Looigi

Here's a pretty good series of vids by Art's Cyclery on selecting saddle width and shape... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7j9LUVJrjA

TrojanHorse

Specialized makes their saddles in various widths, you might want to look over there. Some get pretty wide. I serially rented some from a Spec. dealer until I found one I liked and there's really no other way to do it.

06SpiceRed

If there is a shop that does the Fizik demo program, give them a shot. I was recently tested for sitbone width and prior to the test I was on a Specialized Toupe 143 for a while. While the test indicated that a 143 would be what it "recommends" I ended up going with a gut feeling and purchasing a new Fizik Arione which is a 130 and absolutely LOVE it.

Now...the reason I chose the Arione was that prior to the Toupe, I was on a Prologo Nago Evo which was very firm, and very narrow which for some reason I loved and that was a similar fit. Over the past few years ive been trying out all these saddles with cutouts and channels and whatnot but found the traditional designs of the Fizik and Prologo very fitting. Its one of the most subjective and personal things about cycling, and sadly for some....itll take a bit of time but youll find one just right

JamesInSJ

OP, just check in with a few local bike shops, even national chains, and see who has a good selection and can offer with a rental program or a buy/return program. One of my local shops does a full fitting for a saddle, and then you buy that saddle but just put a demo version on your bike. After you try it out, if you don't like it you return it and try something else. Once you're done with the demo's, they credit/charge you the difference for the final saddle selected and you take home the new retail product. A couple other local shops and a chain (PerformanceBike) readily accept returns. Just do the right thing, carefully remove packaging and leave anything attached to the saddle that doesn't absolutely have to be removed (e.g. a manual tagged to the saddle might be stored up between the rails for a demo ride or two). Even better, if you put a piece of masking tape on each mountain rail, that will prevent any marks from etching into the rails from your saddle mount. You're just trying to help the shop sell the saddle as new if you return it.

I went through 6 saddles before I settled on the Specialized Romin Evo Gel, and all but one I was able to readily return to a local shop...that one was bought through an online vendor and I just resold it on eBay for a small profit since I got such a good deal.

In regards to saddle width, lots of good saddles come in different widths. When they don't, it's usually that the maker has different saddle models with different widths. Look for something in the 143 - 150mm range for you. Selle Italia Max Flite models are in the 140s ("Max" are their wider saddles), Specialized has lots of ~145mm wide saddles (almost every men's saddle they make comes in 3 sizes, with the middle size in your range).

kleng

This article might help, The Four and a Half Rules of Road Saddles - Cervélo

cwar

I agree with the other recommendations. Find an LBS that will let you test one out. My LBS will let me return a saddle within 30 days of purchase. This gives me time to really put it to the test, including long rides which is what you really need. For me I find an uncomfortable saddle does not start to show it's true colors until at 30 miles, sometimes 60-70.

surgeonstone

This post is right on. I have a pretty wide pelvis for a male and thought my saddle problems, numbness and pain, were all from too narrow a saddle. I was measured for a 145 and thought this was the answer. Many saddles later and with no relief I ended up on Brooks, good saddles and comfortable after being broken in, but always odd and heavy on a modern bike. I then was fitted properly and went with a Fiziik Arione and have not had a problem since. It is 130 mm wide . I think far more important than width is proper position as well as riding hard and being in shape. Good luck with your choice.

06SpiceRed

Position played a much larger factor for me rather than width, as you have mentioned. Once having that dialed in, I found a new love for the sport all over again.

surgeonstone

My only regret was waiting soooooo long to get that fit dialed in. The money wasted on saddles was not insubstantial.

jareed58

Listened to a lot of the info here and went to a couple of LBS. The shop I bought the bike at, we were doing a fitting after I went with clipless pedals. We also tried about 5 different saddles 3 fizik's, a Serfas, and an Inform. Out of these, I could not find one that felt much different than the stock seat. The most comfortable one was the Serfas, which happened to be a woman's model and the least expensive of the bunch. then went to another shop at my fitters recommendation and bought a Specialized ToupeRBX. The first couple miles, I thought, this is the one but at about 8 thru 25 it was painful. brought it back. For now I am back on the stock seat. Quest goes on.

Slackerprince

Saddle Shopping-Welcome to the wallet vacuum.


S

mud

Hate to start something......but....Brooks.........

surgeonstone

Because it feels comfortable sitting on it in a shop in no way equates with long term long riding comfort. Quite the reverse actually.

2702

The theory is hard saddles is best for long riding comfort. I do not think that works for everyone. I tried the plank hard saddles and 1 hr into the ride and it was enough.
I settled on cheap Cannondale saddles. One is from the Quick Hybrid and the other is a Synapse saddle. Both around 25-30 on ebay.
I would stay away from conventional advice that more expensive is better.