Selle SMP discussion

£40?

I know nothing about smp saddles, I’ve inherited an smp composit with a new bike.
I can’t remember what my sit bones measured but I run a 155 power saddle on all my bikes.

Do they simply not suit folk like me with a big arse? Is there a way I should set it up and try persevere for a while? It just seems for to narrow to be compatible with me.

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I ride a forma but also use 150mm berk and used to use a 155mm power arc.

Can’t be 100% sure but I went from a 155 romin to composit and found it narrow despite trying every angle. Get on much better with the vulkor which is a bit wider. My sit/ischial bones were just a bit to wide and would slide over the edge which was painful. Try it though, as you’ll know soon enough as without padding you become acutely aware when something isn’t right! Bit more nose up might help shift where you sit towards the back where it’s a bit wider

@TotalShanner there is a great chart on the SMP website that details what saddles suit what width pelvis/sit bones. I ride Composit which are 129mm wide and for those slender of hip! If you don’t want it I’d be keen if it’s the carbon rail version!

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Yeah I saw that! When I first tried it there was just the composit and forma available - composit felt good, just slightly off. Vulkor has since come out which works well although I’m just on the cusp of all their sizing charts so wasn’t sure initially.

I have about 5 smp composits that I dont use in the shed .. is anyone desperate?

I would definitely take a Composit for a spare (and move on the Hell and other ones that didn’t work out).

Interesting you get on with both the Berk and Forma, the Berks are much flatter no?

Forma is better for fixed as I like the support, berk is more comfortable because of the flex. I can ride both.

Haha thats a great chart, love that they go by 'pant size'.
I was out a ride earlier with a 155 power saddle on the bike, I put the Composit back on when I got home and went a short 20 minute spin to try get a side by side comparison. I think I can tell that the Composit isn't going to be useable no matter how it's adjusted.

Mine isn't the carbon rail model but I think I'll be moving it on if anyone wants it.
The Pro, Avant or Plus sound like they will be a better match for my curves. On the off chance anyone has one of those and fancies a swap, let me know.

Listed a forma here

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/386556/

Hi @amey, would you sell me one of your Composits? I'd need posting to NL, fair enough if you can't be bothered

Anyone got a vulkor for sale? Mine is toast after taking a good whack from a landrover.

SMP need to be set further forward and do not rely on sitbones, so comparing sitbones isn’t useful.

Also SMP isn’t immediately comfortable, there’s no obvious cushioning like normal saddle against sitbones, it feel like there’s nothing there being supported, if you tried to ride sitting on the sitbones area, it is not comfortable.

Your bone between your two orifice is where it should sit.

The Composit that I had was well out of my size range going by the above chart, I don't think it was ever going to be comfortable for me no matter how I positioned myself on it.
But it's good to know this detail about not relying on the sit bones, I hadn't heard this before.
I'm keeping my eye out for the PRO model, so I'll bear this in mind.

In fairness, when I tried it I couldn’t get used to it, then went back 2 years later.

For context, you sit in the middle, the blue cross is your orifice for reference (very rough)

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the blue cross is your orifice for reference (very rough)

Sorry, I'll shave before sending you pictures next time 😞

Does anyone have a carbon railed Composit they’d consider selling?

I found this really useful. Previously I've tried to sit up a bit on the saddle and this has caused perineal pain under the pubic arch which made me hate SMP saddles. I found it odd because in this position the saddle is incredibly comfortable but then the pain develops over time.

Rolling the pelvis forward considerably like in this diagram seems to work better and seems to solve a lot of other niggles e.g knees, hands etc.

Really noticing quite a bit of discomfort/pain on the ischiopubic ramus but I think this is because these bones have never really taken any weight before so it's a completely new feeling. Sounds like I should see if the discomfort decreases as the bones get a bit more used to it.

Anyone else with similar experience?

edit: I'm on a Nymber at 5.5 degrees

Fiddled with angle lots. Angle changes for me also require small changes in setback. If you’re having lots of IPR pain maybe try kick it back a bit to 5 degrees? I found beyond that I slid forward to the pokey nose bit as opposed to sitting in the middle but ymmv?

Thanks - that's interesting and useful advice.

The funny thing is it's a bit painful on the IPR but that feels much better for the soft tissues. I was wondering if I was forcing my pelvis too far back in the saddle and this was causing the nose to rest on my perineum.

Small differences in angle can make a big difference - try it at 5 degrees? Equally if it’s still painful despite playing with angle you might need to look at saddle height/setback vs your old saddle - might need to lower a bit and shift bit forward compared to an normal saddle?

Does anyone have any suggestions for a nymber like shape but with more padding?

I gather the Nymber width is quite wide but I'm not sure if the effective width is also quite wide - I saw on Steve Hogg's blog the effective width varies quite a bit from the real width.

I find the avant wide enough and comfortable but develop back pain likely as bars too low/can't roll pelvis forward enough.

I was wondering about the Glider but I think they might have discontinued it.

I'm pretty sure the Glider is still available.

The Well S might be an option, too.