Saddle Width Vs. Sit Bones Width?

In article <[email hidden]>,

Steve Sr. said:

Maybe a better way to phrase this question is if your sit bones are
"X" wide how wide should a proper saddle be?

X+.

Quoted message said:

Where should your sit
bones hit the saddle?

At the highest points (if the saddle has high points at all.)

Quoted message said:

Also does anyone know how 95mm sit bone spaceing compares to the rest
of the male adult cycling population? I guess another way to put it is
am I a statistical anomaly in this regard?

That sounds pretty average. If you're worried about having a
freakishly wide ass, you have nothing to worry about. So
rest assured. Just stay out of car seats and soft chairs --
those will give you that "secretary spread" before ya know it
Just look at cops, taxi drivers and bus drivers.

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

Steve Sr. said:

Maybe a better way to phrase this question is if your sit bones are
"X" wide how wide should a proper saddle be? Where should your sit
bones hit the saddle? In the center , inside or outside of the saddle
pads?

Also does anyone know how 95mm sit bone spaceing compares to the rest
of the male adult cycling population? I guess another way to put it is
am I a statistical anomaly in this regard?

The best advice would be to try a bunch of saddles. Some stores will let
you bring/send back a saddle you didn't like. My personal favorite, Terry
Fly, had a no-hassle return policy from the manufacturer.

Measuring (to what point?) your sit bones versus the saddle width is less
relevant than actually sitting on some different saddles.

Most of us went through a rough period until we found the saddle that fits
our (respective) butts. Even if you have to buy a couple saddles you
don't like, it is worth it to find one that fits.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | Accept risk. Accept responsibility. Put a lawyer out of
_`\(,_ | business.
(_)/ (_) |

On Sun, 06 Aug 2006 21:48:00 -0400, Steve Sr. <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Maybe a better way to phrase this question is if your sit bones are
"X" wide how wide should a proper saddle be? Where should your sit
bones hit the saddle? In the center , inside or outside of the saddle
pads?

Also does anyone know how 95mm sit bone spaceing compares to the rest
of the male adult cycling population? I guess another way to put it is
am I a statistical anomaly in this regard?

Thanks,

Steve

To pick the correct size saddle, Specialized has a pad they provide to
the LBS that you sit on and then measure your sit bone spacing off the
impressions.

R Brickston wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

To pick the correct size saddle, Specialized has a pad they provide to
the LBS that you sit on and then measure your sit bone spacing off the
impressions.

I can vouch for the Specialized saddles. Their system makes selection
EASY. Sit on the foam, and the built-in scale tells you how wide your
Specialized saddle should be. (The width of the saddle is not the width
of your sitbones)

You can apply the same technique, though, if you take some foam (a
garden pad, for example), sit on it, and measure the center of the
depressions caused by your sit bones. Then go to any store and measure
what they've got on the shelf.

As mentioned by Tom, some saddles don't have high points. Rounded
saddles wedge your sit bones apart if you are slightly wide. Specialized
saddles are flat and seem to solve this problem.

Can anyone recommend other flat saddles?

David L. Johnson said:

Steve Sr. said:

Maybe a better way to phrase this question is if your sit bones are
"X" wide how wide should a proper saddle be? Where should your sit
bones hit the saddle? In the center , inside or outside of the saddle
pads?

Also does anyone know how 95mm sit bone spaceing compares to the rest
of the male adult cycling population? I guess another way to put it is
am I a statistical anomaly in this regard?

The best advice would be to try a bunch of saddles. Some stores will let
you bring/send back a saddle you didn't like. My personal favorite, Terry
Fly, had a no-hassle return policy from the manufacturer.

I have tried both the Terry Fly and the Tri-specific version of the
Fly. Both are about the correct shape and width however, both put
unwanted pressure on my perineum (sp). This wasn't to the point of
numbness but it could still be felt long after the ride was over.

I guess my sit bones don't protrude far enough down or these saddles
have insufficient cutout to prevent this type of issue.

Quoted message said:

Measuring (to what point?) your sit bones versus the saddle width is less
relevant than actually sitting on some different saddles.

That was my question. I just bought a Selle Italia SLK from
performance. It felt like I was moving from side to side. After about
a 45 mile ride I had an open blister about 3/8" in diameter. After
the ride I took a ruler and found that my 95mm sit bone spacing left
them near the outside edge of the saddle. It would appear that this is
a pretty narrow saddle.

Quoted message said:

Most of us went through a rough period until we found the saddle that fits
our (respective) butts. Even if you have to buy a couple saddles you
don't like, it is worth it to find one that fits.

I'm still searching...

Steve

On Mon, 07 Aug 2006 10:23:46 -0500, Collin O'Neill <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

R Brickston wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

To pick the correct size saddle, Specialized has a pad they provide to
the LBS that you sit on and then measure your sit bone spacing off the
impressions.

I can vouch for the Specialized saddles. Their system makes selection
EASY. Sit on the foam, and the built-in scale tells you how wide your
Specialized saddle should be. (The width of the saddle is not the width
of your sitbones)

I have used their measuring device and reconfirmed the result with a
measuring tape which is where my 95mm number comes from.

Quoted message said:

You can apply the same technique, though, if you take some foam (a
garden pad, for example), sit on it, and measure the center of the
depressions caused by your sit bones. Then go to any store and measure
what they've got on the shelf.

Be careful when you do this. Some saddles will change width
significantly when the rails are clamped in the seat post. The SLK I
just tried was a good example of this.

Quoted message said:

As mentioned by Tom, some saddles don't have high points. Rounded
saddles wedge your sit bones apart if you are slightly wide. Specialized
saddles are flat and seem to solve this problem.

I have looked at some of these. Specifically the Alias and the Toupe.
Unfortunately, the only local dealer doesn't follow the 30 day return
policy that Specialized has on their web site. They only allow twice
around the parking lot trials which I deem to be insufficient for the
distance riding I do. I also wonder about the effect of all of the
stitching on the top side of the saddle providing an uneven surface
leading to rubbing and chafing.

I have tried a quite a few saddles that don't feel to bad after 25-30
miles. The real test comes at the 62 and 100 mile marks.

Steve

Quoted message said:

Can anyone recommend other flat saddles?

On Tue, 08 Aug 2006 22:04:00 -0400, Steve Sr. <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

David L. Johnson said:

Steve Sr. said:

Maybe a better way to phrase this question is if your sit bones are
"X" wide how wide should a proper saddle be? Where should your sit
bones hit the saddle? In the center , inside or outside of the saddle
pads?

Also does anyone know how 95mm sit bone spaceing compares to the rest
of the male adult cycling population? I guess another way to put it is
am I a statistical anomaly in this regard?

The best advice would be to try a bunch of saddles. Some stores will let
you bring/send back a saddle you didn't like. My personal favorite, Terry
Fly, had a no-hassle return policy from the manufacturer.

I have tried both the Terry Fly and the Tri-specific version of the
Fly. Both are about the correct shape and width however, both put
unwanted pressure on my perineum (sp). This wasn't to the point of
numbness but it could still be felt long after the ride was over.

I guess my sit bones don't protrude far enough down or these saddles
have insufficient cutout to prevent this type of issue.

Quoted message said:

Measuring (to what point?) your sit bones versus the saddle width is less
relevant than actually sitting on some different saddles.

That was my question. I just bought a Selle Italia SLK from
performance. It felt like I was moving from side to side. After about
a 45 mile ride I had an open blister about 3/8" in diameter. After
the ride I took a ruler and found that my 95mm sit bone spacing left
them near the outside edge of the saddle. It would appear that this is
a pretty narrow saddle.

Quoted message said:

Most of us went through a rough period until we found the saddle that fits
our (respective) butts. Even if you have to buy a couple saddles you
don't like, it is worth it to find one that fits.

I'm still searching...

Steve

I got a Specialized "BG" (Body Geometry) saddle that was designed to
avoid the perineum problem. You get fit for it by sitting on a pad in
your lycra and they measure the distance of the impressions left by
your sit bones. I liked mine from the get go, hardly any break in
period to get used to it. You can actually feel your sit bones taking
most of the pressure.

Their web site is very informative, showing cut-away's of all the body
parts effected.

http://www.specialized.com/bc/microsite/bodygeometry/main.html?x=y

On Sun, 06 Aug 2006 21:48:00 -0400, Steve Sr. <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Maybe a better way to phrase this question is if your sit bones are
"X" wide how wide should a proper saddle be? Where should your sit
bones hit the saddle? In the center , inside or outside of the saddle
pads?

Also does anyone know how 95mm sit bone spaceing compares to the rest
of the male adult cycling population? I guess another way to put it is
am I a statistical anomaly in this regard?

I usually ride leather saddles.

My Brooks Champion Flyer (same shape as the B-17, but with springs)
is ~130 mm inside the horseshoe iron at the point where my sit bone
impressions are ~93 mm apart. The saddle measures 170 mm wide.

My Ideale 90 is ~115 mm inside the horseshoe iron (alloy) where my
sit bone impressions are still ~ 93 mm apart. Its width is 150 mm.

The Brooks Team Pro is ~145 mm inside the iron, 160 mm OA.
--
zk

Steve Sr. said:

Maybe a better way to phrase this question is if your sit bones are
"X" wide how wide should a proper saddle be? Where should your sit
bones hit the saddle? In the center , inside or outside of the saddle
pads?

Also does anyone know how 95mm sit bone spaceing compares to the rest
of the male adult cycling population? I guess another way to put it is
am I a statistical anomaly in this regard?

Forget the technical, scientific marketing hype around saddles. More
saddles are sold than any other component at your LBS. Choice is a
plenty. Schemes abound to pander to every prejudice. There is brand
loyalty, expertise, retro, OEM, Italian, scientific, etc...

At the end of the day, its is your ass that decides which saddle it
likes. Here's my takeaway for you to shortcut the learning curve and
expensive Trial and Error method of buying saddles.

Ride! You must develop your seat. Develop in the sense that your
anatomy must toughen-up to support your body weight. Your glutes must
strengthen, skin thicken and adapt to sitting on a bike. The seat your
ass likes when you start is not the seat it will like as it develops.
Different levels of seat development require different saddles.
Typically, you'll start out padded 30mi/wk, progress to a firm seat
70mi/wk, and settle into a hard seat at the point mileage exceeds 200
mi./wk.

You'll learn that padding in the seat is the source of your discomfort.
It moves under you and provides poor support to your sit bones.
You'll understand the dictum: "you need padding in your shorts not your
seat". As you progress, you'll find that your saddle needs will
revolve around eliminating friction on your thighs when spinning your
cranks. You'll be much more interested in choosing your saddle on the
shape of the nose and the amount of comfort it provides when you crowd
the nose when spinning. Lastly, seat developed, you'll focus on
saddles that provide solutions to perfecting your position on the bike.

Along this saddle adventure, you'll get really fast at throwing new
fangled showroom sample-saddles up under your butt to find out how they
fit your anatomy. This is not rocket science, it has to fit your shape
or not! You'll figure out what's going on with saddles when you've put
enough samples under your butt to feel the shapes, how they don't feel
like they fit at all and when one fits - it feels just right!

Finally, there are no shortcuts, quick fixes or technologies to
circumvent the requirement to ride your bike to develop your seat. Let
you derrier be you guide. Ride!

Steve Sr. said:

On Mon, 07 Aug 2006 10:23:46 -0500, Collin O'Neill <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

R Brickston wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

To pick the correct size saddle, Specialized has a pad they provide to
the LBS that you sit on and then measure your sit bone spacing off the
impressions.

I can vouch for the Specialized saddles. Their system makes selection
EASY. Sit on the foam, and the built-in scale tells you how wide your
Specialized saddle should be. (The width of the saddle is not the width
of your sitbones)

I have used their measuring device and reconfirmed the result with a
measuring tape which is where my 95mm number comes from.

Well, yes, I know what you mean. But the sizes they sell are 130, 143
and 155mm. It's not the distance between the points of your sit bones.
it's the overall width of the saddle. I don't know if a 130mm saddle
is right for your sit bones, but since you've sat on the pad you know
yourself.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

You can apply the same technique, though, if you take some foam (a
garden pad, for example), sit on it, and measure the center of the
depressions caused by your sit bones. Then go to any store and measure
what they've got on the shelf.

Be careful when you do this. Some saddles will change width
significantly when the rails are clamped in the seat post. The SLK I
just tried was a good example of this.

Never thought of that. But how much did it change? And, only split-tail
saddles would be able to change significantly, right? I should check out
my split-tail saddles.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

As mentioned by Tom, some saddles don't have high points. Rounded
saddles wedge your sit bones apart if you are slightly wide. Specialized
saddles are flat and seem to solve this problem.

I have looked at some of these. Specifically the Alias and the Toupe.
Unfortunately, the only local dealer doesn't follow the 30 day return
policy that Specialized has on their web site. They only allow twice
around the parking lot trials which I deem to be insufficient for the
distance riding I do. I also wonder about the effect of all of the
stitching on the top side of the saddle providing an uneven surface
leading to rubbing and chafing.

I've thought this would be a problem but it hasn't, at least up to 60
miles.

Quoted message said:

I have tried a quite a few saddles that don't feel to bad after 25-30
miles. The real test comes at the 62 and 100 mile marks.

Steve

Quoted message said:

Can anyone recommend other flat saddles?