Your measurements?

[DebW]

I've got a 30-year-old Avocet W-II that has been hurting my butt all these years. I just realized that the sore spot isn't my ischial tuberosities ("sit bones") all this time, it's forward and inside of that, my pubic rami (the bones that go from the sit bones, inside the legs toward the front "pubic bone").

I retired my Avocet W-II about 5 years ago. Like you said, the forward part of the saddle caused some discomfort since it is rounded and put the most pressure in the center of the pubic area. The W-II was an amazing saddle in it's day, but I've switched to one with a cutout. BTW, tried an Avocet O2 Air five years ago and hated it.

[CyclChyk]

ok so once you kinda get a feel of your measurements (how embarassing was that??? My hubby watching the whole time...... the perv)..... how do you determine what is the best size for a seat?? If its just trial and error why even measure at all??

[KnottedYet]

You look for a seat that is at minimum the width of the outer sit bone measurement.

That at least lets you know your bones will fit on the seat.

I know I like about 10mm beyond each bone for comfort, but I have very wide sit bones.

You can also measure the length of a seat you like the length of.

Then you have a width and length, and can compare potential seats to those measurements.

If you know whether you like pear-shaped seats or "T" shaped seats, well, that gives you another parameter.

Soft or firm? Sprung or unsprung? Leather or plastic? Cut-out or solid?

Use all that to narrow down the seats you are considering, then start trying seats.

I like 180-200mm wide, 245-260mm long, "T" shaped, firm saddles with no cut-out. Sprung is ok, but not crucial. I like leather cuz i sweat a lot.