Saddle Position When Trying Out Different Saddles.

[citybabe]

I'm going through the seemingly impossible task of finding a comfortable long distance saddle.

What position would you recommend that I have the saddle in to start with - all the way forwards then move back a few mm or all the way backwards and move forwards?

 

[vickster]

Flat and in the middle of the rails? Have you had a bike fit or at least a sit bone measurement? How far are you riding? With decent breaks or without stopping much?

Brooks are popular with the audax and touring crowd

 

[mjr]

Assuming I'm happy with the current position, I'd start with whatever looks right (usually flat and near the middle, as that's how most are made), then tweak it front/back based on feelings on the pedals and bars.

 

[citybabe]

Flat and in the middle of the rails? Have you had a bike fit or at least a sit bone measurement? How far are you riding? With decent breaks or without stopping much?

Brooks are popular with the audax and touring crowd

I had a bike fit 2 years ago when I bought my last bike and the set up felt really good.

My normal rides are usually 40 - 60 miles which on my current saddle is fairly ok.
Occasionally I like to do a 100 mile ride which after 80 miles becomes incredibly uncomfortable so much so that I spend the last 20 miles debating whether or not to stop riding and call someone to come get me and wishing that I'd not started the ride!

 

[vickster]

I had a bike fit 2 years ago when I bought my last bike and the set up felt really good.

My normal rides are usually 40 - 60 miles which is fairly co

Do you have any numbers from that fit, if it was a computerised one? Emulate the saddle position if not, assuming it's the same size bike. I'd start without any extremes fore or aft and tweak from there

Are you wanting to go further than the 60?

 

[youngoldbloke]

On your current saddle mark the position of your forward knee with cranks at 3/9 o'clock, on the top tube - use piece of insulation tape etc, then set up new saddle to replicate this.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Or stick a length of string & small weight to your knee, so it hangs over the pedal spindle

Personally I just shove the saddle as far back as it'll go, as I have fairly long Femurs, & have the knees behind the spindles (how I've been for past 20 years or so)

 

[jonny jeez]

80 miles becomes incredibly uncomfortable so much so that I spend the last 20 miles debating whether or not to stop riding and call someone to come get me and wishing that I'd not started the ride!

Yeah, I get that too.

Nothing to do with my saddle though.

 

[Dave7]

You don't say what the problem/pain/discomfort is.
I am like you.........after 30 miles the inside of my sit-bones start to get sore and after 50 I am in agony.
I have just ordered (recieved yesterday) one of these saddles............
http://kontactbike.com/
I did 42 miles on Friday so will not be able road test it for a couple of days........then will report back

 

[Cyclist33]

I'm going through the seemingly impossible task of finding a comfortable long distance saddle.

What position would you recommend that I have the saddle in to start with - all the way forwards then move back a few mm or all the way backwards and move forwards?

It doesn't matter provided that you start with some baseline or other and test relative to it.

 

[MichaelW2]

Every saddle differs in the relation between sit-bone support, saddle nose and saddle rails.
Fine YOUR seated position using the classic Knee Over Pedal Spindle (KOPS). This is a good starting point if you have no preferences.
Position the new saddle fore/aft to support your sit bones in this same position.
You can use a plumb line for the vertical alignment, if you can find the axis of your knee joint.
Once you have a saddle position, note the nose and top surface in relation to the bottom bracket, in [x,y] coordinates.

 

[citybabe]

I've had 4 different saddles on my bike in the 2 years since I bought it. Tried cheap and tried expensive ones.

The pain is in the crease between thigh and buttock. It makes me think that I have the seat too far forward or maybe it's too wide or possibly too deep.

I have fairly narrow sit bones for a female the LBS told me!

 

[donnyjnk]

lots of chamois cream. not really helpful but just wanted to get the DRFC spinning

 

[Hill Wimp]

I had a bike fit 2 years ago when I bought my last bike and the set up felt really good.

My normal rides are usually 40 - 60 miles which on my current saddle is fairly ok.
Occasionally I like to do a 100 mile ride which after 80 miles becomes incredibly uncomfortable so much so that I spend the last 20 miles debating whether or not to stop riding and call someone to come get me and wishing that I'd not started the ride!

Heavens those avatars make me feel sick.

This may be a daft question but are you sure its your saddle ?

You say you usually do 40-60 but when you up it to 100 you become uncomfortable around 80.

Are you stretching/moving/stopping between 60-80 to move your body and give it a rest from the one position? Are you having breaks at all ?

On a 100 miler thats quite important.