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I finally got around to measuring the width between my sitbones. It's a hair over 6". My husband's is 3.25"! Nonetheless, I'm trying one of his Selle Italia saddles with a gel insert today. I think it will just fit me.
Is 6" normal? Wide? Narrow? for a girl?
How do you measure? the method???
One of two ways. Easiest is probably to take a piece of paper to a hard, bumpy surface like cement. Sit on it! Your buttbones will create indentations in the paper and you can measure between them.Quote:
Originally Posted by AutumnBreez
I did it the hard way. ;) Prodded around back there till I could feel the bones then stretched a tape measure between them! I later confirmed it by the paper-sitting method too.
As an update, the saddle fit! It supported my butt better than my Selle San Marco Donna, plus I used vaseline as chamois buttter to ease the chafing, but I still have some pain (quite possibly though I sensitized my parts with yesterday's ride, where I didn't take nearly the precautions). The gel might have helped a little, but it might also have been misplaced for my anatomy, it's hard to say. I'm going to try somebody else's saddle too, and I got another, second-hand enthusiastic testimonial for the Fizik Vitesse so I'm kind of really getting tempted to try that one. (Plus half the guys on the ride today were on Fizik. ;)
Someday I *will* have a completely comfortable ride, LOL!
See Favorite Saddles... I promise not to repeat my drooling praise for this saddle here :p
spazz (now staring at her bicycle with wrench in hand)
"here bikey, bikey, bikey... get into the nice bike carrier."
Maybe if you throw some new tubes or purty new bar tape in the box first . . . :pQuote:
Originally Posted by spazzdog
I gotta chime in - although I don't post here often. However, having 'auditioned' about 8 saddles, I've become a pro! I started out with a Fizik Vitesses - it came with my bike. It was fine on short rides, but anything over 50 miles started causing severe discomfort - pressure on all the wrong spots. I used the Specialized gel measuring thingy, and I'm 150mm - just under six inches. The Vitesse is only about 4 inches before it starts to slope down - meaning that your sitbones will be about an inch LOWER than the center of the saddle, with more weight onthe non-sitbone parts. After trying the entire Terry line, a SelleItalia that left me scarred, and a Specialized Alias, I'm very, very happy with a Specialized Avatar, in the largest size - 155mm. As far as I can tell, it's the exact same as the women's Jett model (which says 'Avatar 155' on the side, but it's a different color scheme) In the past two weeks, I've done two centuries without a complaint on this saddle. Just my 2 cents - your mileage may vary...Quote:
Originally Posted by alison_in_oh
Thanks, your input is very helpful! I think the saddle I'm going to borrow from a friend who likewise ran the gamut before settling on a hands-down favorite is also a Specialized.Quote:
Originally Posted by Audio-A
Did you find any trade-off in power transfer with the gel cushioned seating area?
Thanks, Audio. I also agree that the measurement of the saddle before it starts to slope down is the most important measurement. It's not the overall width of the saddle (other than the nose), it's whether the support spots match your sitbone measurements.Quote:
Originally Posted by Audio-A
Terrific question, but I'll be honest. There wasn't much power transfer happening when I was in pain on the other saddles. Comparing the gel cushion to the non-gel Alias, I don't feel I gave up anything. It's such a tiny bit of gel, but apparently, just enough in exactly the right place.Quote:
Originally Posted by alison_in_oh
One thing that I've learned is that we are all extremely different. Given how much love there is for the Terry's, I thought those would be perfect. But, every saddle has to have SOME fans, right? So, find a source that will let you try them out - I could tell after one 50 mile ride if a saddle was a no-go. The Terry FireFly was close, but it still just wasn't ideal.
Knowing that no matter what my ego said, I needed a wide saddle helped immensely. I could look at the rear profile of a saddle and know that it would slope down too quickly, or would be too wide through the nose, or be too squishy. But, once you find 'the one', life suddenly becomes very, very good!
I also ride on a Specialized. Have Not a clue what the name is. At the time I bought it I thought it was a mans saddle - but found out later it was a womans. My LBS said he could tell by the colour! :rolleyes: Anyway - it doesn't have any gel but it does have a very narrow channel which runs all the way down the middle. The saddle is very flat and narrow and matches my sit bones perfect. Unlike most of you - I haven't ridden anything over 35 miles at 1 time but the day I did I had no discomfort with my nether regions. Trying to get over a sinus infection and back into riding darnit...and then I'm gonna try my first 1/2 centuary!!
PS: have not a clue how wide my sit bones are - but thanks to riding...they don't have a lot of padding anymore! :D
Cool, good to know. The Selle Italia I rode yesterday had zero padding for the bony parts, and though they ended up a little achey I did feel like I was pedaling more efficiently than with my generally-padded Selle San Marco I'd ridden the day before.Quote:
Originally Posted by Audio-A
Unfortunately, that's exactly what it all boils down to! Just try it and see. I even mentioned to my hubby that what I needed was to find someplace with a good return policy so I could ride before committing. As he said, "That's easier said than done"!Quote:
One thing that I've learned is that we are all extremely different. Given how much love there is for the Terry's, I thought those would be perfect. But, every saddle has to have SOME fans, right? So, find a source that will let you try them out - I could tell after one 50 mile ride if a saddle was a no-go. The Terry FireFly was close, but it still just wasn't ideal.
The more I learn to LOVE riding, the more I long for that day when it's a pain-free affair!Quote:
Knowing that no matter what my ego said, I needed a wide saddle helped immensely. I could look at the rear profile of a saddle and know that it would slope down too quickly, or would be too wide through the nose, or be too squishy. But, once you find 'the one', life suddenly becomes very, very good!
ROFLMAO hooo hooo haaa haaa haa!!! I just ran outside and sat on a peice of paper on bumpy cement. My sitz bonz left NO mark! Guess I have enough gel back there not to need any on my seat! :o
I bought a WTB She today. After 5 miles, it kinda hurt. the jury is still out on that one.
You gals have my total sympathy with the challenges of new saddles, but this thread is getting pretty hilarious. It may be video time so you can show us the perfect technique for measuring. :D A fit of the giggles is about the start!
That was Hilarious!! Ok...the whole thing with your saddle isn't - but I had this mental image of your neighbors (think Mrs. Crabtree from Bewitched) peeking thru their blinds wondering what in Gods name you were doing!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Barb
Likewise with the measuring tape stretched behind you, trying to find each bone and mark the place. I did this the other day and my daughter walked in - MOM WHAT ARE YOU DOING???? I thought I'd die laughing!!Quote:
Originally Posted by CorsairMac
roll it out
lay it over that overstuffed sofa armrest
mount up
remove putty from sofa
measure imprints (if any)
destroy evidence
Stop it - I'm crying now I'm laughing so hard! And as I posted earlier - trying to laugh quietly while at work so the boss can't hear ya - makes me laugh even harder!.......now I gotta figure out some story for the tears......coz I Sure can't share This with him!!!
I think I might be imprinting all little "TMI" with this method!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by spazzdog
If so, see if they have one of their spiffy little sit bone measuring tools. My LBS has one. Sit on this little squishy pad and measure. You get clear indentations and no strange looks from the neighbors!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dirt Girl
More affectionately known as the A$$-O-Meter!
Hey, if the, uh, shoe fits...
By the way, the silly little thing works!
LMAO now you know I am gonna go to my lbs and ask for the A#@ o meter!!! That is a must! My new saddle jsut barely accomodates my sitz bones.
Is it a crime to use the same saddle on my MTN as on my Road bike? I love my road bike saddle.
Has anyone used The Seat? (http://www.thecomfortseat.com/)
I talked to a couple at Pike Street market last weekend, they had it on the back of a tandem, and they both raved about it, saying they took newbies out on long rides with no discomfort.
I want to know how it works on a road bike, instead of an upright position.
The only thing i'd wonder about is loss of control. having that pointy nose part between your legs gives you something to grip.
The standard saddles leave so much to be desired, i am just not sure it
is worth it or wise to punish yourself long enough to get used to one.
i look at the seats on some road bikes and I am amazed that someone considers that something they'd like to sit on even for a little while.
I mean the inside of your buttocks which is where that thing goes is so delicate. there are tiny nerves and blood vessels, skin and bone. and it's not THICK skin either. if your seat is not supporting your sitting bones (and how could it if it is 4" across?!) it's digging into areas that were never meant to bear weight in the first place!
I did the paper on the hard floor measure, as well as folding my yoga mat in half and measuring the indentations. 7 inches both times. Somehow, I'm not surprised. Runs in the family. The saddle width of the Velo Plush on my bike is about 6 inches at its widest, and I have been wondering about whether I could be more comfortable than I am as my rides have gotten longer. I think I'm going to take a hard look at the B-67.
I should be getting mine in the mail day after tomorrow.
hi everyone,
i'm new to these boards and in search of a new saddle to replace the stock that came on my trek pilot 5.0 wsd.
i'm having issues with pain in the area where my legs attach...also girly parts are starting to get mashed. i have found that i do ok as long as my rides are short in length (timewise), say, less than 2hr. but after that, on longer rides (like 4hr this past saturday), there was pain in the joint area and too much mashing. ended up with some lower back pain as well. i spend most of my time on the hoods, but would like to ride in the drops more, but there is just WAY too much mashing to be anywhere comfortable doing that. there also seems to be more mashing while on the hoods unless i sit up a lot more.
i haven't done the paper on the sidewalk measurement yet, but did do the "sit on your hands and have your husband measure between where you felt the bones" measurement. that came out to be around 5-5.25" or close to 130mm. i just don't know where to start when selecting a saddle. i do gather that, if my sit bones are 130mm apart, that i would want to get a saddle that is, maybe, 140mm wide??
i'm going to call my lbs (specialized dealer) and see if they have an a$$-o-meter, get measured there and see what they recommend. i just don't want to go spend a 100 bucks on a saddle and it not be right or hard to return as i would hear about it from the non-riding spouse....
thanks, karen.
Karen,
You might consider getting a Brooks saddle from Wallingford bikes (www.wallbike.com). They have a 6 month return policy, so you won't risk being stuck with a saddle you don't like.
A B-17S is $67 -- less than the $100 you're thinking of spending.
Also, Bill would probably chat with you about what you should get given your sit bone measurements.
I read the Brooks saddle thread and I'm considering getting one myself.
-- Melissa
PS I don't recommend reading this thread while you're at work, because you might be tempted to try measuring your bones and it would be embarrassing if someone came up to your cube while you were in the middle of measuring. I'm just sayin' is all... :o
Quote:
Originally Posted by melissam
and I don't recommend reading this thread at work because you might read melissam's message and end up with pasta sauce all over your computer keyboard from laughing so hard
went to the lbs and had some adjustments made: had the nose of saddle lowered some so that it's tilted downward. that helped a lot, but last weekend, i had a 62 & 48 mi ride over the weekend and developed a rash on the inside of my thigh near the crease, so i haven't ridden this week.
went back to lbs and they are letting me try out a terry butterfly saddle. will test it out tomorrow on my group ride.
Thanks for the reply. Karen.
Quote:
Originally Posted by melissam
Kiwi Girl,
Sorry about your loss of pasta sauce. Hopefully you still had enough for lunch and were able to clean up the computer keyboard. ;)
Karen,
Good luck with the Terry Butterfly. A lot of women really like the saddle, so I hope you do too!
Everyone else,
Here's a low budget way to get your measurements, all in the privacy of your own home, and with minimal potential for embarrassment.
1. Take a paper towel -- one standard-sized square should work, but use two if you want a margin for error.
2. Place the paper towel(s) on a plushly carpeted area.
3. Sit on the paper towel(s).
4. Get up.
The paper towel(s) should have two indentations where the sit bones are. If you don't put anything on it, the indentations should last indefinitely.
-- Melissa
Okay, so I tried to measure my sit bones.
I tried the lie-on-your-back-with-knees-raised method.
I tried the sit-on-firm-office-chair-on-piece-of-paper method.
NOTHING.
How embarrassing. So much padding, the bones don't leave an imprint?
Then I noticed what I'm wearing: My road shorts. PADDED road shorts.
Shut up.
I took them off and repeated both above methods.
Still no indentations.
Okay, now I'm REALLY embarrassed! LOL.
Feel free to ignore this suggestion, but it seemed to work for me...Quote:
Originally Posted by pooks
do the chair method (I used a paper towel and a flat-seat wooden chair), but lift your legs up and engage your abs. You'll feel your bones on the chair and know you have an identation
Mind you, I still have no idea what saddle to go for
I found it useful to rock back 'n forth a little...
Geez. My measurement's way bigger than I thought. No wonder my saddle hurts after a few miles- after taking the measurements and setting the measurin' sheet on the seat, all became clear. The 'peaks' of my sit-bones are half-straddling the seat.:eek: No wonder so much of my weight ends up being carried by my soft tissues and other bits. Ugh.
When I started riding 10-speeds in the early 70s there were only men's saddles, so I rode on them of course. Actually, there were some wide Brooks saddles I could have used if I wasn't afraid of looking like a dork (that was my loss). Around the late 70s, Avocet started making women's saddles. I got one and I still remember the first ride on that saddle. Previously I could ride only 15 miles before my crotch got so sore that I had to stand alot and perform other gyrations. With the new Avocet W-II Racing saddle, I rode 50 miles with my butt ON the saddle! It seemed like the most amazing thing at the time.
exactly!Quote:
Originally Posted by Kitsune06
Has anyone tried painting their behind then sitting on paper to see
where the pink paint is ???
lol wouldn't the whole butt paint the paper pink?
Only if your sit bones are as well padded as mine!!:p
Seriously though- my workstudy student ( a lovely young man, who rides
a cobalt blue Specializied Allez) had just earlier measured his sit bones in
order to shop for a new seat. He started with the find your bones & use
a tape measure method. He then tried the methods listed on the thread--he had a little trouble with the sit on concrete- (his sit bones are not as well padded.) He then successfully measured again using 2 markers----line up a marker on each bone- then lean/sit on a piece of paper. He was pleased
with this measurement.
From the home of the Fighting Okra
I've got a 30-year-old Avocet W-II that has been hurting my butt all these years. I just realized that the sore spot isn't my ischial tuberosities ("sit bones") all this time, it's forward and inside of that, my pubic rami (the bones that go from the sit bones, inside the legs toward the front "pubic bone"). The only time I'm more comfortable is if I go down on the drops, push way back on the seat, and pedal hard -- but then my "girlie bits" get squashed, and I can't keep it up 'cause my legs get tired.Quote:
Originally Posted by DebW
I guess I either need to move the seat forward or get a different seat.
I haven't successfully measured my sit bones yet, but it's looking like the *comfortable* part of them is at least 6" apart.
Rebeccah
I've jumped from the "favorite seat" to this forum -- because I asked how to find my sit bones. I think I've found them, but I'm not as sure about my measurements. I don't have concrete near my home -- so I tried it on a textured door matt--but the marks are rather obscure--
How exact should it be--and should I err on the side of wider vs. exact when it comes to the seat. I think I"m between 5 and 6 inches, but I'm sure that is not exact enough.
Oh yea, do you measure from the outside to outside of the indents, or middle to middle?