How, exactly, do we develop bike butt?

[OakLeaf]

Here's one thread to get you started. There are several. Search the forum for measuring sit bones, cut-out test, etc. if you want to read more.

Or, Specialized and Trek dealers have a pad they use for measuring.

Some LBSs, but not all, will let you try a saddle for a certain amount of time; it never hurts to ask. There are also some places where you can order saddles online with an option to return them.

I think that just sitting on a saddle on your bike at the LBS might eliminate some that definitely won't work for you, but IME I really need several rides, including some long ones, to know for sure if a saddle is going to work. Plus, any time I put on a new saddle, the rest of the fit changes and I need to make some tweaks before I can really form an opinion. Some people get lucky and find a saddle that works pretty quickly, for others it can be a long and expensive search. If you see a saddle you want to try, don't hesitate to post an ad in the For Sale/Wanted section, someone may have one that they didn't like.

Good luck!

[mhami]

Hi,

I found this website http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bicycleseats.html that might be useful to a newbie that knows nothing about bike saddles (ie. me). It may not answer any questions regarding this post, but since it is about saddles I thought it applies.

I hope it helps someone.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

A lot of us here like to ride on hard leather Brooks saddles.
You can try one out for several months and then return it (if you don't slather it with gunk or other changes) if you order it from Wallingford: http://www.wallbike.com/index.php
I have very wide apart sit bones and I ride their men's B68, thier widest saddle. A normal pelvis woman might want to try their slightly narrower model, the B17.

Keep in mind that sometimes a more padded saddle can actually be more painful to your soft tissues. It was certainly true for me, and for others like me.

Trying a brooks saddle is one option for you to test.