Saddle help. Diagnose my DIY sit bone test.
Discussion
I'm still testing saddles for the Transcontinental bike, trying to find one that's comfortable for climbing and riding tucked on the TT bars. Nothing seems to be working so I've gone back to give the oft-recommended ISM Adamo an extended test. I tried it on a turbo during an unsuccessful saddle fit session and didn't gel with it, but the test ride was perhaps too short to get a full appreciation. I'm hoping it just felt 'different' and it's my brain that was wrong. The saddle session didn't give me any confidence in the fitter's skill, but maybe I just chose the wrong fitter?
Anyway, I rode 100 miles today on the 2016 ISM Adamo PL1.0 (billed as suiting a TT rider who also wants to sit back and climb) and when I finished my sit bones had left this impression on the saddle. Several hours later it's still there (which is going to make returning it tricky). At this point my head is spinning and I have no idea if that's where I should be sitting on the saddle; if I need to look for a wider saddle; a narrow saddle… I'm lost.
Does anybody have a decent understanding of saddle fit and can glean anything from the impression?
Update: The impression was not an impression but a crease formed by the saddle being squeezed.
Anyway, I rode 100 miles today on the 2016 ISM Adamo PL1.0 (billed as suiting a TT rider who also wants to sit back and climb) and when I finished my sit bones had left this impression on the saddle. Several hours later it's still there (which is going to make returning it tricky). At this point my head is spinning and I have no idea if that's where I should be sitting on the saddle; if I need to look for a wider saddle; a narrow saddle… I'm lost.
Does anybody have a decent understanding of saddle fit and can glean anything from the impression?
Update: The impression was not an impression but a crease formed by the saddle being squeezed.
Edited by Gruffy on Wednesday 9th March 12:23
Too difficult to work anything out from that picture
Ive been using ISM saddles for years, recently the Adamo, but have gone back to a traditional saddle design with a cutout
ISMs are great, but I could never feel 1100% right on one, no matter what I tried and have come to the conclusion they are only beneficial to me to avoid any pressure on sensitive bits (which they are good for) at the expense of a decent position
I noticed Specialized havea good range of saddle0 (huge range a few years ago at least) , that would be my first stop and get my sit bones properly measured and a saddle linked to that.
I've always found the sweet spot hard to get in that drops/hoods/aero/climbing positions are all slightly different and I can adjust the saddle to get a couple right, but at the expense of something else
Ive been using ISM saddles for years, recently the Adamo, but have gone back to a traditional saddle design with a cutout
ISMs are great, but I could never feel 1100% right on one, no matter what I tried and have come to the conclusion they are only beneficial to me to avoid any pressure on sensitive bits (which they are good for) at the expense of a decent position
I noticed Specialized havea good range of saddle0 (huge range a few years ago at least) , that would be my first stop and get my sit bones properly measured and a saddle linked to that.
I've always found the sweet spot hard to get in that drops/hoods/aero/climbing positions are all slightly different and I can adjust the saddle to get a couple right, but at the expense of something else
I sent the info above to ISM themselves and asked for their input. I've also fired off enquiries to the Spesh store in Kingston and CycleFit in Holborn for a saddle mapping session. If anybody knows of a seriously talented saddle guru please let me know. It's frustrating throwing money away on fitters who don't seem to add any value beyond trial and error.
Try giving Dave at http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&... a call they had lots of demo fizik saddles when I was last year and done fits for people who have done long distance stuff.
Maybe worth a chat.
Maybe worth a chat.
I found this article really useful to get my head around the differences between saddles:
https://www.cervelo.com/en/engineering-field-notes...
Cervelo don't sell/make saddles but appear to have done, collated and published this article out of the goodness of their hearts/pants.
Briefly - they have 4 rules, once you understand them it can help you assess a saddle to determine if it might be right for you. There's lots of nice detail in the article, but you'll get a flavour from the below.
1. Wide enough
Choose a saddle that supports your sit bones. Too narrow and your delicate parts can be beached.
2. Flat enough
It doesn’t poke up uncomfortably in the middle, and you don’t slide forward.
3. Firm enough
You don’t sink in or pinch the saddle’s padding too much in the middle. Counter-intuitively a soft squashy saddle is uncomfortable because it ditributes pressure away from your sit-bones and partially transmits it to the nether areas.
4. Try a cutout, some need one others don't depending on anatomy.
Will reduce pressure on the soft tissue under your pubic bone.
4.5 Compare T- or pear-shaped saddles - depends if you move backwards and forwards a lot or are wider down there...
https://www.cervelo.com/en/engineering-field-notes...
Cervelo don't sell/make saddles but appear to have done, collated and published this article out of the goodness of their hearts/pants.
Briefly - they have 4 rules, once you understand them it can help you assess a saddle to determine if it might be right for you. There's lots of nice detail in the article, but you'll get a flavour from the below.
1. Wide enough
Choose a saddle that supports your sit bones. Too narrow and your delicate parts can be beached.
2. Flat enough
It doesn’t poke up uncomfortably in the middle, and you don’t slide forward.
3. Firm enough
You don’t sink in or pinch the saddle’s padding too much in the middle. Counter-intuitively a soft squashy saddle is uncomfortable because it ditributes pressure away from your sit-bones and partially transmits it to the nether areas.
4. Try a cutout, some need one others don't depending on anatomy.
Will reduce pressure on the soft tissue under your pubic bone.
4.5 Compare T- or pear-shaped saddles - depends if you move backwards and forwards a lot or are wider down there...
Blog entry just published. How to deal with a pain in the arse.
Much of my problem stemmed from bad position on the saddle, but we ended up with a Bontrager Montrose. Having the pressure mapping makes such a difference. I have a 275km ride on Sunday which'll serve as a good test.
Much of my problem stemmed from bad position on the saddle, but we ended up with a Bontrager Montrose. Having the pressure mapping makes such a difference. I have a 275km ride on Sunday which'll serve as a good test.
Gruffy said:
Blog entry just published. How to deal with a pain in the arse.
Much of my problem stemmed from bad position on the saddle, but we ended up with a Bontrager Montrose. Having the pressure mapping makes such a difference. I have a 275km ride on Sunday which'll serve as a good test.
Super article - your blog is a very nice gift to the world!Much of my problem stemmed from bad position on the saddle, but we ended up with a Bontrager Montrose. Having the pressure mapping makes such a difference. I have a 275km ride on Sunday which'll serve as a good test.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff