How big is my bum?

bbug
bbug Posts: 83
edited June 2010 in MTB buying advice
I was wondering, is there a way of measuring your bum before buying a seat. After all, if your seat ain't comfy, you're not going to get the most out of your ride.

Are there standard measurements/sizes that you ask for when you order? It's easy to say try a few, but unless you've spent a few hours on a seat, you can't really tell if you can live with it.

The reason I ask is that the rails on my seat have bent and I've straightened them, but it can't last. A new seat will have to be bought sooner or later, so if I can measure my bum, I can at least have a chance of getting the right seat first time.

Thanks

Comments

  • Donnic
    Donnic Posts: 85
    Go to a Specialized dealer; they will have a tool that is a piece of card with a gel pad on it. You sit on it for a minute or so, and it leaves an indent where your sit bones are. They then measure the gap.
  • bbug
    bbug Posts: 83
    @Donnic,

    Thanks for that. I've got a Specialized dealership just 11 miles away so I'll be giving them a visit.

    Thanks again.
  • abarth_1200
    abarth_1200 Posts: 370
    When you say Specialized dealer, are you talking about a specialist in measuring for saddles or the actuall bike manufacturer Specialized, sorry but I have seen this resposne to this question before but still dont understand.
  • bobpzero
    bobpzero Posts: 1,431
    its specialized bicycle components - they have a gel seat to measure sit bone width but its restricted to specialized saddles. there might be specialists in measuring sit bone width then to show the range of saddles that would suit?

    tho what was the saddle and how did you bend the rail(s)? apart from specialized theres fizik with its spine test it to seem what animal you are, tho depends on your deciding on how much you want to spend. and i dont know if this is true or not, a local bike shop should have a range of test saddles to try out.
  • The Spiderman
    The Spiderman Posts: 5,625
    Another way of measuring your sit bone width is to find some thick corrugated card,and sit on it.
    2006 Giant XTC
    2010 Giant Defy Advanced
    2016 Boardman Pro 29er
    2016 Pinnacle Lithium 4
    2017 Canondale Supersix Evo
  • bbug
    bbug Posts: 83
    bobpzero wrote:
    tho what was the saddle and how did you bend the rail(s)? apart from specialized theres fizik with its spine test it to seem what animal you are, tho depends on your deciding on how much you want to spend.

    The saddle is I presume a Speciallized one, 'cos it came with the bike (Rockhopper disk '08) when I bought it. How I bent it I don't know. I can't remember any especially heavy landings that may have done the damage.

    @ Spiderman,

    I like the idea of the corrugated cardboard. I'll try that later. I'll still go to the dealers to try their seats out. Do I have to take my trousers off, only it may be a problem as I'm in work?

    Thanks for the replies chaps.

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