168mm or bigger?
05-17-15, 09:09 PM
#1
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168mm or bigger?
I was just sized for a saddle at 2 different LBS and both told me I needed a 168mm saddle. I picked up a serfas RX saddle in 170 but have had issues with it. The only saddle I can find in 168 is the Specialized Romin. Should I stick with 168 should I check out a different 170 to make sure it isn't the full split design of the Rx causing issues?
05-17-15, 10:06 PM
#2
SuperGimp
If your butt can tell the difference between 168 and 170mm then you are indeed special. 
Those ass-o-meters are nice but don't tell the whole story. For one thing, if your kiester is measured at X, that doesn't mean you need a saddle that is X wide. Specialized has some sort of conversion chart for their system.
Find a shop that will let you demo or rent saddles and go from there. I believe most specialized shops have a loaner program but maybe not. I think I paid $30 a week or something to test saddles, and they deducted it from my purchase price when I eventually purchased.
Those ass-o-meters are nice but don't tell the whole story. For one thing, if your kiester is measured at X, that doesn't mean you need a saddle that is X wide. Specialized has some sort of conversion chart for their system.
Find a shop that will let you demo or rent saddles and go from there. I believe most specialized shops have a loaner program but maybe not. I think I paid $30 a week or something to test saddles, and they deducted it from my purchase price when I eventually purchased.
05-21-15, 08:39 PM
#3
Senior Member
GC BikeFit :: Professional Bike Fitting With Peter Spencer
Check this out. Sit bone measurement is such an old and outdated measure for a saddle. In this day and age, there are so many options on the market that some way or some how, you just need to get out there and find what saddle fits and suits you best. As Trojan mentioned, there are try before you buy options that you should seek out. I'm not sure if it's the same over there in the states, but the closest Specialized dealer to me will spend over an hour in the fitting room with you testing out different Spec saddles to find the right one.
I now ride a ISM Breakaway saddle. Prior to that I was on a SMP Composit that was theoretically way too narrow for me, yet it was one of the most comfortable saddles I've ever ridden, and I've tried a few now! If I went by my sitbone measurement, both of those saddles wouldn't even be on my radar!
Check this out. Sit bone measurement is such an old and outdated measure for a saddle. In this day and age, there are so many options on the market that some way or some how, you just need to get out there and find what saddle fits and suits you best. As Trojan mentioned, there are try before you buy options that you should seek out. I'm not sure if it's the same over there in the states, but the closest Specialized dealer to me will spend over an hour in the fitting room with you testing out different Spec saddles to find the right one.
I now ride a ISM Breakaway saddle. Prior to that I was on a SMP Composit that was theoretically way too narrow for me, yet it was one of the most comfortable saddles I've ever ridden, and I've tried a few now! If I went by my sitbone measurement, both of those saddles wouldn't even be on my radar!
05-22-15, 08:05 AM
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9 Posts
Originally Posted by TrojanHorse
If your butt can tell the difference between 168 and 170mm then you are indeed special.
Those ass-o-meters are nice but don't tell the whole story. For one thing, if your kiester is measured at X, that doesn't mean you need a saddle that is X wide. Specialized has some sort of conversion chart for their system.
Find a shop that will let you demo or rent saddles and go from there. I believe most specialized shops have a loaner program but maybe not. I think I paid $30 a week or something to test saddles, and they deducted it from my purchase price when I eventually purchased.
Those ass-o-meters are nice but don't tell the whole story. For one thing, if your kiester is measured at X, that doesn't mean you need a saddle that is X wide. Specialized has some sort of conversion chart for their system.
Find a shop that will let you demo or rent saddles and go from there. I believe most specialized shops have a loaner program but maybe not. I think I paid $30 a week or something to test saddles, and they deducted it from my purchase price when I eventually purchased.
And when you find a saddle that you love buy another. Fizik ever stops making the Arione I'll be mad
05-22-15, 08:13 AM
#5
The Left Coast, USA
Originally Posted by brawlo
GC BikeFit :: Professional Bike Fitting With Peter Spencer
Check this out. Sit bone measurement is such an old and outdated measure for a saddle. In this day and age, there are so many options on the market that some way or some how, you just need to get out there and find what saddle fits and suits you best. As Trojan mentioned, there are try before you buy options that you should seek out. I'm not sure if it's the same over there in the states, but the closest Specialized dealer to me will spend over an hour in the fitting room with you testing out different Spec saddles to find the right one.
I now ride a ISM Breakaway saddle. Prior to that I was on a SMP Composit that was theoretically way too narrow for me, yet it was one of the most comfortable saddles I've ever ridden, and I've tried a few now! If I went by my sitbone measurement, both of those saddles wouldn't even be on my radar!
Check this out. Sit bone measurement is such an old and outdated measure for a saddle. In this day and age, there are so many options on the market that some way or some how, you just need to get out there and find what saddle fits and suits you best. As Trojan mentioned, there are try before you buy options that you should seek out. I'm not sure if it's the same over there in the states, but the closest Specialized dealer to me will spend over an hour in the fitting room with you testing out different Spec saddles to find the right one.
I now ride a ISM Breakaway saddle. Prior to that I was on a SMP Composit that was theoretically way too narrow for me, yet it was one of the most comfortable saddles I've ever ridden, and I've tried a few now! If I went by my sitbone measurement, both of those saddles wouldn't even be on my radar!
05-22-15, 08:44 AM
#6
Senior Member
The important thing is that sit bone width is just the start. I have 4 saddles, all 130mm. The most comfortable one happens to be the one with the flattest top profile, and also the one that cost the least ($14!).
05-22-15, 09:12 AM
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I ended up with these on my road bikes after trying a bunch of road saddles:
It's cheap and works for me. I get the occasional saddle sore on 60+ mile rides, but for the most part, all good.
It's cheap and works for me. I get the occasional saddle sore on 60+ mile rides, but for the most part, all good.
