A question about cut-outs that's probably been asked before

[SadieKate]

Glad, you found it. The site says 30-day guarantee so I'd push them on this one. Also, if you click on the link above and scroll to the bottom of the page you'll see a link for specifications.

As I've said before, this is a great road saddle. The back of the saddle is wide to fit a women's pelvis, but the padding is only where you need it so the nose can be kept very narrow, meaning no chafing.

[slinkedog]

Sadie, I picked up the saddle this morning and will mount it when I get the kids down for naps. The bike shop said I had 30 days to return it, so who am I to argue???

I'll let you know how it goes! Thanks for the recommendation!

[slinkedog]

Okay, I got the Avocet saddle on my bike and I rode the trainer for about 40 minutes this morning... WOW! I do have to say that my sit bones are going to have to get used to it, but my soft tissue area was quite happy. I'm hoping to do about 30 miles tomorrow, so we'll see how it goes!! Thanks again for the rec, Sadie.

[bounceswoosh]

Okay, I got the Avocet saddle on my bike and I rode the trainer for about 40 minutes this morning... WOW! I do have to say that my sit bones are going to have to get used to it, but my soft tissue area was quite happy. I'm hoping to do about 30 miles tomorrow, so we'll see how it goes!! Thanks again for the rec, Sadie.

Sadie, how wide is this saddle at the widest point?

I'm pretty happy with my current saddle, except I think it's just a *smidge* too wide for me at its widest.

[SadieKate]

Okay, I got the Avocet saddle on my bike and I rode the trainer for about 40 minutes this morning... WOW! I do have to say that my sit bones are going to have to get used to it, but my soft tissue area was quite happy. I'm hoping to do about 30 miles tomorrow, so we'll see how it goes!! Thanks again for the rec, Sadie.

Oh, good, slinkedog. I'm glad the really delicate parts are happy. For me, that is the most important. This is not a cushy soft pillow of a saddle, but I find that I do best with this for long rides. The firmer support with the anatomic cut means I don't get pressure in the wrong spots as stuff squishes around inside the saddle. Sit bones are trainable; delicate parts are not.

Bounceswoosh, the website says 7 in wide by 10.2 which was confirmed with my trusty tape measure.

Just ground up Mt Diablo with V and Bubba and not a single twinge - 12 miles of grinding in the same *** gear and position all the way.

SadieKate

[bounceswoosh]

Bounceswoosh, the website says 7 in wide by 10.2 which was confirmed with my trusty tape measure.

Wow, that's really wide. No go for me =/ Glad it works for you guys, though!

[nuthatch]

I'm with you, Bounce. My saddle is 6 3/4 across and it's just too wide for longer rides. My sit bones can't bear as much of the burden when the seat is so wide. Maybe it has to do with the slope of the seat shoulders, more than the width at the top of the saddle.

[SadieKate]

Bounce asked about the width at the widest point - 7 inches. If you measure from ctr to ctr of the highest points of contact, the width is 4 1/2 in. The saddle is fairly flat so you do sit firmly on your "sit bones" and take the weight off your delicate parts. I find that that too steep a slope means the saddle turns into a hatchet head no matter how wide it is. My sit bones hurt more when they feel like they're sliding downhill.

The seat of the saddle tapers very quickly to the nose which tapers to 1 1/8 in so there is no chafing of backs of legs and thighs.

[bounceswoosh]

I'm with you, Bounce. My saddle is 6 3/4 across and it's just too wide for longer rides. My sit bones can't bear as much of the burden when the seat is so wide. Maybe it has to do with the slope of the seat shoulders, more than the width at the top of the saddle.

I have a Serfas saddle:

http://www.serfas.com/racing_saddles/TRCW.html

It's listed as 5" across, but I think it's actually slightly wider. I've noticed that it sometimes feels, after a while, like my hip has to go out more than it should in order to ride. Maybe it's because the saddle is also fairly tall. Hrm. Or maybe my thighs are just really wide =)

[AutumnBreez]

I have been having the same issue, but I have the seat that came with bike and it is a men's saddle. Today our LBS (previously professional cyclist in his younger years) rode with my husband and I, he watched my form and noticed that my seat was too high because of the stretch I was having to make with leg extention, and also moved nose down ever so slightly (for women's needs). I rode 3x longer today, this helped alot. I have a Terry Butterfly tri gel coming in by mail and it should relieve that pressure even more, can't wait to be able to ride a longer distance, as my legs were always ready but the other part was not willing to sacrafice more then I had already dished out. 1 hour is all I could go before. I rode for 3 hours today. I am a bit tender because I had already riden for an hour when asked to move to lead pos. for him to see my form.

[bounceswoosh]

I have been having the same issue, but I have the seat that came with bike and it is a men's saddle. Today our LBS (previously professional cyclist in his younger years) rode with my husband and I, he watched my form and noticed that my seat was too high because of the stretch I was having to make with leg extention, and also moved nose down ever so slightly (for women's needs). I rode 3x longer today, this helped alot. I have a Terry Butterfly tri gel coming in by mail and it should relieve that pressure even more, can't wait to be able to ride a longer distance, as my legs were always ready but the other part was not willing to sacrafice more then I had already dished out. 1 hour is all I could go before. I rode for 3 hours today. I am a bit tender because I had already riden for an hour when asked to move to lead pos. for him to see my form.

Yes! Having a pro fix your seat height makes a huge difference. From what fitters have told me, women tend to put the seat too high and men tend to put it too low. Your legs should never extend fully while pedalling.

Getting a full-up professional fit is expensive, but can really be worth it, especially if someone's having pain or discomfort they can't pin down.