Selle SMP Strike TRK Lady Saddle

[mayanorange]

Anyone ridden both the mens and womens TRKs and have a suggestion for my 145mm center to center sitbones?

[mariposa]

Anyone ridden both the mens and womens TRKs and have a suggestion for my 145mm center to center sitbones?

I have 130mm sit bones - very average. The most comfortable saddle for me is the wider lady version - even though the men's version more closely fits my sit bone size.

Bike shops and fitters are currently taught to fit you on a saddle that exactly matches your sit bone width. However, when my local LBS measured my sit bones and spent about 45 minutes switching various saddles in for me, the two most comfortable ones *by far* were the very widest ones! (The TRK Lady, and the widest Specialized saddle.) My guess is that the wider cut-out (and in the case of the Specialized saddle, the wider depression) provided much more space for my 'lady bits' to sink in and not get pressured. That had been the problem for me with every other saddle I've ever tried.

So - consider that it's not just about sit bone width. Can you order two saddles and send one back? Or try some in a shop?

[mayanorange]

mariposa- did you try the mens trk too? I think I would like a wider cutout- my problem is especially at where my thigh inserts into my hip- most cutouts still have a ridge there and pinch a vein or my sciatic nerve or something (great anatomy description for a biologist, huh?) I think on the TRK/Plus/Avant where there's that bigger opening towards the back is where it normally hits me (even the Stratos I managed to try did that), so that bigger spot might help. I have an Allay on the way, but I like the look of the SMP better.

the LBSs don't seem to carry SMPs much- I might try batting some eyelashes to avoid a restock fee but don't want to push my luck by not knowing which one is most likely to work.

[emily_in_nc]

I have 130mm sit bones - very average. The most comfortable saddle for me is the wider lady version - even though the men's version more closely fits my sit bone size.

Me too -- 130mm sit bones, do much better on a 155mm saddle than a 140ish, which gave me a chronic saddle sore I couldn't get rid of for a year til I put on a wider saddle. Just another data point....

Emily

[mayanorange]

So I finally got my hands on the TRK- I ordered the 160 mens version, but the one that came measures 177, so must be the lady's tho it doesn't say lady on it. Regardless, I'm glad of the mistake- apparently I wasn't imagining that I was just on the edge of my 160 crap saddle. I slapped it on my bike once I got off the main drag the LBS is on and upon first sit, it was a totally different bike! My bones are supported beautifully, there's no way I could cause soft tissue issues, and I think the support even is helping my arm soreness too. I adore this thing. Only small issue is I need slightly wider chamois to actually cover the width of the saddle.

[Thorn]

I've switched over to Boure ( http://www.boure.com/1650.html ). It isn't a super thick chamois, but works well. If you're not tall, the inseams do run longer than many shorts (a plus for me). You need to order direct from Boure, but they rival TE for speed and efficiency.

[mayanorange]

Thanks Thorn. DH has some bibs from performance that have a similar chamois to that one that I was going to try (we're essentially the same size). Going to attempt to stop off and try on more brands one night this week.