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Saddle recommendations for a narrow butt and no chamois?

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#43 ·
HollyBoni said:
Hopefully it works out for you. My issue was the shape, not the padding. I just don't understand why, because the shape is nothing "exotic".
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A really uncomfortable experience with the SMC - this saddle wants to "jump out" from underneath me at a certain angle (both sides) - my sit bones slip over saddle’s edges.

It's like there's a threshold on both sides, after which it "jumps" sideways - it’s unstable, despite the correct sizing. All settings / geometry unchanged from the previous saddle (Bridge).

I have not experienced this with my ancient BelAir, and the recent Spec Power or Bridge. Bizarre.
 
Discussion starter · #44 ·
WobbleEye said:
A really uncomfortable experience with the SMC - this saddle wants to "jump out" from underneath me at a certain angle (both sides) - my sit bones slip over saddle’s edges.

It's like there's a threshold on both sides, after which it "jumps" sideways - it’s unstable, despite the correct sizing. All settings / geometry unchanged from the previous saddle (Bridge).

I have not experienced this with my ancient BelAir, and the recent Spec Power or Bridge. Bizarre.
Click to expand...
That's a bummer! I'd say give it a few rides but that doesn't sound to good.

If that gives you any relief, my Specialized and Ergon saddles sold almost instantly. :) No one wants the WTB SL8 tho.
 
#45 ·
HollyBoni said:
That's a bummer! I'd say give it a few rides but that doesn't sound to good.

If that gives you any relief, my Specialized and Ergon saddles sold almost instantly. :) No one wants the WTB SL8 tho.
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Played around with height and fore/aft - it's as if the SMC doesn't have a sweet spot?
Every butt's different I guess, but that "unplanted" sensation is so annoying, with this saddle it's not just fore / aft, but also lateral. It's like I need to focus just to stay on it.
 
Discussion starter · #46 · (Edited)
WobbleEye said:
Played around with height and fore/aft - it's as if the SMC doesn't have a sweet spot?
Every butt's different I guess, but that "unplanted" sensation is so annoying, with this saddle it's not just fore / aft, but also lateral. It's like I need to focus just to stay on it.
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I had the same issue, just not side to side. I kept an allen key in my pocket and tried to adjust the angle a lot while riding, but I just couldn't get on with the saddle. Every time I stood up and then sat down, I immediately started moving around to find the sweet spot, but for me there was just no sweet spot. I always had that same uncomfortable, chafing feeling around my sit bones after a while.
 
#47 ·
This medium width came stock on my bike and is very comfortable, narrow and wide are also available.
www.wtb.com

Volt

Explore the Volt Saddle, engineered for all-terrain comfort and durability. Perfect for any ride, offering reliable support and top performance. Upgrade your saddle today.
www.wtb.com www.wtb.com
 
#48 ·
@HollyBoni I'm in a similar boat as you with a narrow, bony bottom and will be auditioning saddles soon. Have been reading various ideas about how to choose saddles. So I'm very curious how it turns out for you.

HollyBoni said:
Like I said in the first post, I went to a Specialized store and had my seat bones measured at 97mm and they gave me a 143mm Power saddle.
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With sit bones at 97mm I am surprised that they recommended a 143mm saddle. The rule I heard was to +20mm to your sit bone width, then add a cm for each degree forward that you lean forward when riding. I have 105mm sit bones and most of my sitting is during climbing which means relative to the seat (since the bike is on an incline) I'm leaned pretty far forward. So I'm looking for something around 130mm, I think.
 
#49 ·
WobbleEye said:
Played around with height and fore/aft - it's as if the SMC doesn't have a sweet spot?
Every butt's different I guess, but that "unplanted" sensation is so annoying, with this saddle it's not just fore / aft, but also lateral. It's like I need to focus just to stay on it.
Click to expand...
Could it be that you bought too-narrow of a saddle? That's what it sounds like
 
Discussion starter · #50 ·
In the meantime I bought a 127mm WTB SL8 and a Fabric Scoop radius.
The SL8 was horrible. It was so narrow and uncomfortable, I took it off after one ride. It felt like I didn't have a saddle under me.
The Fabric is decent, but I think it might be a bit too rounded, and it puts pressure on areas that shouldn't see this much pressure. I think I'd be better off with the shallow version.
I put the old WTB Volt medium on my other bike which I've been riding more and more. I think I might have been sitting on this saddle wrong for like 5+ years. I tried to sit further back on the saddle which felt weird at first, but long term it's so much more comfortable. No annoying chafing or numbness. So the Volt might be the one in the end...
 
#51 ·
HollyBoni said:
I bought the SM Comp but sold it after 3-4 rides. It's one of the weirdest saddles i've ever tried. For me on most saddles there is a comfy spot that I can "find easily" and stay there. On the Ergon I was moving around constantly and I just couldn't find a comfortable spot. I tried to play around with the angle a lot as well but it didn't help. It also felt like this part was digging into my azz sometimes:

View attachment 2095596

It's a shame because the padding felt really nice, not too soft, not too hard. I don't think I would want anything much softer. Like always, it's a saddle so your mileage may vary.
Click to expand...
I've tried tens of different saddles over the years. My situation is different than yours though. I have relatively wide sit bones but almost no room between thighs. In addition, on the left side some nerve near the sit bone gets pinched for certain saddle shapes. Flat wide saddle with narrow nose would be good for me.

My current saddle is Ergon SM Pro M/L - I have done some long rides (10 hours) with it and it seems to work quite well. Before that I tried Ergon SMC M/L - I did some very long rides with it but it was too wide for thighs and rubbed. Ergon SR Allroad Core M/L was good, except the relief channel was too shallow. Before that I used different Specialized Phenom and Power models, different SQLab models, Selle SMP, etc.

I like the flatness of Ergon saddles and the width of the sit bone area. There is one thing I would like to be changed though. Either make the nose narrower or increase the radius of the saddle edge in the area that you circled with red.

This is my Pro after some longer rides. Notice the crease lines. The outer edge of the saddle gets crushed there because the profile of the saddle is too rectangular here. I think this aligns with your experience that something is rubbing there.

Fortunately Pro uses softer foam in this area that can be crushed. I also have a Comp model and it is much firmer in this area.

Right now SM Pro is best saddle that I've used, but it could be improved (for me) - narrower nose, less boxy profile or both.

@ERGON - is this something that you could pass to the designers of your saddles? Perhaps you could come up with narrow-wide version of some saddles?

Image
 
#52 ·
Is there a break in period for saddles, as much for the saddle as for your own rear end? We've been through about a dozen saddles for my partner, but I'm beginning to wonder if she doesn't get enough hours on each one, to actually get used to them. Though I suspect you know pretty quickly if the shape is going to be any good or not.
I on the other hand rode an i-beam saddle for about a decade, so as a consequence can sit on anything now. Usually just stock cheap Specialized Henge/Bridge that have come on my bikes.
That said, I never used to ride in chamois, but in my early forties now and rides are getting longer (used to be about the DH) so even use a little butt butter as well if I'm riding more than an hour.
 
Discussion starter · #53 · (Edited)
Mudguard said:
Is there a break in period for saddles, as much for the saddle as for your own rear end? We've been through about a dozen saddles for my partner, but I'm beginning to wonder if she doesn't get enough hours on each one, to actually get used to them. Though I suspect you know pretty quickly if the shape is going to be any good or not.
I on the other hand rode an i-beam saddle for about a decade, so as a consequence can sit on anything now. Usually just stock cheap Specialized Henge/Bridge that have come on my bikes.
That said, I never used to ride in chamois, but in my early forties now and rides are getting longer (used to be about the DH) so even use a little butt butter as well if I'm riding more than an hour.
Click to expand...
I think so. My WTBs have two imprints of my sit bones. The foam probably gets softer overall as well.
Saddle angle also makes a huge difference. When I get a new saddle I keep an allen key where it's easy to reach so I can play around with the angle while out riding.
 
#54 ·
Specialized has saddles with mirrors in them.
www.specialized.com

S-Works Phenom with Mirror

Well known for its long body and flat profile, the Phenom is the shape of choice for many of the best racers in the world, ranging from Tour of Flanders...
www.specialized.com www.specialized.com
Wonder what you see in the mirror... for $450 it better be good.
=sParty
 
#55 ·
Mudguard said:
Is there a break in period for saddles, as much for the saddle as for your own rear end?
Click to expand...
Interesting question. I think that saddle will slightly change over time as foam compresses and ages. But I think the changes will be small (I'm not talking about natural leather saddles like Brooks here that will take you shape) and you cannot sit a bad saddle to good saddle. About my own rear end - I don't think there is break in period going from one saddle to another. I believe there might be break in period when you start riding but I've ridden so long that I cannot remember this anymore :)

Mudguard said:
We've been through about a dozen saddles for my partner, but I'm beginning to wonder if she doesn't get enough hours on each one, to actually get used to them. Though I suspect you know pretty quickly if the shape is going to be any good or not.
Click to expand...
But what are her complaints? Do they change from saddle to saddle or is it always a same problem? I would definitely start from correct saddle width - too wide or too narrow cannot be comfortable. Then find best saddle angle. IME nose down is more comfortable for sitting but will put more pressure on the hands because you will start slipping forward. Start from nose down position and very slowly start rising the nose until hands stop to be a problem. That's the best saddle angle. If it still feels uncomfortable then it really depends on the exact complaints.
 
#56 ·
Sparticus said:
Specialized has saddles with mirrors in them.
www.specialized.com

S-Works Phenom with Mirror

Well known for its long body and flat profile, the Phenom is the shape of choice for many of the best racers in the world, ranging from Tour of Flanders...
www.specialized.com www.specialized.com
Wonder what you see in the mirror... for $450 it better be good.
=sParty
Click to expand...
I tried the Specialized 3D printed saddle (Power). I could feel the dimpled surface through 10mm chamois. I did not like it at all. Saddle should be smooth.
 
#57 ·
arnea said:
I tried the Specialized 3D printed saddle (Power). I could feel the dimpled surface through 10mm chamois. I did not like it at all. Saddle should be smooth.
Click to expand...
But you didn't mention what's reflected in the mirror.

Not certain I want to know... :ROFLMAO:
=sParty
 
#60 ·
If you’re looking for nerrowish saddle try Ergon SM Enduro (S/M size is 135mm), it’s on the firm side, but once it break in it’s really comfortable.
 
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