Rethinking my saddle

[velogirl]

Earlier this year, I began a demo with the Specialized saddles. To date I've fit about 50 women on the Jett and the Alias (essentially the same saddles but the contours of the cut-outs are slightly different). I've personally been riding the Toupe 130 for the past 1,000 miles or so and I love it.

All the specialized saddles feel a bit firm on the sit bones when you first ride them. I didn't find this uncomfortable, just different, but I ride very tilted forward on my soft tissue (not back on my sit bones).

The more upright you sit on your saddle, the wider a saddle Specialized recommends. I'd say you should try the 155.

Another thought about saddles is that the more frequently you ride, the sooner your body will adapt to the new feel.

Hope this helps!

ps -- to get a truly accurate measurement of your sit bones, you should place your feet up on a 12-18" high surface (ie an ottoman or a footstool works well).

[Eden]

I have a Jett on my Ruby too and I really love it. It is very firm, but I get zero chafing or numbness from it and I got used to the firmness. After a little while on the rain bike, which had a Terry, switching back to the Jett was took a bit of getting used to again, but it remains a much more comfortable saddle in the end. So much so that I got another Jett for the rain bike so I wouldn't have to have the switch over ouchies.. (plus the Terry was a bit to wide in the back and would start to hurt my glutes)

[mimitabby]

I won't mention my Brooks because I am assuming everyone already knows how awesome they are and don't want one because they are worried about the extra ounces.

[mimitabby]

I won't mention my Brooks because I am assuming everyone already knows how awesome they are and don't want one because they are worried about the extra ounces.

Yes, I realize that everyone doesn't fit them or like them, but there is always a possibility that the person asking doesn't know about them.

[DebW]

I recently had a bike fitter lower the nose of my saddle in an attempt to make it level. I was constantly sliding forward on it, and when I slid back where I should be, had 2 pressure points under my sit bones. Then I tipped the nose back up slightly to where I stayed put on the saddle, and I no longer had 2 pressure points under my sit bones, but was supported over a much wider region of my pelvis by the outer rear third of the saddle. Now very comfortable again. So guess I'm agreeing with SK on this.

[li10up]

Well, the Jett 155 hasn't caused me any problems but I've only done short rides on it. I've decided to stick with it instead of going back to the Jet 143.

But I have a new issue. My hands and arms are falling asleep on my new bike. I rode the old one the other day 'cause it looked like rain and even though I felt a little too stretched out at least my hands and arms didn't go numb. I took the new bike to the LBS and asked them to rotate the bars away from me a bit to see if uncocking my wrists a bit will help. The guy who does the $180 fittings (3 hrs @ $60 per hr) was there and he said he thought my seat needed to go back some. It was kind of weird because he wouldn't move it back. He said I was too far forward but he didn't want to move the seat. This was after I told him I wasn't having any knee issues - maybe he rethought his statement?? Anyhow it was determined I would try this and see how it works.

Does this seem like a logical adjustment to correct the numbness problem?

[Crankin]

Grammar police:
tuchas, not tookas

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well, the Jett 155 hasn't caused me any problems but I've only done short rides on it. I've decided to stick with it instead of going back to the Jet 143.

But I have a new issue. My hands and arms are falling asleep on my new bike. I rode the old one the other day 'cause it looked like rain and even though I felt a little too stretched out at least my hands and arms didn't go numb. I took the new bike to the LBS and asked them to rotate the bars away from me a bit to see if uncocking my wrists a bit will help. The guy who does the $180 fittings (3 hrs @ $60 per hr) was there and he said he thought my seat needed to go back some. It was kind of weird because he wouldn't move it back. He said I was too far forward but he didn't want to move the seat. This was after I told him I wasn't having any knee issues - maybe he rethought his statement?? Anyhow it was determined I would try this and see how it works.

Does this seem like a logical adjustment to correct the numbness problem?

Actually, yes. When you push your saddle back a bit you will pull your center of gravity back more. Pushing my saddle further back actually took some weight off my hands and stopped them from getting numb. Also gave me more leg power. Try it for a few days, what could it hurt? Easy enough to do yourself.

[li10up]

ps -- to get a truly accurate measurement of your sit bones, you should place your feet up on a 12-18" high surface (ie an ottoman or a footstool works well).

Does that affectively widen or narrow the distance between sit bones?

The saddle is flat - doesn't curve in either direction. It feels good in all other respects. I really like that I don't slide around on it. I like the narrow nose. It doesn't hurt me anywhere else.

Thanks for the input everyone. Maybe I can get the bike shop to loan me a 155 saddle so I can see if it helps. It may not be too late for them to swap out saddles for me if I'm going from one Jett to another.

[SadieKate]

You know, mimi, not everyone thinks Brooks are awesome, heavy or otherwise. I think my saddle is awesome (and RUSA women recommended it) but there are plenty who don't like it. I'm glad your Brooks saddle is awesome for you though.

SadieKate, who understands that everyone's tookas is unique.

[KnottedYet]

My tookas is *very* unique....

[SadieKate]

Please. Don't tell us more.

And, where are the grammar police?

[KnottedYet]

'Tain't none of them there grammer's police round here twoday!