[Closed] ISM Saddles... Anyone got one? Sore buttock content 🙄

I have ISM saddles on all my bikes, with the PM (the MTB one) on my 2 mountain bikes and PL (road/gravel) on my drop bar bikes.

The setup is critical, follow the ISM setup videos to the letter, however counter intuitive they may seem !

First half dozen rides for me resulted in sore sit bones, but crucially, no pressure on soft bits. After my body got used to actually sitting on it’s sit bones all was perfect. I swopped to them 6 years ago just before going for Prostate surgery, and they very rapidly became my saddle of choice.

as per Iainc I also changed all my saddles to ISM a while back also. At one time I had Selle Flite Ti saddles but almost overnight at a stage in my life I started to get acute numbness and discomfort below. Tried one, cured and then changed all my other bikes. Sore sit bones to begin with but after that all good.

I also have a Selle SMP saddle on my commute bike- this has also been superb and a bit more conventional if that matters to you. Tried it after my old commute bike was nicked. Impressed with it also.

I'd recommend trying to get a second hand version of both and trying them out as they are a bit spendy new.

Thanks - I've ordered an ISM PR 2.0 - (despite the spendyness 🤦‍♂️, but if it works I'll have a virtually new Ergon for sale to recoup some funds).

Apart from the CroMo rails and a bit less padding on the PM ones the main difference seems to be one of shape so hopefully the PR will do a similar job to the PM - I wonder if the weight of them is significantly different, can't seem to find any details about the weight of each one...

Used them on TT/Tri bike when they first came out in 2005/6 and thought it was good. Not felt the need to go that way with road/mtb bikes though. The extra weight on your arms can take a bit of getting used to - I know a few folk who tried them and loved no longer having numb nads but started suffering from numb hands for the first time in their riding life.

One thing that puts me off is the build quality which imo is shocking considering the price - the ugly staples underneath uncovered, rusting and random is more reminiscent of a £10 Halfords special. I like nicely made things and the fact they think that looks acceptable (when compared to what most other premium brands manage) turns me off them as a brand. There are other brands that do the same ting I probably look at now 15 years on. John Cobb was the designer behind the ISM concept when it started - didn't he go off and start another company? Some of the big names do similar stuff too now.

I've been using them for about 7 years.

Same sit bones ccomment as others.

If they still do the Ti rail ones, don't bother - they creak and had one rail break - I'm 63kg and NEVER broken a saddle before 🙂 Just stick with whatever steel rails (the split design puts more flex into individual rails).

I'm using the more conventional shaped road models for everything (mtb, cx, road). There used to be a refundable trial / hire option.

That's interesting @convert . I would have expected the build quality to be superb given the price - the Ergon ones are very nicely made and similar (if not slightly less) in the spendy stakes. I've ordered a different model Ergon one too (ST Core Evo) as I'm determined to get comfortable!

I've currently got one on the Zwift bike, but not for long. I just can't get past the sore sit bones. Actually it's really just my left sit bone, but after 40 mins or so it just becomes unbearable.

looking froward to an update on this - I have never yet found a saddle that works for me - and I get pain in the same area as the OP. Plus numbness /aching around the old prostate.

I have done Spoon saddles, I am now on Ergon ones - that work to a point - comfortable fro 1.5 hours then I find myself standing up on the pedals to reduce the ache ...

Off to google ISM PMs ..

OP, your diagnosis sounds identical to mine and mine has turned out to be an injury called high hamstring tendinopathy. The hamstring is inflamed where it joins the sit bone. Like you, I only have this on one side and also tried a few saddles but they made no difference. Currently working with a phsyio to build up my hamstring but no real success after months of treatment. Hope the saddle change fixes it for you but it may be worth getting yourself checked first

They are quite odd looking things, do they not snag your shorts more that the single nosed saddle?

^^^ no, because they sit about 5 cm further back from the stem than your regular saddle

You don't have to use the weird MTB specific one. I get on fine with the longer / bit more padded PL 1.1 40

Use ISM saddles if you want to save your Prostate from getting a hammering and for lowering your PSA levels. Switched all my bikes to ISM a couple of years ago after a serious case of prostatitis. No problems since.

Great, based on this thread I've just bought a PR 2.0 off ebay for £40.😐

For Zwift initially, if it suites I'll use it on the mtb.

So my PR 2.0 arrived today.....

I watched all the setup videos on the ISM site and looked at all the PDFs before spending an hour trying to get it setup how they suggest.

So far so good.

I then went for a test ride round the block and really struggled to sit on it how they suggest in the videos. I can't seem to get the seat far enough back. It is at the limit of rearward adjustment on my seat post . I am not sure what the setback is on my seat post however (it was supplied with the bike and is a ProBike one but has no model identification) but it appears to be around 20mm.

If I sit on the seat making sure that there is some sticking out at the back as per the instructions I am too far forward - it does feel comfortable though to sit on just not a comfortable riding position (maybe I'm just not used to it...?). Also if I angle it as they suggest (with the rails straight) then quite a lot of weight is supported by my arms as it feels like I need to keep myself from slipping off the front.....

I have ordered a seat post with a 25mm setback so I know for sure that I have one with a setback and I will try it again.... I'm not convinced so far though....

If you look further up at my post you'll see extra weight on your arms is part of the Ism 'experience' you'll have to get used to.

Re the fit. I suspect that is just perception not reality. You should not need a different seat post. Put your old saddle one and drop a plumb line from the nose and measure the distance between the centre of the BB and the line. Then do the same with your ism. The distance should be 5-8cm more. That should easily be achievable without a new seatpost unless you were rammed against the railstops before.

Yes I saw that bit about the extra weight on the arms - it's the two fingers width of exposed seat at the back that I can't seem to achieve. The ISM website does say somewhere that most people use a setback seat post  and mine definitely has some amount of setback so I agree I should be able to get it setup, I'll try the plumb line....

Also, you can slide them back past the markings on the rails, as long as there is 5mm of flat rail left in front of the rail clamp (I asked and that’s what they told me) Their online help is really good and they respond personally to email queries.

Have you got yours horizontal at the front @iainc or nose down - do you ride with the two fingers width  of seat exposed at the back?

The website also says that if you get a video of yourself riding they will look at it and advise.

I'm not sure I want that much extra weight on my arms though as I have carpel tunnel and I will get sore hands...

On all of mine the rails are about 5 degrees up at the front, so slightly above horizontal, that’s as per the guidance and works well. The saddle top is therefore quite a lot lower at front. I have at least 2 fingers width at back, varies between bikes as some have more layback than others.

Hopefully pics helps:

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[url= https://i.postimg.cc/vmnVGy7c/3-F53-C1-C8-9-B40-456-E-90-F0-BEC627-A8-DA75.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/vmnVGy7c/3-F53-C1-C8-9-B40-456-E-90-F0-BEC627-A8-DA75.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

I don't find there is any extra weight on my arms with the more "normal" length pl 1.1. It feels just like a standard saddle but wider to contact sit bones and gap in the middle to not contact that bit. I'm still able to shift weight forward onto the nose(s) for steep off road climbs.

The only fine tuning I found was getting the level tweaked to feel right (no slipping forward but also not too much load on sit bones).

Looking at those photos, mine is a slightly less weird version of the saddle.

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Thanks, I'm going to need to tinker some more I think.

@oceanskipper

How are you getting on with the ism mate?

Got my second hand one but not fitted it yet!

I gave up with the ISM - I wasn't that keen on the extra weight on my hands.

I rode for about 40 mins and while it was pretty comfortable I just felt the position didn't suit me. I felt too far forward. Perhaps a longer nose one would have been better...

Instead I have opted for another Ergon but the ST Core EVO which I took out in anger for the first time over the weekend. I did 25 miles on the tracks and 35 on the road and it was very good. I also bought some DHB Aeron Ultra shorts which cost an arm and a leg but the whole package (pun intended!!!) was very comfortable.

^^ I tell you, finding a comfy saddle is like searching for the holy trail.

But costlier.

Good luck with the Ergon, I'll try the ISM soon and hope for the best.

^^^ Thanks. I’ll let you know how I get on...