Terry Saddles- Performance, Endurance, Sport

[Tanya]

Apologies if this ends up being a double-post (I tried to submit this earlier but it didn't show up).

I have a Trek 7.5 FX and, after about 8 months of riding, I've finally decided that the Bontrager saddle needs to go. It's not horrible, but I feel like there must be something better out there. The area by my sit bones still gets tender after about 15 miles. I don't have any other problems from the saddle--no chaffing, no sores, no numbness. I ride 3-4 times per week, 80-100 miles total weekly. I'm interested in Terry saddles since they've gotten decent reviews and they have a wonderful return policy, in case I order a particular saddle and it just doesn't work out.

I read in an earlier post that the sit bone area tenderness could be alleviated by a narrower saddle. Correspondingly, I was intrigued by the Terry Damselfly. It seems narrower, and I'm also interested in whether the cut-out would benefit me. However, this saddle is in the "Performance" category. While I ride consistently, I'm by no means a competitive rider. Would this saddle be completely incorrect for my needs? Should I be looking at saddles in the "Endurance" category? Or "Sport"?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

-Tanya

[KnottedYet]

What is your center-to-center sitbone measurement?

[Tanya]

I've tried to measure myself, but I can't get an accurate read (I was doing the wet paper towel in between paper trick). I will have to visit my LBS this week to get a real measurement done.

[KnottedYet]

Try using your hands. (I think it's more accurate, anyway.)

Sit on your hands, and feel for the two bones of your butt. They feel like elbows poking down into your hands.

Put the tip of your index fingers right under the part of the bones that is pushing hardest into the chair. (squish the very tip of your fingers between the chair and your sitbones)

Lift your butt from the chair leaving your hands on the chair, and have your assistant measure the distance between your fingertips. This is pretty much your center-to-center.

Then put your fingertips against the outsides of the bones. Push them right into the bones so they are on the outside of the bones. Lift your butt from the chair and have an assistant measure the distance between your fingertips. This is pretty much your outside.

Some people have sitbones that angle a lot from front to back. The sits are heavy thickened portions of the rami and can have unique personalities of their own. You can measure again on the forward part of the heavy "elbow" bit if you can feel that yours have a definite angle. The forward portion of the heavy thick part of the bone is what your weight rests on more when you are in a more aero position. DON'T measure the thin blade like portion that is in your crotch, that is the rami and you do not want a saddle there. Measure from your backside.

Repeat your measurements a few times, average them out if you want.

You can also get these measurements by lying on your back with your knees to your chest holding a measuring tape and poking around for landmarks.

[KnottedYet]

Your measurements tell you where to start in your saddle search.

The saddle has "cheeks" on the wide back part. Sometimes the cheeks are even domed up a bit. Your sitbone is meant to land in the high part of that dome to take advantage of the padding and the overall architecture of the saddle.

Measure the saddle from center of cheek to center of cheek. The saddle's center-to-center should match yours.

Next measure the saddle's overall width. Generally the saddle's overall width should be pretty much the same as your outside measurement, if not slightly wider. You want to be able to shift around to power up hills or use body-english around corners or just to give your butt a break, and STILL have the bones land on the saddle. (you sit ON a saddle, you do not INSERT it)

In the case of a suspended leather saddle (which you are not looking at yet) your saddle must be about 2 cm wider than your outside measurement so you do not have bones contacting the metal cantle plate.

[maillotpois]

Knott that is the best description I have ever read for how to measure your sit bones! Thanks!

[Tanya]

I'm still not positive that I measured correctly, but it seemed like the sit bones were about 7-8 cm apart from center to center, and then almost 12 cm apart at the widest. I think I'm still going to visit a bike shop to get my measurements done, because I'm not sure if mine were accurate.

[KnottedYet]

I'm still not positive that I measured correctly, but it seemed like the sit bones were about 7-8 cm apart from center to center, and then almost 12 cm apart at the widest. I think I'm still going to visit a bike shop to get my measurements done, because I'm not sure if mine were accurate.

With teeny-weeny sitbones like that, you could really choose just about any saddle that appeals to you as far as width is concerned. Don't worry about whether they are labelled men's saddles or women's, go for what feels best.

(For example: my center-to-center is about 15 cm and my outside is about 18 cm. Finding saddles that fit is a tough row to hoe in my universe... I found happiness with Brooks B67 and B68.)

[Tanya]

I'm thinking that I might have mis-measured. I know sit bones and weight are not related because your weight can change but your bones don't (I'm 5'7, 150ish lbs), but I think in general, I have a medium-sized bones. My wrists aren't tiny, but they're not particularly wide. But, who knows-- maybe I measured correctly and I just have narrowly shaped sit bones? I honestly never gave this much thought to the bones in my butt before.

I tried to lessen the pressure on my sit bones by adding a gel saddle cover, but I think it's actually worse. I slide around on the neoprene going up and down any bit of incline. I assumed that the gel would provide an amazing level of added comfort, but I wasn't wowed.

If my measurements are right and I can get a narrower saddle, that would be great, since there seem to be plenty of options. I ordered the Terry Damselfly and am crossing my fingers. If it doesn't work out, I'll swap it for another model. Do you have any input on what makes the Performance/Endurance/Sport models different, other than the sizes of the saddles? If the Damselfly doesn't pan out, would you recommend something from the Endurance series?

[KnottedYet]

The size of the pelvic outlet (essentially your sitbone span) has almost nothing to do with bone structure or height or weight.

I've seen tiny women with ginormous pelvic outlets like mine, and I've seen big women like me with itty-bitty ones.

As far as the styles of Terry saddles, I know there are a few folks on here who really know them well. If you have a question about a particular saddle you can start a thread about it, and plenty of knowledgable people will chime in!

[ny biker]

I'm not an expert on Terry saddles, but I think a big difference is in the amount of padding the saddle has. Performance has the least, then endurance, then sport.

I would forget about those categories, and choose one based on your sit bone measurements as well as the amount of padding you think you want.

I know the saddle width information is on the Terry website.

edit: Okay, looking at their website, I could be wrong about the padding, though I'm pretty sure performance saddles are the firmest.

Weight and the materials used for the rails seem to vary quite a bit by saddle.

http://www.terrybicycles.com/2011-Terry-Womens-Saddles

[emily_in_nc]

You should try searching the forum for "Damselfly" too. There have been posts over the years about this saddle. My particular post is in the "Most Hated Saddles" sub-forum. OUCH! That little skinny cutout pinched, the saddle was as hard as a 2 by 4, and it was so skinny I had no place to move around and ended up with an hellacious saddle sore.

YMMV. I know some women love it.

[Tanya]

Ouch, Emily! I hope that doesn't happen to me. I do feel reassured that if I hate the Damselfly, I can exchange it for another model, or get a full refund. I just hope if it doesn't work out, it's not too painful of a discovery process.

[Koronin]

Thanks for the explanation on how to measure sit bones. I've attempted to do this and had them measured at a store a year ago, but couldn't remember what they told me. Now at least I have a better idea. I figured mine at 4 inches which is about 10cm. It may not be exact, exact, but I think it's close enough to get an idea of a good saddle, esp for my mountain bike. (I'm pretty happy with my road bike saddle right now.)

[ny biker]

Ouch, Emily! I hope that doesn't happen to me. I do feel reassured that if I hate the Damselfly, I can exchange it for another model, or get a full refund. I just hope if it doesn't work out, it's not too painful of a discovery process.

FWIW, some people think the Terry Butterfly is a torture device, but others love it. So you might love the Damselfly. And if not, your experience with it could help you figure out what to try next.