Question Re: Gel Saddles - Page 4 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

06-21-2004, 04:05 AM

Boatman wrote:
:: Pat wrote:
::: Did you measure the distance between your "sit bones" first and then
::: measure the saddle to see if you have a decent match? This is the
::: very least you should do before shelling out the big bucks for a new
::: saddle.
:::
::: Pat in TX
::
:: As a "beginner", how would you measure this distance?
::

And once you have that info, how do you use it in saddle selection?

06-21-2004, 08:32 AM

> Pat wrote:
> > Did you measure the distance between your "sit bones" first and then
> > measure the saddle to see if you have a decent match? This is the
> > very least you should do before shelling out the big bucks for a new
> > saddle.
> >
> > Pat in TX
>
> As a "beginner", how would you measure this distance?
>
> Boatman
>

One well-known method is to take a piece of typing paper and sit down on it
on a curb. If you wiggle a tiny bit on the paper, when you stand up you will
see indentations where the weight-bearing bones dented the paper--each side
in a rough oval. Get a ruler and measure the approximate middles of the
indentations.

Then, you will most likely get a number like 5 1/2" or 6" from center of one
oval to the center of the other oval. You can go to a saddle company's
website and see that a certain saddle is 5" at its widest point. If your sit
bones measurement is 6", don't buy that saddle. You don't want your
weight-bearing bones to be over the widest point of the saddle or your soft
tissues will feel the pinch, literally!

And, you will see that some women's saddles are actually narrower than some
of the men's models. Don't go by the "women" or "men" designations but chose
by the actual width of the saddle.

Pat in TX
>

06-21-2004, 08:32 AM

> Pat wrote:
> > Did you measure the distance between your "sit bones" first and then
> > measure the saddle to see if you have a decent match? This is the
> > very least you should do before shelling out the big bucks for a new
> > saddle.
> >
> > Pat in TX
>
> As a "beginner", how would you measure this distance?
>
> Boatman
>

One well-known method is to take a piece of typing paper and sit down on it
on a curb. If you wiggle a tiny bit on the paper, when you stand up you will
see indentations where the weight-bearing bones dented the paper--each side
in a rough oval. Get a ruler and measure the approximate middles of the
indentations.

Then, you will most likely get a number like 5 1/2" or 6" from center of one
oval to the center of the other oval. You can go to a saddle company's
website and see that a certain saddle is 5" at its widest point. If your sit
bones measurement is 6", don't buy that saddle. You don't want your
weight-bearing bones to be over the widest point of the saddle or your soft
tissues will feel the pinch, literally!

And, you will see that some women's saddles are actually narrower than some
of the men's models. Don't go by the "women" or "men" designations but chose
by the actual width of the saddle.

Pat in TX
>

06-21-2004, 08:32 AM

> Pat wrote:
> > Did you measure the distance between your "sit bones" first and then
> > measure the saddle to see if you have a decent match? This is the
> > very least you should do before shelling out the big bucks for a new
> > saddle.
> >
> > Pat in TX
>
> As a "beginner", how would you measure this distance?
>
> Boatman
>

One well-known method is to take a piece of typing paper and sit down on it
on a curb. If you wiggle a tiny bit on the paper, when you stand up you will
see indentations where the weight-bearing bones dented the paper--each side
in a rough oval. Get a ruler and measure the approximate middles of the
indentations.

Then, you will most likely get a number like 5 1/2" or 6" from center of one
oval to the center of the other oval. You can go to a saddle company's
website and see that a certain saddle is 5" at its widest point. If your sit
bones measurement is 6", don't buy that saddle. You don't want your
weight-bearing bones to be over the widest point of the saddle or your soft
tissues will feel the pinch, literally!

And, you will see that some women's saddles are actually narrower than some
of the men's models. Don't go by the "women" or "men" designations but chose
by the actual width of the saddle.

Pat in TX
>

06-21-2004, 08:32 AM

> Pat wrote:
> > Did you measure the distance between your "sit bones" first and then
> > measure the saddle to see if you have a decent match? This is the
> > very least you should do before shelling out the big bucks for a new
> > saddle.
> >
> > Pat in TX
>
> As a "beginner", how would you measure this distance?
>
> Boatman
>

One well-known method is to take a piece of typing paper and sit down on it
on a curb. If you wiggle a tiny bit on the paper, when you stand up you will
see indentations where the weight-bearing bones dented the paper--each side
in a rough oval. Get a ruler and measure the approximate middles of the
indentations.

Then, you will most likely get a number like 5 1/2" or 6" from center of one
oval to the center of the other oval. You can go to a saddle company's
website and see that a certain saddle is 5" at its widest point. If your sit
bones measurement is 6", don't buy that saddle. You don't want your
weight-bearing bones to be over the widest point of the saddle or your soft
tissues will feel the pinch, literally!

And, you will see that some women's saddles are actually narrower than some
of the men's models. Don't go by the "women" or "men" designations but chose
by the actual width of the saddle.

Pat in TX
>

06-21-2004, 08:32 AM

> Pat wrote:
> > Did you measure the distance between your "sit bones" first and then
> > measure the saddle to see if you have a decent match? This is the
> > very least you should do before shelling out the big bucks for a new
> > saddle.
> >
> > Pat in TX
>
> As a "beginner", how would you measure this distance?
>
> Boatman
>

One well-known method is to take a piece of typing paper and sit down on it
on a curb. If you wiggle a tiny bit on the paper, when you stand up you will
see indentations where the weight-bearing bones dented the paper--each side
in a rough oval. Get a ruler and measure the approximate middles of the
indentations.

Then, you will most likely get a number like 5 1/2" or 6" from center of one
oval to the center of the other oval. You can go to a saddle company's
website and see that a certain saddle is 5" at its widest point. If your sit
bones measurement is 6", don't buy that saddle. You don't want your
weight-bearing bones to be over the widest point of the saddle or your soft
tissues will feel the pinch, literally!

And, you will see that some women's saddles are actually narrower than some
of the men's models. Don't go by the "women" or "men" designations but chose
by the actual width of the saddle.

Pat in TX
>