saddle question
10-24-05 | 09:43 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 22
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saddle question
sorry, noob question. i don't know if it has been asked in the forum (very likely) but i don't know how to search for it (meaning i'm lazy) 
. Anyway, i will be buying a new road bike very soon. My question is what are the differences between a normal saddle, a saddle with the ridge, and the saddle with a hole in the middle. the normal saddle makes my nuts numb after a long ride. will the saddle with the ridge or the hole prevents that from happening? please let me know. thanks all.
btw, isn't there a negative long term effect (erectile dysfunction) if your little man keeps getting numb like that.
. Anyway, i will be buying a new road bike very soon. My question is what are the differences between a normal saddle, a saddle with the ridge, and the saddle with a hole in the middle. the normal saddle makes my nuts numb after a long ride. will the saddle with the ridge or the hole prevents that from happening? please let me know. thanks all. btw, isn't there a negative long term effect (erectile dysfunction) if your little man keeps getting numb like that.
10-24-05 | 09:52 PM
#2
Cannondale Shill
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,695
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From: Kingston, ON, CAN.
Bikes: '06 CAAD8, SRAM Rival/Force and fixie of unknown origin
The search button is at the top of the page for a reason, and you admitting that you're too lazy to search doesn't help...
That said, the key to saddles, like everything else about the bike is proper fit and positioning. You want your saddle close to level; too much downward tilt and you slide forward onto your junk, too much upward tilt and it'll be jamming into your junk anyway. The important thing is getting a saddle that is wide enough that your body weight will be supported by your sit bones. Otherwise, your body weight is presses down on your soft tissue, and that's a no-no.
Go to a Specialized dealer and get your sit-bone width measured for free. They make you sit on a pad of foam which you can see the imprints of your sitbones in. From there, they'll help you pick a saddle of the appropriate width.
Some people say the cutout helps, some have different experiences. My Arione is more comfortable than the SLR gel flow with a cutout I switched from.
The other thing is to get out of the saddle every now and then, take the pressure off and work some different muscles.
That said, the key to saddles, like everything else about the bike is proper fit and positioning. You want your saddle close to level; too much downward tilt and you slide forward onto your junk, too much upward tilt and it'll be jamming into your junk anyway. The important thing is getting a saddle that is wide enough that your body weight will be supported by your sit bones. Otherwise, your body weight is presses down on your soft tissue, and that's a no-no.
Go to a Specialized dealer and get your sit-bone width measured for free. They make you sit on a pad of foam which you can see the imprints of your sitbones in. From there, they'll help you pick a saddle of the appropriate width.
Some people say the cutout helps, some have different experiences. My Arione is more comfortable than the SLR gel flow with a cutout I switched from.
The other thing is to get out of the saddle every now and then, take the pressure off and work some different muscles.
10-26-05 | 02:28 AM
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 590
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From: Long Island, New York
Bikes: Univega Modo Volare (2001)
10-26-05 | 09:47 AM
#5
.
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 12,769
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From: Rocket City, No'ala
Bikes: 2014 Trek Domane 5.2, 1985 Pinarello Treviso, 1990 Gardin Shred, 2006 Bianchi San Jose
You don't want a saddle that's too cushy; that just allows your sitbones to sink down until pressure comes to bear on your privates. You need a rock hard leather or carbon(for OCP points) saddle that over time molds to your backside. Needs to be ~4 cm wider than the distance between your sit bones. More doesn't hurt, less does.
10-26-05 | 10:31 AM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,850
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Originally Posted by bbattle
You don't want a saddle that's too cushy; that just allows your sitbones to sink down until pressure comes to bear on your privates. You need a rock hard leather or carbon(for OCP points) saddle that over time molds to your backside. Needs to be ~4 cm wider than the distance between your sit bones. More doesn't hurt, less does.
Thanks,
George
