Your saddle is a very important contact point with your bike. It should provide the support & comfort you need to ride for as long as you like. Saddles come in a lot of different shapes and width is often discussed as important. Let’s learn why.
What Influences Width?
Saddles come in a huge variety of shapes and designs. So the width of saddles is also hugely variable. If they are all trying to do the same job why are they so different? There are several things that will influence the width of a saddle.
Gender – There is a physical difference between the widths of men and womens pelvic structure. The majority of women are normally wider (this is not true for all women). You may need a womens saddle that has a wider width than a mens saddle.
Type of Riding – The interest in doing different types of riding has lead to different types of bikes being made. These different bikes put riders in different body positions so the points of contact under them are different. Which has lead to different saddle shapes to get the best outcome for the body position you are in when on your bike. The more forward bent you are the narrower your saddle will be.
Time on the Bike – As you spend longer on the bike the type of saddle that you need tends to change. So there are also differences between recreation and endurance saddle shapes. In terms of width, saddles need to provide the right support without interfering with repetitive pedalling.
Saddles are designed in a variety of shapes and widths depending on gender, the type of riding and time on the bike.
When the Width is Not Right.
Having the correct width so that your sit bones are the bones that are taking the majority of your weight is crucial. There are signs and clues your body will be giving you if this is not the case.
Constantly moving about on your saddle. This is caused by a need to find support. Your boney structures need feedback, they need an area or base directly underneath them.
Discomfort or chaffing. If these types of issues are not improving or reducing your saddle width may be to blame. Lack of correct support may mean other areas of your body not designed to weight bear are being compressed or coming into contact with your saddle when they shouldn’t be.
We have written a series of stories to help with saddle issues. Take a look at the list to see if you need to read one;
Sit Bone Aches & Pains. Tail Bone Discomfort. Soft Tissue Compression. Chaffing & Saddle Sores
How to Get the Correct Width
The average width between female sit bones is 130-135mm (ranging from 112mm to 148mm). Depending on your body position on the bike, your saddle will need to be wider than this to provide a good flat contact surface under your sit bones. So to get an idea of what kind of width to be looking for
- upright riding/straight back should add 40mm = 170 – 175mm
- add 25mm for slight to mid forward bend = 155 – 160mm
- add 10mm for mid to aggressive forward bend = 140 – 145mm
Relaxed upright rider. Average width is 170-175mm
Slight to mid forward bend. Average width is 155-160mm
Mid to aggressive forward bend. Average width for a female is 140-145mm
This gives you a rough idea of what your saddle width should be. Now take a tape measure and go and measure across the widest point at the rear of your current bike saddle.
Optimum Saddle Width for You: Another thing to do, to give you an even better idea of what might be ideal for you… is to do a measurement of your own sit bones. Take a piece of cardboard that has a corrugated layer in it that can be squashed when you sit on it. Place the cardboard on a hard seat and sit down onto if with a straight back and shoulders back. Mark the mid point of the indentation made by your bones, then measure between these two points. As we did above add to your measurement depending on your riding position.
This gives you a guideline or place to start from. This kind of cardboard measuring has better outcomes for people who ride in a more upright position. How a saddle feels can not be conveyed or taken into consideration with measurements. You also are not static on a saddle but dynamic – you move when you pedal. And finally, every body has a history of use and injury. This can play a big part in how you feel when you sit on a bike saddle.
Is it time to get a saddle with a different width?
You should now know what the width of your current saddle is. You should have an idea of what your ideal should be… Do these two measurements match up? If not it is surely telling you that trying a different width saddle is worth a go, especially if you need to have more comfort when you sit on your bike seat.
We have a great range of saddles for women. For different types of riding and different times on the bike. Have a look at our Saddle Width Page to get an idea of what your options are.
Your bike riding success is different to others… use our stories and support, get the right solutions.
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