New Rider with Saddle Troubles

[Catrin]

Now I'm second-guessing my decision to purchase a Ruby. I'm not convinced I need the cutouts. I had such extreme discomfort with the cutouts on the Butterfly. I think if the middle channel on my Bontrager would continue all the way down the saddle it would probably be comfortable. I also want less padding on the nose. I'm looking at the WTB Deva SLT or the Selle San Marco Aspide Glamour -- thoughts?

I don't have time to find it right now, but there is a "cut out test" that you can search for here on the forum that will indicate if you've a need for a cutout or not. Search for it and see what you think, Knotted Yet was the one who posted it.

[OakLeaf]

Knott's cut-out test is pretty simple. You want to sit on a hard, flat surface like a straight chair or the top of a retaining wall with your sitbones firmly on the surface, and your legs and torso more or less at the angles they'd be when you ride. If your soft parts feel smashed against the surface, you'll probably want a saddle with a cutout. If they feel spacious, you might do better without one.



.... but, if you're feeling a need for a longer channel on your Bontrager, then it doesn't seem likely that you'll want a saddle that has no room for your soft parts (whether it makes that room with a cut-out or with a channel).

[zoom-zoom]

Depends upon the cutout, too...some worked OK, some were torture devices. My only regret is waiting so long to try an SMP saddle. It was like a game-changer!

[Owlie]

The shape, size and position of the cutout changes a lot. The Jett works reasonably well for me, though sometimes I wish it was a little deeper toward the back. I'm eyeing the SMP saddles that zoom-zoom's mentioned for a next bike. The cut out on the Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow I used to have did not work.

[CaliRider]

So....next question....can you tell immediately when the saddle is right? I just picked up a Toupe from the LBS (didn't have a Ruby). They're letting me try it for a week. I just took a quick spin and didn't find it particularly comfortable overall. So....how did you know when you'd found the right saddle?

[OakLeaf]

To me it takes at least a 35 or 40 mile ride for problems to really show up. It isn't how many rides, it's the distance, as I settle into the saddle, and minor discomfort does or does not become major. IME if it's good for 40 it's good for 100+. Can't speak for anyone else, though.

[zoom-zoom]

To me it takes at least a 35 or 40 mile ride for problems to really show up. It isn't how many rides, it's the distance, as I settle into the saddle, and minor discomfort does or does not become major. IME if it's good for 40 it's good for 100+. Can't speak for anyone else, though.

+1. But if it's not good at 10 it will be miserable at 40 and likely horrific at 100.

[TigerMom]

So....next question....can you tell immediately when the saddle is right? I just picked up a Toupe from the LBS (didn't have a Ruby). They're letting me try it for a week. I just took a quick spin and didn't find it particularly comfortable overall. So....how did you know when you'd found the right saddle?

If you did a quick spin and it's not comfortable....it's not the right saddle. Can you get your LBS to lend you other saddles to try before you buy?

This post might help you too:
http://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/...ll-about-smps/

[Sky King]

Just to add to the confusion, How about an all leather saddle w/ zero padding? Once I discovered how comfortable they were, I can't imagine riding anything else
Brooks B17 Imperial
Rivet Pearl