Help me find a saddle, please!

Hey, everyone!

So I am convinced that my Fizik Vitesse CP is definitely not going to work for me. The lady bits get totally smooshed and rubbed. The farthest I've ridden is a little over 10 miles, and by the end pedaling was torture because of the pressure it put on the area.

I sat on a yoga mat and the measurements I got were 120 mm point to point, and about 150 mm edge to edge.

The Fizik saddle I'm using now has the following measurements: Length: 270mm. Width: 154mm I'm new to this, though and am not sure how the width measurement directly interacts with my measurement. I'm thinking the width of my current saddle is okay, just the way it interacts with my frontal area is all wrong.

Doing Knot's wooden chair test, I think I would benefit from a cut-out.

I was looking at the Specialized saddles (Ruby and Jett) which seem to come in 130, 143 and 155. Would I want to get one that covers edge to edge of the sit bones (150) or more point to point (130) or in between the two (143)? So confused! Any other saddles I should be looking at?

You want start off looking at ones with a width that is your outside bone measurement (150mm) plus 1 or 2 cm wiggle room to each side.

So a 170-190mm wide saddle.

And you already know you want a cut-out.

So there's half the work done! :D

How about padding? Do you like lots, or little? Narrow nose or wide? T shaped or pear shaped? Curved top or flat?

Hey, if you end up with the Terry "Rosie", could you post a review? I've been thinking that would be a good one to recommend to my patients. (it is too narrow for me and I don't like cut-outs, so I need to hear from someone who does!)

Just a slight hijack...the Rosie's been on backorder. It was supposed to ship on May 1, but I'm still awaiting. Looks like Terry's estimate of May 1 was a little optimistic. I was hoping to try out the Rosie before I took the plunge and sent the B68 in for its Selle Anatomica upgrade. Apparently, cutting a hole it in doesn't void Wallingford's return policy, but I won't return it once I do the upgrade.

RoadBunner--welcome to the land of needing a wider saddle with a cutout. The best I've found so far was the Selle SMP Lady Strike. A wonderful cutout and just enough width in the back for me, but pear shaped and a little wide in the nose. Many have problems with chafing. Trade offs.

I measure 147 center to center & do OK on a 155mm San Marco. Just keep trying them until you find the magic one :D

Thank for the info, everyone. I'm leaning towards trying another in the 155 range. I was told by the LBS that something wider might push me forward onto areas I wouldn't be happy with.

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Originally Posted by RoadBunner

Thank for the info, everyone. I'm leaning towards trying another in the 155 range. I was told by the LBS that something wider might push me forward onto areas I wouldn't be happy with.

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For me, that has a lot to do with the shape of the saddle. My more T-shaped Specialized Lithia doesn't do that to me.

exactly wider back part of the saddle isn't going to push you forward if it's got a t shape to it.
like a brooks.

I never believe anything that LBS guys say about women's saddles.

My sitbones measure 130mm c-to-c, a bit wider than yours, but I do fine on a Terry Butterfly (155 mm width). I rode that saddle for 9 days straight, averaging 62 miles daily, on a loaded tour, without any issues. I just ordered a Selle Italia Lady Gel Flo (160 mm) to replace a saddle I really liked the cutout on but which ended up being too narrow at 140 mm (I hadn't measured my sitbones when I got it) and caused/aggravated a bad saddle sore. Just a small increase in width can make a huge difference in where your "bones" are supported.

From the sounds of it, I'd think you'd be fine on a 155-160mm saddle with a cutout. Your choices get a lot more limited if you go wider than that, and you may not need the extra width. It's worth trying this range first, I think. Some places will give you a refund if you're not happy -- Terry gives a 30-day comfort guarantee, I believe.

Good luck!
Emily

SMP Strike!

I am totally convinced of the principle. Am in the process to find the perfect model.
Just rode 50 miles on the glider model, very very promising.

Specialized also has a 30-day return policy if you order from the website. They have several T-shaped saddles that come in 155 mm width.

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

You want start off looking at ones with a width that is your outside bone measurement (150mm) plus 1 or 2 cm wiggle room to each side.

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My LBS used a Specialized measuring device thingy :) Now I'm wondering what my actual measurement was....They put me on a 130 Ariel and I like it so far (well, I guess it's not saying much as my stock saddle was Bontrager...:P). I'm very much more perched above my soft tissue :D

I'm assuming those measuring devices factor in the wiggle room? The guy who measured me says you go by the color code from center to center.

Are saddles a bit like bike sizes in that most people can fit 2 sizes but it's a matter of preference?

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Originally Posted by Ana

Are saddles a bit like bike sizes in that most people can fit 2 sizes but it's a matter of preference?

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Yup. There are a gazillion variables, but at least the measurements give you an idea of where to start.

Kinda like shoes, in that you can measure your feet on one of the foot sizer thingies, but depending on the style and brand of shoe and the way you walk, the size shoe you buy could be different than the size the measurer gave you.

So, I can be measured at a 8.5 shoe size, but end up happiest with a 9.0 shoe. (at least I have a point to start trying shoes at, and know that trying size 7.0 or size 10.5 would probably be a waste of my time) And someone else who also measured at a size 8.5 shoe could end up happier in a size 7.5.

I was looking at the SMP line, but they are so $$ and I'd like to give something a bit more wallet friendly a chance before taking the plunge.

Later today I'm going to call around to see if any LBS has the Specialized saddles. Online return shipping could get pretty pricey after one or two times.

BleeckerSt I am starting to believe what you said about the LBS guys. They actually took the butterfly that came with my bike off and swapped it for the Fizik. I would have liked to have given it a try since so many women seem to like the Butterfly model.

Okay, quick update...

Called a LBS and was told they had both the 143 and 155 of the Jett on the shelves. I went down and talked to the LBS guy about the differences in the Jett, Lithia, and one Ariel. He had me sit on the butt-o-meter and told me I basically fell in between the 143 and 155. He said to go with the 155 if I did more riding on the hoods and to go with the 143 if I did more riding in the drops/aero. I told him right now I'm mainly on the hoods, but did have plans in the future to put aero bars on the bike. So he said to go with the 143 since technically the 143 fit and it would be better for leg movement in aero.

Of course, the whole time I'm also thinking how everyone here said 155 minimum.

I meandered back to the shelf and there wasn't even a 155 in the Jett there :mad: ! I figured I had driven all the way out there, and they did say I could return it "so long as I didn't ride a century on it and beat it up" so went ahead and got the 143.

I just put it on the bike and am trying to redial in my fit measurements. Just in jeans it is DEFINITELY more comfortable on the soft tissue than the old Fizik. The Fizik gave me problems even after 6 or so miles so hopefully I can get out and ride on this one and see how it goes. It is definitely firmer in the back than the Fizik so I'll probably be sore there for a bit.

Anyhow, hopefully I didn't make a huge mistake taking his advice, but figure it is reversible damage. I'll let you know how this goes.

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Originally Posted by RoadBunner

I meandered back to the shelf and there wasn't even a 155 in the Jett there :mad: !

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SNEAKY!!!!! (not you, THEM!)
Glad the 143 feels better than your old one, though! Good luck!

Hope the saddle works out for you!

Your trip to the LBS sounds so much like mine that I have to defend them a little bit. I called the LBS to ask what they had in a 155 and they said they had a Lithia. Like you, I drove there, went back to the display and there wasn't anything that wide. I asked one of the employees and he said what they had was what was there. When I pressed, he asked the boss, and it turns out it was the boss I'd talked to originally, and what he meant was that he could pull the saddle off a bike they had on the floor. Which is what they did, and it's the one I'm riding now.

It's just possible that something like that happened to you, too, and it wasn't an intentional bait-and-switch.

The guy I talked to on the phone (who I happened to mention to that I was thinking the 155 was the size I was most interested in) was not the guy who helped me on the floor. I don't even think the floor guy knew they didn't have a 155 on the shelf. We had our 143 vs 155 discussion away from the shelf. They did have 155 in the other Specialized saddles and I never asked if the Jett 155 was tucked away in the back or on a bike already. I still have warm fuzzies for this shop :) (so long as they take it back if I decide nay).