SI Turbomatic, SSM Aspide Glamour, Ruby...T-shaped Saddle Chat HERE!

[ny biker]

I just had DH help me measure my sit bones, again...and he got the same # that I get, roughly...about 130mm.

Which puts me pretty borderline on Specialized's chart for the 143 or 155. I am tempted to stay with Specialized, but go up a size. I seem to recall the suggestion a while back that my crookedness on the saddle could be due to my saddle being a hair too narrow, too--which makes sense.

So if I stay with Specialized...do I stay with the Jett, or try Ruby? I've mostly really liked my Jett and have done 3 centuries with that saddle. I tried someone's Ruby 143 last Summer and my sit bones were pretty angry after 10 miles, or so. I have a 150 miler coming up in 3 weeks, so I'm pretty antsy to find a better solution before that. Hoping to do another century in a week, too.

If you mostly like the Jett and the Ruby was painful, I would think it would make sense to try the wider Jett.

I know everyone else on this forum loves firm saddles, but personally I find them to be torture. I need a little bit of padding under my sit bones. It's not necessarily a bad thing.

[zoom-zoom]

I'm leaning towards the Ruby for a couple of reasons, though. I suspect my sit bones discomfort on that borrowed Ruby were due to it being too narrow, so the cushiest parts of the saddle weren't actually under my sits. It was also an older saddle with plenty of miles logged. And the 2011 Rubys (rubies? heh) apparently have a bit more of the gel padding compared to the previous versions. I also didn't have nearly the miles on my rear that I have now. Even my Jett sometimes gave me sit bone discomfort during the first half of last Summer. This year it never hurts.

And I've felt for a long while that my Jett is maybe a little too soft. I've been suspicious that I sink into that padding just a bit too much...and we all know what the result of a too-soft saddle is on our privates. If I go with the Ruby and decide it's just too firm, I always know I can happily go back to the Jett and use the Ruby on my cyclocross bike, since the time on saddle during those races and rides will be very minimal.

[Marquise]

I just got out my slightly used SSM Glamour Aspide to check and the padding is definitely firmer than the Donna. It's just a little wider at the widest point and shorter overall (because the Donna ends in sort of a point in back) but the taper from the widest part to the nose is pretty similar. The channel is slightly more pronounced at the nose end of the Donna. The SSM GA flexes side to side quite readily. I tried it pretty early on after I took up cycling and felt too much pressure up front. It's a nice enough saddle that I thought should try it again after I gained some more experience. I know my core strength is much improved so maybe I will one of these days.

[zoom-zoom]

I have a feeling the Glamour is similar to the Ruby in terms of firmness...maybe even moreso, from some things I've read.

[Becky]

I have a feeling the Glamour is similar to the Ruby in terms of firmness...maybe even moreso, from some things I've read.

In my very unscientific opinion, it's harder/less padded. I specifically went saddle-hunting at the Specialized dealer because my sit bones ached at the 3-hour mark. The fact that I was ready to buy a Ruby makes me think that the Ruby had slightly more padding, but it was dense, supportive cushion, not squishy "migrate into your bits" cushion.

[zoom-zoom]

In my very unscientific opinion, it's harder/less padded. I specifically went saddle-hunting at the Specialized dealer because my sit bones ached at the 3-hour mark. The fact that I was ready to buy a Ruby makes me think that the Ruby had slightly more padding, but it was dense, supportive cushion, not squishy "migrate into your bits" cushion.

That's exactly what I'm looking for. I really liked the cushion on that Arione Donna (a bit firmer/thinner than the Jett)...I'd love to see how a wider version of that would work for me. The existing one is 147...I think even 155 would be good. I think because of the shape of it, the effective width was less than the 143 Jett, at least under my butt. My guess is it would work well for the women who fall on the smaller end of the 143 size chart.

[RubyTuesday]

This is just the thread I needed. I am riding a Ruby right now with a Jett saddle. While it feels comfortable when I first start to ride, by the end of 15 miles I am moving around on the saddle to get comfortable. I have solved some of my issue with Hoo Haa Ride Glide, but my sit bones were sore last night after my ride. Without getting too graphic....ok going to be hard not to be too graphic when you are talking about "bits", but I found them tingly sore at the end of the ride. I often feel I need to shift in my seat because I feel a bit "splayed" and need to shift to close the gap. Told you this was going to be graphic....sorry. So I am wondering if I should try a seat with no gap. I definitely want one that is a bit squishy, I think. Why do people here like the harder seats?

I am having a hard time measuring my sit bones. I tried this morning using some of the tactics you mentioned, but I am off a lot at each measuring. I came up with 127 once and 139 the next time. Is there anyone technology that can measure sit bones?

I am new to riding, so maybe some of my issues are just newbie issues and I need to toughen up.

Gawd, I never thought I would be online talking about this stuff.