Saddle Width: is it standard?

[Ana]

Are measurements by different saddle manufacturers standard? If I was measured for a 130 mm Specialized, am I a size 130mm in all other saddles? Are the measurements of men's and women's saddles different?

Or is it more like women's clothing...

[Miranda]

Well, saddles (both mens and womens) can come in different widths. Generally, if you took a tape measure to the underneath side of the fullest part of the saddle in the back it should equal the stated width. The Specialized sitz tool measures your bone width by where the dents hit center. From there, I know they have a chart based upon your riding position of what width of saddle they feel would work best for you. What actually does work best for you, or in another brand of saddle, may vary. But, it is a guide. You can also measure your sitz bones at home too. There are some threads on here specifically about that. Basically, you roll out some playdough or the like and do your own sitting and measure of the dents. Good Luck.

EDIT:

http://www.specialized.com/specs/spe...&cellwidth=350

Hopefully if this link will work, this is the Specialized guide of what I'm talking about. If the link flakes out, try googling to get it. For me, I'm 140. If you scroll down and look at the chart, in an aero position, they say I should have a 143. More upright, 155. The shop recommended I go with 143. It depends what you're comfortable with in the end. But, do notice in the link example the pic of the saddle laid out... the measurement of the width is as I say... also how you would measure any other saddle (widest point to point) IMHO.

[OakLeaf]

Also, the shape of the saddle affects the effective width quite a bit. If it slopes to the outside, then the area that's available to your sitbones is quite a bit narrower.

What I did was to measure my sitbones by placing a piece of paper on top of a Pilates mat on a hard surface. Then I circled the indentations so I had a permanent butt-print that I could bring with me saddle shopping. By setting the paper on the saddle, I could get a pretty good idea of whether a saddle was going to support my sitbones or not. You could make different prints for aero position vs. more upright.

[VeloVT]

Are measurements by different saddle manufacturers standard? If I was measured for a 130 mm Specialized, am I a size 130mm in all other saddles? Are the measurements of men's and women's saddles different?

Or is it more like women's clothing...

oy. the saddle marketing people have succeeded in confusing everyone.

The saddle measurements (130mm, for instance), are not a "size", like S,M, or L, they are just a measurement of the width of the saddle. A "men's" 130mm saddle is the same width as a "women's" 130mm saddle (there aren't too many women's saddles this narrow, but there are a few, such as the Terry Damselfly). 130mm saddles from different manufacturers **should** all meaasure 130mm.

The Specialized device measures your sitbones and then attempts to put you on a saddle that is a bit wider (I think usually 5-10mm) than your sit bone width. I am guessing you probably measured less than 130mm, and according to Specialized that means you will be most comfortable on a saddle that is around 130mm. This is a good place to start, but I don't think it should be viewed as "your size" -- depending on both saddle shape and various quirks of individual anatomy, people who measure similarly on the Specialized device may be comfortable on very different saddles -- I have read here of people for whom the Specialized "formula" puts them on a saddle that is too wide, and also of people for whom the Specialized formula steers them toward a saddle that is too narrow...

So, it's a good measurement to know, but it may still take a fair amount of trial and error to find out what actually works for you in the real world.

[Ana]

You are so insightful

Thanks for the responses! I love having your brains to pick at

I'll definitely post if I find a wonderful saddle