Sitz bones 'on the fence'...

[Miranda]

Doesn't that sound painful? Sitz bones on a fence rail? lol...

My ride feels like I've been straddling a fence so I'm trying to find a new saddle. I have read lots of posts on here that were helpful. My choices are narrowed down to 3 to try...

1) Specialized Ruby
2) Bontrager Inform BioFit
3) Selle An-atomical

On the Specialized measurement system my sitz bones are 140mm. On the Specialized chart, for semi-aero that would be a 155mm. For aero that would be a 143. But... I ride both positions?

My road bike is a Giant OCR1. The lbs guy put some cushy WTB mtb saddle on it when I bought it. Makes things bleed past 20-something miles.

The Bontrager seat measurement tool I'm between the green and blue line. Yep, you guessed, one is the wider 150-ish to 160, or the 140-ish (can't remember exact #s).

The LBS folks are telling me to go with the skinner saddle in either. That is part of the problem with the nasty saddle I have now I finally figured out on my own with the help of TE. My soft tissue rides the saddle, not my sitz bones.

I like the design of the Selle an-atomic, and it's a wide T. I rode a pear shaped cut out in spin class and hated it. Rubbed the inner tighs at the nose. Due to that, I discarded the idea of Terry saddles as I read they are more pear-ish. From what I read here, the Selle people don't seem so willing to take returns? They just say "keep adjusting"? btw... I know TE has a 90day return policy, but to get the color I want, I would order it from them directly (for the $ might as well look nice too).

I know a saddle too wide can be a problem as well... but it just seems too narrow is only going to be exactly the problem I already have?

Any advice for being "on the fence"?

Thanks!
Miranda

p.s. I wasn't sure if this should fit in most loved or hated saddles, so I just opted for here on general.

[Beane]

I went into a specialized dealer thinking that I would buy a 155 jett (since the 143 felt just a bit too narrow) but a helpful associate pointed out that the jett (and maybe some others of their saddles) have rounded edges, effectively narrowing the saddle. She pointed out that the ariel has sharper "corners" and suggested I try it in a 143. Sure enough, it was much more comfortable and really felt like it supported my sit bones. Just something to consider.

Regarding the bontrager saddles: I heard from a friend from a friend (etc through the madison biking grapevine) that bontrager's saddles were not built to spec and the womens saddles essentially came out as men's. And they are again redoing them for next year. So I would avoid those.

[aicabsolut]

I was kind of in the middle of saddle measurements with the Specialized thing too, and I found the 155 works best for me. I had the Jett, and I've moved to the Ruby. The 143 technically fit, but I wound up putting too much pressure on the pubis...the wrong part of the pelvis. See if they'll let you sit on some in the store at least if not do a trial.

I've also heard bad things about Bontrager saddles.

[Miranda]

Thx for that tip about the Bontragers. The store did not even have them until July 15th to see. I guess there is to be some type of clinic.

I do know EXACTLY what you mean about the saddle slope to the gals that replied thus far. I was studying them and thought.... the sitz bones will go down that slope to rest... where's the pressure go then? Up to where you don't want it. Neither shop had the Ruby or Jett on hand. I will look at the other saddle mentioned and see what you mean about the corners. That makes sense.

My 25+yr old bike I am going to fix up to just spin the neighborhood with the kids has a saddle style that would somewhat work. The sides do not slope down. It's flat on the top. When I did get really aero on it, the front lady bits hurt. That points me out to try a cut out, or chanel, something. The super old saddle is falling apart pretty bad, but I think has the right shape for support.

[ladyicon]

Hi Miranda. I returned my selle an-atomica to place of purchase. I got soooo frustrated trying to adjust the thing . They did take $30.00 off the price because they could not sell it as new, I had only ridden it for 35 miles . The saddle forms to you as soon as you sit on it.

I put my Jett saddle back on and still had the sore problems. I went into the Specialized store ( I really like their products ), and talked to the fit lady. I went to look at the Lithia saddle but it seemed too spongy for me. I needed something in between. The lady handed me the Avatar gel saddle (it is a man's saddle). I tried it and now love it, well after 50 miles I love it.

Good luck on your saddle search. BTW stay away from Bontrager saddles, I heard of problems with them.

[aicabsolut]

I *think* that Specialized's online store will accept returns on saddles. I'd say be very careful with them. Don't scratch the rails, stuff like that. I will say that the Ruby required a significant breaking-in period (my sit-bones were SORE!). Now, I absolutely love it. It's a good racing saddle, and I can do long rides (but none of the ultra-endurance stuff) no problem. It's much stiffer than the Jett (not as flexy or cushy), so for me, it is a lot less chafing. Of course, I already knew what width to get by then. I do think that the thinner side profile helps too. I know lots of ladies with Jetts who like them. I have the 06-07 type, but the newer version (08) is much nicer. They got rid of some weird seams and stuff.

Maybe email their customer service before you order one to try to make sure their guarantee applies to saddles? Did you look at the dealer's stock bikes to see if it's on one of them? Maybe you can borrow the saddle from a Ruby bike or something to try in the store or take the bike for a test ride.

FWIW, my bike came with a 143mm Avatar, and boy did it suck. I think most of it was the width issue, and it's hard to find the 155mm men's saddles in stock in stores. In overall design a couple years ago, I didn't notice much difference between it and the Jett, but the cutout may make all the difference for some people.

[Miranda]

Thx ladies for your responses thus far. Think I will call Specialized to verify about the return policy before I order via the net. The lbs (well, I had to travel out of town to get to it, somewhat local) that carried Specialized said their sister store had a lady employee who rode the Ruby... but then changed to the Toupe. The man's version of the Ruby I am now learning the cross comparisons. That's a good thought about it being on any stock bikes. They didn't have any ladies road on the floor, but some men's. Know they would be too narrow, but maybe I could get a first hand looksy at the saddle.

[alpinerabbit]

A specialized guy told me just this weekend that depending on your riding position (more forward), SitBoneWidth=Saddle width may be wrong. For me it's wrong. I have 140mm SB's and ride a 135mm saddle with no probs up to a century.

I vote Selle SMP.

[Miranda]

A specialized guy told me just this weekend that depending on your riding position (more forward), SitBoneWidth=Saddle width may be wrong. For me it's wrong. I have 140mm SB's and ride a 135mm saddle with no probs up to a century.

I vote Selle SMP.

Oooo (about the lbs guy tip)... gawd that was helpful info! Thx!

[ny biker]

Regarding the bontrager saddles: I heard from a friend from a friend (etc through the madison biking grapevine) that bontrager's saddles were not built to spec and the womens saddles essentially came out as men's. And they are again redoing them for next year. So I would avoid those.

The manager at my LBS told me back in May that Bontrager was not happy with the women's Inform saddle so they are redesigning it. As of today he still had not heard about when they would be available so I emailed Bontrager and they said the women's saddles should be available in "late summer."

They have a 90-day comfort guarantee so I'm willing to try it once it's available. At this point I'm probably going to wait until after the Livestrong ride in late August before I start trying out any saddles because I don't want to be dealing with any major changes on my bike when I go into that ride. (My current saddle should last fine until then - it's starting to show wear but isn't a goner yet.)

[Miranda]

The manager at my LBS told me back in May that Bontrager was not happy with the women's Inform saddle so they are redesigning it. As of today he still had not heard about when they would be available so I emailed Bontrager and they said the women's saddles should be available in "late summer."

They have a 90-day comfort guarantee so I'm willing to try it once it's available. At this point I'm probably going to wait until after the Livestrong ride in late August before I start trying out any saddles because I don't want to be dealing with any major changes on my bike when I go into that ride. (My current saddle should last fine until then - it's starting to show wear but isn't a goner yet.)

Thx for that info. Maybe I will try something else in the meanwhile as Bontrager gets it's issues worked out.