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Bike Saddle

Old 09-13-21, 11:45 PM
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Singlespeed420
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Bike Saddle

I have my Giant Contend that came with the stock saddle. It is hard as rocks. Does anyone have a good reccomendation for more comfortable saddle?
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Old 09-13-21, 11:59 PM
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There is no reason to listen to any one person's suggestion as everyone likes something different.
What someone feels is divine, I may view as an ass-hatchet.
This is why saddles have so many different widths, curves, cutouts, etc.

Call up some shops and find one that has a loaner program. Try some saddles for extended rides and buy one.

...but since you asked- brooks c17.
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Old 09-14-21, 12:03 AM
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The best advice I can give anyone regarding saddles is to simply go in and have your sit bones measured or do it at home. Then you can use those measurements to find the right support for your body.
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Old 09-14-21, 03:58 AM
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Ditto the above advice (especially about trying out loaner saddles) and I'd add: don't automatically equate "hard as rocks" with uncomfortable. Like mattresses, I've found over the years that well padded/soft saddles are way less comfortable for me. Now, I carry plenty of padding on my rear end and do a lot of longer rides that have hardened up whatever it is under my natural padding.- YMMV.
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Old 09-14-21, 04:52 PM
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What they said. Plus, the most comfortable saddle I've found FOR ME has been out of production for about 2 decades and I bought all I could find of it.

I don't know how much you've ridden before, but my observation has been that when starting out, or after a long layoff, the sit bones will be tender for the first maybe 2 weeks, so if that's the problem, I'd say ease into riding and reassess after a couple weeks. If something else is the problem - like numb genitalia, or pressure on the perineum, or chafing, try to find a saddle that looks different in that area. For example, I bought a bike last summer that had a saddle that really irritated the back of the top of my thighs. The saddle flares out there. and has almost like an edge. My preferred saddle flares out just a little further back and less acutely, and doesn't bother that area. So, wherever it hurts, find a saddle that's different there.
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Old 09-14-21, 06:28 PM
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All good advise above...
I found a link, here Giant Contend Saddle , for what that saddle might be...
If that's it, it does look like the most popular saddle shapes of the current manufacturers...
some considerations:
this saddle is 140mm width , which is close to the mid width of road saddles. Mentioned above was to get you sitzbones width measured - you may need a slightly wider saddle...
saddle width is not a 'body' statement... I know plenty of small, thin guyz who prefer a wider saddle. 155 doesn;t really 'look' that much bigger, usually same 'shape'...
also
additional padding doesn't insure more comfort. in fact many (maybe the majority ???) of road riders will prefer a lightly padded, or no pad saddle - it's the shape that counts...
often too much padding will cause blood vessels in that area to be constantly blocked, and cause numbness and even ongoing pain...
also
if you haven't been a 'regular' rider recently (within the last few months.) by frequent I would say at least 3 rides/week of more than 40-45 min...
your butt WILL go thru a break-in period (LOL !) if you ride 2 or 3 days in a row.... In fact the 3rd and 4th days are PAINFUL for many of us... Takes about 6-7 regular rides to get past this 'phase'... once you do get past it, you may find the saddle to be really comfortable.
maybe your LBS, if you purchased from a Bike shop... has other saddles they're willing to let you try for a short period ???
positioning the saddle on the bike, is one of most important settings, have a good shop guy help you with that...
best of luck
Yuri
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