bikefriday

I'm in the market for a new saddle, and was looking at the new offerings from Specialized. After seeing the prices of the saddles, I wanted to try and do my best to get the "right" seat the first time, knowing that I can exchange it if it's not. I'm an experienced, (40 years riding, including indoor on a Kickr) cyclist whose "butt" seems to like the old saddle on my 1989 Specialized Allez bicycle. I do have newer bikes which all have a much flatter profile to the seat (when viewed from the rear), instead of the rounded profile on my old Allez.
I e-mailed Specialized to see what their recommendation is for a new saddle, and they said to get a Retul Match. So, I was wondering if anyone here has had one done, and what I can expect during that process? I've read a lot of the posts here about saddle selection, sit bone width testing, etc..
Thanks in advance for the help...this forum is awesome.

phughes

So, why did they recommend that particular saddle? What is it about your old saddle that compels you to replace it?

Iride01 

Specialized and Retul got together and made a system called Retul Match to help those that are new to cycling or have no idea what size of this and that they should get. It might help you, it might not. Our Specialized shop doesn't have one. Or at least not one that I've seen.

Sounds like you have experience riding, but just not experience picking saddles. However since you don't say anything bad about the different saddles you have, then maybe your butt just gets along well with different saddles. I'm just guessing that if you get something that has similar profiling to any of your old saddles and similar padding if any, then you'll probably be happy.

Unless like noobs to cycling, your butt is no longer use to cycling for anything more than around the block. If you haven't been cycling much for say six months or so, then no matter what saddle you get, your butt might complain and be real sore for a few weeks till it gets use to riding again.

cyclezen

If you can tell the model and yr of the saddle you like as well as a width measurement, in mm, across the widest seating part of the saddle - even better might be to provide that info as well as pics of the saddle - side, top and back to front views, you might get suggestions from BF members, of saddles to look at, review.
Spec will always (as do all companies) drive business to their subsidiaries...
Ride On
Yuri

Carbonfiberboy 

I print out plan view drawings or photos of candidate saddles and compare to something that works. I also look at rear views for roundness or lack thereof, and profiles for flatness or lack thereof. Lastly, I push my thumb into the padding and assess.