Your measurements?

[melissam]

Kiwi Girl,

Sorry about your loss of pasta sauce. Hopefully you still had enough for lunch and were able to clean up the computer keyboard.

Karen,

Good luck with the Terry Butterfly. A lot of women really like the saddle, so I hope you do too!

Everyone else,

Here's a low budget way to get your measurements, all in the privacy of your own home, and with minimal potential for embarrassment.

1. Take a paper towel -- one standard-sized square should work, but use two if you want a margin for error.
2. Place the paper towel(s) on a plushly carpeted area.
3. Sit on the paper towel(s).
4. Get up.
The paper towel(s) should have two indentations where the sit bones are. If you don't put anything on it, the indentations should last indefinitely.

-- Melissa

[pooks]

Okay, so I tried to measure my sit bones.

I tried the lie-on-your-back-with-knees-raised method.

I tried the sit-on-firm-office-chair-on-piece-of-paper method.

NOTHING.

How embarrassing. So much padding, the bones don't leave an imprint?

Then I noticed what I'm wearing: My road shorts. PADDED road shorts.

Shut up.

I took them off and repeated both above methods.

Still no indentations.

Okay, now I'm REALLY embarrassed! LOL.

[morsecode]

Okay, so I tried to measure my sit bones.

I tried the lie-on-your-back-with-knees-raised method.

I tried the sit-on-firm-office-chair-on-piece-of-paper method.

NOTHING.

How embarrassing. So much padding, the bones don't leave an imprint?

Then I noticed what I'm wearing: My road shorts. PADDED road shorts.

Shut up.

I took them off and repeated both above methods.

Still no indentations.

Okay, now I'm REALLY embarrassed! LOL.

Feel free to ignore this suggestion, but it seemed to work for me...
do the chair method (I used a paper towel and a flat-seat wooden chair), but lift your legs up and engage your abs. You'll feel your bones on the chair and know you have an identation


Mind you, I still have no idea what saddle to go for

[Kitsune06]

I found it useful to rock back 'n forth a little...

Geez. My measurement's way bigger than I thought. No wonder my saddle hurts after a few miles- after taking the measurements and setting the measurin' sheet on the seat, all became clear. The 'peaks' of my sit-bones are half-straddling the seat. No wonder so much of my weight ends up being carried by my soft tissues and other bits. Ugh.

[DebW]

When I started riding 10-speeds in the early 70s there were only men's saddles, so I rode on them of course. Actually, there were some wide Brooks saddles I could have used if I wasn't afraid of looking like a dork (that was my loss). Around the late 70s, Avocet started making women's saddles. I got one and I still remember the first ride on that saddle. Previously I could ride only 15 miles before my crotch got so sore that I had to stand alot and perform other gyrations. With the new Avocet W-II Racing saddle, I rode 50 miles with my butt ON the saddle! It seemed like the most amazing thing at the time.

[Rebeccah]

With the new Avocet W-II Racing saddle, I rode 50 miles with my butt ON the saddle! It seemed like the most amazing thing at the time.

I've got a 30-year-old Avocet W-II that has been hurting my butt all these years. I just realized that the sore spot isn't my ischial tuberosities ("sit bones") all this time, it's forward and inside of that, my pubic rami (the bones that go from the sit bones, inside the legs toward the front "pubic bone"). The only time I'm more comfortable is if I go down on the drops, push way back on the seat, and pedal hard -- but then my "girlie bits" get squashed, and I can't keep it up 'cause my legs get tired.

I guess I either need to move the seat forward or get a different seat.

I haven't successfully measured my sit bones yet, but it's looking like the *comfortable* part of them is at least 6" apart.

Rebeccah

[DebW]

I've got a 30-year-old Avocet W-II that has been hurting my butt all these years. I just realized that the sore spot isn't my ischial tuberosities ("sit bones") all this time, it's forward and inside of that, my pubic rami (the bones that go from the sit bones, inside the legs toward the front "pubic bone").

I retired my Avocet W-II about 5 years ago. Like you said, the forward part of the saddle caused some discomfort since it is rounded and put the most pressure in the center of the pubic area. The W-II was an amazing saddle in it's day, but I've switched to one with a cutout. BTW, tried an Avocet O2 Air five years ago and hated it.

[morsecode]

I found it useful to rock back 'n forth a little...

exactly!

[Hub]

Has anyone tried painting their behind then sitting on paper to see
where the pink paint is ???

[mimitabby]

lol wouldn't the whole butt paint the paper pink?

[Hub]

Only if your sit bones are as well padded as mine!!

Seriously though- my workstudy student ( a lovely young man, who rides
a cobalt blue Specializied Allez) had just earlier measured his sit bones in
order to shop for a new seat. He started with the find your bones & use
a tape measure method. He then tried the methods listed on the thread--he had a little trouble with the sit on concrete- (his sit bones are not as well padded.) He then successfully measured again using 2 markers----line up a marker on each bone- then lean/sit on a piece of paper. He was pleased
with this measurement.

From the home of the Fighting Okra

[pooks]

He then successfully measured again using 2 markers----line up a marker on each bone- then lean/sit on a piece of paper. He was pleased
with this measurement.

I'm trying to figure this out ... ? He does what with the markers? (Are you talking felt tip markers?)

If you go to a bike shop and sit on one of their measuring devices, is that the most accurate? I have this image of me putting my well-padded bum down on it and leaving behind nothing but a smooth surface with a ridge where my crack is, sigh.

ETA: When I tried the "sit on a curb" method, I ended up with a piece of paper that was dimpled/pimpled with little indentations where the rough concrete had almost pierced it, in two roundish circles, but no clear definition where the bones were.

[mimitabby]

I'm trying to figure this out ... ? He does what with the markers? (Are you talking felt tip markers?)

If you go to a bike shop and sit on one of their measuring devices, is that the most accurate? I have this image of me putting my well-padded bum down on it and leaving behind nothing but a smooth surface with a ridge where my crack is, sigh.

ETA: When I tried the "sit on a curb" method, I ended up with a piece of paper that was dimpled/pimpled with little indentations where the rough concrete had almost pierced it, in two roundish circles, but no clear definition where the bones were.

measure from center to center of the indents, but imagine if you will, a bike
saddle. you'd want it to support a little of the area around it too.

[mimitabby]

I have got to say that measuring sit bones is one of the silliest things i've ever had to talk about (well, there's queefing)

I am a bony butt, so i decided i had to check with someone who isn't; so chose
my husband... can i find your sitting bones? please come sit on my hands.
he squealed and yelled OW! (he'd just ridden 50 miles) he said
"YOU GOOSED ME!"

the result of my scientific test was that i didn't have enough time to really
check... before he jumped away.
And i can't very well go up to strangers and ask them!

[Psiouxan]

measure from center to center of the indents...

A neat trick to puzzle out the "center" of your sit bone divets on your buttOmeter surface... roll a ball bearing (...or marble, etc.) into the hollow and they will find the center. I used my memory foam pillow (sans pillow "slip" so the ball wasn't sitting on a trampoline), and I got the same readings within 1mm 3 times! Now if only I could translate that to my Secret Saddle.

But being a true dirt fiend, I'm still uncertain how the plethora of road saddles are applicable to trail use. Or not. For all the trouble saddle makers go to for different features, they don't bother to let you know what they are for... ("we specialize in ALL makes and models...")

My old Serfas Arroyo was comfy on the longest rides until the last year when I got out of shape due to less training. I wonder how much one's sit bones can change over the years?