Saddle advice

[DooDah]

Hi,
Got into road biking back in May and bought a Boardman Race from Wiggle. Very happy with the bike but the saddle is causing all sorts of pain. Tried to last it out to see if it was just that my butt was not used to it, but after about 20km the pain is pretty bad. I wear castelli bib shorts and use chamois cream so I am guessing it is the saddle. I had the same with my specialized mountain bike when I bought it 15 years ago and I had to buy a more expensive saddle with a centre cut-out. Can anyone recommend a good road saddle of similar design, in white that does not cost the earth.

Or maybe it is just that I can only get out on my bike at weekends and sometimes don't have the time to ride for 2-3 weeks. Any advice welcome. I can't use the saddle hire service as I have only just joined the forum and I live in France.

Many Thanks,
DooDah

 

[smokeysmoo]

to CC

Saddles are the most personal component on any bike, and people will just bombard you with their own preferences, which ultimately may or not work for you.

There is actually a SADDLE LIBRARY on here where you can rent/loan/borrow saddles, (terms vary), then if you like it you may be able to purchase that actual saddle, or you can go off and find one the same you can buy. This could save you the ££££'s that lots of us have haemorrhaged over the years on saddles that have proved to be a real pain in the @rse.

You may have difficulty utilising the saddle library as a new member, but give it a look anyway. Please note, it is not run by CycleChat, but it is run with CC admin permission.

FWIW I'm now using a Specialized Romin Expert on my best bike, and it seems very good TBH. This is the 4th saddle I've had on this bike in a little over 18 months, so I really do hope it proves OK long term

 

[DooDah]

Hi SmokeySmoo,

Thanks for the advice. That is actually what I meant about the saddle hire service (saddle library). Great idea but I can't use it as I live in France and am new to this forum. To save myself some money I might stick it out with the current saddle and do more riding. You never know my arse become a bit hardened to it!

 

[MattHB]

How long have you been putting up with it? It took me ages to get used to any saddle.. Then it took me 3 saddles to find the right one. Then I lost weight and that saddle caused me issues so it took me 2 more till I nailed it!

eBay is a great resource for trying saddles. A lot of saddles are similar so you can get a good idea of what's working if you concentrate on width and shape.

 

[fossyant]

Use a model similar to that on the MTB you have. Less padding is more comfy.

 

[MattHB]

Use a model similar to that on the MTB you have. Less padding is more comfy.

Fossy speaketh the truth, was a lesson that took me a while to learn in my trial and error approach.

 

[mrandmrspoves]

Many new cyclists find their saddles are uncomfortable - sometimes because they are inherently uncomfortable, sometimes because the new rider hasn't got used to riding a bicycle, and sometimes because the saddle is fine - just set up incorrectly. Look up the advice on bike fit and ensure you have that right before anything else. If your saddle is too high or too low, too far forward or too far back, too tilted, or not tilted enough - will all affect your comfort. In some cases a 2-3mm adjustment is all it takes.
Many people and magazine reviews recommend the Charge Spoon as a good, compromise between price, weight and comfort - but for my posterior, my vote goes with a Brooks B17 Standard in black leather. Not the cheapest, not the lightest - but by far the most comfortable saddle for my butt.

 

[DooDah]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the advice. I might take the MTB out tomorrow as I have not ridden it for 2 years, and see what the saddle is like. It might prove that I am just being a complete wus though! If not I will investigate some of your recommendations.

 

[fossyant]

The charge spoon is great, never used it but swore by the Knife, but they snap in half. The spoon is slightly heavier, but a great saddle to start with. It is a flat saddle, low pressure on sensitive bits. Very good indeed.

 

[MattHB]

The charge spoon is great, never used it but swore by the Knife, but they snap in half. The spoon is slightly heavier, but a great saddle to start with. It is a flat saddle, low pressure on sensitive bits. Very good indeed.

Until I lost lots of weight the spoon was just amazing, you can also pick them up for next to nothing. So another +1 from me to

 

[cyberknight]

Fossy speaketh the truth, was a lesson that took me a while to learn in my trial and error approach.

Indeed.
I use the same saddle on all my bikes, that way its easier for me to change steeds for the day although i would check your saddle set up first as a few mm of adjustment can make all the difference.It took me over a year i reckon to get comfy on a saddle and i was constantly playing with its angle, height and set back till i got it dialled in , now i have all these measurements written down so i can get on another bike and i can get it set up straight away.
Interestingly i like the saddles on boardman bikes and i have it on all mine and ound the charge spoon not to my liking

Until I lost lots of weight the spoon was just amazing, you can also pick them up for next to nothing. So another +1 from me to

Interesting bacuse i have lost over a stone since i started cycling so thats maybe why i cant get on with them .

 

[MattHB]

Interesting bacuse i have lost over a stone since i started cycling so thats maybe why i cant get on with them .

It was weird, suddenly I needed less padding. A harder saddle solved it.

 

[RoyPSB]

to CC

Saddles are the most personal component on any bike, and people will just bombard you with their own preferences, which ultimately may or not work for you.

There is actually a SADDLE LIBRARY on here where you can rent/loan/borrow saddles, (terms vary), then if you like it you may be able to purchase that actual saddle, or you can go off and find one the same you can buy. This could save you the ££££'s that lots of us have haemorrhaged over the years on saddles that have proved to be a real pain in the @rse.

You may have difficulty utilising the saddle library as a new member, but give it a look anyway. Please note, it is not run by CycleChat, but it is run with CC admin permission.

FWIW I'm now using a Specialized Romin Expert on my best bike, and it seems very good TBH. This is the 4th saddle I've had on this bike in a little over 18 months, so I really do hope it proves OK long term

Also have a Romin Expert 143 - got my arse measured first and this was the size for me. It's great.

 

[Cycleops]

j

Also have a Romin Expert 143 - got my arse measured first and this was the size for me. It's great.

That must have been interesting. Suits you sir!

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Specialized concept stores have a arseometer which measures your sit bones and ensures you get the correct width saddle, well worth getting measured and getting the correct saddle. I've been measured