I went for a standard fitting earlier today to get everything checked out.
Turns out I needed the seat raised a bit, a slightly longer stem, and a wider saddle as I was told I have wide sit bones.
The fitter put me on a 155mm Specialized Power Comp saddle.
Felt much better than the more narrow saddles I had been trying out before. I tried all the ISMs and those killed me. The fitter said they were too narrow for me.
I’m training for an Olympic Triathlon in July.
I was wondering what would be some other comparable saddles to try out to see if one is better than the other for me.
Is this for tri (aerobar) position or for road (drop bars)?
I plan on putting clip on aero bars on the bike.
I’d like something I could be relatively comfortable doing both.
I’ll likely be training a good amount in the aero position so I get used to it but I’d also like to be able to ride more relaxed on the drop bars if I’m riding more for pleasure.
But I guess training to ride in the aero position takes priority for sure.
I just bought a bisaddle because the ISM I’m on it just too narrow at the tips and it appears as if those can be adjusted wider at least. Havent gotten it yet so I cant comment on the effectiveness. Other than that I dunno.
I am very sensitive to saddles and my main advice is to nail down your position and then go looking for saddles. How you sit on a saddle is the single most critical factor in saddle comfort so it you are playing around with position at the same time as playing around with saddles your are walking into a minefield. You will never know if discomfort is due to the fit or the saddle or both.
For example there is no reason someone with real wide sitbones will find all ISM saddles uncomfortable. You don’t actually rest your sitbones on any of ISMs TT saddles which is why loads of people use them on TT bikes but have traditional saddles on their road bikes. However you will only sort this out by getting your position completely sorted and then finding an saddle that works.
I also have wide sit bones and use the Specialized Power 155…the ISM PN 1.1 was brutal for me for the few months I tried it out when it came on my bike. I moved to the Specialized Sitero and haven’t looked back.
I am very sensitive to saddles and my main advice is to nail down your position and then go looking for saddles. How you sit on a saddle is the single most critical factor in saddle comfort so it you are playing around with position at the same time as playing around with saddles your are walking into a minefield. You will never know if discomfort is due to the fit or the saddle or both.
For example there is no reason someone with real wide sitbones will find all ISM saddles uncomfortable. You don’t actually rest your sitbones on any of ISMs TT saddles which is why loads of people use them on TT bikes but have traditional saddles on their road bikes. However you will only sort this out by getting your position completely sorted and then finding an saddle that works.
Yea I’ve definitely considered this.
The fact my seat was a little low, stem not quite long enough, not in an aggressive enough position all in sure had to do with being a less than optimal optimal position.
I think I’m going to stick with the Specialized Power for now. It allows me to be pretty comforts me with its width but is also short enough for me to get up on the front of it. Once I have my position nailed down like you said maybe I’ll explore other options.
Specialized Power 155 for road bike and…Specialized Sitero for tri bike
The Sitero has similar specs to other tri saddles BUT it is designed to sit further back on the saddle, not off the edge like Cobb, ISM etc. So, when properly used, you are sitting a little more on the wider part of the Sitero saddle, which I like.
Can you clarify the part about not resting your sit bones on ISM saddles? I’m in the breaking in/adjustment phase of an ISM but in looking at the videos they put out and in emails with the company, it still looks like the sit bones are on the prongs, and that’s how it feels to me. Am I doing something wrong?
As mentioned above check out Bi Saddle. I switched from an ISM that was too narrow. The Bi Saddle is fully adjustable so you can tweak it for the perfect fit. I have both their models. One on the tri bike and one on the road. Love them
Can you clarify the part about not resting your sit bones on ISM saddles? I’m in the breaking in/adjustment phase of an ISM but in looking at the videos they put out and in emails with the company, it still looks like the sit bones are on the prongs, and that’s how it feels to me. Am I doing something wrong?
Yea I think I’m pretty confused about where I’m actually supposed to be on the saddle.
Even though riding today for the first time with the power was much better I still wasn’t sure I was positioned on there right.
Tried mixing it up from more upright positions to down in the drop bars, tilting my pelvis forward, sitting further back, just playing around but still not entirely sure but at least it was MUCH easier of a ride pain wise than before
Your pelvis is made of a number of bones. Colloquially the term ‘sit bone’ refers to the widest part. This is important for an upright position. On an ISM you should be rotated forwatd and resting on the pubis. This a much narrower portion of the pelvis. Hence people complaining ISM are too wide for them.
It definitely takes practice rolling hips forward, and even with the best position and ideal saddle it takes an adjustment period to get used to placing weight there rather than on the sit bones like a regular saddle. So, its probably worth a few trial rides prior to moving the saddle around significantly, especially after a fitment, and prior to giving up on split nose saddles all together. As others have mentioned ISM feels off it may not be in the right position but if it feels narrow more likely you do not have enough forward hip roll. In addition to for-aft and height you can try a tad of tilt, nose-down which can help with roll and the sensation of it being narrow, just don’t go crazy else you may struggle to stay on the saddle or you will direct excessive weight on to your arms.
Eventually you’ll get it and get something that works. Id wager to say 90% of the regular readership of this forum at one point or another was in the same boat at some point trying to “roll forward.”
Is this for tri (aerobar) position or for road (drop bars)?
I plan on putting clip on aero bars on the bike.
I’d like something I could be relatively comfortable doing both.
I’ll likely be training a good amount in the aero position so I get used to it but I’d also like to be able to ride more relaxed on the drop bars if I’m riding more for pleasure.
But I guess training to ride in the aero position takes priority for sure.
I have a power saddle on my roadie. It’s great for my road position, but that narrow, hard nose is brutal for tri-position. No way I’d use it on my tri bike.
Funny I have wide sitbones too but the wider saddles tend to hurt. I ride an Adamo PN 1.1 and a Cobb VFlow before that. I tried a Cobb Randee and hated it. Given your post you might like it though.