Commuting - How does one measure one's sit bone width?

I've seen references to measuring your sit bone width... how would you do that? A butt ruler?

Yes. Exactly. Butt ruler.

/thread

Is it the same as what they use at the butcher's to measure the butt roasts?

Most bike stores offer this service for free. Just walk in, drop your pants and bend over. Someone will come out with a ruler right away.


(Read this (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=100595) thread.)

I've seen references to measuring your sit bone width... how would you do that? A butt ruler?

I've heard you can dampen a piece of cardboard, sit on it for a few minutes against a hard surface, and see the depressions. Measure from center to center. But I've not tried this, as my saddle (Brooks B17) is great.

Walter

Just an idea. Get a wide enough slab of the crushable green foam used by flower shops to hold arrangements. Sit on it. Measure the distance between the two dents you leave. Or try a bunch of different saddles at a bike shop until you find one that fits then measure it.

How about, "Honey... just take this ruler and..."

Nah... bad idea...

I measured mine by taking a stack of 5 or 6 paper towels, placing one or two damp paper towels on top, and sitting down (trying to mimic a riding position as good as possible). After a couple seconds, I got up, and separated the sheets. The top few will have a huge wet area, and as you go down farther this will get smaller and smaller. One of these sheets will have two small wet areas, measure the distance between these. It helps to circle the spots with a marker so you don't have to worry about them drying.

If you go to an LBS that sells Specialized saddles they'll have a spiffy thing you sit on and measures your sit bones. Wear you cycling shorts when you go.

And here I always thought that the way you measure how wide of a seat you need is to sit on a seat or several seats 'til you find one that works!

If you sit knees-straight-forward on something and look at the marks your behind makes on something flat and wide, you will not get a good idea of what will fit you when your knees are lower than your butt and you are sitting on something narrow.

I offer this service for free. Women only please.

DON

Just go to a LBS and test ride some saddles. You're making it too complicated

You sit on an Assometer.


http://www.nidus-corp.com/TinyImages/LargeImages/assometer.jpg (javascript:window.close())

You sit on an Assometer.


http://www.nidus-corp.com/TinyImages/LargeImages/assometer.jpg (javascript:window.close())

It's all well and good for skeletons, but what are we to do?

sit bone = ischial tuberosity

I think the standard unit of measure for butt width in this country is axe handles.

I think the standard unit of measure for butt width in this country is axe handles.

Yessir... yessir it is! :p