advice on a saddle?

derv

i did my first 'proper' cycle at the weekend (80k) and I really enjoyed it!

i'm going to get a decent bike on the biketowork scheme in a month or so once i've done a few more long distance cycles so i am 100% sure it's for me.

i will be borrowing a bike for the next few runs out, and the bike has a hard saddle. (in pain today :-))

can anyone recommend a decent 'comfortable' saddle that I can use?
i don't really care too much about the performance aspects of the saddle
(don't really understand the performance difference if i am being honest - so happy to learn from someone in the know....)

what should i be looking for?

thanks

DirkVoodoo

Two things: Find a shop that will let you test a saddle, saddles are highly personal and one man's perch is another man's ass hatchet.

Secondly, if you aren't wearing shorts with a chamois, buy a pair. A saddle is the yin, this is the yang to perennial quiescence.

derv

thankfully i did wear the padded shorts borrowed from a mate , so definitely going to get my hands on a pair before my next outing.

is there a general rule of thumb for your weight (ass size) and width of saddle?

i felt like the saddle I was using was far too narrow, but when i looked at all of the bikes around after the race, they were all narrow!

this is the one i used yesterday

i know there is a certain element of toughening your backside up and getting used to it...

Dermot Illogical

That doesn't look narrow..

Rovi

As a slight aside to your saddle question, but in further pursuit of perennial bliss (and my apologies if you already know this), but the chamois lined shorts are worn 'commando'.
Over the years, I've seen quite a lot of new cyclists wearing underpants or swimming togs or, on one memorable occasion, underpants AND football shorts (:eek:) under their newly purchased first pair of proper cycling shorts, with pretty predictable (and painful) results: chaffing, cuts, blisters.
Also, chamois cream or balm is worth investigating. It goes either on the chamois or on your skin and greatly adds to comfort levels.

Again, my apologies if this is already known to you, but just in case...

derv

thanks for the info , no i didn't know that tbh , (very new to the game)
i wore a pair of sports boxers underneath so that may explain the discomfort...


how much would i need to spend on a decent pair of those shorts?
any recommendations.

derv

@RT66 - it's narrower than any saddle i've ever sat on!
would this be considered as a wide saddle ?

horizon26

Saddle height and more importantly saddle position fore and aft is vitally important.Forgot to mention your saddle should be level,or only a few degree's off level.

As for shorts assos are great but there not cheap.Although in fairness they last a very long time,so in the long run they are cheap enough.A friend of mine uses endura shorts and he thinks there fab.

bcmf

derv wrote: »

how much would i need to spend on a decent pair of those shorts?
any recommendations.

How much you wanna spend?

derv

@ horizon - i did feel i was stretching a small bit too much , so i think the bike may have been too long for me. i felt the saddle was the right height though , but what do i know... what are the general rules for saddle height?

sorry for all the stupid questions....

@bcmf - not really too sure to be honest. looking at the prices online , i would probably need to spend 80 - 100 euro for a comfortable pair.

the ones i wore yesterday were giordana bib shorts and i found them pretty comfortable...

i'm guessing the best thing to do is get all of this gear in a package when doing the biketowork scheme....

horizon26

derv wrote: »

@ horizon - i did feel i was stretching a small bit too much , so i think the bike may have been too long for me. i felt the saddle was the right height though , but what do i know... what are the general rules for saddle height?

sorry for all the stupid questions....

@bcmf - not really too sure to be honest. looking at the prices online , i would probably need to spend 80 - 100 euro for a comfortable pair.

the ones i wore yesterday were giordana bib shorts and i found them pretty comfortable...

i'm guessing the best thing to do is get all of this gear in a package when doing the biketowork scheme....

giodana shorts are excellent.General rules for saddle height are f**k I don't know.I am a novice like yourself really.There are others with much more expertise than me.I still fiddle about with my setting on my bike,changing pedals saddles and handlebars is a common theme for me.I am a fickle so and so,though.

CramCycle

I prefer Altura which aren't too pricey but I have also heard good things of DHB (Wiggles homebrand) and they are meant to be good value.

Bluefoam

As usual, I'll recommend the Charge Spoon. Very comfortable, very cheap, looks good...

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-spoon-saddle-with-cromo-rails/?dest=1&curr=gbp&lang=en&utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=products

aquanaut

I have a Fizik Alliante Gamma - its a goldilocks type saddle - not too hard, not too soft - I love it and would see it as a saddle to sit on while you figure out what you want. Get a sit bone fitting as well

stas

tbh, whatever the saddle or shorts, there will be a deal of hardening in any case. I'd personally go with whatever (budget) saddle you get from your LBS, and after awhile you may go for something better like fizik or brooks or whatever else that'll float your boat then.

**Timbuk2**

derv wrote: »

what are the general rules for saddle height?

What I do is place my heel on the pedal, and spin the pedal to the bottom of it's rotation (furthest away from you) - your leg should be straight but not locked. Then when you clip in / place the ball of your foot on the saddle, it should feel comfortable (usually there's around 25-35 degree bend in your knees). That's only what works for me then!

For fore/aft position, you place your feet on the pedals (or clip in) and spin your legs so that they are at the same level as each other (one foot is at 3 o clock, the other is at 9 o clock) - with the leg that's at the front, if you drop a straight line from the front of your knee downwards, it should be over the center of the pedal axis. I think that's how this is done. You'll probably need somebody to look at you while doing this, or lean against a wall and use a plumb line!

smacl

200k on the Brooks flyer yesterday and it was an absolute god send, no ass ache whatsoever. Nothing short of a miracle. FWIW I'm a 13st 6ft bloke and ride quite upright. I've heard that Brooks don't work for everyone, but it is certainly worth adding to your list. Shop around before buying, net prices seem to vary wildly.

Bluefoam

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Then when you clip in / place the ball of your foot on the saddle, it should feel comfortable

Can you repeat step 2?