Saddle Tech & School

[Spafsack]

Hi gents, first and hopefully last update. Went to Ride Life in George. I am super impressed with the level of service. Thank you to JP, within 20 minutes we were done and sorted.

 

So first thing was to check my set up. Saddle a bit to far back in there opinion.

Took saddle off, chucked on Giant gel sit bone testing saddle, mounted it the same.

Went for test ride, clearly showed i am sitting to forward. This was one of the causes of painfull ass.

He then moved it forward, test ride again, much better. The indicators showed a need a narrow saddle due to sit bone width.

 

He then mounted a bontragger arvada saddle.as test 1. He showed me how it flexes as well, which is important on hard tails. Went for test ride, felt flipping amazing, and this is with normal shorts on.

Told him, done deal. The Arvada is a 138mm wide, has the relief insert but its not open. I think i have found my saddle. He also adjusted it level to a tinge up as my previous set up was a tinge nose down. He said this might be the cause of hand fatigue. So all in all, amazing service, going for a ride later today, cant wait to test out. Note pics i just took are with dropper down.

 

[Chris_]

How different were the two measurements? The one where you took yourself when sitting bolt upright, and the Giant one where you were sitting on it in your 'riding position'?

[Spafsack]

Hi Chris, over the weekend i did the diy sit bone test. There already i measured / saw that my ass needs a thinner type saddle. So my old stock saddle was not far off size wise, but not a great saddle, probably sells for like R400. 

 

When i sat on the Giant test saddle, both times i rode around in normal 'race mode' mode, not sit up straight mode, if i understand your question. My saddle was to far back, its not a great saddle, my sit bones are not wide at all, so all in all, i think this has solved the issues. 

[DieselnDust]

for some good science on saddles

 

https://www.sellesmp.com/en/designed-on-your-body.html

 

have a look at the Well if you are ever in the market again

[Chris_]

Hi Chris, over the weekend i did the diy sit bone test. There already i measured / saw that my ass needs a thinner type saddle. So my old stock saddle was not far off size wise, but not a great saddle, probably sells for like R400. 

 

When i sat on the Giant test saddle, both times i rode around in normal 'race mode' mode, not sit up straight mode, if i understand your question. My saddle was to far back, its not a great saddle, my sit bones are not wide at all, so all in all, i think this has solved the issues. 

 

Ja thats exactly it. A lot of us probably do the DIY test at home, but sitting upright. Then one buys a saddle for the upright measurement when you don't ever actually sit on it like that. 

 

I suppose thats why experts exist.... Height and fore/aft position aside, getting the very first step in choosing a saddle wrong can lead to a frustrating process.

[Spafsack]

Hi Chris, that is true. But then again the DIY sit bone test is critical, i wish i did that long ago, cause at least you start at a point, thin ass, wide ass, then you at least know what saddle width to look at. The sit bones reading on the giant test saddle is hyper cool, even if you sit up straight or normal race position, it clearly shows where you are basically sitting. And this is a free service if i am not mistaken.