Saddle Size

Mr_Pig said:

Im looking to buy a Specialzied Alias saddle, but am unsure what width to get. I am 6 feet tall and prett skinny, so I probably need either the 130mm or 143mm size. Will there be much of a difference between the two sizes?

Well, there's enough of a difference where you'd be uncomfortable with the wrong one, that's for sure. Most bike shops that sell those saddles should have an "assometer", which is basically a piece of memory foam with a ruler next to it. You sit on it and then measure the distance between the indentations of your sit bones. 100mm or less, you get the 130. 100-130mm, get the 143(which tends to be the right saddle for 90 percent of humans). Over 130mm, get the 155. The 155 is huge, freakin Godzilla saddle. You can measure your sit bones yourself if you have a few minutes. You can take a piece of foam that will show the indentations of your sit bones for a few seconds, sit on it with your knees bent, get off it, mark the middle of the indentations with a marker or something, and then measure. I've also seen people take a set of dial calipers, squat down like you're trying to take a dump in the woods, and stick the pointy ends of the calipers into their sit bones where they would want the padding, and measure it that way.

Ok, thsi is just "way too much information"!

:eek:

Dr.Hairybiker said:

Well, there's enough of a difference where you'd be uncomfortable with the wrong one, that's for sure. Most bike shops that sell those saddles should have an "assometer", which is basically a piece of memory foam with a ruler next to it. You sit on it and then measure the distance between the indentations of your sit bones. 100mm or less, you get the 130. 100-130mm, get the 143(which tends to be the right saddle for 90 percent of humans). Over 130mm, get the 155. The 155 is huge, freakin Godzilla saddle. You can measure your sit bones yourself if you have a few minutes. You can take a piece of foam that will show the indentations of your sit bones for a few seconds, sit on it with your knees bent, get off it, mark the middle of the indentations with a marker or something, and then measure. I've also seen people take a set of dial calipers, squat down like you're trying to take a dump in the woods, and stick the pointy ends of the calipers into their sit bones where they would want the padding, and measure it that way.

Thanks for the info. Sounds like I probably need the 143, but will measure myself to make sure.

Mr_Pig said:

Thanks for the info. Sounds like I probably need the 143, but will measure myself to make sure.

The above poster is correct. If you go to a Specialized dealer, they will have a measurement tool that you sit on and will measure the distance between your sit bones. That will determine what size Alias you will need. I was measured at one time and I needed a 130mm.

Mr_Pig said:

Im looking to buy a Specialzied Alias saddle, but am unsure what width to get. I am 6 feet tall and prett skinny, so I probably need either the 130mm or 143mm size. Will there be much of a difference between the two sizes?

funny enough the seperation between between the " sit bones " is rarely more than 12,7 mm between the large and the small guys .
a lot depends on riding posture and how strong you are - the stronger the more weight you take on your legs , the less saddle you need see www.sheldonbrown.com for a longer , better explanation .

this is why some of the pros use " razor blade " without problems which would cut an average guy in two .

it´s less about size than personal need : there is a paranoia about sizing that´s getting out of hand - all you can do is try it and se if it works for you .
expensive to get wrong - you can also buy two identical saddles and ones a glove and the other a nightmare , go figure .

el Inglés said:

funny enough the seperation between between the " sit bones " is rarely more than 12,7 mm between the large and the small guys .
a lot depends on riding posture and how strong you are - the stronger the more weight you take on your legs , the less saddle you need see www.sheldonbrown.com for a longer , better explanation .

this is why some of the pros use " razor blade " without problems which would cut an average guy in two .

it´s less about size than personal need : there is a paranoia about sizing that´s getting out of hand - all you can do is try it and se if it works for you .
expensive to get wrong - you can also buy two identical saddles and ones a glove and the other a nightmare , go figure .

Many times numbness in the soft areas is due to too much padding, not too little.

People sit on concrete, wood, stone, etc. all the time. Sometimes for hours on end(at least it seems that way in chuch). Your sitbones were made for sitting so it's important to get the right saddle so the weight goes on the bones, not elsewhere.

bbattle said:

Many times numbness in the soft areas is due to too much padding, not too little.

People sit on concrete, wood, stone, etc. all the time. Sometimes for hours on end(at least it seems that way in chuch). Your sitbones were made for sitting so it's important to get the right saddle so the weight goes on the bones, not elsewhere.

all true but not helpfull : choosing a saddle is pot luck , you keep trying till you find one that suits you - with me a , pause for breath , selle italia max flite gel flow trans am ( don´t the italians come up with such catchy names that just flow from the lips ) 🙄