Saddle fitting?

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iMTB Rockstah
Have you ever been fitted for your saddle? Does it make much of a difference? I'm wondering if the width of the saddle makes a difference.
I was at a bike store that had a saddle cover that had a white gel like material in it. You put it over your saddle , stationary ride, and the impressions on it give you your SIT bone width from what I understand.
Are there other/better ways from your experience.
 
IMHO : Yes Absolutely Widths and Shape make a difference.
Sit bones width is real...
I got measured and moved down from the 143/145 ish down to the 130mm AND in my case made a huge difference. The wider saddle was actually rubbing against my sit bone (ischial and case tendonitis at the top of my hamstring)
Actually men typically have narrower Sit bones than women goes with the Hips thing.
Against what my manly ego was telling me A narrower saddle made all difference, and for me, a leaner well fitting saddle is much better than a wider more padded saddle.
I also wear good lycra short . chamois under the baggies.
All that said, Saddles are very subjective.
 
I did the white gel years ago, but don't remember the number. I did SQ labs spikes-and-paper method and found out I am closer to 140 than 150.

Shape, material, etc still make differences, though. The most comfy saddle I've ever ridden was the Brooks Cambium C17. That's a 160ish saddle, technically too big, but the Cambium flex can eat miles. Similarly, I can endure a short XC race or sub 20 mile ride on the technically too narrow SQ labs "13" size. I think that's because of it's active flex.
 
Never been fitted for a saddle. I guess when you grow up riding one of these, everything else feels comfy.

Kashimax-Aero-Old-School-BMX-Seat-In-Blue-_1.jpg
 
I notice a lot of people tilt their saddles down a lot in front. To me, it looks like that forces a lot more weight onto your hands. On a full sus bike, perhaps the rear of the bike sags more than the front, thus bringing the saddle a little more level while riding.

Of course, I've also noticed that DHers, dirt jumpers and bmx-ers tend to point their saddles up dramatically. Never understood that either, unless it's just fashion.

Not to derail the thread, but how many of you ride with the saddle nose pointed down, and why?
 
herzalot said:
Not to derail the thread, but how many of you ride with the saddle nose pointed down, and why?
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My saddle is pointed down considerably. I'd like to think it's because of what I'm packing but I believe like you said as the rear suspension compresses it levels out. The saddle on my road bike is level.
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herzalot said:
Of course, I've also noticed that DHers, dirt jumpers and bmx-ers tend to point their saddles up dramatically. Never understood that either, unless it's just fashion.
Click to expand...
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I think its so they can get behind the saddle easy and move fwd again without getting caught up on the seat. They dont sit very much anyhow....
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herzalot said:
I notice a lot of people tilt their saddles down a lot in front. To me, it looks like that forces a lot more weight onto your hands. On a full sus bike, perhaps the rear of the bike sags more than the front, thus bringing the saddle a little more level while riding...Not to derail the thread, but how many of you ride with the saddle nose pointed down, and why?
Click to expand...

I believe saddle manufacturers sometimes intend for their saddles to be at a specific angle. I hadn't thought about sag affecting saddle tilt. Now, I'm gonna play around with that and see if it makes a difference.

herzalot said:
Of course, I've also noticed that DHers, dirt jumpers and bmx-ers tend to point their saddles up dramatically. Never understood that either, unless it's just fashion.
Click to expand...
It started as functional, (Out of the way, still allows you to index the bike with your lower leg when you are barspinning or otherwise removing your hands in the air,) but it has become fashionable.
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I personally hate it, but as an 80s era flatlander, I run my seat at what most modern BMXers consider a ridiculous height and close to flat.
Broaster Floop.png


I also want my BMX bike to be relatively rideable while seated.
 
scottay said:
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I think its so they can get behind the saddle easy and move fwd again without getting caught up on the seat.
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I don't buy that a bit. The nose of the saddle pointed to the sky will not prevent the rider (often in jeans) from getting caught up on the seat. I think it's as functional as sagging pants, which is to say, not at all functional. Just fashion. Bad, bad fashion.
 
Ahh more on saddles.... two general groups IMHO... those who seem to be indifferent (lucky ones) and those that is one of the most important pieces of equipment and needs to be adjusted carefully.

High end saddles are built to be basically "Level-ish" to provide the best support.
For those who have done long road stints this become fairly obvious, right saddle position for / aft and angle is hugely important either all day comfort or all day pain.

Mountain bikers we tend to be up and down a lot so we may not notice as much.
BUT if you have you nose down appreciably you are putting more weight / stress on your hands / wrist, shoulders, back and sit bones, as you are actually pushing "backwards" against the slope of the saddle to stay in positions. I.e. you are basically wedged in their in a triangle, between a bar and a slide.

Now for me who likes to do long climbs, I will put my nose down on my mountain bike an extra degree or two... not because of sag (Although interesting I will need to ponder that) but because of that is where is spend most my time. For most my epic rides its long seated climb followed by Standing Descents. So when I am climbing that extra deg or so (again minor not like UPSed just using you as an example, glad it works for you) helps make the long climb more comfortable why... its not that I am trying to get level on a 7% grade (because the bike is still relatively level vs the grade) its because when we are climbing with power we tend to lean forward a bit and rotate the hips. With that in mind my hips / sitbones are back in a little more neutral position with respect to the saddle. Not sure that make sense but how I think about it.

Fore / aft is also very important also how you either keep a straight back or rounded back, core and hamstring tightness all affect how your saddle fits and how comfortable you are.
 
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I guess I'd call mine level.. Sometimes I have noticed it looks slightly pointed down but always figured it was for the suspension sag since I got fit for it in that position. Now I am not an all day rider, yet, by any means but I think I am in the camp of my saddle isn't on my mind on rides and have never had issues in the ass department. Specialized Phenom on my HT and SDG Falcon on my FS.

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