Re: [RBW] Re: How do I know when a saddle fits?

[Wesley]

I just want to preface that I am confused but in no way mad:
I made a couple of replies in this thread that were deleted by the 
moderator(s) and I am confused as to why. Apparently I broke some group 
rule(?) and I'd like to avoid doing so in the future so would appreciate 
getting some guidance from the mods. Thanks!
-Wes

On Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 8:46:29 PM UTC-7 Emily Guise wrote:

> Hey all, thanks so much for your insights! I'm local to Portland OR, and 
> there is a bike fitter in town, Pedal PT, who also does physical therapy. 
> I've been wondering if I should get a fit with them, and it seems like I 
> should look into it more seriously.
>
> My travel/adventure/distance bike is a Bike Friday, and that's the one I'd 
> get fit. I do tend to like the flatter saddles, and usually ride with the 
> nose titled up. A challenge is that I have very long arms and legs but a 
> shorter torso. Anyone with a similar body type have any advice?
>
> I have tried women's specific saddles- I tried a Terry Liberator for a 
> while, but it was just SO hard, even though the cutout was fantastic. The 
> same with the Brookses, I always felt like I was sitting on the metal edge 
> or the leather was as unforgiving as wood and as uncomfortable. I'm trying 
> out Riv's new plastic saddle on my Platypus right now. It's sort of 
> comfortable but also feels maybe not quite wide enough. I'll have to give 
> it a few more weeks. 
>
>
> On Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 7:22:12 AM UTC-7 John Dewey wrote:
>
>> Roberta, have you experimented with a cut-out saddle? 
>>
>> Jock
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 26, 2024 at 12:20 AM Roberta  wrote:
>>
>>> The Philadelphia Trek store can measure sits bones. Perhaps there is one 
>>> near you to give you some direction?
>>>
>>> I prefer a flat top like the B68 to a rounder top B17. I also have wide 
>>> sits bones, so B17 too narrow for me.   I tilt the saddle nose up, so I’m 
>>> sitting on the flat back part of the saddle.  Otherwise I slide to the 
>>> front sitting on the nose part, and that is very irritating.  Where are you 
>>> sitting on the saddle?
>>>
>>> Also take notice where the seams of your underwear are when you’re 
>>> riding as sit bones on seams are irritating. 
>>>
>>> Roberta
>>> Philadelphia 
>>>
>>> On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 4:00:24 PM UTC-4 Emily Guise wrote:
>>>
 Hello folks, I come to the group with a dilemma. I've never had a 
 saddle that I could ride for longer than 20 miles comfortably. I've always 
 ended up with sore sit bones, numb soft tissue, or both. This has really 
 limited my ability to go on longer trips and after my five day ride on the 
 C canal trail last Sept, it was more apparent than ever I need to find a 
 saddle that won't hurt. 

 I've tried dozens of saddles over the last 15 years- leather, plastic, 
 cutouts, no cutouts, wide, medium, softer, harder, you name it. :( Most of 
 the saddles that have stayed on my bikes for longer than a month have a 
 central cut out, are on the wider side, and plastic. They're good for 
 around town, but that's it. I've never had my sit bones measured. 

 It occurred to me recently that because I've never had a truly 
 comfortable long-distance saddle, I have no idea how one feels. So I 
 figured I'd ask the group. How did The One saddle feel for you? Did it 
 "disappear"? Was it love at first sit? Did it need to be adjusted a lot 
 before finding the ideal position? Is there a certain amount of miles you 
 ride before it becomes uncomfortable? 

 I'd love to hear the group's collective wisdom so I know what to look 
 for in the next saddle I try out. Thanks! 


 -- 
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>>>  
>>> 
>>> .
>>>
>>

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Re: [RBW] Re: How do I know when a saddle fits?

[Wesley]

If you've thought leather saddles felt too hard and wooden, I recommend 
going for an aggressive break-in that breaks the rules you'll often hear 
about being minimal with anything you put on the saddle. So if you still 
have a Brooks that you thought was uncomfortable, here is what I do to 
break them in fast and soft:

- Work mink oil into the leather with all your strength, alternating 
between massaging it in with your thumbs and then flexing the leather up 
and down between your fingers. Really soften it up, focussing on the 
sit-bone areas.
- Give the saddle a deep soak and then ride it wet. It will stretch and 
soften immediately, and very quickly begin to adapt to your shape.

Some folks say to avoid stuff like this because it makes the leather 
stretch, but in my opinion that stretched and well-softened leather is what 
makes a leather saddle comfortable. Maybe they wear out faster (I haven't 
worn one out after five years) but even so, a comfy saddle that you wear 
out is better than a painful saddle that you never use.
-Wes

On Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 8:46:29 PM UTC-7 Emily Guise wrote:

> Hey all, thanks so much for your insights! I'm local to Portland OR, and 
> there is a bike fitter in town, Pedal PT, who also does physical therapy. 
> I've been wondering if I should get a fit with them, and it seems like I 
> should look into it more seriously.
>
> My travel/adventure/distance bike is a Bike Friday, and that's the one I'd 
> get fit. I do tend to like the flatter saddles, and usually ride with the 
> nose titled up. A challenge is that I have very long arms and legs but a 
> shorter torso. Anyone with a similar body type have any advice?
>
> I have tried women's specific saddles- I tried a Terry Liberator for a 
> while, but it was just SO hard, even though the cutout was fantastic. The 
> same with the Brookses, I always felt like I was sitting on the metal edge 
> or the leather was as unforgiving as wood and as uncomfortable. I'm trying 
> out Riv's new plastic saddle on my Platypus right now. It's sort of 
> comfortable but also feels maybe not quite wide enough. I'll have to give 
> it a few more weeks. 
>
>
> On Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 7:22:12 AM UTC-7 John Dewey wrote:
>
>> Roberta, have you experimented with a cut-out saddle? 
>>
>> Jock
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 26, 2024 at 12:20 AM Roberta  wrote:
>>
>>> The Philadelphia Trek store can measure sits bones. Perhaps there is one 
>>> near you to give you some direction?
>>>
>>> I prefer a flat top like the B68 to a rounder top B17. I also have wide 
>>> sits bones, so B17 too narrow for me.   I tilt the saddle nose up, so I’m 
>>> sitting on the flat back part of the saddle.  Otherwise I slide to the 
>>> front sitting on the nose part, and that is very irritating.  Where are you 
>>> sitting on the saddle?
>>>
>>> Also take notice where the seams of your underwear are when you’re 
>>> riding as sit bones on seams are irritating. 
>>>
>>> Roberta
>>> Philadelphia 
>>>
>>> On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 4:00:24 PM UTC-4 Emily Guise wrote:
>>>
 Hello folks, I come to the group with a dilemma. I've never had a 
 saddle that I could ride for longer than 20 miles comfortably. I've always 
 ended up with sore sit bones, numb soft tissue, or both. This has really 
 limited my ability to go on longer trips and after my five day ride on the 
 C canal trail last Sept, it was more apparent than ever I need to find a 
 saddle that won't hurt. 

 I've tried dozens of saddles over the last 15 years- leather, plastic, 
 cutouts, no cutouts, wide, medium, softer, harder, you name it. :( Most of 
 the saddles that have stayed on my bikes for longer than a month have a 
 central cut out, are on the wider side, and plastic. They're good for 
 around town, but that's it. I've never had my sit bones measured. 

 It occurred to me recently that because I've never had a truly 
 comfortable long-distance saddle, I have no idea how one feels. So I 
 figured I'd ask the group. How did The One saddle feel for you? Did it 
 "disappear"? Was it love at first sit? Did it need to be adjusted a lot 
 before finding the ideal position? Is there a certain amount of miles you 
 ride before it becomes uncomfortable? 

 I'd love to hear the group's collective wisdom so I know what to look 
 for in the next saddle I try out. Thanks! 


 -- 
>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google 
>>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send 
>>> an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
>>>
>> To view this discussion on the web visit 
>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/a93cb530-6ec0-4fcd-894a-868948892b91n%40googlegroups.com
>>>  
>>> 

Re: [RBW] Re: How do I know when a saddle fits?

[Wesley]

Hey Emily,
I'm also a long legs, short torso person. My experience is that I need to 
use a ridiculously tall stem with a short extension, but that doesn't 
really apply in your case because the Bike Friday stem must already have 
odd proportions.

More importantly, if your complaint with Brooks saddles has been their 
hardness, I'd advise breaking all the rules of breaking-in a leather 
saddle. Work mink oil into the leather until it softens. Give the saddle a 
deep soak and ride it wet. You want to really get the leather stretching 
and softening. It's how I like my leather saddles and they do still last 
for many years (I've had mine for five years and I don't see any evidence 
it is wearing out.) It really makes a big difference and the saddle will 
start adapting to your shape in the first few rides.

I hope this helps!
-Wes

On Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 8:46:29 PM UTC-7 Emily Guise wrote:

> Hey all, thanks so much for your insights! I'm local to Portland OR, and 
> there is a bike fitter in town, Pedal PT, who also does physical therapy. 
> I've been wondering if I should get a fit with them, and it seems like I 
> should look into it more seriously.
>
> My travel/adventure/distance bike is a Bike Friday, and that's the one I'd 
> get fit. I do tend to like the flatter saddles, and usually ride with the 
> nose titled up. A challenge is that I have very long arms and legs but a 
> shorter torso. Anyone with a similar body type have any advice?
>
> I have tried women's specific saddles- I tried a Terry Liberator for a 
> while, but it was just SO hard, even though the cutout was fantastic. The 
> same with the Brookses, I always felt like I was sitting on the metal edge 
> or the leather was as unforgiving as wood and as uncomfortable. I'm trying 
> out Riv's new plastic saddle on my Platypus right now. It's sort of 
> comfortable but also feels maybe not quite wide enough. I'll have to give 
> it a few more weeks. 
>
>
> On Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 7:22:12 AM UTC-7 John Dewey wrote:
>
>> Roberta, have you experimented with a cut-out saddle? 
>>
>> Jock
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 26, 2024 at 12:20 AM Roberta  wrote:
>>
>>> The Philadelphia Trek store can measure sits bones. Perhaps there is one 
>>> near you to give you some direction?
>>>
>>> I prefer a flat top like the B68 to a rounder top B17. I also have wide 
>>> sits bones, so B17 too narrow for me.   I tilt the saddle nose up, so I’m 
>>> sitting on the flat back part of the saddle.  Otherwise I slide to the 
>>> front sitting on the nose part, and that is very irritating.  Where are you 
>>> sitting on the saddle?
>>>
>>> Also take notice where the seams of your underwear are when you’re 
>>> riding as sit bones on seams are irritating. 
>>>
>>> Roberta
>>> Philadelphia 
>>>
>>> On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 4:00:24 PM UTC-4 Emily Guise wrote:
>>>
 Hello folks, I come to the group with a dilemma. I've never had a 
 saddle that I could ride for longer than 20 miles comfortably. I've always 
 ended up with sore sit bones, numb soft tissue, or both. This has really 
 limited my ability to go on longer trips and after my five day ride on the 
 C canal trail last Sept, it was more apparent than ever I need to find a 
 saddle that won't hurt. 

 I've tried dozens of saddles over the last 15 years- leather, plastic, 
 cutouts, no cutouts, wide, medium, softer, harder, you name it. :( Most of 
 the saddles that have stayed on my bikes for longer than a month have a 
 central cut out, are on the wider side, and plastic. They're good for 
 around town, but that's it. I've never had my sit bones measured. 

 It occurred to me recently that because I've never had a truly 
 comfortable long-distance saddle, I have no idea how one feels. So I 
 figured I'd ask the group. How did The One saddle feel for you? Did it 
 "disappear"? Was it love at first sit? Did it need to be adjusted a lot 
 before finding the ideal position? Is there a certain amount of miles you 
 ride before it becomes uncomfortable? 

 I'd love to hear the group's collective wisdom so I know what to look 
 for in the next saddle I try out. Thanks! 


 -- 
>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google 
>>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send 
>>> an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
>>>
>> To view this discussion on the web visit 
>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/a93cb530-6ec0-4fcd-894a-868948892b91n%40googlegroups.com
>>>  
>>> 
>>> .
>>>
>>

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Re: [RBW] Re: How do I know when a saddle fits?

['Steven Seelig' via RBW Owners Bunch]

A lot of great input here.  I think I now know how individual an issue this 
can be just from the comments.

For me, just recently it has turned out that all those Brooks C17s I have 
ON ALL MY BIKEs are no longer working for me.  This may be TMI but it turns 
out that because of their shape, my sitbone locates a bit forward of the 
rear of the saddle and that causes paid for me as cocsysx bashes into the 
raises rear of the saddle.  Not really a problem if I am riding on flat 
ground.  When I do need more umps, and I push toward the back of the 
saddle, that is when I am enduring pain.  I am working with a physical 
therapist to figure out if this is because of a weak pelvic floor.

What I have discovered is that the whole saddle business is rapidly 
evolving, with such things as 3D printed saddles, men's specific Terry 
seats (from a company that made its name making women's saddles), the major 
players like Trek and Specialized have actual heat mapping that would help 
explain your hot spots - and those are just a few examples.  For me, I have 
learned that many of the newer saddle that have gaps for your dainty bits 
also have space to the rear so that your sitbone may reside on the saddle 
while the rear part of your rear may hang out back.  I am testing saddles 
with that profile and things look promising.

No, I am not selling all those Brooks quite yet - don't get any ideas.

Steve Seelig, District of Columbia

On Sunday, March 31, 2024 at 2:11:57 AM UTC-4 anthony@gmail.com wrote:

> +1 for the Rivet Pearl. I've got one on a Soma Double Cross, and the 
> version with the cutout is indeed an excellent fit for several positions 
> fore and aft!
>
> On Sat, Mar 30, 2024, 3:25 PM ascpgh  wrote:
>
>> Emily, I have dealt with roughly your sort of physiological dimensioning 
>> my whole riding life and currently have three variations of coping, each 
>> with saddles that bear varying results. Those results have inseparable 
>> connection to how well each of the bikes they are on fits me. 
>>
>> My commuter is a stock Surly Disc Trucker "box bike". I added a Brooks 
>> B-17, pedals , Nitto RM 013 handlebar, dyno hub/ lights and a shorter a 
>> stem. The frame size that produced the best reach to the handlebars 
>> required a long  extension of the seat post and would have required a 
>> pretty high angle stem for those bars to be level with the seat, my comfort 
>> zone, and would also need significant setback dimension of the seat post 
>> head. The frame size that gives the best pedaling position requires a short 
>> stem to keep me from reaching, sort of. I still feel like I reach for the 
>> bars on that bike and do not ride it more than 20 miles. Even on the bigger 
>> size I find my legs drive me to slide back on the seat, onto the cantle 
>> (that metal thing) for many climbs before I pedal out of the saddle. Lots 
>> of compromises but it's my 14 hour lock up bike.
>>
>> My Rivendell Rambouillet was the best stock bike fit to my body I'd ever 
>> experienced and prevented me from going custom. Grant envisioned it as a 
>> long hours in the saddle sporty/light touring bike in the French 
>> audax/randonnour-inspired design for comfort over hours of riding. Shorter 
>> top tube than seat tube, with 2° upslope and 2 cm extended top head tube 
>> lug all conspired to provide this. It all conspires to fitting me well. It 
>> was a stock build kit from Riv with the B-17, RM 013 bars, I added the 
>> fenders, and changed the derailleurs, shifters and brakes. I do pedal from 
>> the saddle quite a bit more than others in groups before getting out of it 
>> and standing for hills. I still find myself sliding back on the seat for a 
>> rearward position to get some pushing forward on the pedal strokes when 
>> going uphill. That puts me on that cantle again, less than on the commuter 
>> but with the bars in more comfortable reach.
>>
>> I finally did go custom to for the sort of riding I have available and 
>> enjoy from my front door. I've refined what I look for in saddles, 
>> acknowledging that I do stay on the saddle across more terrain than others, 
>> scooting rearward for that pushing bit where others pop up, pedaling out of 
>> their saddles. That fore and aft position range has made me a connoisseur 
>> of saddle tops that have a platform of surface wide enough for my sit bones 
>> but also retaining that in the longitudal dimension of my back and forth 
>> positioning. I want that platform to be level and I don't want extra 
>> material rubbing my legs. 
>>
>> I am using a Rivet Pearl with cut out on my custom bike. The cut out lets 
>> the centerline of the leather "hammock" between the nose and cantle without 
>> the same amount of weight my sit bones applied to those spots that breaks 
>> in the points where they do bear weight. Without the cut out, that leather 
>> remains a linear high ridge from front to back where the less skeletal 
>> portions of my rear end are perched. I thought I 

Re: [RBW] Re: How do I know when a saddle fits?

[Anthony Holden]

+1 for the Rivet Pearl. I've got one on a Soma Double Cross, and the
version with the cutout is indeed an excellent fit for several positions
fore and aft!

On Sat, Mar 30, 2024, 3:25 PM ascpgh  wrote:

> Emily, I have dealt with roughly your sort of physiological dimensioning
> my whole riding life and currently have three variations of coping, each
> with saddles that bear varying results. Those results have inseparable
> connection to how well each of the bikes they are on fits me.
>
> My commuter is a stock Surly Disc Trucker "box bike". I added a Brooks
> B-17, pedals , Nitto RM 013 handlebar, dyno hub/ lights and a shorter a
> stem. The frame size that produced the best reach to the handlebars
> required a long  extension of the seat post and would have required a
> pretty high angle stem for those bars to be level with the seat, my comfort
> zone, and would also need significant setback dimension of the seat post
> head. The frame size that gives the best pedaling position requires a short
> stem to keep me from reaching, sort of. I still feel like I reach for the
> bars on that bike and do not ride it more than 20 miles. Even on the bigger
> size I find my legs drive me to slide back on the seat, onto the cantle
> (that metal thing) for many climbs before I pedal out of the saddle. Lots
> of compromises but it's my 14 hour lock up bike.
>
> My Rivendell Rambouillet was the best stock bike fit to my body I'd ever
> experienced and prevented me from going custom. Grant envisioned it as a
> long hours in the saddle sporty/light touring bike in the French
> audax/randonnour-inspired design for comfort over hours of riding. Shorter
> top tube than seat tube, with 2° upslope and 2 cm extended top head tube
> lug all conspired to provide this. It all conspires to fitting me well. It
> was a stock build kit from Riv with the B-17, RM 013 bars, I added the
> fenders, and changed the derailleurs, shifters and brakes. I do pedal from
> the saddle quite a bit more than others in groups before getting out of it
> and standing for hills. I still find myself sliding back on the seat for a
> rearward position to get some pushing forward on the pedal strokes when
> going uphill. That puts me on that cantle again, less than on the commuter
> but with the bars in more comfortable reach.
>
> I finally did go custom to for the sort of riding I have available and
> enjoy from my front door. I've refined what I look for in saddles,
> acknowledging that I do stay on the saddle across more terrain than others,
> scooting rearward for that pushing bit where others pop up, pedaling out of
> their saddles. That fore and aft position range has made me a connoisseur
> of saddle tops that have a platform of surface wide enough for my sit bones
> but also retaining that in the longitudal dimension of my back and forth
> positioning. I want that platform to be level and I don't want extra
> material rubbing my legs.
>
> I am using a Rivet Pearl with cut out on my custom bike. The cut out lets
> the centerline of the leather "hammock" between the nose and cantle without
> the same amount of weight my sit bones applied to those spots that breaks
> in the points where they do bear weight. Without the cut out, that leather
> remains a linear high ridge from front to back where the less skeletal
> portions of my rear end are perched. I thought I had picked perfectly when
> I chose the Rivet Diablo but after three months' riding and several
> centuries everything was breaking in nicely except for that ridge line down
> the center and it was creating discomfort. They were quick to respond to my
> issue and sent the the cut out version of the Pearl which has been perfect
> ever since.
>
> Hope this is of some help to your situation.
>
> Andy Cheatham
> Pittsburgh
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 11:46:29 PM UTC-4 Emily Guise wrote:
>
>> Hey all, thanks so much for your insights! I'm local to Portland OR, and
>> there is a bike fitter in town, Pedal PT, who also does physical therapy.
>> I've been wondering if I should get a fit with them, and it seems like I
>> should look into it more seriously.
>>
>> My travel/adventure/distance bike is a Bike Friday, and that's the one
>> I'd get fit. I do tend to like the flatter saddles, and usually ride with
>> the nose titled up. A challenge is that I have very long arms and legs but
>> a shorter torso. Anyone with a similar body type have any advice?
>>
>> I have tried women's specific saddles- I tried a Terry Liberator for a
>> while, but it was just SO hard, even though the cutout was fantastic. The
>> same with the Brookses, I always felt like I was sitting on the metal edge
>> or the leather was as unforgiving as wood and as uncomfortable. I'm trying
>> out Riv's new plastic saddle on my Platypus right now. It's sort of
>> comfortable but also feels maybe not quite wide enough. I'll have to give
>> it a few more weeks.
>>
>>
>> On Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 7:22:12 AM UTC-7 

Re: [RBW] Re: How do I know when a saddle fits?

[ascpgh]

Emily, I have dealt with roughly your sort of physiological dimensioning my 
whole riding life and currently have three variations of coping, each with 
saddles that bear varying results. Those results have inseparable 
connection to how well each of the bikes they are on fits me. 

My commuter is a stock Surly Disc Trucker "box bike". I added a Brooks 
B-17, pedals , Nitto RM 013 handlebar, dyno hub/ lights and a shorter a 
stem. The frame size that produced the best reach to the handlebars 
required a long  extension of the seat post and would have required a 
pretty high angle stem for those bars to be level with the seat, my comfort 
zone, and would also need significant setback dimension of the seat post 
head. The frame size that gives the best pedaling position requires a short 
stem to keep me from reaching, sort of. I still feel like I reach for the 
bars on that bike and do not ride it more than 20 miles. Even on the bigger 
size I find my legs drive me to slide back on the seat, onto the cantle 
(that metal thing) for many climbs before I pedal out of the saddle. Lots 
of compromises but it's my 14 hour lock up bike.

My Rivendell Rambouillet was the best stock bike fit to my body I'd ever 
experienced and prevented me from going custom. Grant envisioned it as a 
long hours in the saddle sporty/light touring bike in the French 
audax/randonnour-inspired design for comfort over hours of riding. Shorter 
top tube than seat tube, with 2° upslope and 2 cm extended top head tube 
lug all conspired to provide this. It all conspires to fitting me well. It 
was a stock build kit from Riv with the B-17, RM 013 bars, I added the 
fenders, and changed the derailleurs, shifters and brakes. I do pedal from 
the saddle quite a bit more than others in groups before getting out of it 
and standing for hills. I still find myself sliding back on the seat for a 
rearward position to get some pushing forward on the pedal strokes when 
going uphill. That puts me on that cantle again, less than on the commuter 
but with the bars in more comfortable reach.

I finally did go custom to for the sort of riding I have available and 
enjoy from my front door. I've refined what I look for in saddles, 
acknowledging that I do stay on the saddle across more terrain than others, 
scooting rearward for that pushing bit where others pop up, pedaling out of 
their saddles. That fore and aft position range has made me a connoisseur 
of saddle tops that have a platform of surface wide enough for my sit bones 
but also retaining that in the longitudal dimension of my back and forth 
positioning. I want that platform to be level and I don't want extra 
material rubbing my legs. 

I am using a Rivet Pearl with cut out on my custom bike. The cut out lets 
the centerline of the leather "hammock" between the nose and cantle without 
the same amount of weight my sit bones applied to those spots that breaks 
in the points where they do bear weight. Without the cut out, that leather 
remains a linear high ridge from front to back where the less skeletal 
portions of my rear end are perched. I thought I had picked perfectly when 
I chose the Rivet Diablo but after three months' riding and several 
centuries everything was breaking in nicely except for that ridge line down 
the center and it was creating discomfort. They were quick to respond to my 
issue and sent the the cut out version of the Pearl which has been perfect 
ever since. 

Hope this is of some help to your situation. 

Andy Cheatham
Pittsburgh







On Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 11:46:29 PM UTC-4 Emily Guise wrote:

> Hey all, thanks so much for your insights! I'm local to Portland OR, and 
> there is a bike fitter in town, Pedal PT, who also does physical therapy. 
> I've been wondering if I should get a fit with them, and it seems like I 
> should look into it more seriously.
>
> My travel/adventure/distance bike is a Bike Friday, and that's the one I'd 
> get fit. I do tend to like the flatter saddles, and usually ride with the 
> nose titled up. A challenge is that I have very long arms and legs but a 
> shorter torso. Anyone with a similar body type have any advice?
>
> I have tried women's specific saddles- I tried a Terry Liberator for a 
> while, but it was just SO hard, even though the cutout was fantastic. The 
> same with the Brookses, I always felt like I was sitting on the metal edge 
> or the leather was as unforgiving as wood and as uncomfortable. I'm trying 
> out Riv's new plastic saddle on my Platypus right now. It's sort of 
> comfortable but also feels maybe not quite wide enough. I'll have to give 
> it a few more weeks. 
>
>
> On Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 7:22:12 AM UTC-7 John Dewey wrote:
>
>> Roberta, have you experimented with a cut-out saddle? 
>>
>> Jock
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 26, 2024 at 12:20 AM Roberta  wrote:
>>
>>> The Philadelphia Trek store can measure sits bones. Perhaps there is one 
>>> near you to give you some direction?
>>>
>>> I prefer a 

Re: [RBW] Re: How do I know when a saddle fits?

[Linda G]

If the shape works on the liberator x they do have a gel version if it's 
too hard. I wear padded shorts if I am going any distance. I believe you 
can get padded underwear to go under regular shorts. Terry makes a city 
riding saddle  called the Cite X, or at least they used to. It's wider and 
softer. I have one and it is very comfortable for more upright riding but 
in my view it is ugly. I want my upright bike to be nice-looking for the 
cruising around bike paths I am doing these days. For me there is an 
artistic dimension to building up a bike. I imagine that many on this list 
would agree considering the attractive bikes I see in people's pictures.

On Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 8:46:29 PM UTC-7 Emily Guise wrote:

> Hey all, thanks so much for your insights! I'm local to Portland OR, and 
> there is a bike fitter in town, Pedal PT, who also does physical therapy. 
> I've been wondering if I should get a fit with them, and it seems like I 
> should look into it more seriously.
>
> My travel/adventure/distance bike is a Bike Friday, and that's the one I'd 
> get fit. I do tend to like the flatter saddles, and usually ride with the 
> nose titled up. A challenge is that I have very long arms and legs but a 
> shorter torso. Anyone with a similar body type have any advice?
>
> I have tried women's specific saddles- I tried a Terry Liberator for a 
> while, but it was just SO hard, even though the cutout was fantastic. The 
> same with the Brookses, I always felt like I was sitting on the metal edge 
> or the leather was as unforgiving as wood and as uncomfortable. I'm trying 
> out Riv's new plastic saddle on my Platypus right now. It's sort of 
> comfortable but also feels maybe not quite wide enough. I'll have to give 
> it a few more weeks. 
>
>
> On Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 7:22:12 AM UTC-7 John Dewey wrote:
>
>> Roberta, have you experimented with a cut-out saddle? 
>>
>> Jock
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 26, 2024 at 12:20 AM Roberta  wrote:
>>
>>> The Philadelphia Trek store can measure sits bones. Perhaps there is one 
>>> near you to give you some direction?
>>>
>>> I prefer a flat top like the B68 to a rounder top B17. I also have wide 
>>> sits bones, so B17 too narrow for me.   I tilt the saddle nose up, so I’m 
>>> sitting on the flat back part of the saddle.  Otherwise I slide to the 
>>> front sitting on the nose part, and that is very irritating.  Where are you 
>>> sitting on the saddle?
>>>
>>> Also take notice where the seams of your underwear are when you’re 
>>> riding as sit bones on seams are irritating. 
>>>
>>> Roberta
>>> Philadelphia 
>>>
>>> On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 4:00:24 PM UTC-4 Emily Guise wrote:
>>>
 Hello folks, I come to the group with a dilemma. I've never had a 
 saddle that I could ride for longer than 20 miles comfortably. I've always 
 ended up with sore sit bones, numb soft tissue, or both. This has really 
 limited my ability to go on longer trips and after my five day ride on the 
 C canal trail last Sept, it was more apparent than ever I need to find a 
 saddle that won't hurt. 

 I've tried dozens of saddles over the last 15 years- leather, plastic, 
 cutouts, no cutouts, wide, medium, softer, harder, you name it. :( Most of 
 the saddles that have stayed on my bikes for longer than a month have a 
 central cut out, are on the wider side, and plastic. They're good for 
 around town, but that's it. I've never had my sit bones measured. 

 It occurred to me recently that because I've never had a truly 
 comfortable long-distance saddle, I have no idea how one feels. So I 
 figured I'd ask the group. How did The One saddle feel for you? Did it 
 "disappear"? Was it love at first sit? Did it need to be adjusted a lot 
 before finding the ideal position? Is there a certain amount of miles you 
 ride before it becomes uncomfortable? 

 I'd love to hear the group's collective wisdom so I know what to look 
 for in the next saddle I try out. Thanks! 


 -- 
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>>> 
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[RBW] Re: How do I know when a saddle fits?

[Linda G]

Thank you for this offer but I am looking for a B68s, not a B67s ( which I 
already have). If you do indeed have the non-spring S version in honey 
brown I may be interested. I need to get the bike put together and try out 
the B67s and be sure the shape works before I change. The rain up here in 
PNW is holding me up from getting the inside of the frame sprayed outdoors, 
or at least that's my excuse! So no hurry.

On Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 7:04:59 AM UTC-7 Bill Lindsay wrote:

> Hi Linda
>
> In my searches for a B67, at one point I accidentally bought one on eBay, 
> not realizing it's a B67S.  So, I was stuck with a woman's shaped B67.  I 
> tried deploying that saddle on a build for my wife, but she didn't like the 
> build.  That bike is sitting up at my cabin in the mountains as a guest 
> bike.  I could retrieve that saddle next time I'm up in gold country, if 
> you would be interested.  It's essentially new, and it's honey in color. 
>  Let me know if you'd like me to photograph it on my next trip "upstairs". 
>  I'd be looking for $100 shipped to remove it.  
>
> Bill Lindsay
>
> On Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 8:39:15 AM UTC-7 Linda G wrote:
>
>> You write that you have tried many saddles but were any of them woman 
>> specific? Through a lifetime of touring and casual cycling I never had a 
>> saddle that I would describe as comfortable until I found the Terry 
>> Liberator X. By comfortable I mean that I just don't notice it when riding. 
>> Long ago I ran for exercise, before there were running shoes for women. I 
>> would get blisters on my heels and sides of my feet because the heels and 
>> whole shoe was too wide and not shaped for my feet. 
>> My dilemma now is finding a saddle for more upright riding that is 
>> comfortable and also looks good on the Platypus I am building up. What I 
>> think would be ideal is the Brooks B68s but it is not being made. Rivendell 
>> sells the regular B68 if you buy a frame but I have learned that I need a 
>> short saddle. I have bought a B67s and will see how it works out, though I 
>> don't like the extra weight of the springs.
>>
>> On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 1:00:24 PM UTC-7 Emily Guise wrote:
>>
>>> Hello folks, I come to the group with a dilemma. I've never had a saddle 
>>> that I could ride for longer than 20 miles comfortably. I've always ended 
>>> up with sore sit bones, numb soft tissue, or both. This has really limited 
>>> my ability to go on longer trips and after my five day ride on the C 
>>> canal trail last Sept, it was more apparent than ever I need to find a 
>>> saddle that won't hurt. 
>>>
>>> I've tried dozens of saddles over the last 15 years- leather, plastic, 
>>> cutouts, no cutouts, wide, medium, softer, harder, you name it. :( Most of 
>>> the saddles that have stayed on my bikes for longer than a month have a 
>>> central cut out, are on the wider side, and plastic. They're good for 
>>> around town, but that's it. I've never had my sit bones measured. 
>>>
>>> It occurred to me recently that because I've never had a truly 
>>> comfortable long-distance saddle, I have no idea how one feels. So I 
>>> figured I'd ask the group. How did The One saddle feel for you? Did it 
>>> "disappear"? Was it love at first sit? Did it need to be adjusted a lot 
>>> before finding the ideal position? Is there a certain amount of miles you 
>>> ride before it becomes uncomfortable? 
>>>
>>> I'd love to hear the group's collective wisdom so I know what to look 
>>> for in the next saddle I try out. Thanks! 
>>>
>>>
>>>

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Re: [RBW] Re: How do I know when a saddle fits?

[Roberta]

 
(Jock--you probably meant to address this to Emily, but people who might be 
researching might find my comments helpful.)

Yes and I liked the Selle Anatomica one I tried.  Still, it was too 
narrow.  I could feel the saddle between my sitsbones, not under them.

What's the guidelines for saddle width--sitsbones distance + 20 cm? 
Whatever it is, my "perfect number" on paper was more than the 170cm of the 
B17 (I think "perfect number" was 180cm).  That's why I was so interested 
in the new Riv saddle 
https://www.rivbike.com/products/saddle-182-55-plastic-vegan-comfortable  
at 182 cm.   Right now I'm riding B68's and I have a newly reissued B72 to 
put on my Betty Foy.  I ride fairly upright, but not bolt upright.

I think Emily should experiment with the cutouts.  I have a feeling she 
leans more than me (she said "soft tissue" issues).  

On Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 10:22:12 AM UTC-4 John Dewey wrote:

> Roberta, have you experimented with a cut-out saddle? 
>
> Jock
>
> On Tue, Mar 26, 2024 at 12:20 AM Roberta  wrote:
>
>> The Philadelphia Trek store can measure sits bones. Perhaps there is one 
>> near you to give you some direction?
>>
>> I prefer a flat top like the B68 to a rounder top B17. I also have wide 
>> sits bones, so B17 too narrow for me.   I tilt the saddle nose up, so I’m 
>> sitting on the flat back part of the saddle.  Otherwise I slide to the 
>> front sitting on the nose part, and that is very irritating.  Where are you 
>> sitting on the saddle?
>>
>> Also take notice where the seams of your underwear are when you’re riding 
>> as sit bones on seams are irritating. 
>>
>> Roberta
>> Philadelphia 
>>
>> On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 4:00:24 PM UTC-4 Emily Guise wrote:
>>
>>> Hello folks, I come to the group with a dilemma. I've never had a saddle 
>>> that I could ride for longer than 20 miles comfortably. I've always ended 
>>> up with sore sit bones, numb soft tissue, or both. This has really limited 
>>> my ability to go on longer trips and after my five day ride on the C 
>>> canal trail last Sept, it was more apparent than ever I need to find a 
>>> saddle that won't hurt. 
>>>
>>> I've tried dozens of saddles over the last 15 years- leather, plastic, 
>>> cutouts, no cutouts, wide, medium, softer, harder, you name it. :( Most of 
>>> the saddles that have stayed on my bikes for longer than a month have a 
>>> central cut out, are on the wider side, and plastic. They're good for 
>>> around town, but that's it. I've never had my sit bones measured. 
>>>
>>> It occurred to me recently that because I've never had a truly 
>>> comfortable long-distance saddle, I have no idea how one feels. So I 
>>> figured I'd ask the group. How did The One saddle feel for you? Did it 
>>> "disappear"? Was it love at first sit? Did it need to be adjusted a lot 
>>> before finding the ideal position? Is there a certain amount of miles you 
>>> ride before it becomes uncomfortable? 
>>>
>>> I'd love to hear the group's collective wisdom so I know what to look 
>>> for in the next saddle I try out. Thanks! 
>>>
>>>
>>> -- 
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>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/a93cb530-6ec0-4fcd-894a-868948892b91n%40googlegroups.com
>>  
>> 
>> .
>>
>

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Re: [RBW] Re: How do I know when a saddle fits?

[Emily Guise]

Hey all, thanks so much for your insights! I'm local to Portland OR, and 
there is a bike fitter in town, Pedal PT, who also does physical therapy. 
I've been wondering if I should get a fit with them, and it seems like I 
should look into it more seriously.

My travel/adventure/distance bike is a Bike Friday, and that's the one I'd 
get fit. I do tend to like the flatter saddles, and usually ride with the 
nose titled up. A challenge is that I have very long arms and legs but a 
shorter torso. Anyone with a similar body type have any advice?

I have tried women's specific saddles- I tried a Terry Liberator for a 
while, but it was just SO hard, even though the cutout was fantastic. The 
same with the Brookses, I always felt like I was sitting on the metal edge 
or the leather was as unforgiving as wood and as uncomfortable. I'm trying 
out Riv's new plastic saddle on my Platypus right now. It's sort of 
comfortable but also feels maybe not quite wide enough. I'll have to give 
it a few more weeks. 


On Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 7:22:12 AM UTC-7 John Dewey wrote:

> Roberta, have you experimented with a cut-out saddle? 
>
> Jock
>
> On Tue, Mar 26, 2024 at 12:20 AM Roberta  wrote:
>
>> The Philadelphia Trek store can measure sits bones. Perhaps there is one 
>> near you to give you some direction?
>>
>> I prefer a flat top like the B68 to a rounder top B17. I also have wide 
>> sits bones, so B17 too narrow for me.   I tilt the saddle nose up, so I’m 
>> sitting on the flat back part of the saddle.  Otherwise I slide to the 
>> front sitting on the nose part, and that is very irritating.  Where are you 
>> sitting on the saddle?
>>
>> Also take notice where the seams of your underwear are when you’re riding 
>> as sit bones on seams are irritating. 
>>
>> Roberta
>> Philadelphia 
>>
>> On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 4:00:24 PM UTC-4 Emily Guise wrote:
>>
>>> Hello folks, I come to the group with a dilemma. I've never had a saddle 
>>> that I could ride for longer than 20 miles comfortably. I've always ended 
>>> up with sore sit bones, numb soft tissue, or both. This has really limited 
>>> my ability to go on longer trips and after my five day ride on the C 
>>> canal trail last Sept, it was more apparent than ever I need to find a 
>>> saddle that won't hurt. 
>>>
>>> I've tried dozens of saddles over the last 15 years- leather, plastic, 
>>> cutouts, no cutouts, wide, medium, softer, harder, you name it. :( Most of 
>>> the saddles that have stayed on my bikes for longer than a month have a 
>>> central cut out, are on the wider side, and plastic. They're good for 
>>> around town, but that's it. I've never had my sit bones measured. 
>>>
>>> It occurred to me recently that because I've never had a truly 
>>> comfortable long-distance saddle, I have no idea how one feels. So I 
>>> figured I'd ask the group. How did The One saddle feel for you? Did it 
>>> "disappear"? Was it love at first sit? Did it need to be adjusted a lot 
>>> before finding the ideal position? Is there a certain amount of miles you 
>>> ride before it becomes uncomfortable? 
>>>
>>> I'd love to hear the group's collective wisdom so I know what to look 
>>> for in the next saddle I try out. Thanks! 
>>>
>>>
>>> -- 
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
>> "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an 
>> email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
>>
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>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/a93cb530-6ec0-4fcd-894a-868948892b91n%40googlegroups.com
>>  
>> 
>> .
>>
>

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Re: [RBW] Re: How do I know when a saddle fits?

[John Dewey]

Roberta, have you experimented with a cut-out saddle?

Jock

On Tue, Mar 26, 2024 at 12:20 AM Roberta  wrote:

> The Philadelphia Trek store can measure sits bones. Perhaps there is one
> near you to give you some direction?
>
> I prefer a flat top like the B68 to a rounder top B17. I also have wide
> sits bones, so B17 too narrow for me.   I tilt the saddle nose up, so I’m
> sitting on the flat back part of the saddle.  Otherwise I slide to the
> front sitting on the nose part, and that is very irritating.  Where are you
> sitting on the saddle?
>
> Also take notice where the seams of your underwear are when you’re riding
> as sit bones on seams are irritating.
>
> Roberta
> Philadelphia
>
> On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 4:00:24 PM UTC-4 Emily Guise wrote:
>
>> Hello folks, I come to the group with a dilemma. I've never had a saddle
>> that I could ride for longer than 20 miles comfortably. I've always ended
>> up with sore sit bones, numb soft tissue, or both. This has really limited
>> my ability to go on longer trips and after my five day ride on the C
>> canal trail last Sept, it was more apparent than ever I need to find a
>> saddle that won't hurt.
>>
>> I've tried dozens of saddles over the last 15 years- leather, plastic,
>> cutouts, no cutouts, wide, medium, softer, harder, you name it. :( Most of
>> the saddles that have stayed on my bikes for longer than a month have a
>> central cut out, are on the wider side, and plastic. They're good for
>> around town, but that's it. I've never had my sit bones measured.
>>
>> It occurred to me recently that because I've never had a truly
>> comfortable long-distance saddle, I have no idea how one feels. So I
>> figured I'd ask the group. How did The One saddle feel for you? Did it
>> "disappear"? Was it love at first sit? Did it need to be adjusted a lot
>> before finding the ideal position? Is there a certain amount of miles you
>> ride before it becomes uncomfortable?
>>
>> I'd love to hear the group's collective wisdom so I know what to look for
>> in the next saddle I try out. Thanks!
>>
>>
>> --
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> .
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[RBW] Re: How do I know when a saddle fits?

[Bill Lindsay]

Hi Linda

In my searches for a B67, at one point I accidentally bought one on eBay, 
not realizing it's a B67S.  So, I was stuck with a woman's shaped B67.  I 
tried deploying that saddle on a build for my wife, but she didn't like the 
build.  That bike is sitting up at my cabin in the mountains as a guest 
bike.  I could retrieve that saddle next time I'm up in gold country, if 
you would be interested.  It's essentially new, and it's honey in color. 
 Let me know if you'd like me to photograph it on my next trip "upstairs". 
 I'd be looking for $100 shipped to remove it.  

Bill Lindsay

On Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 8:39:15 AM UTC-7 Linda G wrote:

> You write that you have tried many saddles but were any of them woman 
> specific? Through a lifetime of touring and casual cycling I never had a 
> saddle that I would describe as comfortable until I found the Terry 
> Liberator X. By comfortable I mean that I just don't notice it when riding. 
> Long ago I ran for exercise, before there were running shoes for women. I 
> would get blisters on my heels and sides of my feet because the heels and 
> whole shoe was too wide and not shaped for my feet. 
> My dilemma now is finding a saddle for more upright riding that is 
> comfortable and also looks good on the Platypus I am building up. What I 
> think would be ideal is the Brooks B68s but it is not being made. Rivendell 
> sells the regular B68 if you buy a frame but I have learned that I need a 
> short saddle. I have bought a B67s and will see how it works out, though I 
> don't like the extra weight of the springs.
>
> On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 1:00:24 PM UTC-7 Emily Guise wrote:
>
>> Hello folks, I come to the group with a dilemma. I've never had a saddle 
>> that I could ride for longer than 20 miles comfortably. I've always ended 
>> up with sore sit bones, numb soft tissue, or both. This has really limited 
>> my ability to go on longer trips and after my five day ride on the C 
>> canal trail last Sept, it was more apparent than ever I need to find a 
>> saddle that won't hurt. 
>>
>> I've tried dozens of saddles over the last 15 years- leather, plastic, 
>> cutouts, no cutouts, wide, medium, softer, harder, you name it. :( Most of 
>> the saddles that have stayed on my bikes for longer than a month have a 
>> central cut out, are on the wider side, and plastic. They're good for 
>> around town, but that's it. I've never had my sit bones measured. 
>>
>> It occurred to me recently that because I've never had a truly 
>> comfortable long-distance saddle, I have no idea how one feels. So I 
>> figured I'd ask the group. How did The One saddle feel for you? Did it 
>> "disappear"? Was it love at first sit? Did it need to be adjusted a lot 
>> before finding the ideal position? Is there a certain amount of miles you 
>> ride before it becomes uncomfortable? 
>>
>> I'd love to hear the group's collective wisdom so I know what to look for 
>> in the next saddle I try out. Thanks! 
>>
>>
>>

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[RBW] Re: How do I know when a saddle fits?

[Sarah Carlson]

Hi Linda, 

I "temporarily" put my B67 on my Platypus and I think it's going to live 
there now. The springs make a squeaky noise, and I take this bike on club 
rides so sometimes it gets some comments, but I am so comfortable now I 
don't know that I need to "upgrade." There are ways to make the squeaky 
noise stop but now it's just part of my ride and makes me laugh a little 
bit. I thought about switching out to the B68 because I understand we can 
just buy one off the rack from Riv now, and this is my "fast" bike, but I 
don't feel like I need to anymore. I can ride much longer and don't find 
myself as limited by butt pain on my rides. I hope it works out for you!

Sarah

On Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 8:39:15 AM UTC-7 Linda G wrote:

> You write that you have tried many saddles but were any of them woman 
> specific? Through a lifetime of touring and casual cycling I never had a 
> saddle that I would describe as comfortable until I found the Terry 
> Liberator X. By comfortable I mean that I just don't notice it when riding. 
> Long ago I ran for exercise, before there were running shoes for women. I 
> would get blisters on my heels and sides of my feet because the heels and 
> whole shoe was too wide and not shaped for my feet. 
> My dilemma now is finding a saddle for more upright riding that is 
> comfortable and also looks good on the Platypus I am building up. What I 
> think would be ideal is the Brooks B68s but it is not being made. Rivendell 
> sells the regular B68 if you buy a frame but I have learned that I need a 
> short saddle. I have bought a B67s and will see how it works out, though I 
> don't like the extra weight of the springs.
>
> On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 1:00:24 PM UTC-7 Emily Guise wrote:
>
>> Hello folks, I come to the group with a dilemma. I've never had a saddle 
>> that I could ride for longer than 20 miles comfortably. I've always ended 
>> up with sore sit bones, numb soft tissue, or both. This has really limited 
>> my ability to go on longer trips and after my five day ride on the C 
>> canal trail last Sept, it was more apparent than ever I need to find a 
>> saddle that won't hurt. 
>>
>> I've tried dozens of saddles over the last 15 years- leather, plastic, 
>> cutouts, no cutouts, wide, medium, softer, harder, you name it. :( Most of 
>> the saddles that have stayed on my bikes for longer than a month have a 
>> central cut out, are on the wider side, and plastic. They're good for 
>> around town, but that's it. I've never had my sit bones measured. 
>>
>> It occurred to me recently that because I've never had a truly 
>> comfortable long-distance saddle, I have no idea how one feels. So I 
>> figured I'd ask the group. How did The One saddle feel for you? Did it 
>> "disappear"? Was it love at first sit? Did it need to be adjusted a lot 
>> before finding the ideal position? Is there a certain amount of miles you 
>> ride before it becomes uncomfortable? 
>>
>> I'd love to hear the group's collective wisdom so I know what to look for 
>> in the next saddle I try out. Thanks! 
>>
>>
>>

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[RBW] Re: How do I know when a saddle fits?

[Linda G]

You write that you have tried many saddles but were any of them woman 
specific? Through a lifetime of touring and casual cycling I never had a 
saddle that I would describe as comfortable until I found the Terry 
Liberator X. By comfortable I mean that I just don't notice it when riding. 
Long ago I ran for exercise, before there were running shoes for women. I 
would get blisters on my heels and sides of my feet because the heels and 
whole shoe was too wide and not shaped for my feet. 
My dilemma now is finding a saddle for more upright riding that is 
comfortable and also looks good on the Platypus I am building up. What I 
think would be ideal is the Brooks B68s but it is not being made. Rivendell 
sells the regular B68 if you buy a frame but I have learned that I need a 
short saddle. I have bought a B67s and will see how it works out, though I 
don't like the extra weight of the springs.

On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 1:00:24 PM UTC-7 Emily Guise wrote:

> Hello folks, I come to the group with a dilemma. I've never had a saddle 
> that I could ride for longer than 20 miles comfortably. I've always ended 
> up with sore sit bones, numb soft tissue, or both. This has really limited 
> my ability to go on longer trips and after my five day ride on the C 
> canal trail last Sept, it was more apparent than ever I need to find a 
> saddle that won't hurt. 
>
> I've tried dozens of saddles over the last 15 years- leather, plastic, 
> cutouts, no cutouts, wide, medium, softer, harder, you name it. :( Most of 
> the saddles that have stayed on my bikes for longer than a month have a 
> central cut out, are on the wider side, and plastic. They're good for 
> around town, but that's it. I've never had my sit bones measured. 
>
> It occurred to me recently that because I've never had a truly comfortable 
> long-distance saddle, I have no idea how one feels. So I figured I'd ask 
> the group. How did The One saddle feel for you? Did it "disappear"? Was it 
> love at first sit? Did it need to be adjusted a lot before finding the 
> ideal position? Is there a certain amount of miles you ride before it 
> becomes uncomfortable? 
>
> I'd love to hear the group's collective wisdom so I know what to look for 
> in the next saddle I try out. Thanks! 
>
>
>

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[RBW] Re: How do I know when a saddle fits?

[Chris Halasz]

How I know a saddle fits, triangulated: 

i. First off, the most comfortable saddle for hours-long rides is not 
*necessarily* (in fact, rarely) plush and comfortable as soon as I sit on 
it. My favorite saddles (B68 for upright, B17 Champion Special for when 
less than upright) feel just OK when I get on the bike, and my sitbones are 
in the 13cm range, and I weigh around 165lbs. Raced bikes in the 70s and 
80s; now I stop and smell the flowers. 

ii. Because it fells just OK, I'm led to think "should I be trying out that 
other saddle someone else recommended"? Then I remember I've tried just 
about every major brand out there in the past several decades, and then, 
after an hour or so, I completely forget about the saddle. 

iii. After the ride - shortly thereafter, and the next day following a 
several-hours long ride: no latent issues - no discomfort, chafing, 
whatever. Just nirvana of the nether region. 

I always give a new saddle at *least* a few weeks of riding before 
judgment. Say, a minimum dozen good rides. I keep an Allen key magnetically 
attached to the frame for quick and easy tip/tilt adjustments while on a 
ride, and experiment with extremes! My B68 tilt looks pretty much like the 
photo on the RBW site for the same saddle, maybe angled just a bit more. 

Agree with all that an objective bike fit peer review is not a bad idea. 
Hope you can find someone who understands bike fit from a not necessarily 
racy bike shop, unless it's racy you want! 

Cheers 

Chris 

On Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 4:45:12 PM UTC-7 Wesley wrote:

> On my most comfortable saddle, I generally start noticing irritation of 
> the skin over my sit bones after about 5 hours. Obviously, that's only an 
> issue on long rides. This is a well-broken-in Brooks, but it was fairly 
> comfortable since new (I worked some flex into the sit bone areas by 
> massaging it with mink oil.) I am not expecting to ever have a saddle that 
> is painless no matter how long I ride, and I generally don't wear padded 
> shorts.
> -Wes
>
> On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 1:00:24 PM UTC-7 Emily Guise wrote:
>
>> Hello folks, I come to the group with a dilemma. I've never had a saddle 
>> that I could ride for longer than 20 miles comfortably. I've always ended 
>> up with sore sit bones, numb soft tissue, or both. This has really limited 
>> my ability to go on longer trips and after my five day ride on the C 
>> canal trail last Sept, it was more apparent than ever I need to find a 
>> saddle that won't hurt. 
>>
>> I've tried dozens of saddles over the last 15 years- leather, plastic, 
>> cutouts, no cutouts, wide, medium, softer, harder, you name it. :( Most of 
>> the saddles that have stayed on my bikes for longer than a month have a 
>> central cut out, are on the wider side, and plastic. They're good for 
>> around town, but that's it. I've never had my sit bones measured. 
>>
>> It occurred to me recently that because I've never had a truly 
>> comfortable long-distance saddle, I have no idea how one feels. So I 
>> figured I'd ask the group. How did The One saddle feel for you? Did it 
>> "disappear"? Was it love at first sit? Did it need to be adjusted a lot 
>> before finding the ideal position? Is there a certain amount of miles you 
>> ride before it becomes uncomfortable? 
>>
>> I'd love to hear the group's collective wisdom so I know what to look for 
>> in the next saddle I try out. Thanks! 
>>
>>
>>

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[RBW] Re: How do I know when a saddle fits?

[Wesley]

On my most comfortable saddle, I generally start noticing irritation of the 
skin over my sit bones after about 5 hours. Obviously, that's only an issue 
on long rides. This is a well-broken-in Brooks, but it was fairly 
comfortable since new (I worked some flex into the sit bone areas by 
massaging it with mink oil.) I am not expecting to ever have a saddle that 
is painless no matter how long I ride, and I generally don't wear padded 
shorts.
-Wes

On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 1:00:24 PM UTC-7 Emily Guise wrote:

> Hello folks, I come to the group with a dilemma. I've never had a saddle 
> that I could ride for longer than 20 miles comfortably. I've always ended 
> up with sore sit bones, numb soft tissue, or both. This has really limited 
> my ability to go on longer trips and after my five day ride on the C 
> canal trail last Sept, it was more apparent than ever I need to find a 
> saddle that won't hurt. 
>
> I've tried dozens of saddles over the last 15 years- leather, plastic, 
> cutouts, no cutouts, wide, medium, softer, harder, you name it. :( Most of 
> the saddles that have stayed on my bikes for longer than a month have a 
> central cut out, are on the wider side, and plastic. They're good for 
> around town, but that's it. I've never had my sit bones measured. 
>
> It occurred to me recently that because I've never had a truly comfortable 
> long-distance saddle, I have no idea how one feels. So I figured I'd ask 
> the group. How did The One saddle feel for you? Did it "disappear"? Was it 
> love at first sit? Did it need to be adjusted a lot before finding the 
> ideal position? Is there a certain amount of miles you ride before it 
> becomes uncomfortable? 
>
> I'd love to hear the group's collective wisdom so I know what to look for 
> in the next saddle I try out. Thanks! 
>
>
>

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[RBW] Re: How do I know when a saddle fits?

[Anthony Holden]

Pain is an obvious sign that something is wrong. And I think that's one 
reason why it's easy to tell when a saddle ISN'T a fit. But what feels 
right can be so subjective.

Obviously Riv and Grant are big proponents of Brooks. I've had several 
Brooks saddles, and not every one feels the same. I've had B17s that were 
stiff as a board despite many years and miles of riding, and then more 
recently the B68 that I got with my Appaloosa that felt broken in from the 
first ride. With saddles, like anything else on a bike, YMMV. Despite the 
variety of experiences I've had with Brooks saddles, I've felt they were 
all comfortable in their own way. The key for me has been finding the 
positioning that works for a particular saddle on a particular bike. Moving 
it little by little to find the sweet spot. If I feel myself sliding up the 
nose as I pedal, I consider tilting the nose upward a little. If my knees 
feel out of plumb with my cranks, I shift it forward or aft a hair to find 
a position that works better. It's kind of like dialing in tire pressure. 
Just keep fiddling with it until you find what works for you and the kind 
of riding you do.

Any kind of pain, especially lingering pain (like ongoing numbness 
post-ride or a persistent nerve twinge, for example) is an indication that 
the saddle or its positioning isn't working for you. Normal pain that's 
derived from effort, howeve, is to be expected with any saddle. Riding a 
bike is never a pain-free activity in that sense. Using your muscles, 
putting pressure on your wrists, feet, and sit bones is going to cause some 
discomfort. One thing that helped me a ton is realizing that no bike rider 
(pro, enthusiast, or regular fella like me) is ever riding for any 
significant distance without changing up their posture. Moving around on 
the bike is normal. Shifting weight, pedaling while standing, moving hand 
positions--all these things can affect how a saddle feels for me. 
Especially, like you say, when the distance is over 20 miles or more. Butt 
toughness also tends to build up for me over the season. I'm always a 
little sore after not riding for a while. If I've been riding a lot lately, 
I can do more miles without a sore tush.

Don't know if any of that helps at all, but hopefully it gives you 
something to think about. I'm curious about others' experiences.

On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 1:28:42 PM UTC-7 George Schick wrote:

> Oh boy. There are so many variables that go into good saddle fit and 
> comfort that I'm not sure where to begin.  One has to do with the type of 
> shorts (or other garbs) which you wear to ride.  Many on this blog have 
> talked about the thinner the padding in their shorts the more comfy the 
> ride.  Then again, there is the matter of riding position.  If you are 
> riding in a more upright position on a bike with bars that reach way back 
> you will likely put more pressure and possibly friction on your groin area 
> causing discomfort.  There are those who seem to like riding that way - 
> kinda like a rolling leg press machine, putting lots and lots of pressure 
> on the pedals with every stroke in a very high gear, maybe that's how they 
> get by with it - but that's not normative with everyone.  And, of course, 
> there's always the usually undiscussed issue of just how sensitive those 
> lower bones (ischial tuberosity tissues}, and other skin and muscle 
> tissues play a part. 
>
> On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 3:00:24 PM UTC-5 Emily Guise wrote:
>
>> Hello folks, I come to the group with a dilemma. I've never had a saddle 
>> that I could ride for longer than 20 miles comfortably. I've always ended 
>> up with sore sit bones, numb soft tissue, or both. This has really limited 
>> my ability to go on longer trips and after my five day ride on the C 
>> canal trail last Sept, it was more apparent than ever I need to find a 
>> saddle that won't hurt. 
>>
>> I've tried dozens of saddles over the last 15 years- leather, plastic, 
>> cutouts, no cutouts, wide, medium, softer, harder, you name it. :( Most of 
>> the saddles that have stayed on my bikes for longer than a month have a 
>> central cut out, are on the wider side, and plastic. They're good for 
>> around town, but that's it. I've never had my sit bones measured. 
>>
>> It occurred to me recently that because I've never had a truly 
>> comfortable long-distance saddle, I have no idea how one feels. So I 
>> figured I'd ask the group. How did The One saddle feel for you? Did it 
>> "disappear"? Was it love at first sit? Did it need to be adjusted a lot 
>> before finding the ideal position? Is there a certain amount of miles you 
>> ride before it becomes uncomfortable? 
>>
>> I'd love to hear the group's collective wisdom so I know what to look for 
>> in the next saddle I try out. Thanks! 
>>
>>
>>

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[RBW] Re: How do I know when a saddle fits?

[Roberta]

The Philadelphia Trek store can measure sits bones. Perhaps there is one 
near you to give you some direction?

I prefer a flat top like the B68 to a rounder top B17. I also have wide 
sits bones, so B17 too narrow for me.   I tilt the saddle nose up, so I’m 
sitting on the flat back part of the saddle.  Otherwise I slide to the 
front sitting on the nose part, and that is very irritating.  Where are you 
sitting on the saddle?

Also take notice where the seams of your underwear are when you’re riding 
as sit bones on seams are irritating. 

Roberta
Philadelphia 

On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 4:00:24 PM UTC-4 Emily Guise wrote:

> Hello folks, I come to the group with a dilemma. I've never had a saddle 
> that I could ride for longer than 20 miles comfortably. I've always ended 
> up with sore sit bones, numb soft tissue, or both. This has really limited 
> my ability to go on longer trips and after my five day ride on the C 
> canal trail last Sept, it was more apparent than ever I need to find a 
> saddle that won't hurt. 
>
> I've tried dozens of saddles over the last 15 years- leather, plastic, 
> cutouts, no cutouts, wide, medium, softer, harder, you name it. :( Most of 
> the saddles that have stayed on my bikes for longer than a month have a 
> central cut out, are on the wider side, and plastic. They're good for 
> around town, but that's it. I've never had my sit bones measured. 
>
> It occurred to me recently that because I've never had a truly comfortable 
> long-distance saddle, I have no idea how one feels. So I figured I'd ask 
> the group. How did The One saddle feel for you? Did it "disappear"? Was it 
> love at first sit? Did it need to be adjusted a lot before finding the 
> ideal position? Is there a certain amount of miles you ride before it 
> becomes uncomfortable? 
>
> I'd love to hear the group's collective wisdom so I know what to look for 
> in the next saddle I try out. Thanks! 
>
>
>

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[RBW] Re: How do I know when a saddle fits?

[George Schick]

Oh boy. There are so many variables that go into good saddle fit and 
comfort that I'm not sure where to begin.  One has to do with the type of 
shorts (or other garbs) which you wear to ride.  Many on this blog have 
talked about the thinner the padding in their shorts the more comfy the 
ride.  Then again, there is the matter of riding position.  If you are 
riding in a more upright position on a bike with bars that reach way back 
you will likely put more pressure and possibly friction on your groin area 
causing discomfort.  There are those who seem to like riding that way - 
kinda like a rolling leg press machine, putting lots and lots of pressure 
on the pedals with every stroke in a very high gear, maybe that's how they 
get by with it - but that's not normative with everyone.  And, of course, 
there's always the usually undiscussed issue of just how sensitive those 
lower bones (ischial tuberosity tissues}, and other skin and muscle tissues 
play a part. 

On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 3:00:24 PM UTC-5 Emily Guise wrote:

> Hello folks, I come to the group with a dilemma. I've never had a saddle 
> that I could ride for longer than 20 miles comfortably. I've always ended 
> up with sore sit bones, numb soft tissue, or both. This has really limited 
> my ability to go on longer trips and after my five day ride on the C 
> canal trail last Sept, it was more apparent than ever I need to find a 
> saddle that won't hurt. 
>
> I've tried dozens of saddles over the last 15 years- leather, plastic, 
> cutouts, no cutouts, wide, medium, softer, harder, you name it. :( Most of 
> the saddles that have stayed on my bikes for longer than a month have a 
> central cut out, are on the wider side, and plastic. They're good for 
> around town, but that's it. I've never had my sit bones measured. 
>
> It occurred to me recently that because I've never had a truly comfortable 
> long-distance saddle, I have no idea how one feels. So I figured I'd ask 
> the group. How did The One saddle feel for you? Did it "disappear"? Was it 
> love at first sit? Did it need to be adjusted a lot before finding the 
> ideal position? Is there a certain amount of miles you ride before it 
> becomes uncomfortable? 
>
> I'd love to hear the group's collective wisdom so I know what to look for 
> in the next saddle I try out. Thanks! 
>
>
>

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