MTB saddles

[Ruben J Classens]

MTB saddle recommendations? Need to replace mine as my saddle is too narrow. Was looking at the Selle San Marco Ground and the Ergon SM Comp. Any input or others too consider?

Edited May 4 by Ruben J Classens

[Mike Dewing]

46 minutes ago, Ruben J Classens said:

MTB saddle recommendations? Need to replace mine as my saddle is too narrow. Was looking at the Selle San Marco Ground and the Ergon SM Comp. Any input or others too consider?

I have the Ergon sm comp.. it’s awesome.. but you have to measure your sit bone to get a better idea of what saddle you need.. Ergon has a good calculator.. 

[Ruben J Classens]

1 minute ago, Mike Dewing said:

I have the Ergon sm comp.. it’s awesome.. but you have to measure your sit bone to get a better idea of what saddle you need.. Ergon has a good calculator.. 

Thanks Mike. Appreciate your input. Was leaning towards the Ergon but size is so difficult. Calculator says M/L size. Sitbone is 125mm though so the M/L seems big. Buying the wrong 1 would be a costly mistake LOL

[thebob]

M/L Ergon was too big for me with similar sit bone measurement. Video below has a load of good info:

 

[Mike Dewing]

6 minutes ago, Ruben J Classens said:

Thanks Mike. Appreciate your input. Was leaning towards the Ergon but size is so difficult. Calculator says M/L size. Sitbone is 125mm though so the M/L seems big. Buying the wrong 1 would be a costly mistake LOL

I hear you.. I’ll tell you, I measured my sit bone, followed the Ergon site and ordered the saddle locally.. I bought it for my mountain bike and I transferred it to my gravel bike and even now using it on my road bike.. I love it, it fits its comfy, it’s amazing quality, professional fitter didn’t have any issue with it for me.. trust the process 😉👍🏻

[GLuvsMtb]

Ergon SM Comp is my first choice saddle. I had to replace a saddle a few months ago and struggled to get another Ergon SM Comp, so I went for the Prologo Dimension NDR. I think it's my new favourite saddle. 

[Ruben J Classens]

1 hour ago, GLuvsMtb said:

Ergon SM Comp is my first choice saddle. I had to replace a saddle a few months ago and struggled to get another Ergon SM Comp, so I went for the Prologo Dimension NDR. I think it's my new favourite saddle. 

Thank you. Will look at the Prologo as well

[Scott roy]

5 minutes ago, Ruben J Classens said:

Thank you. Will look at the Prologo as well

I have one, it’s the best saddle I’ve ever had. 

[Dicky DQ]

14 hours ago, thebob said:

M/L Ergon was too big for me with similar sit bone measurement. Video below has a load of good info:

 

And there I am committed to the Fizik Areone that is apparently dog ****. However I do enjoy a nose down position and like the ability to move fore and aft on a saddle. There is no way I would be able sit in only one position on a saddle.

So each to their own, rather get the setup correct for your A@ss as maybe the saddle you have is correct, you are possibly just not feeling it.

[DieselnDust]

18 hours ago, Ruben J Classens said:

MTB saddle recommendations? Need to replace mine as my saddle is too narrow. Was looking at the Selle San Marco Ground and the Ergon SM Comp. Any input or others too consider?

I'm not going to recommend a saddle as there re just too many variables that result in on the bike comfort ranging from your body shape , weight height and flexibility, hip rotation, femur length jirre etc etc etc. What I will offer is guidance on what to look for when fitting a saddle.

Firstly, understand your body shape. If you are tall and lanky with narrow hips and thighs, short samoosa shaped saddles can work for you. These would include San Marco Shortfit 2.0 and Specialized Power saddle.

If you are wider and have thicker thighs and large quads then a saddle with a narrow nose that flairs toward the rear like the Selle SMP, Selle Italia Flite, PRO Tharsis are likely where you want to start looking at

The nose of the saddle should fit neatly between your thighs without impeding your hammies and glutes. The rear should be wide enough to support your sit bones but as you rotate forward those narrow and the saddle should be able to follow that change. Samoosa saddles tend force you to rotate forward so they're ideal if that's not the position you prefer.

Flexibility:

If you sit more upright due to low flexibility in your lower back you might want to consider a saddle with a bowl like depression in the center, like a Fizik Aliante, or most SMP saddles.

If you have fairly good flexibility then flatter saddles will work best.

 

Heavier riders tend to get along better with more and firmer padding and a wider saddle, often wider than their sit bones would suggest

 

 

[Ruben J Classens]

1 hour ago, DieselnDust said:

I'm not going to recommend a saddle as there re just too many variables that result in on the bike comfort ranging from your body shape , weight height and flexibility, hip rotation, femur length jirre etc etc etc. What I will offer is guidance on what to look for when fitting a saddle.

Firstly, understand your body shape. If you are tall and lanky with narrow hips and thighs, short samoosa shaped saddles can work for you. These would include San Marco Shortfit 2.0 and Specialized Power saddle.

If you are wider and have thicker thighs and large quads then a saddle with a narrow nose that flairs toward the rear like the Selle SMP, Selle Italia Flite, PRO Tharsis are likely where you want to start looking at

The nose of the saddle should fit neatly between your thighs without impeding your hammies and glutes. The rear should be wide enough to support your sit bones but as you rotate forward those narrow and the saddle should be able to follow that change. Samoosa saddles tend force you to rotate forward so they're ideal if that's not the position you prefer.

Flexibility:

If you sit more upright due to low flexibility in your lower back you might want to consider a saddle with a bowl like depression in the center, like a Fizik Aliante, or most SMP saddles.

If you have fairly good flexibility then flatter saddles will work best.

 

Heavier riders tend to get along better with more and firmer padding and a wider saddle, often wider than their sit bones would suggest

 

 

Very insightful. Thank you

Any suggestions on measuring sitbone or where to get it done? Used the Cardboard trick many times and get the same results within 5mm. Then another question. Doing more marathon rides (70 / 80km rides) how true is it that you should add 20 to 30mm onto your sitbone width?

[DieselnDust]

16 minutes ago, Ruben J Classens said:

Very insightful. Thank you

1) Any suggestions on measuring sitbone or where to get it done? Used the Cardboard trick many times and get the same results within 5mm.

 

2) Then another question. Doing more marathon rides (70 / 80km rides) how true is it that you should add 20 to 30mm onto your sitbone width?

 

 

1) Those gel compression pads are pretty useless. The problem with those bike fit devices is that you are not seated in the position you will be riding. Often it delivers a measurement that is too wide. The best way is a on a stationery bike with a saddle pressure mapping tool. Some bike fit practioners use these. I only know of SSISA in Newlands. As you rotate your hips forward your Ischial Turberosity narrows so what you want it is support this in the position you will most often be sitting in. So if an exact ( as near as dammit) measurement it necessary I'd recommend following this route.

2) totally untrue. This will result in a wider saddle. If your position is more upright, you will be better served by a saddle with shape that is more conducive to that seated position. The width should not vary too far from wat you would use on your road bike  but its should be more supportive of your hip cradle i.e. a saddle with more dip or bow in the centre along its length. On a MTB where gradients exceed those of a road ride almost always ( well in the Western Cape anyway) using a saddle with more bowl is a good idea regardless simply because it helps to keep your hips aligned  with less effort from your lower back to do so. 

[MORNE]

I agree that its personal and you’ll likely have to try quite a few before you find The One.
 

But i’ll share mine anyway: Spez Bridge Mimic.

Ive tried one or two other saddles after this on a whim (and MANY MANY before it, from Brooks to SQ labs and everything in between)…and i keep coming back to the Bridge. I found my happy place on it. It just works for me and my specific ass. Supremely comfy for hours on a mtb. Also not overly long so when you slam the dropper…it doesn't get in the way like some others.

 

https://www.mbr.co.uk/reviews/saddles/specialized-bridge-comp-saddle-review-2

Edited May 5 by MORNE

[DieselnDust]

 

This is the benefit of pressure mapping to determine what saddle works for you. Note the set up "bike" s adjusted to the riders regular riding  position .

Note2: the testing is not conducted with threshold or maximal efforts. The testing is merely for comparative purposes at a effort that is sustainable and repeatable. No that does not mean the Power saddle could be better, its K&K, always has been always will be  I seriously don't kknow how anyone can sit on that thing or even recommend it to heir worst enema

[gerriemtb]

1 hour ago, DieselnDust said:

 

This is the benefit of pressure mapping to determine what saddle works for you. Note the set up "bike" s adjusted to the riders regular riding  position .

Note2: the testing is not conducted with threshold or maximal efforts. The testing is merely for comparative purposes at a effort that is sustainable and repeatable. No that does not mean the Power saddle could be better, its K&K, always has been always will be  I seriously don't kknow how anyone can sit on that thing or even recommend it to heir worst enema

This is Puntastic!

[michaelbiker]

1 hour ago, DieselnDust said:

 

This is the benefit of pressure mapping to determine what saddle works for you. Note the set up "bike" s adjusted to the riders regular riding  position .

Note2: the testing is not conducted with threshold or maximal efforts. The testing is merely for comparative purposes at a effort that is sustainable and repeatable. No that does not mean the Power saddle could be better, its K&K, always has been always will be  I seriously don't kknow how anyone can sit on that thing or even recommend it to heir worst enema

Just shows you how everyone is different.

I was fitted with a Power, on the same pressure mapping system and have been very happy with it. I think the pressure mapping is quite important if you are struggling. It makes the bike fitters job a lot easier. Sitbone measuring tools are pointless. FWIW I had that exact Sella Italia on my gravel bike and it was too narrow for me, I was literally falling off the back of the saddle as there was no support.

On my MTB, I was getting pain in my ankle and hamstring tendonitis after rides with a lot of high torque efforts. It was very, very clear in the pressure mapping when I went for the fit that I had a lot of pressure on that side of my body. Tim at SISSA sorted it out quite nicely.