digger531

I have read a ridiculous amount of info regarding fitting, and saddles and KNOP and have spent more than my share of money trying to find the perfect saddle and angle and height and and and ....After a while I did settle in a a Brooks B17 narrow and it was "fine". Not perfect but as good as I thought it could get. I have done centuries on it and again, it is "fine"

Then I started riding again this spring and thought there has to be something better than "fine" and therefor the reason for this post. I started adjusting. A little tweak here a little tweak there. Forward, back, up, down, tilt up, tilt down. As I was riding one day and contemplating all that I had read through my years about saddles wondering if it was time to break out the wallet again I remembered one small, obscure idea that I had read mentioned briefly some where....

TURN YOUR SADDLE SLIGHTLY TO ONE SIDE

I immediately stopped and tweaked my saddle a little to the right, rode, tweaked a bit more, rode, just a little more (I moved the noise a little more than an inch at this point) and NIRVANA. I can not believe the difference this has made in my comfort on the bike. When I got home I immediately grabbed my Super Sport down from the rafters with the torturous seat it has on it and gave it a twist. It is as comfortable as my Brooks was before I twisted it.

I can not believe this isn't talked about more often. I urge all male riders to twist your saddle, twist it a lot.

Please report back here after a ride. Maybe it is just me or maybe this is the answer to all mankind's problems

Machka 

Yeah, I've mentioned that several times.

I'm a female cyclist, but I like my saddle pointing slightly off to the left. Reason being ... my hips/pelvis are not straight and I have a slight leg length difference so my saddle is more comfortable when it isn't straight.

10 Wheels

I know of one rider that Turned his Saddle completely around and found it worked well for him.

Stick69

I can just image the fitter at the LBS saying in his best English accent "Do you saddle left or right sir."

Funny story: My wife and I were riding a tandem for the second time. After a few miles she became aware that her bars were not straight and gave them a good twist. Luckily I was wearing bibs and nothing of particular value was adversely impacted but it was a bit of a surprise. Now I know why you don't want to miss calling a bump.

Dave Cutter

I wonder if we might not be over-thinking the cause/reason behind the slight right-left difference. My right arm is bigger at the bicep.... simply because I am naturally right handed. In the Army... marching begins with the left foot (putting all the weight on the right)... because most people are right legged. I've never attempted to measure a buttocks. But I would guess most people (of both sexes) have slightly more muscle mass on the right cheek.

Stick69

Most of us sit a lot and probably don't sit symmetrically leading to lack of symmetry in our shortened connective tissue. Sometimes I notice I am walking like John Wayne. Rededication to stretching eventually reverses this for me.

Dave Cutter

I think MOST 1st world people sit way too much to naturally maintain an attractive walking gait.

Stick69

Now that we all agree there are many reasons for lack of symmetry, do you ride until an irritation develops and then turn the nose a bit away from said irritation?

digger531

I don't think the symetry or lack there of has anything to do with what I was finding. It simply gives a little room and takes the pressure off.

I have only done short rides of around 15 miles since this amazing discovery and have had no irritation to speak of as yet. I also noticed it was slightly easier to balance while riding with no hands because the nose of the seat is easier to press your thigh against.

1989Pre 

I can't see this as being a permanent solution to perceived pressure on the perineum and/or naughty bits. There are other adjustments, saddle choices, rider position options and garment selections that can be explored.

digger531

I assure you that I am well versed in all fitting aspects of bikes and have tried numerous saddles and positioning. I have ranged from 12% body fat to 25% and have gone several months without biking to being on my bike daily. I have done plenty of centuries as well as short trips both with and without riding shorts. This is not a band aid solution covering up an incorrect saddle or poor fit. I would wager I was more comfortable on my Brooks (before I twisted) than 90% of riders. I encourage you to try it before suggesting that it doesn't or won't help.

wphamilton

I've found that it does help, in my case it's only a couple of degrees. If nothing else it's easier to scrunch around for a better position.

one4smoke

I definitely don't have the experience that a lot of you do, but from MY perspective, I think you simply adjust as close as possible then let your body adjust to anything that's slightly off. There are so many variables and combinations in fitting a bike, I think I could spend all my time adjusting and never get it perfect.

Sy Reene

I'd suppose that anyone with a well used saddle could look at it and determine which side of saddle (if any) is showing more wear than the other... and this could be a hint to rotate the seat in direction opposite the more worn side.

Take these examples.. anyone care to advise if the owner of this saddle should rotate it, or does this invite even more of a tendency to overfavor one leg vs the other? These reflect both right-side nose and sitting surface wear to larger degree than left side.