'd found up to that point was the Brooks Swallow, but would sometimes (not always) get torturous pain after 30 miles. With the Dynamic -- fitted to Steve Hogg's method -- I realised that I do rotate my pelvis quite a lot and sit on the ischiopubic ramus. This has allowed me to be really comfortable at the back/sit bones on quite narrow saddles, but it puts enormous pressure on the front pelvic area. SMPs address all of that.

Yes, the Dynamic is a bit more pear-shaped than I'd have liked -- and I can feel that difference from the T-shapes I've preferred in the past -- but it hasn't actually posed a problem for me. In fact, the longer the ride, the better, as I seem to forget all about the saddle once I'm warmed up and settled into my ride. That's something I could never do before - so something must be working! :)

[zoom-zoom]

Rebecca, your experience has been similar to mine. I think most of my "issues" in the past were due to an anterior rotated pelvis…I come from a long line of people with noticeable swayback -- and all the women have tilted uteruses (uteri) to go along with it.

[Rebecca19804]

Rebecca, your experience has been similar to mine. I think most of my "issues" in the past were due to an anterior rotated pelvis…I come from a long line of people with noticeable swayback -- and all the women have tilted uteruses (uteri) to go along with it.

Interesting! I too have always had a swayback - something I try and address through Pilates, posture awareness, etc. No idea about tilted uterus.

[zoom-zoom]

No idea about tilted uterus.

I'm guessing someone would have told you by now if you did. I've had no less than 4 doctors tell me mine is. :p

[Wahine]

I just want to again thank the ladies of TE for the forth right info they have given on saddle issues and solutions.

I work a lot with women with bike fitting and the saddle is soooooooooo important. The feedback I read here in invaluable.

Cassie

[zoom-zoom]

I just want to again thank the ladies of TE for the forth right info they have given on saddle issues and solutions.

I work a lot with women with bike fitting and the saddle is soooooooooo important. The feedback I read here in invaluable.

Cassie

I'm always happy to play guinea pig! :D