wide sit bone width, narrow saddle width

[taina]

As my riding position becomes more aggressive, I'm thinking about changing my saddle. After sitting on a strip of cardboard, and then rubbing the side of a crayon over the indentations, I measure 117 mm between the centers of the indentations. No doubt if I did this a few more times I'd get a range of results. Different sources offer different rules on how to go from sit bone width to ideal saddle width. One rule says add 20 mm to sit bone width to get minimum saddle width. As an experiment, I've taken a couple of short rides recently on an old saddle that's around 128 mm wide, without problems. So I'm skeptical about my measurement, but even more about rule-based saddle width advice. Are there people who are happily using saddles that are supposed to be too narrow for them?

[wojchiech]

Are there people who are happily using saddles that are supposed to be too narrow for them?

I have used a Fizik Aliante on my older road bike and track bike (143mm width), and a San Marco Regal (150mm width) on my commuter bike. I tried a Selle Italia SLR and after it was broken in it has been the most comfortable saddle I have ridden, and actually more supportive than any saddle I've used because it directly supports sit-bones (as opposed to saddles that use more padding) and is a more flexible than most saddles.

I think the trick with finding a saddle that works is not to go by width, but by how supportive it feels.

[MattSoutherden]

Are there people who are happily using saddles that are supposed to be too narrow for them?

Read the introductory part of this article to see why the 'sit bone width' thing can be a red herring.

http://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/blo ... bout-smps/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

EDIT: Removed some of the quote. DIdn't mean to include it all.

[HillRPete]

In my experience, what's just as important as saddle width, is how steeply the sides are sloping, because that influences the "effective" width. Personally I like saddles that are flat laterally, and a bit turned up in the back for riding low.