speaking of saddles

**DDH** · 03-31-2008, 06:51 PM

I need help I think. I just measured my sit bones and came up with 6.5 inches. but I can't seem to find a womens saddle that wide.
Do I go to a mens saddle? Is the mens saddle going to fit and feel different than a womans saddle?

My seat now is only 6 inches and is what the bike came with, I have been riding it that way but I guess because I didn't know any better just figured that was the way it was. It's always been a little uncomfortable but nothing that would make me quit riding. I haven't been able to go on a really long ride though because my butt and other areas go numb and I just can't keep it up.
I guess when you don't know any better you just continue to deal. Reading through here I have finally come to the conclusion that a new seat is needed in the very near future.

Do any of you ride a mens saddle? besides the men on here of course. LOL

**KnottedYet** · 03-31-2008, 06:59 PM

Men's saddles are narrower. They have smaller pelvic outlets for the most part.

Welcome to the Wide Bones Club, co-chairs BleeckerStGirl and Knot.
The only saddles we've found to fit our sits are Brooks B18, B66, B67, B68, B72. www.wallbike.com gives you six months trial on any Brooks saddle, no questions asked.

With approx a 165mm sit bone width, you will want a saddle about 185mm wide at least. (to give you 1 cm of wiggle room to each side)

It's dang hard to find one that wide that ISN'T padded like a la-z-boy. Brooks B67 has made my world a better place, and I have them on two of my bikes right now, and planning to get one for my 3rd bike pdq.

(FWIW, my sits are between 170-180mm depending on how "aero" I am. The Brooks B67 and it's cohorts are 210mm wide. Unpadded leather. "T" shaped top. Bliss!)

**mimitabby** · 03-31-2008, 07:28 PM

You know you want a Brooks saddle, DDH. You deserve it. And it will look great on your bike.

**DDH** · 03-31-2008, 07:30 PM

My husband has a brooks that I bought him for Christmas this past year. He hasn't ridden in it enough to really be a good judge but he says he likes it and that is what he has been telling me to get.

I will have to go take a look. I was just thinking a padded saddle would be more comfortable, but nothing is comfortable when my bones or hanging off the side. lol

**mimitabby** · 03-31-2008, 07:32 PM

no, padded saddles just compound the misery! go with the brooks!

**KnottedYet** · 03-31-2008, 07:32 PM

Padding can be the source of much suffering.

Oh, yeah, and MimiTabby has a Brooks that is over 30 years old and still going strong.

**KnottedYet** · 03-31-2008, 07:36 PM

This is what saddle I use: http://www.wallbike.com/B67.html

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see a picture of a LOVELY lady who rides on a Brooks saddle!

**mimitabby** · 03-31-2008, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by KnottedYet

This is what saddle I use: http://www.wallbike.com/B67.html

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see a picture of a LOVELY lady who rides on a Brooks saddle!

smirk. i wonder who that could be

**DDH** · 03-31-2008, 07:48 PM

How cute you are Mimi. I think you girls are right and I think that is going to be the only thing that is going to be big enough. I haven't found anything wider than about 6.1 anywhere else.

Have to talk to hubby, but I am sure he won't mind. He seems to always be willing to do whatever is needed for my bike.

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 04-01-2008, 07:56 AM

Donna, listen to Knot and Mimi.
I have the extra wide Brooks too...the B68, which is just like Knot's B67, but with no springs. I think springs are more important for more upright riding bikes, but that's just a personal opinion. Springs are good if you have back problems, for sure, and I suspect they 'might' be good also if you are a heavy rider. The springs do add a few ounces of weight though, if that matters to you.

Remember not all Brooks are wide- many models are very narrow.
I recommend you do NOT get the Brooks "women's models" (the ones that end in "S" as in B17S etc). They are not wider, only shorter and that simply means their under rails are way shorter as well, unnecessarily restricting your ability to position the saddle more forward and backward. Avoid the S, just go by width. The non-S saddles are NOT 'too long' for most women at all.

As Knot said, welcome to the Wide Sitbone Gal Club! Plant your sitbones proudly wherever you go! Also remember that with any new saddle you may be sore for a few days because it will press on 'new' places and those spots may initially complain. After a few rides that initial soreness will go away.

Padding is our Enemy. Padding causes pain and numbness. It is Evil.

**DDH** · 04-01-2008, 02:45 PM

Hey Lisa!!! Thanks for the info. So from what you describe then I probalby need the springs since I am a heavy rider, and I have straight bars on my bike instead of drop bars. Not sure my termninoligy is right but I hope you get the picture.

I have the Brooks website on my favorites from when I ordered his seat, so I am going to go give them a look.

What's that song, "I like big butts and I cannot lie". LOL Thats for me. LOL

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 04-01-2008, 03:21 PM

Donna, if I were you (which I'm not but hey....) I would get a B67 (like Knot's, and with the springs) from Wallbike.com (Wallingford's) and give it a whirl. You can also try their B68 (same wide saddle, but just without the springs, like mine).
You can RETURN either saddle to Wallbike after you try it for a while! How cool is that? Be sure to order a little tin of their "ProofHide" saddle conditioner when you order your saddle. If you put 'other stuff' on it they may not take it back, plus other stuff might darken the saddle considerably and/or make it too soft.
My DH and I both got new honey colored saddles. He put neatsfoot oil on his, I put Proofhide on mine. Mine looked the same honey color even after several Proofhide applications, his turned dark brown immediately and has stayed dark brown. Good thing he likes dark brown!

**DDH** · 04-01-2008, 07:18 PM

girls, when you measure your seat bones, do you measure to the outside of them or to the center?

**KnottedYet** · 04-01-2008, 07:42 PM

Outside to outside. You want your entire sitbone to fit on the saddle (and you want 1 cm wiggle room to each side, so add extra 2 cm)

**anakiwa** · 04-03-2008, 03:55 AM

Good luck with the Brooks! I found the front part too hard and eventually had to give up on it. (If you like to ride in an upright position you'll probably be fine.)

Some other options (roughly 7" wide): Avocet O2 Air 40 (women's model), SMP Strike (women's model), and it looks like Terry has a new one- Rosie.

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