daven1986

Hi,

I bought a new saddle which is apparently the correct width according to specialized table and my sit bones. However today I tried it out and it is HARD, I really feel it on my sit bones - no other part of my bum touches the saddle. Is it suppose to feel this hard - will I get used to it? I ask because on the final 1 mile of my journey I could barely stand it any longer!

If I continue riding this will it cause problems?

Thanks

Daven

frankenmike 

Personally, I like really hard saddles. But as with most things saddle related, personal preference trumps advice.

StanSeven

If it feels hard, it probably doesn't fit, is adjusted wrong, or the padding in your shorts isn't in the proper spot. A saddle should support you evenly on your sit bones. Their really isn't a hard or soft feeling.

daven1986

hmm my shorts are fairly cheap so perhaps the padding is out a bit the saddle is horizontal and is correct in terms of KOPS.

I'll try some different shorts and see if it helps - thanks

screwdriver

They talk about break-in period. I've had a Brooks B17 that I bought new 6 months ago and it feels just as hard as it did when I mounted it. How many hours, days or years does it take to break in a new Brooks saddle?

stapfam

if you get any saddle adjusted right on height- fore and aft and nose tilt- you will not be able to feel it.

I have 2 bikes like that- only start causing a problem after some severe milage.

And it does take time to get a butt and a saddle in tune with each other. Normally about 200 miles will suffice so don't give up on any saddle too soon

(But with some saddles-Soon enough can't come quick enough)

goldfishin

it should sound like a wood door when you knock on it. seriously.

goldfishin

mine has become dempled over the years. don't worry about it. just ride it. mine was great from the get go... but, i don't know why, some days it feels great and other days it smashes old dong.

daven1986

thanks all, I will try some other shorts and no shorts (not nude though!!) and give it a bit of time.

daven1986

Ok I tried my other shorts today and the saddle felt fine on my outbound route (as it did yesterday) but my bum still hurt when I got home. I wonder if my route home is more bumpy than the outbound route! I'm going to give it more time, but may look for some kind of cushioning to make it at least bearable!

StanSeven

Horizontal is a good starting point for saddle position but it's not the perfect one for everyone. Try making minor adjustments

daven1986

any thoughts on which way might help my situation? If I tilt it forward I find too much weight is on my hands, might try tilting it backwards and see how that helps. My other saddle which is slightly padded (stock giant scr1 road saddle) is horizontal and is quite comfortable. I might try to see if I can get some more from somewhere!

Thanks

JimF22003

Even if the route is "bumpy" you don't have to be sitting flat on the saddle. Truthfully you shouldn't really be "sitting" on it at all. You should be supporting yourself largely with your arms and your legs. I tend to "hover" on the saddle. Of course I actually do sit on it, but rarely is my full weight on the saddle. If the surface is rough I'm up out of the saddle just enough so that I don't feel every little bump. This won't help for stuff like chipseal, but it does for garden variety patched up pavement etc.

daven1986

I am trying to put more weight on my legs which works when I'm giving it the beans, but if I am taking it a bit more easily then I find it hard to take extra weight on my legs, when giving it the beans the force of pushing down on the pedals pushes my bum up!

With more weight on my arms I find my hands begin to hurt

Grr why aren't there any definitive articles on riding position!