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I've always ridden the saddle that came on a bike plus a few SDG's and a Charge Pan. They've all been ok, bar one SDG and the Orange OEM saddle which were agony. I know I'm a bit wider in the bones as I cannot get on with Charge Spoon and the lads Radon saddle.
Time to get a nicer saddle.
Is there anyway of measuring/assessing what type of bahookie I have, beyond laying out cash on multiple trial and error saddles?
SQLab/Ergon do a sit bone measuring thing, there's a review on this site.
Similar subject to something I asked recently....
With a couple of measuring suggestions (see video links)
Not too sure about measuring etc but I can wholeheartedly recommend the Chromag Trailmaster. Comfiest saddle I’ve ever used, half of my riding group are now on them too & all swear by them. If you want something a bit special they do the trailmaster Ltd with a beautiful oiled leather top. It’s really well padded without looking like something off a Halfords hybrid & a bit longer than most with a rounded nose so it doesn’t try to penetrate you when you’re right on the front of it hoofing up a steep climb. Mine’s starting to look tatty after a good 6 years of use so got relegated to the hardtail and replaced on the big bike with a burgtec cloud but that’s destined for the spares bin as the name clearly breaches the trades description act.
Your LBS - or one within a reasonable distance - might have one of the gel seat pads that you can use to measure.
I've never found any of the DIY suggestions to be much use.
I think you have to get very specific about what is making you uncomfortable.
I measured up somewhere in between most manufacturers medium (143mm) and wide (155mm) saddles.
However the most comfortable saddles I've found have been Selle Italia Flites. Not because of sit bone width but because of the shape between the thighs, no rubbing! If you look they have a much more abrupt transition between the sides and the wings, more 'T' shaped.
I think another thing people talk about is how flat a saddle is across the top, from side to side. more rounded might encourage a sort of 'spreading' (gross...) or even slight rubbing and rocking. The Flite is very flat across the top from side to side so also seems to support the sit bones more.
They're hard right enough, but that's what a nice chamois is for!
Problem is, I figured all this out through trial and error, have at least three saddles to sell now...
I'm a convert to Fabric saddles. I have a Scoop Elite Radius on the MTB and a Scoop Falt Race on the Road bike. Lots of options for width to choose from and a pretty esay to understand system depending on your riding position:
https://fabric.cc/products/saddles/
Comfiest saddles I've ridden.
+1 on the Chromag Trailmaster. I have a Ltd on one bike and a normal on another other. My bum cant tell the difference. They both look fine after a years use. The road bike has a sprung brooks and the last bike has a b17
I love brooks saddles, but was fed up of getting the metal bit in the front jabbed into me on tricky or jumpy trails.
Specialised have a fancy bit of foam to measure your sit bones. We bought her a saddle based on the width and she has had a better time.
I've seen sitting on tinfoil on stairs carpet and measuring the indentations as a budget version. its from the center of the two depressions.
My default answer is measure your sit bones the buy a Brooks Cambium in the right width.
Have tried numerous saddle from spoon, to brooks to Ergon. The only ones at are comfortable (after breaking in) are Brooks. But they look odd on a mountain bike!
Not sure if it'll be affected by Covid, but some shops do saddles you can trial for a while, Selle Italia and Fizik certainly did.
Means you can try a few different models before spending the cash. You'll end up paying retail price but if you get a saddle that fits it's worth the extra.
Wiggle have proven to be very reasonable with saddle returns, I inadvertently admitted to having used a saddle before returning but they still accepted it with the obvious caveat that there were no fitment marks on the rails.
Also, it's a bit of an investment just for the purposes of trying out saddles, but attempting to do very easy hig cadence sessions on rollers is a great way to sort out your saddle preferences/position, as you're pretty fixed in one position and if you keep the gear easy then all of your weight is on the saddle. I've been able to micro-adjust my setup this way until it is just right. Added bonus that it doesn't get the saddle dirty if you then decide to return it.
your local specialized stockist should have a sit bone measuring tool (a foam pad!).
I got measured, tried a test saddle (unfortunately they don't seem to do this anymore) and ended up buying a specialized phenom saddle in 155mm width. Used it for 4 years and just replaced it with another (albeit the newer version). I have a happy backside!
I think once you find something that is comfy, stick to it!