Bike seat question

Per [email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Can anyone out there recommend a "dual platform" seat?

My bikes have the traditional narrow seat and I'm experiencing the
typical nerve damage and pain to the point where I can't ride
anymore. I have a "road bike" and a "hybrid" touring bike.

First thing, you have to find out how wide your sit bones are and
compare that to saddle width.

Some think it needs a bottle of tequila and a trusted friend....
but all you really have to do is sit on something that takes a
shape and measure the dents. A sheet of styrofoam on the corner
of a table works for me - as does a sheet of plain 8.5 x 11 paper
on a carpet of the right softness/texture.

Once you have a saddle that's wide enough, you need to look at
how far your sit bones are sinking into it.

Sinking=Bad.

Reason: it moves the pressure from your sit bones, which can
handle it, to what's beneath your perineum, which cannot.

If you've got a saddle that's wide enough and you're not sinking
into it, check the fore-aft angle.

Nose Way Up=Bad - same reason as softness; it loads up your soft
parts.

If everything else checks out, how about taking the edge off the
hits a little? Sprung saddle... or sprung seatpost.

Smarter people who know vastly more will chime in.... but at
least this will get the ball rolling.

--
PeteCresswell

Per [email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Can anyone out there recommend a "dual platform" seat?

My bikes have the traditional narrow seat and I'm experiencing the
typical nerve damage and pain to the point where I can't ride
anymore. I have a "road bike" and a "hybrid" touring bike.

First thing, you have to find out how wide your sit bones are and
compare that to saddle width.

Some think it needs a bottle of tequila and a trusted friend....
but all you really have to do is sit on something that takes a
shape and measure the dents. A sheet of styrofoam on the corner
of a table works for me - as does a sheet of plain 8.5 x 11 paper
on a carpet of the right softness/texture.

Once you have a saddle that's wide enough, you need to look at
how far your sit bones are sinking into it.

Sinking=Bad.

Reason: it moves the pressure from your sit bones, which can
handle it, to what's beneath your perineum, which cannot.

If you've got a saddle that's wide enough and you're not sinking
into it, check the fore-aft angle.

Nose Way Up=Bad - same reason as softness; it loads up your soft
parts.

If everything else checks out, how about taking the edge off the
hits a little? Sprung saddle... or sprung seatpost.

Smarter people who know vastly more will chime in.... but at
least this will get the ball rolling.

--
PeteCresswell

Quoted message said:

Can anyone out there recommend a "dual platform" seat?

My bikes have the traditional narrow seat and I'm experiencing the
typical nerve damage and pain to the point where I can't ride
anymore. I have a "road bike" and a "hybrid" touring bike.

Greatly appreciate a reply to [email hidden].

Thanking you in advance,

Trent

Not to be a smart aleck, but you sit on a "saddle" when you bicycle.

And the "nerve damage and pain" are not typical for everyone. I ride
almost every day on Selle Italia Flite saddles, which are narrow, and I
am (usually) not in pain. Occasionally, I will get a saddle sore. It
is usually the result of my not immediately changing out of my cycling
shorts and showering when I complete my ride. A couple of days of short
rides or no rides usually cures the problem.

See your local bike shop or a knowledgeable rider for help in setting up
your saddle, as another reply says.

Quoted message said:

Can anyone out there recommend a "dual platform" seat?

My bikes have the traditional narrow seat and I'm experiencing the
typical nerve damage and pain to the point where I can't ride
anymore. I have a "road bike" and a "hybrid" touring bike.

Greatly appreciate a reply to [email hidden].

Thanking you in advance,

Trent

Not to be a smart aleck, but you sit on a "saddle" when you bicycle.

And the "nerve damage and pain" are not typical for everyone. I ride
almost every day on Selle Italia Flite saddles, which are narrow, and I
am (usually) not in pain. Occasionally, I will get a saddle sore. It
is usually the result of my not immediately changing out of my cycling
shorts and showering when I complete my ride. A couple of days of short
rides or no rides usually cures the problem.

See your local bike shop or a knowledgeable rider for help in setting up
your saddle, as another reply says.

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Can anyone out there recommend a "dual platform" seat?

My bikes have the traditional narrow seat and I'm experiencing the
typical nerve damage and pain to the point where I can't ride
anymore. I have a "road bike" and a "hybrid" touring bike.

Greatly appreciate a reply to [email hidden].

Thanking you in advance,

Trent

You may not really want a dual platform / split saddle. Many people find
that they don't work very well. Look here to get some basic information
that might help more than looking for a split seat:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html

Mr. Brown specifically addresses the split saddle question near the bottom
of the his page.

Sometimes you may need to replace your saddle to solve your problem.
Sometimes its more of a matter of your overall position on the bike - the
relationship of where your hands, feet, and rear-end are in relationship to
each other. Sometimes its simply requires adjusting the saddle fore/aft
position, tilt, and/or height rather than replacing the saddle.

Saddle choices are a very personal matter in which not everyone agrees. For
me, the Brooks traditional leather saddles, particularly sprung ones, are
the most comfortable. Your mileage may vary. These leather saddles are not
stylish and they are heavy. The plastic / synthetic types of saddles are
much more popular. If you will be riding in the rain a lot, I'd avoid a
leather saddle.

BobT

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Can anyone out there recommend a "dual platform" seat?

My bikes have the traditional narrow seat and I'm experiencing the
typical nerve damage and pain to the point where I can't ride
anymore. I have a "road bike" and a "hybrid" touring bike.

Greatly appreciate a reply to [email hidden].

Thanking you in advance,

Trent

You may not really want a dual platform / split saddle. Many people find
that they don't work very well. Look here to get some basic information
that might help more than looking for a split seat:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html

Mr. Brown specifically addresses the split saddle question near the bottom
of the his page.

Sometimes you may need to replace your saddle to solve your problem.
Sometimes its more of a matter of your overall position on the bike - the
relationship of where your hands, feet, and rear-end are in relationship to
each other. Sometimes its simply requires adjusting the saddle fore/aft
position, tilt, and/or height rather than replacing the saddle.

Saddle choices are a very personal matter in which not everyone agrees. For
me, the Brooks traditional leather saddles, particularly sprung ones, are
the most comfortable. Your mileage may vary. These leather saddles are not
stylish and they are heavy. The plastic / synthetic types of saddles are
much more popular. If you will be riding in the rain a lot, I'd avoid a
leather saddle.

BobT

On Nov 7, 3:28 pm, "BobT" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Saddle choices are a very personal matter in which not everyone agrees.

BobT

True. I'd ridden a recumbent for many years
( http://home.comcast.net/~jeff_wills/jeff-big.jpg ) before I found
that WTB saddles work for me on uprights when combined with a
particular fitting setup. If you're experiencing nerve damage (which
is *not* typical), you should consult a professional bike fitter...
*before* you start trying different saddles.

Jeff

On Nov 7, 3:28 pm, "BobT" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Saddle choices are a very personal matter in which not everyone agrees.

BobT

True. I'd ridden a recumbent for many years
( http://home.comcast.net/~jeff_wills/jeff-big.jpg ) before I found
that WTB saddles work for me on uprights when combined with a
particular fitting setup. If you're experiencing nerve damage (which
is *not* typical), you should consult a professional bike fitter...
*before* you start trying different saddles.

Jeff

Quoted message said:

Can anyone out there recommend a "dual platform" seat?

My bikes have the traditional narrow seat and I'm experiencing the
typical nerve damage and pain to the point where I can't ride
anymore. I have a "road bike" and a "hybrid" touring bike.

Greatly appreciate a reply to [email hidden].

Thanking you in advance,

Trent

You could get a recumbent bike and avoid the problem pretty much
entirely. There are far fewer recumbent-bike dealers, the bikes tend to
be more expensive than a comparably-equipped upright and transporting
them can be a hassle, but the /riding/ is simply wonderful.

There's also the RANS crank-forward bikes that look more normal, but
that still have a nicer/larger seat. The RANS bikes use a special
seatpost and seat that cannot be exchanged for a typical saddle.

The general problems people see with mounting ergo seats on upright
bicycles is that the riders tend to slide forward off the seat. Some
ergo seats "fix" this problem by mounting farther-back than normal, but
then the rider is leaning over forward more, and that causes more
problems with hand numbness and neck strain.

There are a couple bikes that might benefit from ergo-style seats: the
Day6bicycles and the Lightfoot Surefoot. These appear to mount
conventional saddles and have a pedaling position that is far enough
forward that sliding forward off any type of seat shouldn't be a
problem, but I don't own either so I don't really know. They just give a
riding position that is very similar to the RANS bikes, which I do own
one of.

-----

As far as what you've got, you could try a wider seat, and play with the
tilt angle--but you're not likely to ever arrive at any combination
that's really "comfortable" to sit on. Bicycle saddles are generally so
uncomfortable that they aren't used for any other seat or vehicle. The
same people who insist they can be comfortable, usually cannot (or
refuse to try to) explain why "normal" bicycling-specific shorts have
padding in them and "recumbent" bicycling shorts don't.
~

Quoted message said:

Can anyone out there recommend a "dual platform" seat?

My bikes have the traditional narrow seat and I'm experiencing the
typical nerve damage and pain to the point where I can't ride
anymore. I have a "road bike" and a "hybrid" touring bike.

Greatly appreciate a reply to [email hidden].

Thanking you in advance,

Trent

You could get a recumbent bike and avoid the problem pretty much
entirely. There are far fewer recumbent-bike dealers, the bikes tend to
be more expensive than a comparably-equipped upright and transporting
them can be a hassle, but the /riding/ is simply wonderful.

There's also the RANS crank-forward bikes that look more normal, but
that still have a nicer/larger seat. The RANS bikes use a special
seatpost and seat that cannot be exchanged for a typical saddle.

The general problems people see with mounting ergo seats on upright
bicycles is that the riders tend to slide forward off the seat. Some
ergo seats "fix" this problem by mounting farther-back than normal, but
then the rider is leaning over forward more, and that causes more
problems with hand numbness and neck strain.

There are a couple bikes that might benefit from ergo-style seats: the
Day6bicycles and the Lightfoot Surefoot. These appear to mount
conventional saddles and have a pedaling position that is far enough
forward that sliding forward off any type of seat shouldn't be a
problem, but I don't own either so I don't really know. They just give a
riding position that is very similar to the RANS bikes, which I do own
one of.

-----

As far as what you've got, you could try a wider seat, and play with the
tilt angle--but you're not likely to ever arrive at any combination
that's really "comfortable" to sit on. Bicycle saddles are generally so
uncomfortable that they aren't used for any other seat or vehicle. The
same people who insist they can be comfortable, usually cannot (or
refuse to try to) explain why "normal" bicycling-specific shorts have
padding in them and "recumbent" bicycling shorts don't.
~

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Can anyone out there recommend a "dual platform" seat?

My bikes have the traditional narrow seat and I'm experiencing the
typical nerve damage and pain to the point where I can't ride
anymore. I have a "road bike" and a "hybrid" touring bike.

Greatly appreciate a reply to [email hidden].

Thanking you in advance,

Two things I never buy without trying them on: shoes and bike saddles.

--
JF

"A really great man is known by three signs,--generosity in the design,
humanity in the execution, and moderation in success."
- Karl Otto von Schonhausen Bismarck

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Can anyone out there recommend a "dual platform" seat?

My bikes have the traditional narrow seat and I'm experiencing the
typical nerve damage and pain to the point where I can't ride
anymore. I have a "road bike" and a "hybrid" touring bike.

Greatly appreciate a reply to [email hidden].

Thanking you in advance,

Two things I never buy without trying them on: shoes and bike saddles.

--
JF

"A really great man is known by three signs,--generosity in the design,
humanity in the execution, and moderation in success."
- Karl Otto von Schonhausen Bismarck

"JeffWills" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Nov 7, 3:28 pm, "BobT" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Saddle choices are a very personal matter in which not everyone

agrees.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

BobT

True. I'd ridden a recumbent for many years
( http://home.comcast.net/~jeff_wills/jeff-big.jpg ) before I found
that WTB saddles work for me on uprights when combined with a
particular fitting setup. If you're experiencing nerve damage (which
is *not* typical), you should consult a professional bike fitter...
*before* you start trying different saddles.

Jeff

Me too. I've found that the WTB Pure V model saddles are the next best
thing to a well broken in Brooks Pro. I need a slightly wider saddle that
flat across the top in the rear.

The WTBs have what they call the "whale Tail" design plus the "Love
Channel" recessed area down the middle and a gel area in the front.

As mentioned by others, bike saddle fit is a very personal thing. Poor
fitting saddles are one of the biggest deterrents to people riding their
bikes.

Chas.

"JeffWills" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Nov 7, 3:28 pm, "BobT" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Saddle choices are a very personal matter in which not everyone

agrees.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

BobT

True. I'd ridden a recumbent for many years
( http://home.comcast.net/~jeff_wills/jeff-big.jpg ) before I found
that WTB saddles work for me on uprights when combined with a
particular fitting setup. If you're experiencing nerve damage (which
is *not* typical), you should consult a professional bike fitter...
*before* you start trying different saddles.

Jeff

Me too. I've found that the WTB Pure V model saddles are the next best
thing to a well broken in Brooks Pro. I need a slightly wider saddle that
flat across the top in the rear.

The WTBs have what they call the "whale Tail" design plus the "Love
Channel" recessed area down the middle and a gel area in the front.

As mentioned by others, bike saddle fit is a very personal thing. Poor
fitting saddles are one of the biggest deterrents to people riding their
bikes.

Chas.

DougC said:

Bicycle saddles are generally so
uncomfortable that they aren't used for any other seat or vehicle.

Hmm. I figure that it's because other types of seats or vehicles
don't involve using your butt muscles to produce power.

Quoted message said:

The same people who insist they can be comfortable, usually cannot (or
refuse to try to) explain why "normal" bicycling-specific shorts have
padding in them and "recumbent" bicycling shorts don't.

"Padding" in shorts is there largely to prevent wrinkles in the fabric
from digging into your skin. It's necessary for narrower saddles,
because the narrower saddle supports a rider on his sit bones and
leaves the muscles largely unhindered, for producing power. When done
right, this works extremely well.

Recumbent riders sit on their butt muscles. This may be one of the
reasons that, despite better aerodynamics, ordinary unfaired
recumbents are usually no faster than uprights.

- Frank Krygowski

DougC said:

Bicycle saddles are generally so
uncomfortable that they aren't used for any other seat or vehicle.

Hmm. I figure that it's because other types of seats or vehicles
don't involve using your butt muscles to produce power.

Quoted message said:

The same people who insist they can be comfortable, usually cannot (or
refuse to try to) explain why "normal" bicycling-specific shorts have
padding in them and "recumbent" bicycling shorts don't.

"Padding" in shorts is there largely to prevent wrinkles in the fabric
from digging into your skin. It's necessary for narrower saddles,
because the narrower saddle supports a rider on his sit bones and
leaves the muscles largely unhindered, for producing power. When done
right, this works extremely well.

Recumbent riders sit on their butt muscles. This may be one of the
reasons that, despite better aerodynamics, ordinary unfaired
recumbents are usually no faster than uprights.

- Frank Krygowski

Quoted message said:

Can anyone out there recommend a "dual platform" seat?

My bikes have the traditional narrow seat and I'm experiencing the
typical nerve damage and pain to the point where I can't ride
anymore. I have a "road bike" and a "hybrid" touring bike.

I've briefly tried a couple of the "dual platform" seats. I thought
they were terrible. I felt very unsteady on them - very unconnected
to the bike.

You may want to read http://www.bicyclinglife.com/PracticalCycling/Sore.htm
It gives many ideas for improving saddle comfort.

- Frank Krygowski

Quoted message said:

Can anyone out there recommend a "dual platform" seat?

My bikes have the traditional narrow seat and I'm experiencing the
typical nerve damage and pain to the point where I can't ride
anymore. I have a "road bike" and a "hybrid" touring bike.

I've briefly tried a couple of the "dual platform" seats. I thought
they were terrible. I felt very unsteady on them - very unconnected
to the bike.

You may want to read http://www.bicyclinglife.com/PracticalCycling/Sore.htm
It gives many ideas for improving saddle comfort.

- Frank Krygowski

Frank Krygowski said:

Quoted message said:

Can anyone out there recommend a "dual platform" seat?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

My bikes have the traditional narrow seat and I'm experiencing the
typical nerve damage and pain to the point where I can't ride
anymore. I have a "road bike" and a "hybrid" touring bike.

Quoted message said:

I've briefly tried a couple of the "dual platform" seats. I thought
they were terrible. I felt very unsteady on them - very unconnected
to the bike.

The obvious failure in understanding the concept arises from the
designers of these saddles not realizing that the pelvis, a single
unarticulated bone, rests on the wider part of the saddle. Typically,
Easy Seat assumed the legs rest on the saddle, and because they hinge
in the hips, the two halves were deigned to pivot fore and aft.

http://painfreecycling.com/?gclid=CKbLmcbD0I8CFSBeagod_zL28w

Quoted message said:

You may want to read:

http://www.bicyclinglife.com/PracticalCycling/Sore.htm

Quoted message said:

It gives many ideas for improving saddle comfort.

Heavy padding in shorts came via the weight weenies who gave birth to
such saddles as the Flite saddle that is a hard shingle of little
weight. No one weights riding shorts and with no cushion in the
saddle, it is now in the shorts.

http://www.selleitalia.com/

Jobst Brandt