Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Saddle fit...amazing new machine

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Saddle fit...amazing new machine

Old 09-10-14, 06:54 PM
  #51  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
bruce19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,456

Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1722 Post(s)
Liked 1,272 Times in 734 Posts
Originally Posted by Porschefan
As a newb cyclist having problems finding a saddle that works, I'd certainly be willing to try this out, but I'm pretty sure that neither of the other two of these machines is at the Trek store here. Anything to help avoid trial-and-error at $100-200 a pop!

STP
As far as I can tell this is the curse of road cycling. There are so many variables involved. Like are you a new cyclist who hasn't yet ridden enough and/or far enough to know what works for you? Will your saddle needs change once your butt is in shape? How about if you lose weight. Or if you change position on the bike. Raise your saddle? Lower your saddle? Invariably I've ended up with that box full of saddles I mentioned.

I rode tonight on a new "loaner" saddle and it was pretty good. But, it was a short ride (25 mi.) without a lot of climbing but including some serious hammering. Yet to see how the saddle will work for 50+ mi.
bruce19 is offline  
Old 09-10-14, 06:58 PM
  #52  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
bruce19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,456

Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1722 Post(s)
Liked 1,272 Times in 734 Posts
Originally Posted by gc3
So...the Trek/Bontrager magical ass-sizer tells you which kind of Trek/Bontrager saddle to buy....?
Actually the saddle with the least pressure points was a Cobb. But, the nose was wide enough that it felt a little bit uncomfortable on my inner thigh. So, I'm trying a narrower Bontrager. The rumor is that Trek is going to use the cumulative results of these tests to inform their new saddle design.
bruce19 is offline  
Old 09-10-14, 07:15 PM
  #53  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Washington, Mo
Posts: 328

Bikes: Trek 1.5, Scwinn Sporterra comp, Cannondale Synapse carbon

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Porschefan
As a newb cyclist having problems finding a saddle that works, I'd certainly be willing to try this out, but I'm pretty sure that neither of the other two of these machines is at the Trek store here. Anything to help avoid trial-and-error at $100-200 a pop!

STP
Many places (I know Performnace for sure) will let you purchase a saddle and return it for full credit if you don't like it, as long as it's a reasonable time frame.
moppeddler is offline  
Old 09-10-14, 07:27 PM
  #54  
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 46
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by gc3
So...the Trek/Bontrager magical ass-sizer tells you which kind of Trek/Bontrager saddle to buy....?
It's available for purchase by any Trek dealer. Our owner is considering it.
The device would work for any saddle brand.
Chader09 is offline  
Old 09-10-14, 09:36 PM
  #55  
Seρor Blues
 
on the path's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: upstate NY
Posts: 1,598

Bikes: Cannondale CAAD 10, Breezer Venturi Custom Build, IRO Singlespeed

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 127 Post(s)
Liked 6 Times in 6 Posts
Saddle problems with me have always gone away after a well timed and well paced htfu period..
on the path is offline  
Old 09-10-14, 09:54 PM
  #56  
Senior Member
 
Duane Behrens's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Minnesota and Southern California
Posts: 628

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac (carbon), Specialized Roubaix (carbon, wifey), Raleigh Super Course (my favorite), and 2 Centurion project bikes.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by Shimagnolo
Yes, it produces twenty-four eight by ten color glossy photographs with circles and arrows, and a paragraph on the back explaining the meaning of each.
. . . and they ALLLLLL moved away from me on the bench there, until I said, ". . . and creatin' a disturbance . . . ", and then they ALLLL moved close to me on the bench again and we had a good time talkin' about father rapin' and all kinds of GROOVY things . . . .
Duane Behrens is offline  
Old 09-10-14, 09:55 PM
  #57  
Senior Member
 
Duane Behrens's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Minnesota and Southern California
Posts: 628

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac (carbon), Specialized Roubaix (carbon, wifey), Raleigh Super Course (my favorite), and 2 Centurion project bikes.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by bruce19
Actually the saddle with the least pressure points was a Cobb. But, the nose was wide enough that it felt a little bit uncomfortable on my inner thigh. So, I'm trying a narrower Bontrager. The rumor is that Trek is going to use the cumulative results of these tests to inform their new saddle design.
I took the test today. Found out I need a Brooks.
Duane Behrens is offline  
Old 09-11-14, 06:05 AM
  #58  
Senior Member
 
Garfield Cat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Posts: 7,079

Bikes: Cervelo Prodigy

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 475 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 87 Times in 67 Posts
Originally Posted by bruce19
Sorry I wasn't more clear. This test was done using 5 different saddles. It was recommended that I wear my regular cycling shorts which happen to be Assos.

The real test is, of course, in riding. But, I thought it was pretty impressive that this could all be computerized and graphically represented. And, because I was his first one he didn't charge me anything and let me try the saddle that seemed to fit best. Will be doing a couple rides this week to see how the results measure up. FWIW we spent about 2 hours with this just because we were both interested in all the nuances. Previously Steve had fit me to a size 58 Masi I had been riding for several years. This time I came in with my new-to-me 54 Guru and he made sure all the stats were transferred to that bike. Again, at no charge. One of the things that became abundantly clear is different positions on the bike can make a serious difference in saddle comfort. I didn't realize how significant this could be. It was a great experience.
Another thing about the Assos. It has a fair amount of padding and that padding moves. I think all padding moves and there's a "sweet spot" that Assos and others consider. On hot and humid days the padding and shorts play an even more important role. I have always felt that the saddle makers and the shorts makers really need to work together. Right now they're "dysfunctional" to a certain degree.
Garfield Cat is offline  
Old 09-11-14, 06:06 AM
  #59  
Administrator
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Delaware shore
Posts: 13,569

Bikes: Cervelo C5, Guru Photon, Waterford, Specialized CX

Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1102 Post(s)
Liked 2,135 Times in 1,440 Posts
Originally Posted by on the path
Saddle problems with me have always gone away after a well timed and well paced htfu period..
Exactly the same with me. The only one that didn't work was a cheap one that came on a new commuter replacement. When I get a new saddle, I play around with adjustments and just ride. By the time I get a few hundred miles on if, it's perfect.
StanSeven is offline  
Old 09-11-14, 06:20 AM
  #60  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
bruce19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,456

Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1722 Post(s)
Liked 1,272 Times in 734 Posts
Originally Posted by moppeddler
Many places (I know Performnace for sure) will let you purchase a saddle and return it for full credit if you don't like it, as long as it's a reasonable time frame.
A lot of saddle manufacturers have 30 or 60 day trials.
bruce19 is offline  
Old 09-11-14, 06:45 AM
  #61  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 236

Bikes: 17 Spot Acme, 14 Lynskey Peleton

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I was in a local bike shop yesterday and most of their saddles were loaners, very little stock.
Phlorida is offline  
Old 09-11-14, 08:17 PM
  #62  
Full Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 434
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 37 Post(s)
Liked 22 Times in 13 Posts
Originally Posted by Duane Behrens
. . . and they ALLLLLL moved away from me on the bench there, until I said, ". . . and creatin' a disturbance . . . ", and then they ALLLL moved close to me on the bench again and we had a good time talkin' about father rapin' and all kinds of GROOVY things . . . .
IIRC there were 27 eight by ten color glossy photos - not 24
Point is offline  
Old 09-11-14, 10:21 PM
  #63  
Senior Member
 
basqueonacaad's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: The Continental Divide
Posts: 113

Bikes: CDALE CAAD10

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
If I had one of them there electronic ass measurement / biomapping devices, I would program it to only suggest saddles on the wall....none of the bargain bin saddles would ever be recommended.
basqueonacaad is offline  
Old 09-11-14, 10:43 PM
  #64  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 7,048
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 509 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times in 8 Posts
Originally Posted by bruce19
One of the things that became abundantly clear is different positions on the bike can make a serious difference in saddle comfort. I didn't realize how significant this could be. It was a great experience.
Originally Posted by on the path
Maybe more of a difference than the saddle itself??
Bingo.
B. Carfree is offline  
Old 09-12-14, 04:27 AM
  #65  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
bruce19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,456

Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1722 Post(s)
Liked 1,272 Times in 734 Posts
Figured out how to post my saddle test results.
Attached Files
bruce19 is offline  
Old 09-12-14, 08:55 AM
  #66  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 4,671

Bikes: N+1=5

Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 875 Post(s)
Liked 243 Times in 180 Posts
Originally Posted by bruce19
Figured out how to post my saddle test results.
That's pretty cool. Looks like you tend to sit more on your right side than your left and by a significant amount. Is that true?

Looks like the Cobb was the best for you. If you like that, but think it's a bit wide in the nose, you ought to look at Koobi Saddles (Koobi - Bike Saddles for Road, Mountain and Triathlons). My guess is from looking at these images, it would be a perfect fit for you.

j.
JohnJ80 is offline  
Old 09-12-14, 10:08 AM
  #67  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
bruce19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,456

Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1722 Post(s)
Liked 1,272 Times in 734 Posts
Originally Posted by JohnJ80
That's pretty cool. Looks like you tend to sit more on your right side than your left and by a significant amount. Is that true?

Looks like the Cobb was the best for you. If you like that, but think it's a bit wide in the nose, you ought to look at Koobi Saddles (Koobi - Bike Saddles for Road, Mountain and Triathlons). My guess is from looking at these images, it would be a perfect fit for you.

j.
That does seem to be true. Next step is to check leg length discrepancy. Cobb makes a saddle called the SHC that also might work.
bruce19 is offline  
Old 09-12-14, 05:23 PM
  #68  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 141
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by bruce19
Figured out how to post my saddle test results.
You might want to try lowering your seat or shimming your right cleat rather than replacing your saddle. There must be a reason you are leaning to the right so much more than the left.
Numbskull is offline  
Old 09-13-14, 03:45 PM
  #69  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 51
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
whats this machine called and is it for sale here in the states?
korbjonathan is offline  
Old 09-13-14, 06:52 PM
  #70  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
bruce19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,456

Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1722 Post(s)
Liked 1,272 Times in 734 Posts
Originally Posted by bruce19
Figured out how to post my saddle test results.
The only thing I have is what is printed on the graphic display previously posted. I recall that Steve (the shop owner) said there were only three demo machines in the US and Trek let him buy one. I think they go for $6K each.
bruce19 is offline  
Old 10-19-14, 06:47 AM
  #71  
etw
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 574
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 36 Post(s)
Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Any more feedback on your results after more long term testing of the new saddle(s)?
etw is offline  
Old 10-19-14, 07:58 AM
  #72  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
bruce19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,456

Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1722 Post(s)
Liked 1,272 Times in 734 Posts
Originally Posted by etw
Any more feedback on your results after more long term testing of the new saddle(s)?
Yes. It seems I have a physical anomaly. We tried shimming without positive result. We also did that "etch-a-sketch" pad thing and it showed more impact on the right. And, when left in the original position (no shims) on his fit bike it showed that I was pedaling with 85% circular efficiency in each leg. He was amazed because 1.) 85% is really good for recreational riders (his words) 70% is "good for a recreational rider" and 2.) it is rare to see no imbalance in legs. I attribute this to never having owned a trainer and always riding rollers. As a result of all of this testing and trial and error with different saddles I've learned a few things. There's probably never going to be a "perfect" saddle for me. But, I can ride anything for 30 mi. After that is the tricky part. Also, despite the pad thing saying saddle width should be 143mm, 130-135mm is much better. Also learned I don't need the ergo cutout design. Doesn't hurt but doesn't particularly help either. Rounded rather than flat saddles are better too. Our season for 50+ mi. rides has wound down so I'm going to wait 'til next year to do the trial/error thing. But, I'll start with the narrower width saddles, use my Assos bibs and make sure to keep consistent saddle placement on the bike.
bruce19 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
nagarkar
General Cycling Discussion
31
04-07-18 11:00 AM
gauvins
Fitting Your Bike
2
08-27-17 05:27 PM
inspclouseau
Road Cycling
24
10-19-15 04:01 PM
bulmis
Fitting Your Bike
6
06-06-15 12:20 PM
Chris Pringle
Commuting
38
07-02-11 07:17 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.