rbk_3

I tried the Specialized Toupe in 155mm, and it is a no go. I did an initial 100km and it seemed fine last week, but this week I did 2 60km rides the past 2 days, and my perineum is very very sore.
It didn't bother me while ridding, but after the fact it has hurt a lot.

I read that your saddle should be 20-30mm wider than your sitbones, but you do not see many 170mm rod bike saddles out there.

The Specialized Romin comes in 168mm, but it is rounded more so I don't know how that would work out. The big issue with trying that one out, is I will have to special order it from the shop I bought the Toupe from, and they do not allow exchanges on special orders so it will be a roll of the dice.

Elvo

Bontrager Paradigm 148

rbk_3

First saddle I tried was the 148mm Paradigm RL and it was much much worse than the Toupe. Instant pain.

mjrLV

Phorm S 310 Max or the SQlab road saddles.

i have the Phorm, and it measures 175mm in width. Very nice saddle, but a little too wide for me now. I'm getting a SQlab saddle to replace.

Sy Reene

Selle SMP TRK? Or you may have to go to a comfort saddle along these lines perhaps?

wiggle.com | Sportourer Garda Man Gel Flow Saddle | Leisure Saddles

cave12man

Try the new Power Saddle from Specialized. Supposed to be a hybrid of all the best features of their other saddles. I've only gotten a handful of miles on mine so far and seems promising. YMMV.

Wheever

I am also on quest to find a saddle for wider sit bones. One of the things I have discovered is that the "width" of a saddle means nothing if the rails don't give you enough forward adjustability. (In my case, I have a perfect fit on my bike, but have had trouble finding a saddle that lets me get the wide part where I need it.) I tried to start a discussion about it here but mostly seem to have been misunderstood. I discuss a number of issues regarding width and cutouts and perinial irritation. Go have a look and see if there's anything to help you, or if you need me to do a visual comparo of some saddles you're considering.

I also recommend the Specialized Power saddle in the wide width for you. I'm trying one now, and though the padding is a little soft, it seems to fit pretty well. (If I decide it's right, I'll go up to the next price point, which has less padding.)

And you might want to check out the SMP Plus, which is wide and flat. I love the SMP saddles, but can't get one to fit me on this bike.

And finally, have a look at the Ergon saddles. I haven't tried one because I need a cutout, but they go up to widths and shapes that could work for you.

Good luck! I feel your pain! (Literally!)

rideBjj

I have the exact same sit bone width as you and also had that same Spec saddle for a while. I switched to a Fizik Aliante Versus. Even though I am very flexible and that saddle is supposed to be for the other end of the spectrum. It is very comfortable, even for hours on end, where the specialized had me numb and / or in pain after 90 minutes.

rbk_3

Thanks for the suggestion. I think I will order up a Power Expert in 168 and give it a shot. How do you find it interms of perinium issues? Also how does it ride in a more upright position vs a more areo position? The only issue is if I special order it from the local Specialized dealer, I cannot return it. They only do exchanges with in stock saddles.

bigdo13

My Specialized Phenom is working out okay...I believe it's 143... i would suggest that.

although, if it's your perineum that's sore, maybe you should investigate something aside from the saddle itself.. maybe adjusting the height, maybe adjusting the fore and aft... sometimes that's all it is... I know that's what I had to adjust to find the right feeling and I do tons of Km's every week on a very stiff bike.

Wheever

Actually, I just returned the damned thing. I'm so disappointed!

First, because the saddle shell is so flexible, the deep soft padding ended up being pushed up in the middle, making the sides of the cutout push into the sides of my perineum. Second, the nose gets so narrow it was like riding a knife. It was pretty intolerable after about 12 miles.

Anyway, I recommend you try the saddle with the "level 1" padding. The level 2 was ridiculous.

rbk_3

Ah that is dissapointing to hear. Did you try the Romin at all? How did they compare.

rbk_3

Also for refrence, what are your sitbone mesurments and what size saddle did you have ?

Wheever

I'm measured at 128, which is supposed to mean a 138 or wider. In practice, as I discuss in my thread in the fitting forum, most of the saddles had their max width too far back to be useable for me.

Ah! The romin! Yes! Actually, I really liked that saddle A LOT, but the wide part was too far back behind the max line. I tried both the 145 and 155, but the results were the same. You should totally try the 155, actually. If your placement on the saddle is not as far forward as mine, it could work for you. Go look at my thread. I have a the romin measured out so you can see what I mean about the widest part being too far back.

rbk_3

I am actually smack dab in the middle of the 168mm Romin according to the Ass-O-Meter chart.
I just called and found a shop an hour away that his the test program and has both the Power and the Romin in stock in 168mm.
I am going to head there tomorrow and give them both a shot.

rbk_3

So your issue is that you have the rails all the way forward? I have mine in about the middle and feel that I am sitting on the wide part of the saddle so I don't think that is the issue I am having. My sitbones are sore so I am gettting weight on them, but also gettinbg weight on my soft spots.

rbk_3

Also, how much usable width did you find that the Roman and Power had compared to the overall width, as I know they taper off.

Wheever

I'm currently testing an Aliente VSX. I prefer a cutout, and actually so far this saddle is pretty comfortable for not having a real one.

let me ask you a question: performance bike had two versions of the saddle, at different price points, I bought the cheaper one which was described as "a performance exclusive!" My biggest problem with the saddle is that the fiber cover is matte, almost rough, and rather unpleasant looking. The pictures of FIZIK saddles usually appear glossy. What's the covering on your FIZIK lIke?

Wheever

Yes, that is precisely my issue. Even slammed all the way forward, I could barely get the wide part of the Romin, for example, under my sit bones.

if you're mid-saddle, you should be fine. I think you'll end up preferring the Romin to the power, especially if the only power you can try is the over-soft one. As I said, I really liked the romin, I just couldn't get it where I needed it. (My biggest complaint other than that was that compared to the Italian saddles, the build and finish seemed cheap and plastic. )

the power had the deepest wide section, but the Romin's wide part had plenty of depth to it, with fairly gradual taper compared to some saddles.

At this point my choices are down to the Selle Italia MAX GEL, and the FIZIK ALIENTE VSX. They are both really good saddles, but very different in terms of shape and intention. My only problem with the FIZIK is that the version I got from performance bike has a kind of weird matte finish fiber cover that I don't like. I wonder if the more expensive version they were selling had nicer fiber. I'd be perfectly happy with the Max Gel, except that I like a little kick at the back of the saddle. The FIZIK has that.

Anyway, good of luck with the testing, and keep us posted!

rbk_3

Thanks!

They said they only carry the Romin Evo's which is the level 2 padding, which is the same as the Power you tried. I hope that won't be an issue

Maconi

If your sit bones are really 140mm (14cm) apart and you want to try out a Phenom/Power saddle, then you should try a 168mm (I think Power is a "Black" saddle even though it's not listed below). 14cm is directly in the middle of the 168mm black saddle area as you can see.




I currently have a Phenom on demo but I'm swapping it out for a Power (already ordered) as I have a bit of numbness (zero sit bone pain though).

rbk_3

Yea, I will for sure go with the 168mm. I am going to try the Romin Evo Comp, and then the the Power Comp if the Romin doesn't work out.

If neither of these work out, I don't know what the heck I am going to do.

Wheever

I think I tried the Evo Gel. I don't actually know what level padding it had, but it was very good in the padding department for me. Solid, but not too solid. Totally unlike the power I tried. If the Romin works for you, but that padding level is too high, ordering the Evo Gel wouldn't be a big deal.

rbk_3

I was able to get the regular Romin Expert with the least padding. I went for a 30 k ride and I think it is ok. It is hard to tell cause my soft tissue still aches from my ride the other day on the Toupe.

Wheever

That sounds good. I hope it proves to be true!

I just did a 32-mile ride on the Max Flow gel, and I think it might be the one! I have to give the FIZIK saddle one last try, but if it's not better, I won't be sad. I'd be content with the Max gel.