saddle width resources

I continue the quest for the perfect saddle...

Does anyone know of a web resource that lists the back widths of various saddles? I'm riding a 155mm Specialized saddle right now, and the width feels right, but its shape is chafing me something awful.

It seems most saddles I find that fit the bill have WAY too much padding. The padding causes soft tissue pain. Will I EVER find the perfect saddle?

Right now a century is just bearable and I'm in pain for two days until my skin heals. I want to ride a 140 mile ride we have planned for later this year, but I can't imagine staying in the saddle that long at this point.

Have you tried the manufacturer's websites?

Here are the things you may want to consider besides the overall width of the back of the saddle:
-the width of the spots where your sit bones rest on the saddle
-the curvature across the top of the saddle (even if the saddle is the right width you can feel like you're sliding off both sides of the saddle)
-the width of the nose (too wide chafes the thighs)
-the curve of the interface between the nose and the back of the saddle (gentle or sharp - affects the back of your legs)
-shape of channels or indentations near soft tissue
-the transition of the saddle to any cutout

I've just found that the overall width of a saddle really doesn't have much to do with comfort, it is all these other things that do. Sometimes this info isn't provided and you have to ask someone to actually measure it for you.

I'm with you on the padding. Give me firm!

Which saddle do you have? I had the Alias, but found the Avatar to be just perfect for me, after 'auditioning' at least six other ones. They're both the same widths, but even just placement of stitching can make all the difference in the world.

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Originally Posted by Pedal Wench

Which saddle do you have? I had the Alias, but found the Avatar to be just perfect for me, after 'auditioning' at least six other ones. They're both the same widths, but even just placement of stitching can make all the difference in the world.

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I'm riding the Jett women's saddle. I've tried an Alias, but I needed the slightly wider cutout of the WSD.

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Originally Posted by SadieKate

Here are the things you may want to consider besides the overall width of the back of the saddle:
-the width of the spots where your sit bones rest on the saddle
-the curvature across the top of the saddle (even if the saddle is the right width you can feel like you're sliding off both sides of the saddle)
-the width of the nose (too wide chafes the thighs)
-the curve of the interface between the nose and the back of the saddle (gentle or sharp - affects the back of your legs)
-shape of channels or indentations near soft tissue
-the transition of the saddle to any cutout

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Yes, you're completely right. I'm just trying to collect some contenders that will accomodate my wider-spaced sit bones. The problem with the Jett is actually its shape - the curve of the interface between the nose and the back of the saddle - is what is causing the chafing.

Ugh - this whole saddle fiasco is becoming expensive. I never decide it has to go until I've ridden it too much to return it.

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Originally Posted by SimpleCycle

Ugh - this whole saddle fiasco is becoming expensive. I never decide it has to go until I've ridden it too much to return it.

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My husband made the exact same comment last week. So, he tried to set up a saddle swap thread on our local board. It didn't turn out so well, the only person to respond actually had the same saddle as him, but it's worth a try. I think someone else actually did get a different saddle out of it, but nothing came for him. Basically, just post on your local board if anyone is looking to try a different saddle and is willing to swap. List the saddle you have and see if anyone wants to trade. It's nice to keep it local because there is no shipping involved, no concerns of sending your saddle and the other person not sending theirs, no time w/o a saddle etc.

May be worth a try if you have a strong local bike scene. Just a suggestion to try and save a little $$

Try Terry saddles. Georgena has a 30 day trial period on them. She'll measure them for you and make suggestions, if you ask. I liked the Damselfly so much, I bought two. The 2nd will go on a new bike soon. :)

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Originally Posted by pkq

Try Terry saddles. Georgena has a 30 day trial period on them. She'll measure them for you and make suggestions, if you ask. I liked the Damselfly so much, I bought two. The 2nd will go on a new bike soon. :)

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thanks for the suggestion. I had a Terry Ti Race, but it was too padded for me. It seems all their saddles are pretty padded, but it'd be worth trying another model if my saddle du jour doesn't work out.

the saddle du jour is a selle italia flite gel flow. i'm going to take it for a 50 mile spin and see how it fares. if it feels okay after 50 miles, it should probably be okay, although i really consider a century the true test of a saddle at this point. it seems plenty of them can get me 50-70 miles and fall down around 80. don't have time for 80 today!

all my saddles are Specialized BG saddles for women. 2 of them are the Specialized MTB Sport, and 2 are the Specialized Road Sport. I've ridden them on all my distances rides, every day for my commute, in the rain, in the snow - you get the pix. I can honestly say I have never had a problem with these saddles. Good Luck on your search and let us know what you end up with.

Corsair,

Are your Specialized BG saddles the women's design or the men's? I actually haven't seen the sport models at the LBS - they tend to only stock higher-end stuff. :mad: I know I've seen the women's road sport somewhere - probably Supergo before they turned into Performance.

I'm swapping out saddle #6 (it flunked its audition) for saddle #5 (known evil) for next week's century ride. After that, I may try out the Specialized Sport or a different Terry. I'm resigned at this point to just finding the saddle that is the least painful.

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Originally Posted by SimpleCycle

Corsair,

Are your Specialized BG saddles the women's design or the men's? I actually haven't seen the sport models at the LBS - they tend to only stock higher-end stuff. :mad: I know I've seen the women's road sport somewhere - probably Supergo before they turned into Performance.

I'm swapping out saddle #6 (it flunked its audition) for saddle #5 (known evil) for next week's century ride. After that, I may try out the Specialized Sport or a different Terry. I'm resigned at this point to just finding the saddle that is the least painful.

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http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqS...addlesMultiuse

It looks like they're calling the old MTB Sport the BG2 Sports Womens Saddle now but I have 2 of those and the Gel Avatar Womens for the road bikes.