Sit bones and my saddle

[JTri's]

I have a new bike and changed to a SMP Glider saddle. My old saddle gave me serious soft tissue issues (I don't even remember the name of it). The good news is that this saddle leaves my soft tissues alone. No chafing, rubbing, tearing whatsoever. The bad news is that my sit bones, and I do mean those little points of bone that hit the saddle are *killing* me during long rides (over 50-100 miles). Even the next day the tissue over those bones is tender to the touch. On the other hand, my vagina is happy, and that counts for a lot....

I've been using this saddle for two rides a week, one long, one 2 hour ride, for 8 weeks. Do you think my butt will get used to it? Maybe need more padding?

[KnottedYet]

What is your center-to-center and outside-to-outside sit bone span?

You want the overall width of the sit of the saddle to be a cm or two wider than your outside measurement (so you have wiggle room on the saddle for shifting your weight as you turn, etc.)

You want the centers of each "cheek" of the saddle to be the same as your center-to-center span. The center of the cheek is the part designed to support your sit bone. (find the cheek center by finding the widest part of the saddle. Draw an imaginary line down the very middle of the saddle. Measure from outer edge to middle line, and the center of that is the middle of the "cheek") You can get away with being off the center of the cheek if the saddle has a very flat contour.

If all those measurements match up, then I would suspect you have a saddle that is too pear shaped for your hip angle and you are bruising the tissue at the fold (which is quite near the ischial tuberosity) of the buttock by slamming it into the transition of the saddle as your hip moves through the pedal stroke.

If you can sit on a wooden church pew or a wooden kitchen chair without the same kind of pain, then your sits should be plenty tough enough already. If sitting on such a chair does cause you a lot of pain and leaves you just as sore, then your sits probably do just need to toughen up.

[KnottedYet]

What is your center-to-center and outside-to-outside sit bone span?

You want the overall width of the sit of the saddle to be a cm or two wider than your outside measurement (so you have wiggle room on the saddle for shifting your weight as you turn, etc.)

You want the centers of each "cheek" of the saddle to be the same as your center-to-center span. The center of the cheek is the part designed to support your sit bone. (find the cheek center by finding the widest part of the saddle. Draw an imaginary line down the very middle of the saddle. Measure from outer edge to middle line, and the center of that is the middle of the "cheek") You can get away with being off the center of the cheek if the saddle has a very flat contour.

If all those measurements match up, then I would suspect you have a saddle that is too pear shaped for your hip angle and you are bruising the tissue at the fold (which is quite near the ischial tuberosity) of the buttock by slamming it into the transition of the saddle as your hip moves through the pedal stroke.

If you can sit on a wooden church pew or a wooden kitchen chair without the same kind of pain, then your sits should be plenty tough enough already. If sitting on such a chair does cause you a lot of pain and leaves you just as sore, then your sits probably do just need to toughen up.

Oh, Jiminy! I forgot to mention why those center and outside measurements of your sits and the saddle matter! If your sits aren't landing on the parts of the saddle meant to support them, your bones could take a beating.

[JTri's]

Thanks for the detailed response. I have no idea what my measurements are, is there an easy way to take them?

[Norse]

You can measure yourself - lots of advice on this forum for how to do that if you do a search, or go to a LBS that has a sit measurement. Generally, any LBS that carries Specialized saddles should have a sit-o-meter.

[fleecedog]

Hi there! Sorry for reviving this old-ish thread but...

I'm having the exact same issues as you with the Glider! Just switched from a Terry Butterfly to the SMP Glider and after the first ride (only 40-60mins in the saddle), my sitbones were sore for two days or so - particularly the left side, yet not so much the right It was tender to touch for at least two days. While it hasn't bothered me that much on the actual rides, but then again, I haven't done any 50 or 100 milers like you, it is noticeably sore after I hop off.

Went for a longer ride yesterday and while they are still a teeny bit sore, the sitbones were not in as much pain as before.

Is there a 'getting used to' period to this saddle? Are you having better luck with it now? I ought to 'suck it up' though, it is by far the most comfortable saddle I've ridden in and the only one which hasn't squashed my soft tissues so I suppose I shouldn't complain But I sure could do without sore sitbones!

[JTri's]

I've been renting an Adamo saddle with more cushion and...well...my butt is not as sore but it's still not perfect. I suspect that there is a breaking in period with the Glider and mine is longer than most. I'm going to put it back on my bike and give it another shot this weekend with a 60 mile ride.

Last weekend I rode 80 hilly miles with the Adamo and it wasn't terrible, but I don't love it either. So, I'll give the Glider another shot and let you know. It's hard to shell out that much money for a saddle that I hate less than the one I have...I'd really like to LIKE the saddle!