Selle Italia: Lady Gel Flow vs Diva Gel Flow

[soretaco]

I got measured tonight using a method I found on another post here. Wooden chair, feet elevated about 8 inches, rocked side to side on a damp paper towel that was between two sheets of paper.

We tried several times and always got numbers in the 142 range (from center to center of the ovals left in the paper). My hubby (as you both said) thinks that the SI is probably ok on width but "flares out too fast" (his words).

I checked out a Jett and Ruby today. The Ruby seems a lot firmer than my current saddle, so I'm a bit iffy about it. The Jett seems like it may be too much padding. I don't to sink in the rear and chafe in the front. The store had neither size in a 155, but with a 30 day return policy, I feel pretty safe in trying both.

Thank you for the input!

ST

[Owlie]

According to Specialized's website, there are two different versions of the Jett, at different prices ($85 vs $110). The cheaper seems to have a bit more padding and chro-moly rails, and the more expensive one seems to be a slightly more padded version of the Ruby.

[soretaco]

I got a Specialized Ruby 143 demo saddle at the LBS. I was reluctant to take it because of my sitbone measurements, but it's basically a free demo, so there was nothing to lose.

It's surprisingly good! I immediately noticed that there is more sitbone pressure vs the Lady Gel Flow but waaay less crotch pressure (yay!).

It did feel like it could go nose down a bit. My hubby tipped the nose down a bit and as you can see, it's not level (slightly tipped down) using a nose/tail measurement, but the middle of the saddle is still not quite level. Should I be leveling this saddle based on the middle?

Thanks,
ST (might be changing my name soon!)

[zoom-zoom]

I had a Lady Gel Flow and had exactly the same issues you had, soretaco. It was both too wide and too pear-shaped for me (and too squishy). I'm on a Specialized Jett 143 and have been much happier, though I am trying to get my hands on a Fizik Donna from my LBS, since it has a channel running the length of the saddle, instead of a cut-out, I have some issues that I attribute to pinching at the front of the cut-out.