Saddle fit

[Hemal Kara]

Hi all, I have the titan racing cypher rs Ltd edition alloy. I am currently using the stock seat which is the Prologo Nago X12 RS STN Nylon INJ Microfiber P3r. I have adjusted my saddle height and saddle fore and aft aswell as the saddle tilt as best i can. I seem to get pain on side of my sit bones after a short distance. My cycling shorts are wearing down in an unnatural way, please see attached picture. I dont have access to a bike fit unfortunately.  Based on your experience do you think my saddle is possibly too narrow? Any tips on what to do please. Thanks

[michaelbiker]

Whoa that is hectic. Without getting a fit, I’d recommend watching some YouTube videos (bikefit James) maybe asking the questions on the bikefit Reddit. Most of the time the saddle is less important than the saddle height, reach etc but in this case it’s impossible to tell by just looking at your bibs. 

[ChrisF]

This is one of many sites that explains the process -

 

https://www.sq-lab.com/en/ergonomics/sit-bone-measurement-for-bike-saddles

 

Worth noting many pro bikefitters use SQ-Lab fitment equipment.

[Jaco Steyn]

I would venture and say that your saddle is too high, or your bike is too big for you. When you cycle your hips should have minimal movement and judging by the photo of the bibs, there seems to be a lot of sideways movement over the saddle, causing friction and the subsequent wearing down of the material.

To begin with, look at online bike fit calculators, something like this: Bike Fit Calculator | Jenson USA or Bike Fitting Calculator | Get a Custom Fit | Zinn Cycles

 

 

[GPM Sports]

You can get a free (courier fees apply) measuring kit here: https://gpm-sports.co.za/cube/sq-lab/family-friends-sitbone-measurement-set.html

[JoeMerida]

Saddle Needs to Be Lowered 

[W@nted]

That wear on the bibs does not look normal. Almost looks like it is getting hooked/torn by the seat rail clamp or some other sharp/rough surface.

[Tomik]

Get a new saddle immediately. Stock saddles are usually crap.

Looking at the photo, I would go wider, possibly up to a 155mm. Go to a Specialized store and ask them to measure your sit bones and go from there. Or DIY measure using YT vids. Saddles are expensive but some shops may have trial saddles (Specialized did a few years ago).

And then lower it 1cm at least. Then look at your knee bend - should be nowhere near straight, more like 30 degrees with your foot at the bottom (rough guide).

Position the saddle with a slight downward tilt (or more or less level when sitting on the bike because with Full Suspension, saddle angle changes with sag) - use a free phone app like Precise Level or similar to measure and record what works. 

Edited August 18, 2025 by Tomik
Clarification

[Hemal Kara]

Hi all, so what I've done so far is move my saddle backwards a few mm. Also I've realized that I have been setting my saddle height with the suspension locked out so it may possibly be too high! I will rectify this and report back! I've attached some images with measurements and side views (this is pre-adjustment)

[Spinnekop]

3 hours ago, Tomik said:

Get a new saddle immediately. Stock saddles are usually crap.

Looking at the photo, I would go wider, possibly up to a 155mm. Go to a Specialized store and ask them to measure your sit bones and go from there. Or DIY measure using YT vids. Saddles are expensive but some shops may have trial saddles (Specialized did a few years ago).

And then lower it 1cm at least. Then look at your knee bend - should be nowhere near straight, more like 30 degrees with your foot at the bottom (rough guide).

Position the saddle with a slight downward tilt (or more or less level when sitting on the bike because with Full Suspension, saddle angle changes with sag) - use a free phone app like Precise Level or similar to measure and record what works. 

Prologo Nago is a good saddle.  No need to replace.

That said, in 30 years of cycling I have never seen pants wear down that way. 
How many kilos on those bibs? 

[Tomik]

From the images, I strongly suspect a too-high saddle. By moving the saddle back, you're also effectively increasing the height. Drop it 1cm and see how it feels.

The only thing that will change with the lockout is the effective angle as the BB to saddle measurement remains unchanged.

The saddle might be good, but if it's the wrong width, it is no good. Check underneath the saddle for a width.

[Hemal Kara]

6 minutes ago, Tomik said:

From the images, I strongly suspect a too-high saddle. By moving the saddle back, you're also effectively increasing the height. Drop it 1cm and see how it feels.

The only thing that will change with the lockout is the effective angle as the BB to saddle measurement remains unchanged.

The saddle might be good, but if it's the wrong width, it is no good. Check underneath the saddle for a width.

Will do that! I think the measurement is 265mm x 132mm it's not displayed underneath but it is the Prologo Nago X12 RS STN Nylon INJ Microfiber P3. Online shows those measurements

[Hemal Kara]

Me neither 🤣 only 70kg nothing insane but the wear is worrying me and they are Assos bibs less than 8 months old

[Tomik]

132mm is super narrow, for skinny Italians!

Get a 143 or even a 155 and I think your problems will be solved. Plenty of deals on BikeHub if you don't want to buy new. 

On the wear thing, it could be that mud/grit, combined with your pelvic movement, contributed to the wear - I always wear baggies on the MTB. Or get more durable bibs. Assos are great for comfort but not the most durable. 

[RobynE 🚵‍♀️]

Do you ever get bumps/abscesses? That wear must surely indicate a lot of movement. 

PS I think he meant kilos as in distance vs weight but I stand corrected. 

It looks to me like your arms are a bit too straight. I can’t see clearly from the pics but are you rotating your hands forward and down to shift/brake? If so it could be a combination of saddle too far back and controls too low (meaning that you’re moving in the seat each time you use the controls). 

Edited August 18, 2025 by RobynE 🚵‍♀️

[Spinnekop]

15 minutes ago, Hemal Kara said:

Me neither 🤣 only 70kg nothing insane but the wear is worrying me and they are Assos bibs less than 8 months old

Assos should last you a while.  
I get around 8000km on mine.  

If you do want to play around with the saddle thing, get measured.  Specialized does it for free.
I am quite a big fat bloke but have a thigh gap of a 13 year old girl.  So I ride 130mm saddles.  If I did not do the measure thing, most people would have suggested 155mm.
So go get measured.

But that should not show you wear like that, irrespective of saddle width.....

I would agree with RobyE above......lots of movement there.  
 

One Assos bib is around R3k.  
So it might be worth it to book a bike fit in a big city and check out why you move so much on the saddle..........