Hopefully this is a dumb question with an easy answer!
I am trying out new saddles from a bike shop as part of a demo program and I am wondering the best way to measure the position of my old saddle so that when I put new saddles of sometimes different brands and dimensions on that I can duplicate the original fit.
For example the old saddle is a Fizik Arione that came with the bike and was never really that comfortable for me. The Arione is 300mm long and 130 mm wide. The demo saddle I am looking at currently is a Selle Italia Max Flow SLR (or something to that effect) but it measures at only 275mm in length and is 145mm wide. Where should I measure the Fizik Saddle at in order to place the Selle Italia in the same position?
Hope that makes sense,
Thanks
Measurements aren’t enough because the shape of the saddle affects where you sit on it which affects where you should position it. You can kind of eyeball to see where you probably will sit, then adjust from there. But feel is key - if the saddle feels too far back or too far forward, move it. You want to get to the point where your legs feel the same, and your upper body is in the same position relative to the bike as a whole.
When I’m experimenting with a new saddle I like to do it on the trainer, with the new saddle on its own seatpost, so I can swap back and forth with the old one quickly and get a good feel for position. Once position is set, I try the new saddle for a longer time outside and/or on the trainer.
as said, saddles are different so difficult to duplicate exact position. Having said that and to just get in the ball park, you can measure your original saddle from center bottom bracket up to top of nose (gets your saddle height close) and then on your original saddle, the set back behind center bottom bracket (gets your fore/aft close) To measure set back, back your bike up to a wall (so rear wheel is against wall) measure from wall to CBB. Then measure from wall to tip of saddle nose. The difference is your set back.
I like to make changes out on the road during a ride and carry to allen for adjustments.
Measurements aren’t enough because the shape of the saddle affects where you sit on it which affects where you should position it.
This. Also how much the padding compresses, and also the height of the saddle.
If you measure from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the saddle in line with the seat tube, match this with the new saddle, and measure from the steerer tube cap to the point where the saddle “flares”, this will get you in the ballpark.
Place bike in trainer. Make sure that hubs are level. Adjust front wheel height if needed.
Sit on old saddle.
Have someone drop a plumb bob from a landmark on your knee, see where it lines up when your crank arms are level.
Change saddle. Sit on new saddle. Find comfy spot. Drop the plumb bob. Adjust saddle fore/aft until it lands in the same spot as the previous measurement.
(I won’t get into argument of where the plumb bob should fall or even the landmark used, but this is how you can replicate old to new).
Additionally, keep in mind that saddle height may need to be adjusted as well.
Thanks for the input everyone! Much appreciated.