143 or 155 Seat Size?

[Caph]

I'm looking at upgrading my seat and I'm looking for feedback from the 143 and 155 crowd.

Mine came with a 130 which was too narrow and lead to numb-nuts syndrome. I switched to a noname gel 165 which can sometimes lead to numb toes so I'm guessing it may be too wide. So I'm looking at getting a Specialized BG (either an Indie XC or a Sonoma) as found here in preparation for doing the Coast to Coast cycle later this year. Not sure if battery and motor will stay on the bike or not yet.

I know this is a very subjective and personal area (no pun intended) but any feedback would be much appreciated. I'm about 5 foot 8 and 11 stone if that makes a difference.

[Edit] Oh, and gel or don't bother? I'm not sure I noticed much of a difference when I switched.

 

[Streethawk]

Most seats dont have a size. Specialized BG seem awfully uncomfortable in any size to me. I'd strongly recommend a Charge Spoon, look at some of the hundreds of reviews.

I also like my Brooks a lot, but it doesn't suit all bikes.

 

[Caph]

It's only the cheaper ones that don't have a size. As soon as you get to branded (Bontrager, Specialized, Fizik) you'll see they all come in near or exactly at 130 (sport), 143 (standard), 155 (recreational) then oversized.

It's interesting you don't get on with the Specialized BG, it seems that people either love or hate them.

[Edit] That Spoon has some amazing reviews on Wiggle! It looks like they've gone for a single size and compromised on a 138mm which is probably a bit too narrow for me. Pity they don't do different sizes. Thanks for the tip though.

 

[Streethawk]

I'm not sure that width number means anything, i mean, from what point to what point is it measured? Angles? Padding? From brand to brand its going to differ hugely. For example my Brooks is much wider than my Spoon, but it feels narrower to ride.

The WTB pure V is another very popular choice.

 

[Caph]

It's the width at the widest point at the back of the seat and it's meant to relate to the width of your sit bones.

Specialized have an ass-o-meter (I'm not joking) which you sit on and it leaves indentations which can then be measured! Bontrager have something similar I think. Some people find it works well, others are convinced it is a marketing ploy by the big names.

You've then got to factor in riding position because your sit bones get narrower as you rotate forward so you need a narrower seat if you're riding with drop handlebars.

I'm seriously tempted by the Spoon, the black one with red logo would look fantastic on my bike but the width and lack of padding is stopping me, but then again, hundreds of positive reviews are hard to ignore.

I've not come across WTB in my searches. ChainReactionCycles are doing the Pure V Pro for £40 which is at the top end of my budget but then the reviews are very good too and the 145 is within my size range.

I'm going to have to sleep on this one!

 

[Streethawk]

The Spoon has more padding than you might expect just from looking at it. I've owned both that, a Pure V and a Specialized Avatar Gel (the middle size) and the Spoon was much comfier for me. Everyone is different though.

 

[Caph]

It's been 6 months now and I got both the Charge Spoon and the Specialised Sonoma Gel (current 2011 version). I've been riding on both and here's the outcome.

The Charge Spoon is a fantastic saddle and fits perfectly if you don't have a sit up and beg bike but I found the lack of padding a problem. I think if you were to wear padded shorts and like riding in a sporty position then this would be a perfect saddle.

The Specialised Sonoma Gel saddle is absolute perfection for me. It's got a sporty look and feel but has a bit of extra width. It's the gel that seems to make the difference though. I can manage 40 miles on the Spoon before it becomes problematic i.e. I'm struggling to remain in the seat without feeling pain, but I did the Great Nottingham bike ride (70 miles) without any problems on the Sonoma and I recently did the C2C on it and it felt comfy throughout.

If you ride in a sporty-ish stance (basically anything but sit up and beg because I've only got a 50mm stem) and don't want to wear padded shorts then I can't recommend the new Sonoma enough.

 

[mike killay]

I like the RIDO saddle.
Not particularly comfortable when you first sit on it, but it never gets any worse. It allows you to slide back and fore on it a bit to change the pressure points.
Remember, on an electric bike, far more weight is taken by your seat than your feet compared to a ordinary bike. This weight must never be taken by your crotch because it can cause damage (I know, been there, operation last year)
A good test is to sit on the saddle, hold on to a wall, take your feet off the pedals and see how long you can stay like that.