What is realistic?

[Catrin]

What is realistic in saddle comfort for long distances? Being in the saddle for 2 hours is a very different thing from being in the saddle for 13 hours. I can't keep trying demo saddles for the next three months until I see if a saddle will work for a 13 hour ride.

I am thinking that if a saddle is comfy for 3-4 hours that is a good sign. Is this a good assumption? I did have a little tissue soreness after the ride yesterday - but I was in the saddle for more than an hour longer than ever (almost 5 hours) and there was no numbness at all.

This to me is a good sign

[OakLeaf]

It's a good sign.

If you're feeling any discomfort at all though, it's possible that it could get really bad around, say, six hours, but not at three or four. So be honest with yourself about that ...

[maillotpois]

I would hope you will be doing 8 - 10 hour rides in prep for the 13 hour ride, so those should be good tests of the saddle.

[Catrin]

I would hope you will be doing 8 - 10 hour rides in prep for the 13 hour ride, so those should be good tests of the saddle.

Indeed I will - just trying to decide what is realistic before I actually purchase the saddle. I think I will decide next week. Saturday will be my first metric and that should be a good test before I purchase...

[malkin]

I'm not comfortable for 13 hours anywhere.
Not my couch, certainly not my desk, not even my bed.

On the bike, I think it has much to do with fitness in addition to the saddle.

[Catrin]

I'm not comfortable for 13 hours anywhere.
Not my couch, certainly not my desk, not even my bed.

On the bike, I think it has much to do with fitness in addition to the saddle.

This is what I have been thinking. At some point there is just going to be discomfort - regardless - so this is something to consider as well. I will demo one more saddle and will then make my choice and then we will see.
Thanks everyone, we will see what happens this next week.