Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Sit Bone Width -> Saddle Width - Anything Else?

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Sit Bone Width -> Saddle Width - Anything Else?

Old 04-14-16 | 07:45 AM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 0
Sit Bone Width -> Saddle Width - Anything Else?

Hi,

I want to buy a new saddle for my Breezer Venturi. The current one is okay, but my backside deserves better.

Using the Aluminum Foil on deep Carpet method (which is great) with my femurs parallel to the ground the two indentations of my sit bones are very clear.

Measuring from the center of the indentations to each other I get exactly 120mm. I therefore understand I should get a saddle which is 145-150mm in width.

Q1. Many saddles come in 145mm width version is that enough?

But after that I'm lost on what properties to look for. The Venturi has an aggressive setup and I like to ride in the drops.

Q2. Does that effect the type of saddle to buy? Should I get one with a dropped nose like this one. Amazon.com : Prologo Kappa Evo Pas PRO STN Saddle (OEM Package, Road Bike, MTB, White, 147 x 275 mm) : Sports & Outdoors

Q3. Some saddles back parts are very flat and others drop of. What type of person or riding style are they supposed to fit?
Compare this saddle https://www.amazon.com/Fizik-Antares-...2RV0G27YCXM44Q against this one again Amazon.com : Prologo Kappa Evo Pas PRO STN Saddle (OEM Package, Road Bike, MTB, White, 147 x 275 mm) : Sports & Outdoors

Finally there are these CF saddles. Are they any good? Amazon.com : Codream Carbon Fiber 3K Glossy Light Weight Anatomic Relief MTB Mountain Bike Road Bicycle Saddle Seat (Red) : Sports & Outdoors
Inpd is offline  
Reply
Old 04-14-16 | 08:04 AM
  #2  
spdracr39's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,538
Likes: 2
From: Cabot, Arkansas

Bikes: Lynskey Twisted Helix Di2 Ti, 1987 Orbea steel single speed/fixie, Orbea Avant M30, Trek Fuel EX9.8 29, Trek Madone 5 series, Specialized Epic Carbon Comp 29er, Trek 7.1F

Really have to try them to see. The measurements are a starting point not a deciding factor and everything else is personal preference. Unfortunately no other opinion will really be helpful.
spdracr39 is offline  
Reply
Old 04-14-16 | 08:07 AM
  #3  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by spdracr39
Really have to try them to see. The measurements are a starting point not a deciding factor and everything else is personal preference. Unfortunately no other opinion will really be helpful.
Thanks I appreciate your answer and that was my plan. But there are so many combinations and I wanted to whittle it down a bit.

For anyone else with 120mm or wider sit bones, is 145mm enough? It seems this is the maximum width of many saddles that come in multiple sizes.
Inpd is offline  
Reply
Old 04-14-16 | 08:08 AM
  #4  
deapee's Avatar
Ride On!
 
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 970
Likes: 3

Bikes: Allez DSW SL Sprint | Fuji Cross

As you lean forward, your sit bones rotate and become closer. That being said, your measurement accuracy and how it relates to the position of those sit bones when you are in a riding position is going to be very dependent on your position when you performed your measurement.

Something you might be interested in -- I believe Specialized dealers have a tool they use to accurately measure your sit bones, and even have a 30-day test ride on any newly purchased saddle. I highly recommend visiting a Specialized dealer if you're unsure.

Some Specialized saddlers are a bit more rounded than others. For example, some measurements may put you on either a 143mm Toupe or a 155 Romin. In either event, you'd honestly have to go there and get measured by their machine to know where you fall on that scale. My specialized dealer loaned me a Toupe while waiting for my Romin Evo to come in.
deapee is offline  
Reply
Old 04-14-16 | 08:48 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,094
Likes: 2
From: Bozeman

Bikes: 199? Landshark Roadshark, 198? Mondonico Diamond, 1987 Panasonic DX-5000, 1987 Bianchi Limited, Univega... Chrome..., 1989 Schwinn Woodlands, Motobecane USA Record, Raleigh Tokul 2

Q1: Only you can tell. Ride a 145 and find out. I don't often see saddles that are wider than 145 (I don't often look...), so you may be stuck with it regardless.

Q2: It depends on what YOU want. Ignoring nose comment for now, if you look at the back of saddles. Some flare up, some are flat.
This one is flared.



This one is flat.



In general... (very general) the flared ones are for less flexible people. The flaring helps rotate the hips forward a bit more so going into the drops is a bit easier. Flexible people don't need the extra help, hence the flat saddles. Again, there are people that ride the opposite of that, and they're happy. Saddles are VERY personal.

The above saddles are both fizik saddles, which are generally pretty expensive. I'd suggest buying cheaper saddles first, finding the type you like, then buying a more expensive saddle of that type.

Q3: Preference. Some people swear by flat (laterally) saddles. Some people swear by curved (laterally) saddles. All personal preference. We can't help you there. I personally prefer flat saddles because if I ride curved saddles... um... stuff... hurts.
corrado33 is offline  
Reply
Old 04-14-16 | 10:49 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4,340
Likes: 496
From: Bristol, R. I.

Bikes: Specialized Secteur, old Peugeot

There is a great variety in both people and saddles but after a while, if you purchase a ride enough different saddles you begin to get an idea of the shape that is best for you. Having gone through half a dozen saddles, I came to the conclusion that the best shape for me is a wide one that tapers quickly to a narrow front part. The general shape is more T shaped than V. I also like a cutout in the center. It cost me quite a bit of money to find this out but now I can tell at a glance it a saddle will work. Good luck finding a speedy solution.
berner is offline  
Reply
Old 04-14-16 | 04:58 PM
  #7  
spdracr39's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,538
Likes: 2
From: Cabot, Arkansas

Bikes: Lynskey Twisted Helix Di2 Ti, 1987 Orbea steel single speed/fixie, Orbea Avant M30, Trek Fuel EX9.8 29, Trek Madone 5 series, Specialized Epic Carbon Comp 29er, Trek 7.1F

Originally Posted by Inpd
Thanks I appreciate your answer and that was my plan. But there are so many combinations and I wanted to whittle it down a bit.

For anyone else with 120mm or wider sit bones, is 145mm enough? It seems this is the maximum width of many saddles that come in multiple sizes.
I measure 140 and ride a 155. The only saddle I have found comfortable for anything over 30 miles is a hybrid saddle that is t shaped like one of the other replies mentioned.
spdracr39 is offline  
Reply
Old 04-15-16 | 12:42 PM
  #8  
shoota's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 7,853
Likes: 717
From: Stillwater, OK
Originally Posted by Inpd
For anyone else with 120mm or wider sit bones, is 145mm enough? It seems this is the maximum width of many saddles that come in multiple sizes.
145mm is plenty for you. I measure at 150mm and ride a 155mm Specialized Power.
__________________
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
shoota is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bakeoh99
Road Cycling
5
11-26-13 05:17 PM
Webb26
Commuting
10
03-29-12 10:03 AM
ahsposo
Road Cycling
0
05-17-11 07:28 AM
milesmilesmiles
Road Cycling
3
06-30-10 08:03 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.