New Saddle

[cass]

Hey, I'm new on here and new to cycling so hello all!!

Need some advice on saddles, my bike came with a fizik aliante which is absolutely killing me! So I need to find a better replacement, I've been reading up on here and gone and got my seat bones measured. The measurement came out on average at 135 - so I was wondering if anyone was similar and had found some suitable saddles that would help narrow the search? At the moment I'm cnsidering the specialized toupe but at 70 pounds it is fairley pricey so can't really afford to get it wrong!
Any help would be much appreciated
Thanks!!

[Thorn]

my bike came with a fizik aliante which is absolutely killing me!

Welcome. With narrow sit bones, you have lots of saddle options. If you could tell us what about the aliante doesn't work for you, I bet we could provide better advice. Does it chafe? If so, where? Does it hurt when you're riding? If so, where? My apologies if this is "personal", but, well...uh...err...saddles do get a little personal.

[tctrek]

Whatever saddle you purchase, make sure there's a return policy. Ideally, if you can return it in 10 days, you can try it out and it if doesn't work, you can return it with original packaging and in perfect condition and exchange it for another.

[cass]

hmm, thats the problem, I can't find anywhere in London that actually lets you try a saddle first - or return it if it doesn't fit. Not sure 135 is narrow, think its unfortunately large the diagram on the measurement thing seemed to think I would need either a 143 saddle or a 155 depending on my riding position, which has got me slightly confused. I have a road bike so guess that would fall in the 143?

The Aliante basically is just super uncomfortable, I have perservered with it as I thought I might just adjust but I just go completely numb and as I can't seem to find my seat bones on it I think it must be too narrow so my lady parts are taking the brunt of my weight..eek!. No problems with chaffing or caddle sores or anything but then I haven't ridden longer than 2hrs on it as its just too uncomfortable.. So I now have an incredibly sore lower back as I think I have been trying to lift my weight from it without realising! I have tilted the nose down which helped alot but think I probably need a cut out saddle which was why I was considering the Toupe?

However having read alot of the posts on hear about chaffing and saddle sores I am terrified of purchasing the wrong saddle!

Any suggestions?

[Andrea]

You can't really go by what other people like. Try anything that's 135 and wider (within reason- something over 150mm is likely to feel too wide). Be sure you are fit to whatever you try. Even a saddle that may be great for you will be a torture device if it's set up wrong.

[alpinerabbit]

My new bike came with an aliante. Tried it and knew in 30 mins it was not for me.
Now I have an SMP (glider model, pricey) and I would recommend you to get one. There are lots of models in a wide price range.

Mine seems too narrow (136mm) for my sit bones (round 140) - but it is perfect, so I don't buy the sitbone width thing.

Try finding a UK place online with an exchange policy.

[Thorn]

Yep, time to find a source with a return policy. Thoughts to consider:

+ A cutout isn't always the best way to release pressure on the tender bits. Some cutouts are so narrow that they might just pinch you. Also consider saddles with channels (e.g., the new Bontrager is channeled, not cutout).
+ One indicator that a saddle might be too narrow is after riding for a while, when you get off the saddle, the tailbone area hurts.
+ Not all saddles are designed to sit on the sit bones. Alpine's SMP is a classic saddle that supports you on the ramps/angles of the sit bones. [Personally, no saddle does a better job of releasing pressure in the tender bits than the SMP--if you can find one that fits you, you need look no further].
+ Angle and fore/aft position are amazingly critical.
+ What works for one person won't work for another. There are people here who will tell you Saddle XYZ is the one, true saddle. Nonsense. Don't feel bad if their perfect saddle is your nightmare.

Introduce your butt to many saddles. Consider taking your bike into a shop and just trying various saddles on the trainer. See if the shop has a loaner program or find an on-line dealer that does loaners.