Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Yet another saddle thread

OK - I have been trying to find a comfortable long distance saddle. It seems that every saddle I try causes numbness in 30 minutes or so. Also, I need a wider saddle than the standard 130 - 135mm.

I tried a Selle AnAtomica with good results but the thing just won’t hold my 240 pound weight. In less than two months I had the adjustment screw backed all the way out but the saddle felt mushy and I felt like I was falling through the cut out.

I also tried a Brooks B-17 but when the back was level the nose put pressure on my perineum, when the nose was level I slid forward onto the nose causing the same pressure. I had pain with every pedal stroke, to the extent that I had to give it up after less than three hundred miles of torture. Too bad, because when the rear was level it was very comfortable on my “sit bones” (just not the rest of my anatomy).

I’ve been looking at the Brooks Swift on their website. Does anyone know if the Swift is flatter than the B-17? If it’s relatively flat it might be worth trying. If it has the same “nose up” geometry, it would just be a waste of (a lot of) money.

You may want to try out some plastic saddles. Most bike shops have a set of lending saddles that you can try for a week. There may be a deposit, or not, depending on the shop. You may also consider the idea that you don't need a wider saddle. Your sitbones are not necessarily wider because of your weight. A couple of years ago, I weighed 230, and my saddle still needed to be fairly narrow. That's why a test run is such a good idea. If nothing else, you can get a good idea which brooks to buy and invest your time in.

I recently tried a number of saddles. I tried to get out and sit on them for 50 miles. I mistakenly rode the most recent one on a 200k, ouch :)

Thanks for the reply. The bike came with a WTB saddle and I tried several other saddles during a pro fitting a few weeks ago. Has nothing to do with my weight, just my perception that my sitbones are definitely wider than a standard 135mm seat. I can feel that only the inner edges of the bones are on the saddle - feels sort of like I'm riding on the seat post, or about to be examined by my urologist if you catch my drift.

The shop that did the fitting didn't have any wider men's saddles in stock. They have ordered a couple for me to try during a follow up next week. They're recommending a Terry Liberator and/or Selle Italia Max Flite Trans Am. I'll pick one of those and ride for a few more weeks. Just thought I'd ask about the Swift.

According to the Harris Cyclery web site, the B-17 is wider than the Pro, which is wider than the Swift, which is wider than the Swallow.

Yes. According to Wallingford (http://www.wallbike.com/brooks/standardsaddles.html), the Swift is 152mm wide which is still considerably wider than the "norm" these days, and wider than the Selle Italia LDY that I'm using as a stop-gap.

My question is not about the Swift's width, but the "angle of attack" so to speak. A B-17 has a distinct angle to it. If the flat, back part of the saddle is level, the nose points up a few degrees. I'm just wondering if the Swift has that same "bend" in the middle.

Thanks for the reply. The bike came with a WTB saddle and I tried several other saddles during a pro fitting a few weeks ago. Has nothing to do with my weight, just my perception that my sitbones are definitely wider than a standard 135mm seat. I can feel that only the inner edges of the bones are on the saddle - feels sort of like I'm riding on the seat post, or about to be examined by my urologist if you catch my drift.

The shop that did the fitting didn't have any wider men's saddles in stock. They have ordered a couple for me to try during a follow up next week. They're recommending a Terry Liberator and/or Selle Italia Max Flite Trans Am. I'll pick one of those and ride for a few more weeks. Just thought I'd ask about the Swift.


That feeling of only the inner edges bein on the saddle - that's exactly what I had when I tried an Alias 130. After that I went back to the store and got measured for real, and found a 143 is my correct size.

I have the same issues, very wide sit bones, and tender nether regions (6'5" 220lbs). I had problems going numb. Last year I went to see a local bicycle fit specialist and he recommended the Respiro (http://www.rei.com/product/768502). I like it because it's wide enough for my sit bones, has a good cut out section and isn't too soft. I used it for most of last year and found it to be very comfortable. I rode alot of long rides - a couple centuries and Seattle to Portland in one day (204 miles). My butt and everything else 'down there' was just fine at the end of the ride.

It's not the lightest saddle at 370 grams, but I think it's lighter than the brooks.

I have a B-17 and a Swift. I understand what you're saying about the "bend" in the middle of the B-17, and I think the Swift has less of that. But then my Swift is also pretty new and not nearly as broken in as my B-17, so I wouldn't bank on a big difference once they're both broken in.

You might also try the Team Pro. It has thicker, stiffer leather and seems to be more rounded on top with no sag in the middle at all. I had a hell of a time with the Team Pro, could never get comfortable at all on it, but it may work perfectly for you.

I may never find the perfect saddle, but for now my Koobi PRS Century is definitely the best. Very narrow in the front and wider at the tail with decent padding and some shock absorption for the sit bones. I am somewhat lighter but they do tailor the shock absorbers to the weight of the rider.

I have also had good luck with the Brook Champion Flyer on my touring bike but it's heavy for sure.

I am also tinkering with the Brooks B-17 Imperial and Specialized Toupe Gel on my other bikes -- but the jury is still out.

WTB dealers have a demo saddle program. I tried most of their saddles. The Laser V was probably best but I ended up with a Pure V that is too wide for road riding, so it'll end up on a mountain bike at some point.

The most important advice I could give is to level any saddle very carefully using a hardcover book on top of the saddle to average out the peaks and valleys. Then adjust in small increments up or down until you get the best ride.

Your exact position on the saddle is also critical to putting your sit bones in the exact spot that the saddle designer intended. I found with the Toupe Gel that moving backwards on the saddle a half-inch made all the difference. Most seatposts are horrible to adjust. They move at random in uncontrollable increments. I have a Salsa Shaft on order and I hope it lives up to expectations.

I may never find the perfect saddle, but for now my Koobi PRS Century is definitely the best. Very narrow in the front and wider at the tail with decent padding and some shock absorption for the sit bones. I am somewhat lighter but they do tailor the shock absorbers to the weight of the rider.

+1

Love my Koobi Century. splurge on a Thomson SP and you're good to go.

I'll throw this out there...
Reducing the angle you are bent over reduces the amount of pressure on the perineum and puts pressure where it should be - the sit bones, such as; shortening reach, raising bars, moving seat forward.

Any and every seat becomes an ass-hatchet with an ill fitting bike...I know.

One of your LBS's ought to have the Specialized tool that measures your sit-bone width. At least you can verify what saddle width you need.

I sympathize with your quest. Finding the right saddle can take a lot longer than finding the right bike. Unfortunately I think the saddle market has been flooded with gimmics where proper science is needed.