Men's saddles/ Women's saddles

[ScotiaLass]

I am still trying to find the right saddle!
Hated the saddle on my new specialized and am currently trying one out from @SatNavSaysStraightOn and have another waiting to try from @vickster (thanks both).
I cant imagine riding more than 20 miles at the moment as it's just so sore!

 

[MikeG]

I'm currently trying this:

A Specialized Ariel Comp. It isn't perfect, but it is the best (for me) that I have found in the Specialized range so far, and it happens to be a women's saddle. I'll bet that 10 years ago it would have been sold as a man's saddle.

 

[mattobrien]

I'm currently trying this:

A Specialized Ariel Comp. It isn't perfect, but it is the best (for me) that I have found in the Specialized range so far, and it happens to be a women's saddle. I'll bet that 10 years ago it would have been sold as a man's saddle.

That looks like an instrument of torture to me, but I'm sure you'd say that about my current saddle choice too.

If you don't get on with that I have been building my own personal saddle library, so you are welcome to come and have a nose through what I have got lying around if you want to try something different.

I did get on very well with a Spesh Romin Evo expert, which Mr @Andrew_Culture was testing for a while, but I honk he has reverted back to something the right colour. I also have a Speah phenom and many others...

 

[screenman]

Lots of people may have the right saddle but the wrong bum.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

That looks like an instrument of torture to me, but I'm sure you'd say that about my current saddle choice too.

If you don't get on with that I have been building my own personal saddle library, so you are welcome to come and have a nose through what I have got lying around if you want to try something different.

I did get on very well with a Spesh Romin Evo expert, which Mr @Andrew_Culture was testing for a while, but I honk he has reverted back to something the right colour. I also have a Speah phenom and many others...

I often honk, which is why I let you lead

 

[MikeG]

Ah......a little Suffolk clique here, I see

I did a 4 hour ride yesterday, and squirmed a lot. However, I wasn't in the deep pain that the Avatar, the Romin Evo Expert, and another Spesh that I've forgotten, caused me. I don't suppose your saddle collection includes a Charge Scoop, does it? Otherwise I might buy one, try it for a week and then put it on eBay.

Either of you guys doing the Wormingford Audax in a couple of weeks time?

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Ah......a little Suffolk clique here, I see

I did a 4 hour ride yesterday, and squirmed a lot. However, I wasn't in the deep pain that the Avatar, the Romin Evo Expert, and another Spesh that I've forgotten, caused me. I don't suppose your saddle collection includes a Charge Scoop, does it? Otherwise I might buy one, try it for a week and then put it on eBay.

Either of you guys doing the Wormingford Audax in a couple of weeks time?

Charge spoons and scoops are forever coming up on here in the 'for sale' section. If you can't see one now then post in 'wanted' and I reckon someone with a spare one will pipe up!

 

[mattobrien]

I often honk, which is why I let you lead

Gotta love iPads, fat fingers and a general lack of attention to detail...

 

[mattobrien]

Ah......a little Suffolk clique here, I see

I did a 4 hour ride yesterday, and squirmed a lot. However, I wasn't in the deep pain that the Avatar, the Romin Evo Expert, and another Spesh that I've forgotten, caused me. I don't suppose your saddle collection includes a Charge Scoop, does it? Otherwise I might buy one, try it for a week and then put it on eBay.

Either of you guys doing the Wormingford Audax in a couple of weeks time?

Do you use chamois cream? Just a thought.

Strangely I find saddle comfort and effort exerted directly related. If I am pushing on, then I figure I am putting more weight through my legs and less through my saddle and it is more comfy. Either that or there are so many other places that hurt, my backside doesn't make it up the list. If I am going slier with others, than more weight gets put on the saddle and it may suffer more.

I am planning on riding on my new Arione R1later, just waiting for the sun to warm things a little. All going to plan I will be pushing quite hard, so I expect no discomfort, despite it being new. That and the fact I have put in around 700 miles on its little sibling the R3 this year on the other bike...

Didn't know about the Wormingford Audax - is there a link?

 

[MikeG]

......Didn't know about the Wormingford Audax - is there a link?

Wormingford Wyrm (110 km)

Wormingford Dragon (220 km)

 

[MikeG]

Do you use chamois cream? .....

I'm not chaffing. It is the pressure these saddles put on such a small area that I can't tolerate. The Avatar felt like I was taking my entire bodyweight on two tiny points of bone sitting directly on something carved from solid oak.

 

[T4tomo]

That's exactly what I am doing, Vickster. I bought a new bike from a Specialized dealer in January, swapped saddles at the time after being measured, and have tried 3 different ones since. Everyone said that the Avatar is like an armchair, and I gave it a good chance (200+ miles)...... I can just about sit down in the office again now. It was murder. I now have a Specialized Targa, which has the right amount of padding in the right places (which is the hard bit), but is the first saddle I have ever tried which doesn't feel the right shape. It rubs my thighs, and doesn't actually located me very well (it doesn't give me a great clue as to where to actually sit). So, I'm getting a bit fed up with Specialized saddles. My 143mm bum is headed for a MTB saddle next, and after that maybe a women's saddle. Just don't tell anyone.

Mike

Maybe you have a woman's bottom my lord, I trust that bottom etc etc

 

[Julia9054]

Do any other shops other than Specialized have the @rse measuring service?
I am suffering with pressure in soft tissue areas on longer rides and fancy trying a saddle with a cut out area but I don't want to be restricted to only Specialized saddles which seem rather expensive.
Also not keen on discussing my backside etc with the two kids who work there who I used to teach!

 

[vickster]

Selle Italia have their id system.

http://www.selleitalia.com/en/idmatch/discover-idmatch/

However, once you know what size you need from Specialized, you can try different saddles of that size. They don't tell you what specific saddle to get, just what width sit bones you have, e.g, 155mm. To be honest it gives you a pointer, not the holy grail of saddle buying as the width is on,y one variable. And quite likely won't help you with soft tissue issues actually. There's no personal discussion involved. You sit on a couple of pads and you get a measurement.

Have you tried tweaking saddle position, back and forth and also the angle. Spirit level flat is the usual starting point but you might find a slight angle works for you

With cut out, this is pretty cheap and might be worth a try, I have the rather more expensive diva gel flow which is comfortable for me

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/...gclid=COHfzKe0lL0CFUcTwwodUZYAOA&gclsrc=aw.ds

Also, it might be worth trying a better pair of shorts depending on what you use? Sportful, gore, pearl izumi are good mid range brands

 

[Julia9054]

Ooh - thanks for that Vickster.
Was going to go for a ride this aft but, having just pootled into town and back to do my shopping this morning, it's really windy and not at all pleasant so I shall go to Tadcaster and get my backside measured instead!
I have looked at the diva gel flow saddle online having read good reviews but think it might be too wide for me as my current saddle (came with the bike) is 143mm.
The one you linked to looks like the sort of price I'd be willing to pay on the off chance. Not too much to lose if it doesn't suit.