Help me troubleshoot my saddle?

So I've been riding the new Kona Sutra, with out-of-the-box equipment (minus the front rack, which I took off until I do The Big Tour) and the cheapest plastic platform pedals imaginable for the last four days. Sat / Sun about 10 miles on the road, and Mon / Tue just a lunch errant run right off campus and back (I work for the University of Alaska Fairbanks), 5 miles give or take.

There will be a lot of tinkering over the next weeks plus more gear buying of course(*). I'll want different pedals (Powergrips? real clipless pedals?) and need to learn so much, such as how to ride correctly with drop bars, including downhill (it's hilly here... ouch!). But what needs urgently addressing is the saddle.

The bike came with a WTB Rocket V Comp. It looks like a placeholder for a Brooks saddle in "honey" colour, which would look awesome. But I don't know I want a Brooks just yet. Meanwhile, i know the WTB Rocket is not going to work. It's all of 12.5 cm or so wide at its widest and to my best guess, the distance between my sit bones, center to center, is something like 11.5-12 cm (guestimated by sitting on stuff, getting up and measuring, or holding a ruler to my behind...). It might be more as I'm wide-hipped and general not fine-boned. Anyhow, I feel like the saddle is uncomfortably stuck between the insides of my sit bones, which I now feel constantly. I also feel like I want to constantly slide further back to have SOMETHING under my sit bones, and then perch at the back rim of the saddle.

Back on my 8-speed city cruiser I had before, I *think* I used a 155mm Specialized Sonoma (?). That was fine, if a bit overly cushioned (and of course more upright than a touring bike).

Mainly I don't know what saddle would be a good point to start. I could ask the LBS. Also, we found an unused WTB Speed 5 (my partner's) in some bike gear crate, which is 15 cm at its widest, though a bit soft (a bit like the Specialized come to think of it). I'll try that for the rest of the week.



(*) ... and I signed up for a bike maintenance class for 6 weeks during the 2011 UAF summer session, which I'm much looking forward to.

Spec' has several saddles that are similarly shaped but a lot less cushioned than their so-called "comfort" saddles, and they all come in 155 mm. If you liked the shape of your Sonoma, from least to most cushioned, you might try a Ruby, Jett or Lithia.

If you order one online, there's a 30-day return period; you might be able to talk a LBS into offering you the same deal.

If your LBS is a specialized dealer they will be able to measure your sit bones with a memory foam gizmo. If not, I seem to recall a couple of threads with detailed instructions on how to do it at home.

Just remember that one woman's dream saddle is another's instrument of torture. My cycling buddy is seriously in love with her Selle Italialia lady gel flow. I tried it and was close to tears by the end of a 10 mile ride. I have Specialized Jett saddles on three bikes in 155 width and they just disappear when I ride - don't even think about the saddle.

My LBS has loan saddles that you can try before you buy - perhaps yours does too. It's certainly worth persevering until you get the one that works for you.

If you ever do go for a Brooks, I strongly suggest you order it through Wallingford Bicycle Parts www.wallbike.com

They have a 6 month free trial period on all Brooks saddles.

(as long as you don't cut holes in them and insert laces or cut off parts of the leather)

Thanks for the advice! Yes, my LBS is a Specialized dealer (plus Kona and Surly, though the latter's mostly for winterized Pugsleys).

Thanks for the Wallingford link - they don't even look any more expensive than other online retailers. The thing with Brooks is that at this stage I think I should first learn the new style of riding on my first road bike in about 20 years. Also, and I know that this isn't Brooks's fault, several of my urban, chic, plugged-in, non-cycling friends thought I "must" put a Brooks saddle on it as a fashion statement, which of course makes me want to rule them out.

Anyhow, regarding price, I see that the Specialized options (Jett, Lithia) are in the same range as Brooks: $85-100. Is that what you expect paying for a saddle? (I realize that if one's butt is happy on a cheap one, that's great too, but am interested in your, well, saddle budget item.)

You might be surprised at what you can find in terms of used saddles right on these boards. I just sold a Brooks to another TE member this week. I've seen some fantastic deals on Brooks and other great saddles.

However, the Wallingford Bike shop is really great. You can't ignore a 6-month guarantee. Their service is wonderful, too.

MTA: Right now there is a Brooks B17S on our area Craigslist for $70; and a like-new/never used Fizik Vitesse for $50. Deals are out there.

Check Ebay too for pre-owned saddles. A couple of weeks ago I bought a Specialized Jett 155 for $50 with shipping. The description said lightly used, but there was not a scratch, a scuff or any wear marks on it. It will take patience to find decent deals on saddles, but better than spending twice the price on something you don't like.

P2

Don't have any saddle advice, however wanted to say Congratulations on your new bike. So you decided on the Sutra? Looks great.

All these people who have more than one bike or are getting new/different bikes are inspiring me to want to go check out some road bikes! ;)

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Originally Posted by chryss

Anyhow, regarding price, I see that the Specialized options (Jett, Lithia) are in the same range as Brooks: $85-100. Is that what you expect paying for a saddle? (I realize that if one's butt is happy on a cheap one, that's great too, but am interested in your, well, saddle budget item.)

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Yep, that's what I'd expect to pay (in the US anyway - they are much more expensive here in Australia).

As pinsonp2 said you may find a bargain on eBay or Craig's list but it might take some time to find what you need. Me? I'm not that patient.

Yep, that's about the price range for a saddle. I'm not sure why the comfortable firm narrow-nosed ones are so much more expensive than the uncomfortable squishy huge ones. But the one I've been curious about and just haven't been able to justify is closer to $200.....

OK, many thanks. I've installed the WTB Speed, which looks like an improvement though I'm skeptical. I'll let you know what transpires in the saddle department.

The Specialized Dolce saddle might work, and it's pretty inexpensive. I rode one until I wore it out! http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...ItemId=0&eid=0

True, I forgot the Dolce. It's too squishy for me, but I have a friend who rides upwards of 7,000 miles a year on a Dolce saddle. I think she buys them by the dozen. :p

I have a Dolce saddle on a Crosstrail. The first 15 mile ride and I got a bit sore, but that was it. Otherwise it is OK for that bike. I do prefer the Ruby or Jett for my roadies.

P2

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

Yep, that's about the price range for a saddle. I'm not sure why the comfortable firm narrow-nosed ones are so much more expensive than the uncomfortable squishy huge ones. But the one I've been curious about and just haven't been able to justify is closer to $200.....

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I happily pay $160 for my beloved SI Ldy Gel Flow, but I did have so many saddle related problems last year that I hate to change what works. So I have it on all three bikes - well - it will be installed on the mountain bike as soon as it arrives :) I know that one doesn't spend as much time seated on a mountain bike, but I dislike the saddle that came with it...and why change what works?

I have had my share of saddle issues, sold most of them on Craigslist, always looking of a bargain, etc.

Today I go into Performance and by this cushy men's saddle, on sale for $21. I get out of work early, stick it on, (It looks hideous on my Serotta, but great white covers it) and ride 58 pain free miles, IN THE DROPS for about 1/2 of it.

Go figure.

I can offer no advice on saddles.

Intermediate report...

I joined the "more leisurely" of two women-only group rides of the local cycle club today. About 13 miles, which started out really leisurely and ended up about as fast as I'd been going. I don't have the stats in front of me.

The WTB Speed was better width-wise but now squished the soft tissue of my crotch, which is quite as unpleasant. I may have to lower the nose -- I don't think I put it on entirely level. But my feeling is we won't get happy with each other. Oh, well, the search is on!

Just to let you know where I am going with this question: I'm still riding the WTB Speed, which has become sort-of bearable for a while by lowering the nose and moving it forward a little. It does become painful after about 75-90 min, which is how long I tend to ride.

After studying what I know I like and what others recommend, I ordered a Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow at a place where the price was ok, and it's now winging its way to Alaska. I'll post once I have experience with that one.

Wow. Thanks! I'd feel bad about using them if I had a LBS that dealt SI ... but since I don't and apparently wasn't willing to take the risk IAE, that is extremely tempting.


ETA - I notice that they do a currency conversion for your convenience, but actually charge in pounds sterling. If you have a card that doesn't charge a premium for transactions in foreign currency, use that one. :)

OK, to write up how this issue played out: I ordered a Selle Italia Diva, after reading a lot of the threads here and guessing what type of saddle was most favoured by those who appear to be built similarly to me. I was debating between the Diva and the Lady models.

The SI Diva was immediately a huge improvement, but still to get to the point where I'm not being squished after about 90min riding took a bit of adjustment. In particular taking the nose down mm by mm makes quite a bit of difference. I'm *still* fiddling with front/back.

I've not yet reached the "I don't even feel the saddle after a while" state, but for the rides I do, it isn't bothering me (and for the first hour feels awesome).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chryss

OK, to write up how this issue played out: I ordered a Selle Italia Diva, after reading a lot of the threads here and guessing what type of saddle was most favoured by those who appear to be built similarly to me. I was debating between the Diva and the Lady models.

The SI Diva was immediately a huge improvement, but still to get to the point where I'm not being squished after about 90min riding took a bit of adjustment. In particular taking the nose down mm by mm makes quite a bit of difference. I'm *still* fiddling with front/back.

I've not yet reached the "I don't even feel the saddle after a while" state, but for the rides I do, it isn't bothering me (and for the first hour feels awesome).

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Sounds like you are getting there! It can be quite the journey to find the saddle our butts like! I tried the Diva last year but the cutout is too wide and too long for me. The Lady was just right :)

Yeah, I'm still trying to find out the limiting factor now. Earlier, it was pressure on the soft tissue -- very unpleasant -- and the Diva did away with that.

Right now, it's my sit bones that need frequent repositioning after 2.5h. But my impression right now is not that it is the insides specifically. I'm not convinced I don't simply need to ride more to harden my tush.

I found that with my Jett, I needed to toughen up my sitbones (especially my left, for some reason) because I hadn't actually been putting a whole lot of weight on them with the old saddle. My weight ended up in other places. :eek: So it can happen. Give it a little time and see if it gets better.

I just looked at SI's website ... worth noting that they now have the Turbomatic Gel Flow (the one with the cut-out) in all black with manganese rails. Should be more stain resistant, less expensive (and possibly more durable) than the old carbon rail version.

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Originally Posted by Kerry1976

MTA: Right now there is ...a like-new/never used Fizik Vitesse for $50. Deals are out there.

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I totally need to jump on that! I am a fan of Fizik saddles in general. I'm trying out the Fizik Aliante--jury is still out on that one, but I've been riding a Vitesse for 6 years and have been really pleased.

Other saddles that I've liked are the WTB Speed She and the Brooks 17S. I tried the Terry Butterfly and hated it.