Hello all, I know saddle comfort is relative to fit but is there a general consensus on which saddles are typically more comfortable than others? The saddle on my old bianchi was comfortable, as was the fizik on my father in laws bianchi. The saddle on my new bike is terrible. Could it be I took a week or so off of riding along with the combination of a new saddle that's hurting me so bad? I mean I feel like I'm starting over again. I hate to spend money on another saddle right now. I feel like I need to give my butt some adjustment time. What do you guys and girls think? For reference what I have now is a selle Italia but not sure what model.

Also want to note that on my daily after work rides I'm riding about 10 miles a day in gym shorts. I use my padded shorts for my saturday rides cause they are usually the 20 to 30 mile range.

It's hard to tell. A week off shouldn't be like starting over though, but it can certainly take time to adjust to a new saddle. Or it might just not work for you. Can you not switch the old saddle to the new bike?

You might consider some adjustments to the saddle- up/down, fore/aft, angle up/down. Sometimes small adjustments can make significant differences.

the old bike got sold and the fizik is on my father in laws old bike. I'm sure he'd let me trade him but I'd like to try and adjust to this one first. I did already adjust the fore and aft this morning. That feels pretty decent. I just lowered it a little. Took it around the block seems to fit better now. I'll know a little better after tomorrow afternoons ride. I'm kinda thinking the saddle may work. I'm not gonna give up on it yet. It may take me a few days to get it dialed in.

Fabric.

https://fabric.cc/products/saddles/


-Tim-

thank you. They look nice and dont seem terribly expensive. I really need to measure my sit bones and see what size I am.

How to measure:

Close the toilet lid.

Put towel on the lid.

Put a sheet of aluminum foil on the towel.

Wear only your briefs.

Sit down on the foil, not moving around. Lean forward about the same angle you'd ride the bike.

Stand up.

Notice the two dents left in the foil from your ischial tuberosities. Mark their centers with a marker.

Measure the distance between the marks.

OK, made my measuerment. Now what? Lol.

I keep finding different opinions on what size seat to buy using my actual measurement. For me it was 124mm. Some say to add 25mm to 30mm, other say add 15mm and buy that width seat. Then I saw Specialized says certain ranges should buy certain sized seats. I am currently using a 143mm but looking for something more comfortable.

Fit makes a big difference in saddle comfort. My low end Selle Italia (SLS Kit Carbonio, only $30) has about the same amount of padding as a Fizik and I was a bit worried it would feel like an a$$ hatchet, but it took only a few rides and tweaks to be perfect. But minor adjustments in saddle height, fore/aft position and angle made significant differences. Once it got those dialed in I hardly notice the saddle. But if it was off as little as 1/8" to 1/4" anywhere my sit bones complained.

And I'm wearing AeroTech Pro shorts with minimal padding on the road. Only time I wear more thickly padded shorts is when the bike is on the trainer, since I tend to sit more heavily in the saddle.

Regarding width, I'd assumed 140 or so was right for me, but my Selle Italia is 131mm and it's more comfortable. Turns out my sit bones are narrower than I'd realized. Any wider in a firm road saddle felt wrong, although I like wider saddles on my hybrids since I sit more upright.

thanks, very easy way to do it. Now, how much width do I add to get the proper sized saddle?

I bought a Fabric saddle to replace my torn Selle Royal Seta S1. It was too curved and pressed on my taint. I tried to get a less curved version and the bike shop said it would be weeks before they got it. They only stock cushy, curved saddles. So I went on eBay and found a flat, hard Selle Royal I could get in a couple of days.

Try your father-in-laws saddle and if it feels much better, let me know. I have several different Fizik's for sale here for very good prices. They are all almost brand new.

sounds good

so coming from another saddle you had no irritation? Was there any adjustment time for you to get used to it?

man thays pretty awesome.

I'm sure they're super comfortable, but, I just can't stand the way the Brooks and Selle Anatomica saddles look

Brooks C15 carved. I have three Brooks saddles which I love but the Cambium is the easiest. No break-in, no concern about weather damage, long lasting and very comfortable.