How do you know a saddle is safe?
07-11-09 | 09:01 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,324
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From: UK
How do you know a saddle is safe?
Hi,
If a saddle is comfortable and doesn't give you numbness does that mean it fits you or are there some other criteria to look for?
And by safe I mean won't cause injury given long term use.
Thanks
Daven
If a saddle is comfortable and doesn't give you numbness does that mean it fits you or are there some other criteria to look for?
And by safe I mean won't cause injury given long term use.
Thanks
Daven
07-11-09 | 09:30 AM
#2
Administrator
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Delaware shore
Bikes: Cervelo C5, Guru Photon, Waterford, Specialized CX
That's it. There's nothing more except perhaps chafing from being too wide.
07-11-09 | 09:56 AM
#3
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,324
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From: UK
excellent 
I got back from a 10 mile ride yesterday and my a*** hurt like hell! So I went on ebay and bought a selle royal viper which is the same saddle as I have on my road bike which never hurts at all!
Was just making sure I wasn't too swift to purchase!
Thanks
I got back from a 10 mile ride yesterday and my a*** hurt like hell! So I went on ebay and bought a selle royal viper which is the same saddle as I have on my road bike which never hurts at all!
Was just making sure I wasn't too swift to purchase!
Thanks
07-11-09 | 02:55 PM
#4
Time for a change.
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,913
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From: 6 miles inland from the coast of Sussex, in the South East of England
Bikes: Dale MT2000. Bianchi FS920 Kona Explosif. Giant TCR C. Boreas Ignis. Pinarello Fp Uno.
If a saddle hurts- give it a month or a couple of hundred miles to get the saddle and butt attuned. If it still hurts after that time- get a new saddle----But you have already done that.
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How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
07-11-09 | 06:56 PM
#7
I bought a $100 mountain bike a couple of years ago, and the seat on it was like sitting on a 2x4. Some seats, you don't need to give a lot of time to.
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"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
07-11-09 | 06:58 PM
#8
rebmeM roineS
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,231
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From: Metro Indy, IN
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
If the seat has a biohazard symbol on it or a skull and crossbones then
maybe you might want not to ride on it.
maybe you might want not to ride on it.
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Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
07-11-09 | 11:16 PM
#9
aka Tom Reingold
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,320
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From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
It depends on where it hurts. You have little muscles around your sit bones. They might hurt after a ride if you haven't ridden lately or if the saddle is new. Those muscles toughen up fairly quickly.
If your gluteus maximus muscles hurt, that means you got good exercise.
If the saddle hurts around your pubic bone, it might be because the saddle is wrong for you or because it's not adjusted right. Your saddle should be level or very, very slightly higher at the nose. It should not point down (lower at the nose).
If your gluteus maximus muscles hurt, that means you got good exercise.
If the saddle hurts around your pubic bone, it might be because the saddle is wrong for you or because it's not adjusted right. Your saddle should be level or very, very slightly higher at the nose. It should not point down (lower at the nose).
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
07-12-09 | 04:48 AM
#11
Time for a change.
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,913
Likes: 7
From: 6 miles inland from the coast of Sussex, in the South East of England
Bikes: Dale MT2000. Bianchi FS920 Kona Explosif. Giant TCR C. Boreas Ignis. Pinarello Fp Uno.
And I did have one saddle- in fact I think I still have- that is a torture implement. I loan it out to people that moan about uncomfortable saddles.
__________________
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
