Saddle width?
 

I'm getting a Specialized Sequoia Elite and am thinking of putting a Brooks saddle on it. I will be using the bike for recreational riding (I ride about 40 - 50 miles a week) and 50k,100k and (my goal) 100mile rides. I'm curious about the width of the saddle. I can get one that is about 6 3/4in wide or 6in wide. Any suggestions? I'm not going to be racing so is wide better or is narrow better? I'm 6ft and about 165lbs. so I don't have a big arse.

Depends on the size of your rear end. Get what is comfortable to you.

I'd suggest getting the Brooks from Wallbike. They have a 6 month warranty so if you don't like the saddle you can exchange it for something else/get a refund. I would start with the most popular Brooks saddle (also has the lowest return rate of any Brooks), the B17 (the 6 3/4" model).

If you're proportioned like me (6'1" 150ish lbs), the narrower one will work better, otherwise for most people the 6 3/4 seems the popular choice. I've ridden my friends 6 3/4 saddle and I get lots of contact and chafing in certain areas. He, on the otherhand, gave me the saddle I have on my roadbike currently because it was far too narrow for him. It really comes down to sitbone width, and for uber lanky guys like myself narrower = better.

I tried the B-17 and found it too narrow at the sitbone area, but otherwise a very nice saddle. I'm 6' and a fit 225 and currently ride a B-67, which seems perfect for me. Sounds like you shouldn't have any problems with a 17 aside from the somewhat normal break-in stuff, which, in my experience is very over-rated. In fact, that 17 I had was forming up nicely over the 650 miles I put on it.

Now, as to your choice of bike:
I'm thinking of buying the very same one. So, I'll be back in the hunt for a saddle if the Milano that comes with it doesn't work out. The posture is a little too agressive for the B-67 even tho it's no where near a race bike. I rode the Milano for 2 hours and it seemed ok, but I like to ride at least 3 before I even think my butt hurts.

I'd like to read about your experience with your new ride.

Hmm im nearly the same size as you im 6even @ 155 lbs and my stock bontrager atb saddle is KILLING me!

I have taken it for sever rides almost daily of about an hour and then two "epic" (by newbie standards) rides of 30 and 40 miles. That last ride on saturday of 40 miles has me sore now sitting in a chair. I think its my tail bone that hurts not my sit bones, so if thats your problem too I think I might need one of those saddles that have the hole in the middle.

So heres my question guys, is the saddle supposed to go between your sit bones, or are your sit bones supposed to go on the saddle?

Exactly. I've tried about 8 different saddles, and the best ones support my sit bones and as little else as possible. Takes time to get used to, but for long rides, yagottadoit.

Sitbones go on top. If they are straddling the saddle, you have an a$$ hatchet. You should feel little or no pressure 'up the middle.' Alot of the time, it does take long rides to expose the deficiencies. I ride Brooks (no cut-out), but they are not for everyone.

aye, my tail bone is still hurting some 3 days later after my lil' "epic" ride I think I will drop my saddle height a hair I think I might have had it too high and thus put myself more on the nose of the saddle for proper pedal stroke. I noticed when I sat at the very back of my saddle it felt like I was too high for the pedals and it also change my geometry to somthing I didnt like so maybe I need to move it forward some too.

All in time I guess.

I ride the same bike as you(though I'm a bit shorter and wider 5' 10" and 300 lbs) and I am still using the stock saddle, with little problems. Are you feeling any discomfort from the stock saddle while riding?

Yes alot of it. But I also didnt really take several small rides to build up a tollerance I rode 2 days for an hour then 3rd day was a multi hour 30 mile ride, then a few more days high intensity for about an hour, then a multi hour 40 mile ride. The 30 mile made me so sore I almost could not sit on the bike I really had to fight off the pain (like when your running that last quarter mile in a XC foot race) but after that my next few small rides felt less painfull so I thought I was adjusting, then the 40 mile really did it, I am now so sore I feel the pain not just on the bike but while in bed or in in chair and could not even ride the bike the next day (now the day after has been rained out due to the tropical storm)

Where I sit on the saddle feels right, but I will do like I said above and lower it down some and try to sit further back, My tailbone sticks out nearly as far as my "sit bones" so I may need a special saddle.

Also as mentioned to me in our group rides a pair of cycling shorts should help. Doesnt make much sence how padded saddles are bad, but yet padded shorts are good :/

Good advice.

People vary on the width of the ischeal processes of their sacrums (sit bones for most of us). Women generally have theirs further apart so they need wider saddles otherwise the saddle does not rest on the hard sit bones but on their tender hinder parts. That is not a good thing.

Conversely, having a wide saddle does not feel right if your processes are close together. When I started out, I rode with saddles with gel padding and all that. I got a racing bike and it had a really narrow italian saddle that was hard as all get out. But it felt great! It fit. So the most intimidating and uncomfortable looking saddle was what was best for me. Fit is a funny thing. So you just have to sort of fool around. Now I have heard that there are ways to measure the distance between your sitbones but I have never tried to.

You can get a cardboard box, cut the flat sections off until you have three or four layers thick. Then stack 'em up and sit on them with your feet on top of something to elevate your knees a bit. In about 3 minutes you'll have a good indentation of the ischials.

The more upright you sit, the wider the saddle should be.

is this even if you are a skinny and narrow guy? im 6'1" 145lbs but i ride a 75 raleigh with an upright sitting position. should i go for a b17 or something like a flyer?

Go to a Specialized dealer and ask to be measured. They will have you sit on a foam pad for a couple of minutes and measure the distance between the impressions of your sit bones. Height and weight and comparison to other folks height and weight are just guesswork... get measured. I was surprised to see that the proper width for me was the middle sized Specialized Alias, 143 mm. I am 6'2", 250 pounds, size 54 coat and 14 EEE shoe.

Basically, yes. Evidenced by the plethora of wide saddles that come on that type of bike in the stores.

B17 should work if set up properly.

Brooks pro if you like riding in a more aggressive stance.