After watching a GCN video about how one should ride on a saddle, I realized that I’ve been riding on the rivet of my various, mostly Specialized Power saddles (which I arrived at after a Retul fit in 2019) because they’re all too wide for me. It was honestly a shock to look around and realize that everyone I ride with rides seated completely over their saddles (including my wife, with whom I share a Power saddle equipped on a Kickr Bike). The 143mm Power shape (notably the Mirror and Mimic varieties without the complete absence of cutouts) have been the best of the saddles I’ve tried, but no way can I sit on one and pedal if my butt is anywhere close to the wings of the rear. I ride with a fair amount of anterior pelvic tilt and for longer rides, I definitely feel it in the soft tissue.
What alternative saddles I should try? Specialized only makes a few narrower saddles at 130mm, with only the $$$ S-Works Power Evo Mirror not having the cutout that might be a dealbreaker for me (or not, if I’ve been sitting incorrectly this whole time). I would definitely prefer cheaper options (at least at the start) because I have half a dozen bikes I’d want to change out.
I used to ride a Power 155, and I did exactly the same thing, I was always way far forward on it. I’m now riding a Selle Italia SLR Boost in size S3, which is technically somewhere around 130 mm. I’ve got the cheap version on my trainer and MTB, and a fancy carbon one on my road bike and I couldn’t be happier.
Also worth noting that although Selle Italia released a new version of the SLR Boost range, it is completely indistinguishable from the previous generation when riding. Thankfully they didn’t attempt to fix something that wasn’t broken. As a result you may be able to find good deals on the older models.
Agree about the SLR - I’m more comfortable on narrower saddles and use them on a couple of bikes. SMP are also great and I’ve had success with their Evolution and Evo 20c models
+1 for the Selle Italia SLR Boost in size S3. I have a 145 Power saddle which is too wide, recently got the SLR which allows me to sit much further back. Ergon do some which are a similar narrow fit but a different shape than the SLR, a bit flatter across the width.
I admit to being a bit skeptical anytime someone states they learned something from a GCN video.
I’ve been happily riding the Power Arc for a couple years now. It’s basically the Power but with more curvature which suits my generous thighs.
My experience has been that it’s important to find the right curvature for your body and the appropriate amount of “platform”. I rode the Bontrager Montrose for a few years that had the perfect curvature for my rump but ultimately cause some soft tissue injury because it was pretty narrow so lack enough platform for me.
Finally it’s important to notes that lots of people ride on the rivet because they are trying to ride a bike with too much reach and not enough stack. Most folks on a Tarmac should not actually be riding a Tarmac
The Power Arc existed when I got my Retul fit and absolutely did not feel comfortable. And my reach is fine considering I’ve done said fit to find what my body naturally gravitates to riding, and also have a Kickr Bike where I’ve played around plenty with different reach, stack, saddle height and setback.
I looks like I’ll have to give the Selle Italia a try!Coincidentally or intentionally, they’re the ones represented in the GCN video, advertising their idmatch fitting.
To be clear I wasn’t trying to state that your fit was wrong but rather that most folks on a group ride are overly optimistic about a race bike fitting them and that can lead to some wonky riding positions.
Do you have access to a fitter or shop with a saddle library? Your best bet is probably to test a bunch of saddles without having to buy them.
I have mine on quite a nose down angle. It is less extreme when seated as the seatpost flexes a lot and nose points down less. But I sit pretty forward on it still and am ‘snug’ with my sit bones in the narrow bit in the middle of the saddle, the ‘scoop’ keeps me a bit more planted.
With the caveat that I haven’t had a professional fit with this. But it works for me, especially to reduce saddle sores and when riding in drops
Similar issue. I am ok on a Power, better on a Power Arc and best on a Prologo Scratch PAS. This is 134mm max width but mid area of saddle is pretty slim so it works well.
if you really have narrow sit bones and like a flexible saddle, a classic Flite or Tune KomVoris worth a try.
I bought a Selle Italia SLR TM Boost that I can return. It doesn’t have the full cutout but first impressions (literally) from an hour on the trainer are that I went from most of my weight not being on my sit-bones to being almost entirely supported by them. Actually a very odd feeling as I am not used to that at all.
On the plus side, I didn’t notice any pressure on my soft tissue. But is it good and proper to have so much pressure isolated to just the two sit-bone points, or should I be feeling like my weight is more spread out? I couldn’t decide if I was comfortable; I kept alternating between thinking it was too much for my sit-bones vs. that it was actually fine and I just needed more time to adapt. In any case, I’ll take it out for a 2 hr ride tomorrow to get another data point.
We’re all shaped differently, and we change over time. I seem to be fairly insensitive to perineal pressure but very sensitive to thigh rub. Roughly 5’9”, 160lbs, now on a SLR Boost 130 for gravel and indoor trainer. The TM version with the shallow closed cutout and the open cutout both work for me. Road Bike Saddle SLR Boost TM | Selle Italia
I have a bike with an old Fizik Aliante that also works for me. The small Ergon Allroad seemed fine for a couple of seasons and then it wasn’t. The Specialized Power Arc didn’t work for me.
I find I get quite a bit of outward pressure on my femur heads with a wider saddle. I find the Fizik Arione at nominally 130mm to be quite comfortable in terms of sit bone width. Meanwhile the Bontrager Verse 155mm saddle that, for some reason is fitted on smaller frames, was quite painful when pedaling. Cutouts are always great. I’m inclined to go Selle Italia in their narrowest width next time around.
I have mine on quite a nose down angle. It is less extreme when seated as the seatpost flexes a lot and nose points down less. But I sit pretty forward on it still and am ‘snug’ with my sit bones in the narrow bit in the middle of the saddle, the ‘scoop’ keeps me a bit more planted.
With the saddle at such an angle, do you not find that you have a lot of pressure on your hands?
Not sure accessible German brand SQ Lab is where you live but recommend checking out their saddle range. I have very narrow sit bones (just under 11cm wide) and struggle to find saddles narrow enough. Their models across disciplines typically range from very narrow (nominal 12cm) to very wide (16cm). Have never looked back after moving all my bikes over to the relevant saddles (shape and padding varies slighty depending on use case) across road, gravel, mtb and trainer.
I‘ve been quite happy with mine as well, got the narrowest version. The only gripe I have, is that it „locks me in“ to a position quite a lot. Don‘t get me wrong, that position is quite comfortable! But if I want to go substantially more aero for example, it won‘t let me shift on the saddle much or tilt my pelvis forward further comfortably.
I‘m experimenting with the Selle SLR Boost S3 atm and it is working well so far. But in the end, saddles are always a trial and error I think, as they are so personal.
Bikefit James, YouTube channel for a premium fitter in the UK, reckons most people are on saddles that are too wide and his most popular saddle recommendation is the Selle Italia SLR that’s getting a lot of love here.
I’ve got an SLR but I actually prefer the San Marco Aspide in narrow fit (132mm?) - I think it has slightly more curve to it which helps with pelvic rotation. I’m enough of a fan that I stockpile replacements when they pop up on discount for when their design inevitably changes.
Huge variety of options to cover every price point so you can try the shape out cheaply enough - seen basic models for less than £30 and even the Carbon FX often reduced to around £80.
A little, but not to the point of discomfort. Saddle is fairly far back on the rails so that helps. I’ve been playing with the tilt to be fair recently and it might end up with nose a little higher than pictured, but the nose drop is comfortable when in the drops for a long time (I ride in the drops a lot)
