saddle for wide sit-bones?

[itifft]

Hi,

I'll try to keep this short ... it's kind of complicated.

I have bilateral patellar chondromalacia and disabling tendinitis in both wrists. Happily, I found a good folding bike (http://www.bicicletasguillermo.com/g...es/citybug.jpg) which is adjustable enough to sit me up in a position that spares these joints.

I am SO ecstatic! I'm also 40 pounds overweight (right now) which means the stock seat is intolerable, especially because the bike is otherwise such a joy that I ride for hours at a time.

I measured my sit bones (background in engineering and midwifery -- long story) and I figure the best seat width is 71/2 inches, or 24 cm. Plenty of room for the charmingly naughty bits is essential.

Wide sit bones... heavy compression... plenty of air flow. Oh, and I'm out of work because of these wrists. So I can't spend much money.

I've found two seats that come close:
Selle Royal Contour: http://www.selleroyal.com/selleroyal...=ENG&pagecat=1 (can’t find it, even to check price)
Air Rider EasyRider: http://www.airriderseats.com/xcart/p...cat=248&page=1 (don’t know if they ship to Europe)

Not a great selection. Any opinions on these? Any other suggestions? Terry’s are all too narrow.

I'd appreciate any advice. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

-Isabel

[itifft]

I've finished reading this forum. Wonderful advice, some of which I can use:
• I'll try the "sitting on paper and scooting around" trick, to check my butt-bone measurements.
• I'll recheck my saddle position.
• I have a Specialized dealer locally who might help me with fitting, but their English and my Spanish are about on a par. (However, I'm taking classes.)

I'm hoping this LBS has a good return policy and will let me try different saddles, but it rather depends on whether we can understand each other in the first place.

Again, thanks in advance for advice and opinions on wide seats.

[Nokomis]

I'd like to know too
I picked up the guide to womens saddles listed below, measured by butt region, let DH help me measure it again, and figure those sit bones are 7" apart. My saddle is 6.5" wide ~ purty sure that's not such a good fit

I haven't been to a shop yet to sit on other options - but did find a lbs that carries Specialized, think I'll start there.

[mimitabby]

brooks b67! 210mm wide, or 8.26 inches.

http://www.wallbike.com/brooks/singl...ngsaddles.html

check it out!! saved my behind!

[salsabike]

Mimi, you really love this saddle, even after 54 miles? Always looking for the next best saddle...did you get the "pre-aged" one? If not, did you have a long breaking-in period?

[mimitabby]

after 54 miles i could have done more; really. and it's the longest ride i've done all year. Mine was not "pre broken in"
it would be cool to get one like that though.
my husband is going to let me borrow his b17 (which is definitely broken in) for my new bike to see if i like it. mind you, it's because he doesn't want to take the b67 off the tandem because getting these things into adjustment is such a hassle.

[itifft]

I hear such fabulous things about Brooks I might have to try one some day, when I'm back in funds. I'm a big fan of leather for durable purposes. Amazing stuff (and yes, I rode motorcycles before the wrists did me in. Hated giving that up.)

I tuned my positioning and that helped some, but still felt like the darn seat was trying to pop me open like an oyster ... sorry, but totally acurate.

I found a Bontrager Web Spring WSD at my LBS which looks promising (and only cost 25 euros -- woo hoo!) Overpadded, but meets all other criteria. My forearms are killing me, but I'm going to head to the beach tomorrow morning long before most reasonable people are on the road (it's a fiesta weekend), so with luck I won't need to grab the brakes. I hope to run and swim while there, so I'll be feeling NOOOOO pain by the time I have to head back through traffic.

It's only a few miles each way, but at least should give me some idea what I'm in for. Wish me luck.

Cheers,
Isabel