Author Topic: I am looking for a more comfortable saddle for longer rides... any suggestions  (Read 9792 times)

Queen of Skulls

I been getting up to 25+ mile rides and my saddle is starting to get uncomfortable on the longer rides.    I have a norco saddle I picked up from a thrift store in tahoe for like 3 bucks. It was practically new and made in the last few years. Its ok for like shorter 20 miles rides but after that its getting a lil uncomfortable...

So trying to find better saddles for longer rides. So I can work up to the centuries.

Maybe better chammis pants too.


My width is like 130-140... I think. I did the foil towel test.
 the saddle is 145 to 150
« Last Edit: November 05, 2025, 12:56:03 PM by Queen of Skulls »
Off with your Head tubes...

If the girls dont find you pretty they should at least find you handy...

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BikerJens

I been getting up to 25+ mile rides and my saddle is starting to get uncomfortable on the longer rides.    I have a norco saddle I picked up from a thrift store in tahoe for like 3 bucks. It was practically new and made in the last few years. Its ok for like shorter 20 miles rides but after that its getting a lil uncomfortable...

So trying to find better saddles for longer rides. So I can work up to the centuries.

Maybe better chammis pants too.

I rarely find the saddle type to be the problem, but more the size/width of it compared to the behind sitting on it..

So my best advice: find your correct width and buy a saddle after that.

Better chammis is always a good option too.
Tall person with gigantic CdA

naiboo

I´m happy with an ERGON saddle. I use Ergon Sattel SR COMP MEN. Make sure to calculate your saddle width before purchase.

Queen of Skulls

I rarely find the saddle type to be the problem, but more the size/width of it compared to the behind sitting on it..

So my best advice: find your correct width and buy a saddle after that.

Better chammis is always a good option too.

Well I have re-adjusted the the saddle. It was all the way back as I am all torso. (I need as much saddle to bars as I can get.)  to make sure I am fully sitting on the back just in case and to make sure it was level... But I have to wait a few more days to get back on the bike.I had a back spasm last week and it takes a week or two before the pain goes away.. as I said I am all spine with short legs.

any suggestions on saddles or chammis?
Off with your Head tubes...

If the girls dont find you pretty they should at least find you handy...

[color #FE0000]P[/color][color #FDA601]R[/color][color #FFFF01]I[/color][color #008000]D[/color][color #1614E4]E[/color][color #80007E]!!!![/color]

POTOOOOOOOO

Moving the saddle back and forth to get more reach isn’t the right thing to do.
You find your saddle position and it stays there. You change your stem length to suit your reach.

The saddle could be ok, just in the wrong place.

BikerJens

Well I have re-adjusted the the saddle. It was all the way back as I am all torso. (I need as much saddle to bars as I can get.)  to make sure I am fully sitting on the back just in case and to make sure it was level... But I have to wait a few more days to get back on the bike.I had a back spasm last week and it takes a week or two before the pain goes away.. as I said I am all spine with short legs.

any suggestions on saddles or chammis?

Then I did not make myself clear enough :)

What I'm talking about is not the placement of the saddle, but the physical width of it.

So without knowing what width you need, people can't recommend a saddle cause they come in different sizes.

I tried to copy in a link to a youtube video of how to meassure it, but I don't think it worked. Try to google: "how to choose correct saddle width".
Tall person with gigantic CdA

crazyravr

I am also in the camp that its rarely the saddle that causes issues. As long as its NOT heavy padded and over 145mm with a cutout channel its fine.
Bring the saddle to the center of the rails.
Lower the seat post 3-4cm.
Start raising is up again by a cm or so until you get issues again.

Lowering the saddle 99% of the time fixes saddle issues.

Queen of Skulls

Moving the saddle back and forth to get more reach isn’t the right thing to do.
You find your saddle position and it stays there. You change your stem length to suit your reach.

The saddle could be ok, just in the wrong place.

I got a velobuild 218 aka the fauxma frame. In the largest frame I can fit leg wise with the seat slammed. So moving the seat back will just make it a touch more relaxed and I have about 15mm to play with the height... I really do have about 8-9inchs( 225 mm) of sit height on most people. with long arms too I am 6 ft height and my arms are 6'4 wing span. I make a great swimmer.  So I say this they dont make a stem long enough for me. I found a 220mm stem for my other bike.    They just dont make bike frames for people like me. without not being totally custom.  any ways moving the seat back is just going to relax the position geometry.  moving it 25mm isnt going to do much. I moved it to the middle just to make sure I am sitting on it appropriately.

I have a width of like 130 to 140  I need to try a few times.
« Last Edit: November 05, 2025, 11:58:34 AM by Queen of Skulls »
Off with your Head tubes...

If the girls dont find you pretty they should at least find you handy...

[color #FE0000]P[/color][color #FDA601]R[/color][color #FFFF01]I[/color][color #008000]D[/color][color #1614E4]E[/color][color #80007E]!!!![/color]

Queen of Skulls


Lower the seat post 3-4cm.
Start raising is up again by a cm or so until you get issues again.

Lowering the saddle 99% of the time fixes saddle issues.

I can drop post by 15mm. its slammed.  I needed the biggest frame for the reach. I have a super long torso with short legs. like for example I sit 9 inches taller than everyone else most of the time.  I measured off the length pretty exact off my other bike. my hips arent rocking. I have checked.

the width is like 130 to 140mm
« Last Edit: November 05, 2025, 11:55:31 AM by Queen of Skulls »
Off with your Head tubes...

If the girls dont find you pretty they should at least find you handy...

[color #FE0000]P[/color][color #FDA601]R[/color][color #FFFF01]I[/color][color #008000]D[/color][color #1614E4]E[/color][color #80007E]!!!![/color]

Sakizashi

I got a velobuild 218 aka the fauxma frame. In the largest frame I can fit leg wise with the seat slammed. So moving the seat back will just make it a touch more relaxed and I have about 15mm to play with the height... I really do have about 8-9inchs( 225 mm) of sit height on most people. with long arms too I am 6 ft height and my arms are 6'4 wing span. I make a great swimmer.  So I say this they dont make a stem long enough for me. I found a 220mm stem for my other bike.    They just dont make bike frames for people like me. without not being totally custom.  any ways moving the seat back is just going to relax the position geometry.  moving it 25mm isnt going to do much. I moved it to the middle just to make sure I am sitting on it appropriately.

Have you seen a bike fitter? You might benefit from a second opinion.

I remember your fit being very low-saddle and high-bars, which doesn't make much sense if you have longer-than-average arms for your height. Your saddle pain is likely, in part, related to trying to force-fit a bike that doesn't suit your body type and potential flexibility limitations.

POTOOOOOOOO

I got a velobuild 218 aka the fauxma frame. In the largest frame I can fit leg wise with the seat slammed. So moving the seat back will just make it a touch more relaxed and I have about 15mm to play with the height... I really do have about 8-9inchs( 225 mm) of sit height on most people. with long arms too I am 6 ft height and my arms are 6'4 wing span. I make a great swimmer.  So I say this they dont make a stem long enough for me. I found a 220mm stem for my other bike.    They just dont make bike frames for people like me. without not being totally custom.  any ways moving the seat back is just going to relax the position geometry.  moving it 25mm isnt going to do much. I moved it to the middle just to make sure I am sitting on it appropriately.

If the bike doesn’t fit, it doesn’t fit.
Swapping the saddle won’t really do anything for you in terms of long term comfort.

Your proportions sound similar to a friend of mine. We found long reach bars and long stem to get something workable.


Queen of Skulls

Have you seen a bike fitter? You might benefit from a second opinion.

I remember your fit being very low-saddle and high-bars, which doesn't make much sense if you have longer-than-average arms for your height. Your saddle pain is likely, in part, related to trying to force-fit a bike that doesn't suit your body type and potential flexibility limitations.

There are no frames that fit my body type!!!! My reach is closer to someone who is like 6'8  and my bb to seat is 67cm and pedal to 82cm with cleats.  WHen I get in an "aero" position, My shoulders are  over the handle bars and I got the longest stem velobuild offers. if I didnt get the biggest bike. and slam My seat... I would be over the front wheel... You know when people joke about people needing dental work if a handle bars fail I need to  get a sternum xray.

custom bikes frames  start at like 4 times the total cost of this bike.  and at that price I could get a reactor aero from no22 well almost.  I could design my own and get it printed in china for  that price for sure. Which I am fully capable of.

Trust me I know more about the frustration of not fitting.  I am a tall odd shaped woman. Nothing fits me... Except pants. Being I got the inseam of a 5'2 lady.  tops are belly tops. dresses are shirts. I am excited when I find a full bib or jerseys that fit.

now My sit bone measurements are 130-140mm... and the saddle is 145 wide... I think its more the issue.  Being thats where I am feeling pressure. 


though...I need to slam the handlebars at some point.  The higher bars were more of a getting in better shape and more comfortable with the bike before slamming them. Like training wheels. and they are more to do with handpressure. than sit pressure.

« Last Edit: November 05, 2025, 02:59:45 PM by Queen of Skulls »
Off with your Head tubes...

If the girls dont find you pretty they should at least find you handy...

[color #FE0000]P[/color][color #FDA601]R[/color][color #FFFF01]I[/color][color #008000]D[/color][color #1614E4]E[/color][color #80007E]!!!![/color]

Queen of Skulls

If the bike doesn’t fit, it doesn’t fit.
Swapping the saddle won’t really do anything for you in terms of long term comfort.

Your proportions sound similar to a friend of mine. We found long reach bars and long stem to get something workable.

from the 5 different ways I have tried to measure my sit bones I am 130 to 140mm and the saddle is 145mm at the widest... I think a wider saddle might be in order too...

I would love to have a long reach aero bars.  On my other bike I am using a 220mm stem I found on ebay.  But thats just a beater bike. I will be keeping that stem forever and ever though... lol
Off with your Head tubes...

If the girls dont find you pretty they should at least find you handy...

[color #FE0000]P[/color][color #FDA601]R[/color][color #FFFF01]I[/color][color #008000]D[/color][color #1614E4]E[/color][color #80007E]!!!![/color]

Sakizashi

now My sit bone measurements are 130-140mm... and the saddle is 145 wide... I think its more the issue.  Being thats where I am feeling pressure.  though...I need to slam the handlebars at some point.

This is the bit that gives me pause. I remember you talking about a 50mm or 70mm spacer for your bike. Unless you have a shoulder injury or impingement, once you get to the correct saddle position, you should be able to work with a range of combinations of spacers and stem lengths without altering your back angle. In other words, getting rid of spacers should enable you to move back into a long but not crazy long front-end arrangement.

If this hasn't happened yet, I would strongly suggest you resolve this before you spend more money on parts. The reason is that your fit affects pelvic rotation, which in turn determines how wide a saddle you need relative to your sitbone measurements, which are usually not taken on the bike. The second is that getting the right fit will affect your saddle position and relative weight distribution between contact points.

Regarding frames, yeah, with your proportions, it could end up being less than ideal. However, there are relatively affordable custom geometries from Waltly (Ti) or Marino (Steel), but there are frames like the "FRMAE" frame that is on Aliexpress (also as the Airwolf YFR039) that is about 30mm longer reach for stack than your current frame if you can find the right size. It also takes a round seat post and has a relatively small seat post height for the reach.

POTOOOOOOOO

from the 5 different ways I have tried to measure my sit bones I am 130 to 140mm and the saddle is 145mm at the widest... I think a wider saddle might be in order too...

I would love to have a long reach aero bars.  On my other bike I am using a 220mm stem I found on ebay.  But thats just a beater bike. I will be keeping that stem forever and ever though... lol

You might benefit from ditching the integrated bars and go for something separate so you can add length.
You sound like you’re trying to fit a lot of body in a small space, and that’ll make you sit strangely, or on the wrong part of the saddle.

That’s why is doubting any saddle would offer much, if any, improvement. A few mm of saddle width really won’t make that much difference.

I build custom bike for people and most are on an endless quest for a more comfortable saddle. Most of the time, the current saddle is fine but the position is wrong which is causing the discomfort.

A saddle that can be found quite cheaply on eBay is a fizik antares VS. It’s quite old now, but it’s a good all rounder that works for quite a lot of different users.