Guys, can you recommend a saddle for hubby?

[boy in a kilt]

I would say try a Brooks B-17. I don't have any experience with the saddle you mention, but it looks like it would hurt something awful.

Here's what mine looks like:


If you look at how it's worn, note that it's pretty well worn where my sit bones go but there is almost no wear up front. That's about how it should work. No pressure in unfortunate places. In fact, I frequently do shorter rides (under about 20 miles) without padded shorts.

Plus, it's a pretty saddle, although it does require patience. I have about 8 years of work into this one.

[sundial]

Thanks BIK. He looked at the Brooks but didn't think there was an appreciable amount of difference in the two saddles. The Selle is also leather with a cut-out which he reports is really comfy. He's put in over a 100 miles in his saddle. It's just that his sit bones are still pretty uncomfie.

How long did it take you to break yours in?

[boy in a kilt]

Mine never really needed breaking in. It was comfortable from the git-go. In fact, I'd had it for about a month before I ever bothered to wear padded shorts.

From what I understand, this is a bit unusual.

One of my friends had the same problem as your husband was with a brooks saddle. His favorite mechanic took a look at it and tightened it up. Problem solved.

It sounds like he's tried pretty much everything. Out of curiosity, how does he feel about his position on the bike otherwise? Sometimes what seems to be a saddle problem is actually a position problem.

The other thing is there is no "one" saddle for everyone, regardless of what the adverts say. I utterly hate gel and most anatomic saddles. But I know people that swear by both of them. I also know people who can't tolerate brooks.

[VeloVT]

what has he liked/not liked about the saddles he's tried?

[KnottedYet]

You mentioned he's a "teddy bear". Is it possible that his sit bones are wider than the average guy's, and so instead of sitting on the suspended leather portion of his An-Atomica, he's sitting on the metal frame the leather is tacked to instead, or too close to the frame? (which would be VERY uncomfy on the sitz.) I think MimiTabby or someone said the An-Atomicas come in 3 different sizes. Maybe he just needs to switch for a wider size?

Somewhere there is a thread with a jillion very cool ideas for how to measure sit bones. (you just want to make sure his saddle is a good 1-2 cm wider on each side than he is, so 2-4 cm wider total to avoid the metal frame and to be sure he has wiggle room to shift positions)

[sundial]

Knotted, he talked to Tom about his size, type of riding, etc. before ordering the saddle. He keeps tightening the tension, but it doesn't seem to help. Maybe it takes a lot longer to break one in?

He used to ride a Specialized saddle with a 155 mm width and he reported that was just as uncomfie on the sit bones.

[KnottedYet]

Knotted, he talked to Tom about his size, type of riding, etc. before ordering the saddle. He keeps tightening the tension, but it doesn't seem to help. Maybe it takes a lot longer to break one in?

He used to ride a Specialized saddle with a 155 mm width and he reported that was just as uncomfie on the sit bones.

Did he actually measure his sit bones?

[boy in a kilt]

Umm, over tightening the leather on tensioned leather saddles isn't a really good idea. It ruins the leather and makes the saddle uncomfortable.

Normally, you take about a quarter turn every year or so.

[sundial]

what has he liked/not liked about the saddles he's tried?

At least he doesn't have numbness. Just sore sit bones.