POLL: Saddle Shape Preferences

[VeloVT]

It seems like everyone likes t-shaped saddles -- except me! I am curious to see if my impression that t-shaped saddles are overwhelmingly more popular is correct, and also to see if there is any correlation between shape preference and width preference.

Any comments or observations on the subject are welcome !

[Bluetree]

Interesting poll... although you might have clarified what kind of bike you're talking about. I have a big leather pieplate on my SS flatbar commuter, but a 133mm arrowhead on my road bikes.

[VeloVT]

Good point, Bluetree. I had road bikes (or bikes with more or less road-like geometry, like cx bikes) in mind.

[alpinerabbit]

SMP... SMP... everyone join me in my chant...


I have a leftover Specialized avatar road saddle in 155 on my MTB and it does not allow me to comfortably go behind the saddle when descending. bad.

[Thorn]

SMP... SMP...

Hey, AR, have you visited Selle SMP's web site recently? It looks like they are expanding the women's line. Well, I hope that it is an expansion and not just pretty pink lettering on the existing models.

[Miranda]

I voted T 140+.

Actually, all along I have been thinking I needed, wide wide wide. Which I am 140mm. But the last bargain what the heck saddle I threw in an order was a Terry... but a mens. Which is 5.5", so 140 roughly, but omg what an improvement with the nose being a touch longer and narrow compared to the pear ladies butterfly.

If I can get the thing to stay level with my dumb saddle clamp to not hurt my lady bits (touch nose up now) I might just keep riding it. It's scary when things you never thought would work just might. Well, it does have a nice pink breast-ca ribbon on it for looks.

[TxDoc]

Ahhh... only reading the number 140 on the computer already hurts
I cannot even test-ride anything wider than 130!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Ahhh... only reading the number 140 on the computer already hurts
I cannot even test-ride anything wider than 130!!!

That's funny....I used to ride a Brooks B17 which was 170mm in back. I eventually had to sell it because my sitbones were riding right on the outer frame from side to side.
Then I got the Brooks B68 which is their widest saddle at 210mm wide. Pure heaven!!! Got another for my second bike and they are SO comfy for me, thousands of miles so far and my sitbones are so happy. It really is the only saddle I know of wide enough.
Oddly, to look at me you would not think I was 'that' wide, but I got my mother's pelvis.

[OakLeaf]

I have a leftover Specialized avatar road saddle in 155 on my MTB and it does not allow me to comfortably go behind the saddle when descending. bad.

ha ha - I can't do that on my road bike any more either now that I have the 155 mm saddle. The tradeoff is, my girly parts don't get shredded every single ride. I'll definitely take it!

(and actually I'm faster on the descents now than I used to be, even though not as aero, just because of the motorcycling experience I gained while on hiatus from bicis. Anyway all the boys on the TdF seem to go in front of their saddle, not behind it any more)

[mayanorange]

Does SMP count as pear or T? I thought it was more pear that a harsh T, so I'm one of the 2 of us with wide everywhere! Giant pelvises unite!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Giant pelvises unite!

That certainly conjures up some images!

This poll 'seems' to be showing that women with wide sitbones prefer T shaped saddles. That would make sense, since a larger width saddle that is pear shaped would tend to have sides that get in the way of your thigh movements while pedaling.