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Saddle comfort question (not the same old question either)

Old 05-18-20, 01:06 PM
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Saddle comfort question (not the same old question either)

I am not starting a what saddle is better thread, just starting out with that info!

So I couldn't find any factual info but until the is year my Spec. Toupe saddle that I purchased after a bike fit for about $125 has been the best saddle I have ever had. Love it, very comfortable! Fast forward 2ish years and now I find the saddle not as nice. Its in excellent shape still. I asked my bike fit guy who is very helpful and said I should double check my fit number measurements. I did this and all spot on. After a few texts he asked me to send him my ride data just so he could kind of see and he pointed out two things.

1. My average cadence went from 81-84 two years ago to now its more like 86-90. I don't know if this would really effect the saddle but he though it might come into play.
2. He was more of the opinion that my weight had more to do with it. When I did the bike fit I was maybe 45lbs heavier. So he said my saddle fit might be different.

My thing is they measure you sit bones, and just because you lose weight your bone structure wont get smaller? Will it?

I am still a clyde and normally would ask all my questions like this there but thought a say 190lbs person who loses 20lbs maybe had the same issue?
is there something I am missing?

I am riding more this year than normal and I am doing more miles but those don't really have any correlation I don't think. My endurance isn't the issue and my efforts are on pace mostly.



thanks!
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Old 05-18-20, 01:19 PM
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Less padding in your caboose and more weight on it compared to when you where heavier and putting more load on your legs could be causes. Or if you wear padded bibs/shorts, the chamois could be worn out or less well-fitted.
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Old 05-18-20, 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted by surak
Less padding in your caboose and more weight on it compared to when you where heavier and putting more load on your legs could be causes. Or if you wear padded bibs/shorts, the chamois could be worn out or less well-fitted.

These are the things my wife said too. I did buy two new pairs of bibs this spring, two different brands. My normal and a "premium" pair and that wasn't it. So I think the less padding theory is actually starting to be the culprit? IDK....
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Old 05-18-20, 02:42 PM
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I would guess that the weight loss is a likely reason for discomfort. At least that was the cause of my discomfort after losing weight from 172lbs to 157lbs. I noticed that, just like yourself, a saddle that had been perfectly comfortable turned into uncomfortable. I concluded the problem was not the saddle bu me. So I continued using that saddle and after a time it was comfortable again.
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Old 05-18-20, 03:38 PM
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Originally Posted by berner
I. So I continued using that saddle and after a time it was comfortable again.
this is how I am hoping this plays out. I am going to ride it for a while more and hope I get it back to good.
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Old 05-18-20, 03:48 PM
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I would maybe change the pivot angle a smidge. Personally padding loss may require a tweak. That or the saddle foam has broke down. It may not look fatigued, but the cellular structure might be. 2 years is a long time. Quality shoes do the same thing

Originally Posted by sdmc530
this is how I am hoping this plays out. I am going to ride it for a while more and hope I get it back to good.
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Old 05-18-20, 03:57 PM
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Sit bones width is a fetish at worst. At best, it's only one of many parameters involved in 'saddle' comfort. Your weight loss changed the amount of fat at your seat; that changed the shape of the interface with your Toupe; and that changed how the seat fits. Your clothes from 2 years probably don't fit all that well any more.... Congratulations on the weight loss, if it was intentional.
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Old 05-18-20, 05:41 PM
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Originally Posted by philbob57
Sit bones width is a fetish at worst. At best, it's only one of many parameters involved in 'saddle' comfort. Your weight loss changed the amount of fat at your seat; that changed the shape of the interface with your Toupe; and that changed how the seat fits. Your clothes from 2 years probably don't fit all that well any more.... Congratulations on the weight loss, if it was intentional.

I have actually put a new saddle that came with the bike on tonight. I am going to ride tomorrow with a saddle that is pretty close to same size but brand new. I don't expect it be comfy out the box but just want a compare.

Weight loss was intentional, just needed to get healthy. Been doing good. But that's another bragging thread at some point. Yeah the only time my wife has even been with me spending money was on smaller clothing.
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Old 05-18-20, 05:42 PM
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Originally Posted by restlessswind
I would maybe change the pivot angle a smidge. Personally padding loss may require a tweak. That or the saddle foam has broke down. It may not look fatigued, but the cellular structure might be. 2 years is a long time. Quality shoes do the same thing
yep, I am trying a few things to see if its the saddle or measurements or just me. going to do some experimenting this week and try to narrow it down.
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Old 05-18-20, 10:15 PM
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From your o.p. "after 2ish years I find the saddle not as nice". I don't know I might have wanted to know more, like, how exactly is it not as nice? But you are getting advice. How I don't know because we don't know hardly enough to say anything about anything. Post #7 comes about as close to an 'as good as it gets' summation all things considered. Took a quick look at what you are working with and I didn't see a saddle that *I* would have a problem with. Two years is not enough time for that saddle to show any wear. That ain't it. Increase in avg cadence of 5 rpm? I don't think so but I am not a professional bike fitter. I don't know ... South Dakota? I'm guessing y'all's don't ride right through the winter there? Early season miles? Trainer? Just trying to help.
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Old 05-19-20, 12:57 AM
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Seems normal. My saddle preferences changed as I lost weight and gained fitness. I gradually switched from padded saddles to barely padded saddles, and from regular shorts or very thin pads to much thicker pads and tighter shorts or bibs with more compression.

Regarding the effect of cadence it would depend on whether you also got faster. If I average 16 mph on the usual 20-40 mile route, but my cadence is closer to 60 rpm, I'm not sitting as heavily in the saddle but my legs are working harder. If I average 90 rpm for the same average speed, I'm sitting more heavily in the saddle while my legs spin (it's also more aerobically taxing for me, but that's another issue). Over the past year I've gradually shifted from averaging 90 rpm to 75 rpm. Seems like a reasonable compromise between saddle comfort, and getting a balance between working the legs and aerobic effort.

Overall bike fit matters too. Narrow, thinly padded or unpadded saddles that are comfortable on a road bike with aggressive fit might be painful on an upright hybrid. And vice versa. A favorite saddle from one of my hybrids was very uncomfortable on my road bike. But my other hybrid is set up more like my road bike, but with swept rather than drop bars, with handlebar and saddle at the same height. I prefer a narrow, thinly padded road bike saddle on that bike (although it is an older Selle San Marco split saddle with flexible shell, so it's a sort of comfort saddle in road bike configuration). Just a difference in angle of the hips/back on the sit bones, etc.
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Old 05-19-20, 04:49 AM
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I lost 50 lbs about 10 years ago had a similar issue. I found that seats with less padding, more cutout and firmer seats overall felt much better. I don't think a fat rear end helps much from a padding point of view - my fatter body meant more weight on the seat and I think a wider leg pedaling style. Losing the weight seemed to cause a change my overall position, easier to bend forward a bit more, my legs were probably less splayed outward, etc.

The narrower, firmer seat I borrowed from a bike shop immediately felt better. Then they said try one of these with a cutout - less of an immediate difference but noticeable on long rides. I went with a Selle SMP and have been using that seat for 8 years now. But, rear ends are pretty individual - YMMV...

Of course, the less material a seat has, the more it costs!
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Old 05-19-20, 04:51 AM
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You are being given some good feedback. Your cadence hasn't increased dramatically, so I doubt this is it, but I have noticed it happens with me. I can get a little bouncy when my cadence increases. Usually when I am fatigued. That slight bounciness with the pedal stroke means slight loading and unloading of weight on the sit bones with each pedal stroke.

It sounds like you are working with a good shop, maybe they will let you demo some other saddles. One of the many frustrating things about seat comfort is that what is comfortable when not broken in may become uncomfortable when broken in and vice-versa.
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Old 05-19-20, 05:09 AM
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Originally Posted by berner
I would guess that the weight loss is a likely reason for discomfort. At least that was the cause of my discomfort after losing weight from 172lbs to 157lbs. I noticed that, just like yourself, a saddle that had been perfectly comfortable turned into uncomfortable. I concluded the problem was not the saddle bu me. So I continued using that saddle and after a time it was comfortable again.
Interestingly, losing some 20 lbs didn't make any noticeable difference how my bike saddle felt, but unpadded chairs and benches became significantly harder
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Old 05-19-20, 07:31 AM
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Just a little update. I put on the stock seat that came on the bike, had more padding than my Toupe, no cut out like the Toupe. I rode about 10 miles and it was kind of awful. I missed my Toupe quickly. I watched my body posture too, I didn't get "bouncy" or so I think.

My LBS fitter after just talking with him said to try what has been suggested. Ride the Toupe saddle for a bit longer, if still not getting back to a decent ride time to explore a new saddle. They have a ride and try program for the higher end stuff so I would do that.
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Old 05-19-20, 07:33 AM
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Originally Posted by Leisesturm
From your o.p. "after 2ish years I find the saddle not as nice". I don't know I might have wanted to know more, like, how exactly is it not as nice? But you are getting advice. How I don't know because we don't know hardly enough to say anything about anything. Post #7 comes about as close to an 'as good as it gets' summation all things considered. Took a quick look at what you are working with and I didn't see a saddle that *I* would have a problem with. Two years is not enough time for that saddle to show any wear. That ain't it. Increase in avg cadence of 5 rpm? I don't think so but I am not a professional bike fitter. I don't know ... South Dakota? I'm guessing y'all's don't ride right through the winter there? Early season miles? Trainer? Just trying to help.
I hear you! This bike is my summer daily riding bike and only time it gets rode. My winter indoor bike is a different bike with a different saddle. I don't spend a lot of time on the trainer and I do 1/2 seated and 1/2 standing so that saddle is good enough. I want a better saddle for my everyday rides.
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Old 05-19-20, 07:35 AM
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I never did say that the bike is a Spec. Allez Elite....should have posted that in the beginning. I have it on my "fancy" bike my Argon 18 too. I loved this saddle enough to put on both road bikes.


AND I do really appreciate all the posts!!!
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Old 05-20-20, 05:42 AM
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Everybody who rides has a box of saddles that didn’t work. Ask around, we all keep those old saddles just so they can be loaned out. Nothing unique about a Specialized Toupe. Lots of saddles are similar. Sounds like all you need is a minor variation. Which minor change? You just gotta try.

Higher cadence means you are pedaling more smoothly. That should be more comfortable. Less weight on the saddle should equal more comfort. One of the oldest coaching quips is put more weight on the pedals. If you push the pedals hard enough you’ll stop noticing the saddle.
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Old 05-20-20, 06:32 AM
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So I am trying new saddles...hate the game but its what we do I guess.

Yes 63rickert I have 4-5 saddles laying around someplace too! I know my Toupe wasn't the end all beat all but it was awesome for me. Life changes I guess I should suck it up and move on.....

Trying a Fizik today...
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Old 05-20-20, 08:47 AM
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Originally Posted by 63rickert
Everybody who rides has a box of saddles that didn’t work.
I don't.
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Old 05-22-20, 04:12 AM
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I screwed up all my bike fits by raising by bars years ago. That little bit more weight on my saddle made them all uncomfortable. Slowly switched them out for wider models.
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Old 05-22-20, 06:50 PM
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I've struggled with saddle fit. I've had a bike fit and I have probably ridden the most miles on a Specialized Power saddle which is a short-nose saddle and keeps you mostly in one spot. I recently started experimenting with saddles where I could sit on the front on hills and I've learned that it helps me to be able to move around on longer rides. I've recently started riding flatter saddles with a little longer length. I'm currently riding the Ergon Sr Pro saddle (which is fairly flat) and I'm amazed how much difference it makes in comfort to be able to ride in different positions. From What I've read, the Toupe is fairly flat. I tried the Specialized Romin Evo and it's more of an "S" shape and I couldn't sit on the nose comfortably.
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