What is more Tshaped then a Spec. lithia?

[jenniferh]

I've been riding a 155 spec. lithia for about. Yr. before that I tried several ( which I can't remember) and it felt best. My sit bones are well supported. No numbness and the only issue is the back of my thighs rub the part of the saddle where the curve is.

The more weight I loose (about 20lbs now) the more annoying that rubbing is getting.

I tried the Jett in 143 this weekend and the cutout was smaller than the Litjia and pinched my soft tissue and eventually split my skin down there. I also had some chaffing after the 60 mi ride. The sit bones are burning, but I'm not sure if that is just because the saddle is smaller and the support is in a different spot. I changes sizes by the LBS thought the rubbing was due to a too big saddle.

Anyway...I just bought the Bontrager inform. I am curious to see if the dip is better for me than a cutout. Any other suggestions?

[zoom-zoom]

Anyway...I just bought the Bontrager inform. I am curious to see if the dip is better for me than a cutout. Any other suggestions?

The dip is WORLDS better than any cut out for me! I now have Bontrager saddles on my road an CX bikes.

[OakLeaf]

My answer to the same question (actually, replacing a 155 Jett, but I'd been through a 155 Lithia earlier) was the SI Turbomatic Gel Flow. It's just a bit narrower, so if you fall somewhere between Spec's 155 and 143, it might be worth a try. I much prefer the shape of the cut-out, too, though unfortunately the padding has seemed to compress very quickly.

There's always Brooks, if the weight isn't an issue for you. I've speculated here before that a monocoque saddle with a rear much wider than the nose can't be extremely T-shaped, because something has to support the "wings."

[jenniferh]

I've been busy testing saddles. I tried the inform 150 and it was too narrow. Although I had no rubbing on the back of my thighs and the groove felt great, the pressure was exactly between my sit bones instead of under them. I could feel it a few hours later. I guess it took time for the bruises to develop. It was a 10 mi test ride.

Then the ruby in the 155 and it was WAY to hard for me. Plus I couldnt get in the drops for more than 30 sec without feeling like my entire body weight was resting on the tissue on the nose of the saddle. That won't work.

Next up was the Bontrager inform rx wsd in the 160. I rode it first for 7mi on the trainer. I hate the trainer and my hamstrings gave out before my butt. (That's anotehr problem. Not sure how I pedal different on the trainer, but it always kills my knees and hamstrings). Today I took it for 10mi on the road. It feels good. No soft tissue pressure. The drops feel good. I had to stop 1/2 way through and adjust it back a little.

My only concern is I feel like I have to think about pushing my sit bones back so they are well supported by the saddle. When I stop thinking about it, I almost feel like I rock forward a tad and I'm back to between my sit bones....but it doesn't hurt like on the narrower saddles. I might be overthinking it though. My hubby thinks raising the nose a bit will take care of that so I'm trying that on my next ride.

A seperate question...I was looking at my Lithia saddle yesterday and noticed the sit bone indentions are not even on the saddle. I look to be off center a bit. Is that normal??

[nscrbug]

You said you tried the Jett in a 143, but I don't see anywhere in your posts that indicate if you've tried it in a 155. Since the Ruby 155 feels too hard for you, the Jett 155 might be a better option. Just my thoughts.

Linda

[jenniferh]

My LBS didn't have the 155. I think I may hunt it down.