As men have a much lower pubic arch compared to women, they face higher pressure while riding especially from the saddle’s nose. This device is basically a foil that consists of about one hundred sensors that have the ability to track pressure. Ischial Bone Study (sit bone width):  Selle found a wide variation of sit bone widths from their 240 participants and subsequently created 3 saddle widths based on the averages in the study. After conducting our own research and reading the work of various renowned organizations we have found that for men, the sit bone distance is about 6 – 16 centimeters, and for women about 9 – 17 centimeters. As the perineal area is a sensitive place, a high amount of pressure in that area is not good for the rider and can lead to injuries. Now let us see the pressure map of different saddle designs. Surely not over the edge, so the 130mm saddle would be out, but is a 143mm saddle reasonable? All rights reserved. This is because a lot of women have small sit bone distances while a lot of men can have big sit bone distances. The Industry Methods: Giant Peanuts and Gel Pads. Selle already invested the money so it would have been helpful to test and rule it out. The most common bones affected by pressure is the ischial ramus which receives pressure if you are riding in a moderate lean, a slight lean, and last but not least in a deep lean angled riding position. Another question from a subscriber answered here...does sit bone width determine your saddle selection. This is certainly not an exhaustive list but many others utilize similar methodology. This will allow you to remove pressure from your sit bones and also reduce the chances of numbness. In the more inclined spine angle, the distance will become shorter as the contact points move from the seat bones toward the pubic bones.”  Result: if you ride with a 90 degree spine angle, then the sit bone measurement may be somewhat accurate (more on this later). This guarantees discomfort, and potential health issues in the long run. Pelvic under-rotation (posterior/rearward tilt) is the act of sitting on the bike saddle with a pelvic angle much like you would have when sitting in a kitchen chair and then bending in the back to reach the handlebars. Considering that Selle’s line of the Scientia is based on the upright rider vs. the road, gravel, cross, mountain, tri…etc. This will allow you to remove pressure from your sit bones and also reduce the chances of numbness. Even though a lot of recreational riders and commuters ride while sitting at a 90-degree position, most riders sit on their bikes with a pelvic bend. Take a look a the position below of three different types of cyclists. It's under my butt. Your email address will not be published. While we’d like to remain entirely unbiased, but that’s incredibly unlikely. How to do your sit bones measurement: Find a flat surface, where you can sit. Conversely, a wide saddle will tend to shove you forwards. ➥ Read more on this saddle height topic: Comparison between Mountain Bike vs Road Seat Height. Saddle Height also plays an important role I believe. A saddle should fit like a pair of shoes! Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. The male pelvis is small & narrow. If you don’t, visit some of your local shops and keep testing until you find the right seat. Ans. If the majority of cyclists ride at some type of angle, what part of the pelvis takes the brunt of the pressure in different body positions? They help by cushioning sensitive bits of you (your perineum and sit bones) and the saddle, along a broad line from your ahem, naughty bits, back to your buttocks. Great article and some very good info. People with wide sit bones will tend to sit quite far back on narrow saddles. The perennial area consists of vital nerves and arteries and therefore is a risky area to receive so much pressure. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Well written and funny – no mean feat considering the topic! Therefore, when you sit on the saddle, the pressure is mapped with the sensors and then the outcome is delivered to a computer. While sitting on your bike, the arch of your feet should be able to touch the ground. Another cause for the pain can be a saddle which is a bit too soft. This does not incorporate the fact that in a more aggressive position, you’re also encountering more sensitive organs and tissue beyond the bones of the pelvis. They should fit neatly on the rear of your saddle. Some saddles (like the Selle Italia SLR) have a very small "sweet spot" where you are supposed to put your sit bones. How often do you sit on the saddle without pedaling while riding? This is because the map shows the color red on the sit bones area and yellow or orange color in the pubic bones area. Before, while riding a bike women had to endure more pressure due to the saddle nose at the lower part of the pubic bone arch. Therefore, you should ensure that your saddle height is correct and it is in the right position according to the pedals. My sit bones measure approximately 135mm ... on the previous bike I used a 150mm saddle... its flat. Below is a picture of the sitting position well described in an article by. You can see this clearly, in the images given below. We did not quantify this to a degree of angle as this is rider dependent. With that being said, it is important to note that if you can put your feet flat onto the ground then your saddle height is quite low and you should increase it. . The sitting area is exposed all the way from the top part of the sit bones to the pubic arch and then on to the central perineal area and pubic bone. We always strive to provide you with the latest information in the hope that it may enrich your cycling lives and bring you closer to your goals. Put white Letterhead (A4) format page on the paper towel. Instead, the bones on each side of the base of pelvis curve a little bit lower than the tuberosities protrude. I shift back and forth along the saddle during a ride, sometime sitting with my sit bones on top of the widest part and sometimes a bit more forward to the which puts the … We hope you got all your questions answered by reading our article. “The rider’s sit bones must be properly supported and bearing 80-90 per cent of the overall saddle pressure when the rider’s hands are on the hoods. One, in particular, that is very interesting is about sit bones width for optimal riding positions upon variations in ischial variations. Honestly, I'm not totally sure what that is. A lower saddle nose can remove any type of pressure from a man’s perennial area and moving it 2 centimeters forward from the female pubic bone position can fix the high-pressure issue as well. As a result, all the pressure will not be applied to your sit bones. Where should my bones sit on the saddle? For a typical cycling position, the main areas that lie on the saddle are the pubic arch for women and the perineal area for men. : Finding the ideal position on your bike saddle is very important to experience a comfortable ride. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. With your heels down, make a fist and put it between the seat of the saddle and yourself. It should be well adjusted and clamped towards the center of the rail. The curved gel saddle pressure map shows that there is a good amount of pressure being applied to the perineal area and the pubic bone arch area. Dear Bike Fitness Coach, When setting this new saddle with a spirit level, where should I sit the level on the saddle? What’s your riding position? – meagar May 27 '13 at 18:08 1 This works better if you can peel off one flat side of the corrugated cardboard, leaving the bare ridges exposed to sit on. In the map, blue color means low pressure. If the saddle is too wide, it is likely to cause chafing of the inner thigh, especially in … Where Should the Sit Bones Be On a Bike Saddle? Are Wide Bike Seats Always More Comfortable? There should be enough flat surface you can properly sit on. What's the Difference Between Cleat Rotation and Cleat Float? Alas, i have ridden/raced for 30 years and am still in search of the holy grail – so, i am incredibly disconsolate to learn that sit bone width will not get me there! The first line of defense for your sit bones is a good quality pair of padded bike shorts. So what size saddle would I buy? Therefore, when considering an incredibly sensitive decision such as the saddle, why make a conclusion without doing the testing? After that point, you’ll mark the main impressions of the sit bones, find the center point of the two impressions, and finally measure the distance between the two points with a ruler or tape measure. ➥ Read more: Are Gel Bike Seats Any Good? Many suggest adding about 20mm, as signified by the Road Bike Bros above, which would then land … © BikeFit, LLC 2012 - 2017 | Contact us @ 1-425-285-5829 | Site Developed & Hosted by Blue 33. Along with a good posture, you must also ensure that you have the correct sitting position. Ride safely! The diagram given below shows different pelvic positions and which bones are affected by pressure the most for different riding positions. If this area is feeling a bit uncomfortable, don’t worry, it will go after time. Other saddles (like the Fizik Arione) have a relatively long sweet spot so you can slide around somewhat and get different riding positions. Depending on the discipline, the pelvis is clearly in a different position but the instructions for sit bones measurement for saddle selection focus on a 90-degree spine angle. From efficient pedal strokes to the angle at which the rider bends forwards can depend on the saddle height. With an athletic riding position, the perineal area of men and the lower positioned pubic bone arch of women (yellow and green highlighted areas) rest on the saddle. Different riding styles demand different types of sitting positions. Simply put, it is “hunching” or “slouching” while riding – also known as kyphosis. However, no matter what position your pelvis is in, the guide for accurate measurement of your sit bones to choose a saddle emphasizes a 90-degree angle of the spine. On my account I would need a saddle around 155mm. The brand Selle researched with about 240 participants and discovered a variety of sit bone widths. You can watch the video linked below to learn how to do this properly: ➥ If you ride for a short time and for recreational purposes, gel bike saddles or gel seat covers can remove your discomfort immediately. You can see the image given below to get a better idea about how to position your body for different types of riding styles. It can support heavier bodies due to its strong structure of muscle groups. ➥ Some saddles are designed to face perineal numbness from cycling. You are correct about the position of sit bones between C-D 2-5. I would 1st see if moving the saddle forward woud get you into a comfortable position. Some types of soft paddings even tend to reduce the blood flow during riding sessions. by BikeFit | Oct 15, 2019 | Frequently Asked Questions | 5 comments. LOL! : As mentioned before, if you want to enjoy a smooth and comfortable ride on your bike, your saddle needs to be at the right height. Ans. For most disciplines, you pedal and pedal often. A man’s pelvis is quite distinct from that of a woman’s and the main reason for this is that a woman’s pelvis is required to enable childbirth. So make sure you check your bike’s top tube height before taking it out for a ride. This is likely debatable depending on the rider but certainly, individual preference and riding style will impact saddle comfort. Yet, let’s take this a step further. The ball of your foot should be resting on the stirrup. How you position your body on your bike will determine how your saddle is used. For example, if your sit bones measured 130mm, you add 20mm and voila, a 150mm saddle width will fit perfectly! Therefore, as the spring angle lowers or inclines, the distance will also get smaller. While there are resources that offer positive tips, there is one methodology for saddle selection that we’d like to discuss today: sit bones measurement. Therefore, in such dynamic scenarios, the weight should rest on the pubic bone and the center of the sit bones. But it is very uncomfortable. Below you can see the saddle selection online tool they created based on their research. The width of a saddle is quite crucial to the rider's comfort, and should be related to the space between the rider's sit bones. Then the sit bones drop in too far into the padding and your muscles become irritated. Sit on letterhead for 5 seconds. Depends on the saddle. This method involves sitting upright on a piece of corrugated cardboard for a designated period of time. Subject: Bontrager Montrose Elite Series 2 saddle and Sit Bone Pain. Is it a good indicator of proper saddle width? Make … Learn how your comment data is processed. For men, this adds pressure to the perineal area. I also have 'felt' like I was sliding off the front and it took a bit of playing with the level of the saddle to get it right. If you ride in any other position(most cyclists) it’s likely that the contact point will move forward away from your sit bones,  which, they do not mention, renders sit bone measurement (in the 90 degree form) for most enthusiast and competitive cyclists completely irrelevant. 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