Which saddle did you end up on?

⁠@@richeeg3271oh man… that was a couple years ago. It was a Specialized saddle, with a split vented design with a cut out. It had thin to moderate padding. A road racing design, if any of that helps. But it was all short lived. Long story short, age, past injuries and weight has put my off bicycles, no matter what I did, bicycling became to painful. I even tried different styles of bikes, no joy, in about 5 miles my hands would start to go numb, then I’d start riding out of position and my feet and back would start going numb and I’d experience pain. I now ride pain free on a Catrike Dumont, a tadpole type trike. My sore butt, shoulder and back issues as well as the numb hands and feet are just plan gone. Full disclosure, I’m in my 60s, have had carpal tunnel surgery, have a bum knee and need to lose some weight. Switching to the Catrike has been a game changer for me. I may switch back to bicycles as get back into shape, but for now at least, the recumbent trike has been a game changer.

Nice one John, thanks for sharing on the thread. Cam

Cheers Roger.

No worries Andrew.

Cheers Kev, really appreciate that mate.

Cheers mate, thanks for the support

I would be curious to know any tricks for learning to be more "even" as well. I find that the more I think about my pedalling the more unnatural it feels. "Am I crooked", I think? "well, if I wasn't before I definitely must be now".

haha, good stuff mate. Back up and running now for 2021

Nice one Erick, thanks for the support

Good luck!

Does sqlabs send fit kits if they want to order their saddle? Do they have return policy if it doesn’t work?

@@PhiyackYuh They will send you a fit kit first. They do allow returns, but the saddle has to be like new/resealable, so I recommend wrapping rails in electrical tape prior to mounting to prevent scratches.

Hi Bradley which of them you prefer 612 or 611 on your road bike and why? I'm looking for a new saddle and I'm in dilemma between 611 and 612.

@@SladjanNikolic Honestly, either would work. My feeling is that the 612 *might* have a little more softness in the back, but they are intended to work with a bike short/bib with a chamois, so it really comes down to length and width of saddle. I'm a 15cm (155mm in Specialized, Large in Ergon). On a road bike, I'd lean to the 612 because it's a little shorter.

@@BradleyHansonPhotography 611 is not much softer than 612. Hardness in SQ-shore: 55 vs. 60 at 612. Also a 5mm difference in length. I myself choose between 611/612 Thanks for the feedback.

The VT30 came in as one of my choices in a blind saddle fitting I had at a local shop, and the other being the Bontrager verse. I bought the verse because it was significantly cheaper. But I liked both a lot.

haha!

And let’s not forget, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Which is to say, a new bike will solve problems that have not yet even developed, which is in turn to say that buying a new bike will actually *save* money in the long run by keeping down medical bills, repair bills, emotional distress, etc. It’s just science.

We're glad you are enjoying the content! -RCA Team

Thanks Paul, this would be a question for Neill. Unfortunately Neill can't respond to all queries on YT but we wish you well with the set up! RCA Team.

Did you find they gave a lot of perineum relief?

@@PPdabest Yes definitely, that was my original reason for trying sqlab years ago.

Thanks Rudy, was it not mentioned in the video? I can’t recall now, Cam

Thanks for sharing Tom, interesting to hear. Cam

Yes they do - the padding degrades over time just like a running shoe. Try a new one and see if things improve - if not it's possible your physical shape has changed and a different saddle is a good move! - Neill

Stationary trainers don't move like a bike does in the real world - hence feeling a lot more harsh on the cheeks. A rocker plate will help, or a Rock n Roll from Kinetic! - Neill

@@roadcyclingacademy6476 thanks Neill, can't argue with this logic! I'll look into the rocker plates idea :)

Sorry to hear David. Hope it heals well for you

Interesting to hear, thanks for sharing Patrick

SMP have a patent on their design I believe Scott. Cam

@@roadcyclingacademy6476 I think you're right. I wish there were more curved saddles to choose from.

Check SQLab's way of measuring. As I understand it, the widt-meassurements given show the effectively usebable flatter parts of saddle surface not the sides.

There is only so much we can fit into each video! -RCA Team

I had to do a fair amount of experimenting to get it dialed in. I brought a Park tool set with me and kept adjusting on the fly. A degree too far up or down can mean the difference between perfect saddle and not liking it at all. I found on my 3 bikes that two of them are almost perfectly level, but the more padded one (610) is better *slightly* up in front to prevent the feeling of falling off.

Hi Aashiq, yes definately - see above longer comment on this! - Neill

Oh hey mate I think I replied in the other video - check the comment there! - Neill

@@roadcyclingacademy6476 yes you did thanks mate. Ps love your outlook on bike fit. It makes more sense to me than other fitters that I find tend to follow bike trends over function! Keep up.the great work 👍

+ 1 Certainly a conversation ice breaker if you don't mind the obvious joke. Custom saddle more conventional looking. $50 off for Christmas. Quite happy with mine.

I've seen 5 or 6 of them over the years and each time the rider was in love with it. I should get a few in stock to try them out more often, I must admit my experience with them is not vast. - Neill

This is a great question and one I’d like answered as well. After about 2 hours on the trainer I’m really feeling it, but I’m not sure if this is to be expected or whether it’s a fit or saddle issue.

As an addendum to my previous question around sit-bone pain. What does Neill think of saddles like and old skool Brooks, or the more modern Cambium range of saddles that act like hammocks. Has he had any success with these for people who aren’t able to sit perfectly squarely on the saddle and get bone pain as a result of it? Thanks

Hi mate, good question. As per above; Stationary trainers don't move like a bike does in the real world - hence feeling a lot more harsh on the cheeks. A rocker plate will help, or a Rock n Roll from Kinetic! Also be sure to check the bike is actually level - some riders mount the bike on a trainer and don't use a riser for the front wheel, so the bike is constantly on a 6 degree downslope meaning the saddle is tilted 6 degrees out of where it would be on the (mostly) level roads of the real world. Throw in no variation of slope or corners and the pressure is applied more repetitively with little variation. Even tyre bounce plays a role in the harshness of the saddle when on a trainer. - Neill

@@Lemond75 Yes they have their place - particularly for Audax riders as they are just so plush. They provide plenty of "give" at the cost of stability. - Neill

Forgot to add: outdoors I'm able to ride one hour or more, on the same saddles, with little to no issues

PS! Subscribed

G'day Haroon - see above longer comment about this - seems to be a popular problem! - Neill

​@@roadcyclingacademy6476 Thanks Neill.

Thanks for sharing Don. It did not work for me. Video to come next week.

@@roadcyclingacademy6476 I’ll watch with interest!

Adding more padding to a bicycle seat will only cause more problems than solutions! If your seat is not comfortable it's usually how it's been setup rather than the seat itself... -RCA Team

Can’t say sorry mate. Not my expertise. Good luck. Cam

@@roadcyclingacademy6476 i tried emailing SQ labs, didn't get any response yet. would you mind seeing what Neil's opinion is on this? greatly appreciate it!

@Slavomir I just googled as I was curious but couldn't find the SQlab 614, are you sure 5that's the model?

I'll let Neill get to this one. Cam

This is my problem as well. Would be interested to hear Neil’s views on this.

Neill will have access to log in and review questions from next week! Stay tuned

Plenty of causes for it - incorrect saddle shape/design/width as well as pelvic instability (rocking) being the two big ones. Instability doesn't usually mean weakness in the rider per se, it usually means the position is off, causing aberrant motion of the pelvis up/down/left/right which repetitively loads the sit bones and pummels them into bruisetown. - Neill

....uuuuuuhnless you dont want to ride a 3 pound seat.... Great looking, comfortable, but HEAVY. For weight weenies like me, i won't pay for a seat over 100 grams.

Neill uses an SQ Labs

I have 90mm sitbones! Currently on Pro Griffon 132mm. I learned that i can be comfortable on many saddles as long as my saddle height is right, which is much lower than what i previously assumed. I prefer flat-ish narrow saddles.

@@milanb.6022 yea me too, currently on 145mm but it has gentle curve on the edges, also when pedaling the width doesn't feel in the way, ever tried a saddle which shape very familiar with spez romin 130mm, that also comfortable

Neill will have access into the account next week to answer these types of Qs. For now, Cam (me) knows little on this. Sorry Nicolas.

Both OK saddles for a wide variety of people - like all of the snub nosed saddles out there, they are pretty similar to each other and work for lots of riders. There are also people who can't get along with them, as per everything! - Neill

Thanks Cam and Neil for your answers.

It’s the SqLab sit bone measuring template. I think you can order them from sqlabs directly, but I’m not sure if they only send them to customers in the US.

If you’re in the US, here is the link I found: sqlab-usa.com/collections/accessories/products/free-measure-at-home-kit

I have just switched to a Prologo short nose saddle (with cutout). It has helped me as I ride in a more aggressive position. It's not for everyone, but look at your natural position first. If you sit back in a more endurance position then it's probably not the best option, but never say never in my opinion. See if you can borrow one from a friend and try it out (ensuring it's the right width of course).

Generally a good design for plenty of riders - but like any other saddle there are people who they just don't work for. They allow better than average anterior pelvic rotation for many riders but are not a panacea for all, unfortunately much the same as anything! - Neill

Knowing your sitbone width is a good starting point to finding the right saddle, but from there it still becomes pretty individual based on riding position, pelvic rotation and ischial rami shape. For the SQlab range (which I ride, and can highly recommend) you would go for their 12cm saddle through, in any suitable model.

Well, all saddles have different widths, it's more so the style that you need to narrow in on.

Did you find any info on this? I too deal with sores/rash exclusively under the right buttocks.

You’d have to email Neill directly on this. Sorry he’s not always in the messages here, Cam

@@andrewsterling1379 Nope, not yet anyways. How about you?

@@roadcyclingacademy6476 Thanks!

Hey Darin if the saddle is the right shape and is sitting on the sit bones then little padding is then needed! -RCA Team

@@roadcyclingacademy6476 ok my new saddle feels directly on the sit bones but is harder than my stock saddle guess I need to get used to it.

Always! Cam

Are you sitting on it?

@@roadcyclingacademy6476 i think i am sitting on the base of it.

Not for sale at the moment Matthew, but will be soon, so stay tuned