Saddle Fit: Tests, Tips, and Tricks

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Well, we all know my opinion of Trek/Bontrager's latest "offering" in saddles from what I saw at a seminar in San Francisco earlier this year, and my further opinion after tracking down their research.... but I'm trying to be impartial.

Knot, can you expand upon this, a bit? Reason I ask is that I am finding my beloved Jett is giving me fits on my new bike. I LOVED it on my relatively upright Synapse, but on my SuperSix I'm getting pinched, up front. At least I think it's my saddle. It could also be due to the tights I'm wearing over my shorts (I'm just dying for warmer weather so that I can switch to knee warmers...this is the neverending Winter here in MI). But I am suspicious that it's because I'm relatively more aero on the new bike (in addition to more aggressive geometry I now have a 2cm longer stem, which I should have had on the previous bike, too...yay, I can ride in the drops, now!).

Last night I had DH tilt the nose of my Jett down a hair, but it didn't do much to alleviate the discomforts in my girly parts, since it made me start sliding forward too much--if anything it gave me more issues, since I was struggling to keep my sit bones on the rear of the saddle and was bearing more weight on my privates, instead..

I've been eyeballing that Bontrager Inform RL saddle, since I think that dip would work better for me than a sharp cut-out. I'm also looking at the Fizik Arione Donna. The footprint looks similar to my Jett and that long channel looks like it might not pinch and jam my labial bits quite so much.


But I can't find anyone who has tried this saddle...so I am leery. Our LBS carries Fizik and has test saddles...but I'm not sure if they can get test saddles in the women's models, or not. I have only seen them in the men's styles. I can't find any evidence that Fizik offers any sort of guarantee, unlike Specialized and Bontrager.

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Bumping for Knot's input...

[Biciclista]

bump! (that saddle does NOT look comfortable)

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bump! (that saddle does NOT look comfortable)

In what way...I'm having a hard time finding any reviews of it (I think it's only been out for a couple of months). I'm thinking it looks like it might be really hard on the sit bones, if anything.

[Biciclista]

well, it seems to have your sit bones on the edge, and then the saddle itself is more pear shaped then T shaped.

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I thought it looked really pear-shaped, too, but I played around overlaying it in Photoshop with a photo of a Jett 143 and the shape doesn't seem as different as I had thought. It's a mere 4mm wider at 147mm, so it's pretty close in size (I don't think my sit-bones would end up on the edge--my sit bones are somewhere in the 125 neighborhood when I use a tape measure). And apparently those flex wings are designed to crack and break-in to fit an individual rider's leg movement requirements...so maybe it wouldn't feel as pear-shaped as it might at first appear.

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That picture is great!

Thanks...sometimes I get my dork on in a big way.

[KnottedYet]

Knot, can you expand upon this, a bit?

That was written a bazillion years ago in Corporate Years.

Since then Trek scrapped their sadly misguided women's saddle design and re-did the research. Now I'm quite pleased with their saddles. (I'd like to think someone found all my grousing and complaining and realized the error of their ways and any day now will head-hunt me from my current job and make me their new Saddle Goddess... but that may just be the hard cider talkin' )

If one of theirs appeals to you, go for it!

And then post a review for all of us, ok?

ETA: by "pleased" I mean that looking at the things they make a whole lot more sense than the original design. They still don't make one anywhere near the width I need, so I haven't tried one myself.

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The only thing that gives me pause looking at the Bontrager saddles is that the RL Inform WSD looks a bit on the pear-shaped side. I'm concerned that I would make my girl parts happy, only to make my inner butt-cheek region angry. Trade-offs are the bane of a cyclists existence, so it would seem.

[ny biker]

If it helps, last summer Bontrager started selling the Inform Affinity, which is more t-shaped than the original Inform. In fact earlier today I put a 155mm Affinity on top of a SSM Aspide Glamour and found they are almost identical in size and shape.

The Affinity comes in different varieties regarding the amount of padding -- RXL, RL and R. And the 3 different widths.

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Hmmm...that Affinity is something else to add to consideration. Though their description of the Affinity models sounds like they are geared for more upright riding. Not sure if that would change how I fit on it, or not. It's the less upright stance that has gotten me into trouble with my Jett.

[Artista]

I had an opportunity to compare the Bontrager Affinity RXL to the Inform RL last weekend. The channel in the Inform is longer & deeper than the Affinity. The Inform provided great sit bone support & gave my girly bits a lot of room. The Affinity also provides great sit bone support but squishes my bits more than the Inform. I'll post more about my experience with the 2 saddles after I do an apples to apples ride comparison.

[ny biker]

My LBS would let me put both on my bike to do a quick sit test before buying. Maybe you could find one to do the same?

[Biciclista]

thanks for taking the time to post, Knott, your expertise is always appreciated.

[Lynda]

Hi all,

First post on this forum, though I have read many posts by others. I'd like to say there is some immensely useful info throughout, and some very insightful and helpful people! After reading many posts about various saddles I have purchased and am waiting to receive a Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow. With my 150mm sit bone width I reckon this should be a good fit.

In regards to tips on saddle fit though, thought I might add one (seemingly obvious, though not to me!) tip - no matter what saddle you choose, it will be incredibly uncomfortable if you have your saddle set too high. I have been riding mountainbikes and road for about four years, and over this time I have been through about ten different saddles (WTB Speed V, Specialized Ruby Gel, Fizik Pave, Fizik Aliante to name a few). I have also had recurrent pressure issues that have led to some nasty boils between my 'girly parts' and the top of my thigh, which have resulted in some long periods off the bike while they healed.

I have always put this down to just not having the right saddle for me, with the most recent choice being a Fizik Vitesse Tri (which has been the least uncomfortable). About a week ago, I had a good look at just how high I set my saddle on both my mtb and road bike, and realised that they were both way too high (by about an inch and a half). I have always insisted on having my saddle a few inches higher than my bars (mostly for aesthetics), but being 5'3" and riding XS frames means that is just not correct bike fit. I never felt like my hips were rocking, but I think this resulted in me (especially on my road bike) flattening out from the hips to reach my handlebars and consequently placing all my weight on my soft tissue, rather than using my tummy and curving my back, which keeps my sit bones centred on the seat.

After significantly reducing my saddle height on both bikes, I have been out for a few rides on the Vitesse (one 100km ride on the roadie) with ZERO problems. If anything my bum felt a little tender where my sit bones are for an hour or so but I put this down to actually being in the right place on the saddle for the first time! Issues with getting too hot have also gone away, which is a bonus. Making these changes has also stopped me from constantly scooting back on the saddle trying to get comfortable - the saddle now sits level, and in the middle of the rails. I am really looking forward to being able to ride when I like, without worrying about getting painful boils and dealing with constant discomfort. I also look forward to trying out the Diva, knowing it will be set up correctly (I have taken the measurement from centre of BB to middle of the top of the saddle and written it down so I will get it right!). Will also save me moving one saddle around on two bikes!

Long story I know, but maybe will help someone like me!

Lynda