Saddle Width

gcwebbyuk

I've tried several saddles, and thought I was onto a winner.

Initially I used a Charge Spoon on my MTB, but didn't get on with it when in a static position on my road bike.

I then tried a Fizik Antares and found it just about right, so bought one. I did several long rides on it, and all good. However after spending more time riding the bike, and gaining a bit more flexibility from yoga, I found the slight kick up at the back was pushing me over the bars.

I went back and tried a Fizik Arione and once again, thought I had found the right saddle. I splashed out on the carbon railed version as I was feeling flush - selling the metal railed one - and all was good again.

Roll on several months, and I'm starting to think that maybe the Arione is not really for me. It is possibly too narrow for my sit bones. They are just on the saddle, but only just.

I have had problems with calf pain and am wondering if the fact my sit bones aren't supported as well as they should be, could be causing my hips to drop. Does this sound likely?

Luckily I still have the Antares, so I'm going to swap it over and see how it goes - but could I be searching for something that isn't there?

I've had a bike fit, but as I had already "found the right saddle" we skipped that part - a mistake on my part to suggest skipping it

dannbodge

My LBS will do a quick sit bone measurement for anyone that walks in off the street (if you show enough interest in buying a saddle there). I would suggest speaking with the people that did your bikefit and explain the issue and see if they will do a saddle fit for you.

PhilipPirrip

gcwebbyuk wrote:

Luckily I still have the Antares, so I'm going to swap it over and see how it goes - but could I be searching for something that isn't there?

Could be.

I religiuosly followed the sit bone rule of thumb and went through numerous 140+mm saddles which all started off feeling okay but would eventually lead to the realisation they were compressing the soft tissue beyond all comfort and giving a feeling of the pelvis being cleft in twain.

Each time things got to that point I'd go and buy another saddle of similar width and the merry-go-round would start again.

Having acquired a variety of very nice, and expensive, saddles around the 140mm mark I decided to forego the sit bone rule of thumb as chasing that magical saddle around 140mm was a false trail. Instead I listened to my body and brain upped the saddle width to around 150mm with the cheapest sport saddle I could find as a first step.

So far so good as my sit bones are well supported with no great pressure on the soft tissue, I just need to be mindful that the extra width doesn't cause compression of nerves in the backs of the legs.

gcwebbyuk

I did the sit bone test back when first picking a saddle - and the antares was the right width. I'd tried the Arione before the Antares and had found it comfy which is why I went back to it.

Luckily I hadn't had anyone buy the Antares, so have swapped back over to it this morning. I have a turbo session planned for this afternoon, so will see how it goes.

joey54321

have you tried any non-Fizik saddles? I am pretty fussy when it comes to saddles, but I can get by on most except Fizik's. I think they look great but I find them damn uncomfortable.

phil485

I think I may be the other way around.
Bike fit recommended the very widest specialized toupe which I've used religiously for the last 4 years.

Had a couple of really bad hip/ lower back episodes and struggled with tight hamstrings.

Only just thought about saddle width as the issue so I am now trialling a cheap 130mm saddle which seems to be helping the hip. Maybe not the perfect choice yet but again shows you need to listen to your body.

gcwebbyuk

The only other saddle I have tried recently is a Charge Spoon, which I get on well with on my MTB.

The extra padding on it, seems to get in the way on the road bike though. I guess it is because you move around a lot more on an MTB compared to a fixed (ish) position on the road bike - especially on the turbo trainer.

Orkneylad

All the Fiziks I've tried feel like sitting on a brick, highly person of course but best I've found is the San Marco SKN, the split-shell independent flex might take a little getting used to but my sit-bones never complain. Awesome saddle, shame they don't make them anymore but they do come up on fleabay sometimes.

cgfw201

My bike came with an Aliante, which was then swapped to an Arione after a bike fit, and then an Antares after I hated the Arione.

I couldn't get on with any of the Fiziks.

Went to a different shop, got measured and bought a Spesh Romin, and 40,000km later I've had zero pain or discomfort whatsoever.

Guess what works for one won't work for everyone, but for me the Romin has been a revelation.

styxd

The Arione is narrow for an aggressive fit so your sit bones probably won't be on the saddle; if I sit bolt upright on mine it feels too narrow. Try lowering your bars?

Frank Wilson

The only saddle I can get comfortable on is a Spesh ladies saddle. I have it on two of my bikes but you can't buy it any more. On my winter bike I have a prologo and can't do more than 20_25 miles on it without it crucifying my rear end. I think an awful lot of it is down to try it and see.

gcwebbyuk

I did a small 30 min turbo session on the Antares this afternoon, and felt ok. Definitely noticed the different shape of the saddle, and could really feel my sit bones on it.

The turbo I use is a Kinetic Rock N Roll, and I usually notice the bike rocking with the Arione. However today with the Antares I was much more stable and very little side to side movement. I'm guessing this is because I was more stable on the bike.

Will see how it goes!

Tiesetrotter

Generally I can get on with all saddles ............ until my new CAAd12 came with an Arione. Although I am very flexible it is definitely going. It really doesn't work for me. I have an old Aliante arm chair mega comfy thing, two Prologo Scratch's and a San Marco Aspide narrow. So a fair spread of saddles ........... but the Arione is a no no.