Saddle choices

[M-Rad]

Hi! I am I'm the same boat as you b/c my fizik is killing me.

I had originally planned on getting an Oura but changed my mind. To begin with the sizing on specialized saddles are strange and dont seem to conform to other saddle manufacturers. Then guy from another LBS told me he thought that Specialized was doing a disservice to people b/c their saddles encourage people to place their sitbones towards the back of the saddle on the most cushy part. He said a good saddle encourages you to sit more forward so that your thighs are at a good angle to get maxium power. He told me that selle smp and fizik saddles have a channel that prevents you from sitting too far back. He said no one really sits on their sit bones as this could be painful.

I tested the selle smp lite 209 and the glider today. On both sadles, my sit bones were more towards the front (at the end of the narrow part just before seat widens). Although I measured a143 at specialized, both these saddles are under 138.

I plan to take the glider out on a 60 mile test ride tomorrow. Will let you know how it goes. Is it your sit bones that bother you or soft tissue?

[goldfinch]

Great job Muirenn.

[mardeebo]

This was very helpful, Murienn...and I have looked at that other thread! I'm switching from a selle italia diva to a specialized oura. My sit bones felt the difference...but my soft tissue was considerably happier after the first ride of about 20 miles. I wonder if my sit bones ever were fully conditioned on that softer, squishier Diva and that's why I'm feeling it now. Thankfully, I have 30 days to try it out.

[KatzPajamas]

I purchased a Terry Butterfly Ladies Cromoly about a month ago and have put 400+ pain-free miles on it. It came highly recommended by my LBS gal, who gave me 30 days to return it. She hasn't steered me wrong yet!