Fifty Plus (50+) - Anyone use this seat?

http://www.spongywonder.com/

I was wondering if anyone here uses this bike seat? I ride 100-125 miles a week and was thinking it might be good to use a seat like this. I am not having any pains or problems but I was talking with a customer at a bike shop and he said he had to have surgery and he had to use a similar seat.

I also found this seat
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/hobsonseats/easyseat.html
but this one is a little different
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/hobsonseats/hobsonseat1.html


Now this one looks cool
http://www.comfortsaddle.com/

I tried one very similar called the "Easy Seat" or something like that. I rode it one day (for about 15-20 miles) and took it off. Since there's no "nose" to the saddle I couldn't ride with no hands (no way for the thighs to control the bike). Also, the saddle was a "one and only one" position type saddle. Once you sat on it, there was nowhere to move around to. This lack of potential movement made me sore by the end of the ride. On the positive side, there's no perenial pressure so you don't get numb or sore.

The easy seat one says
Easyseats are easy to adjust, and are built to last. Lateral adjustment of the cups is achieved by loosening the thumb screws and sliding the cups along the support tube to the desired width. Tilt is adjusted as on any ordinary bicycle seat.

Thanks for your reply, I read a post talking about problems that could happen with regular seats and was just looking for alternatives.

...and was just looking for alternatives.

If you want a REAL alternative to bicycle seats, look at recumbent bicycles. They have an "easy chair" that you sit in (not on) that are supposed to be the ultimate in comfort.

If you want a REAL alternative to bicycle seats, look at recumbent bicycles. They have an "easy chair" that you sit in (not on) that are supposed to be the ultimate in comfort.

I don't want that, I ordered a Scattante CFR and it will be here tomorrow. :) I was just looking at alternatives and wondered if anyone on the forums used something like this.

Try the seat that comes on the Scattante - you may like it! Happy riding!

Well, given that on one ride, I was feeling it (you know what I mean), I have to say I'm intrigued. Since then, I've worn my cycling shorts and haven't had any problems, but I'm not sure if the two are related. So, I'm going to keep an open mind about it. Certain things I'm not willing to risk...even for cycling.

Glassman, I made a seat like that once, and on the test drive I was surprised at how bad it was! The bike lost it's handling, and I felt like I was going to fall off whenever I turned. There was no way to keep from sliding off the back or either side. All in all, it is a bad, even dangerous design.

Get a regular seat that supports mainly your sit bones!

Well, given that on one ride, I was feeling it (you know what I mean), I have to say I'm intrigued. Since then, I've worn my cycling shorts and haven't had any problems, but I'm not sure if the two are related. So, I'm going to keep an open mind about it. Certain things I'm not willing to risk...even for cycling.

I know what you mean, while I have not experienced any problems, I don't want to.
I am thinking about trying the spongwonder, it has a good guarantee

What if I'm not completely happy?
If you are not completely happy you may return your SPONGY WONDER BIKE SEAT within 70 days from the date your seat was mailed and we will refund the total purchase price!

If I don't like it, I can send it back, what can it hurt to try it?

Glassman,
I've had seat talk up the wazoo!! Just kidding. My concern is mirrored by someone above...you can't move fore and aft (fore for spinning and aft for heavy pushing) to get a little variety on the sit bones. With no real basis for thinking so, I still wonder if these seats aren't intended more for short hops to the store or neighborhood cruises with a pretty upright position. Hardly what your new Scattante is intended for.

MORE IMPORTANTLY: Give us a review of your new bike and some pics once you get it tweaked and have some fun with it. Pretty exciting stuff!

Glassman,
I've had seat talk up the wazoo!! Just kidding. My concern is mirrored by someone above...you can't move fore and aft (fore for spinning and aft for heavy pushing) to get a little variety on the sit bones. With no real basis for thinking so, I still wonder if these seats aren't intended more for short hops to the store or neighborhood cruises with a pretty upright position. Hardly what your new Scattante is intended for.

MORE IMPORTANTLY: Give us a review of your new bike and some pics once you get it tweaked and have some fun with it. Pretty exciting stuff!

I will be posting pics, I bought a digital scale at Bass Pro shops today and will weigh the bike. I have been playing with the scale a little, I may become a weight weenie...lol

Glassman,
Cool idea now that you have a digital scale. Let's get out the Black and Decker and start drilling out the Scattante, them maybe the helmet, figure a way to do your water bottles, lose as many chain links as possible, etc.
Maybe its time for bed here.
Night all.

Glassman,
Cool idea now that you have a digital scale. Let's get out the Black and Decker and start drilling out the Scattante, them maybe the helmet, figure a way to do your water bottles, lose as many chain links as possible, etc.
Maybe its time for bed here.
Night all.

I carry powdered water. It's much lighter than the reconstituted stuff. :p

http://www.spongywonder.com/

I've still got two of these. (http://www.spiderflex.com/)

When I started biking, early last year, I was just coming off a 30 month bout of prostatitis and the act of sitting on a "regular" bicycle seat was unbearable. Hell, I couldn't even wear briefs. This saddle is what permitted me to start biking and I went through a lot with one of these. Probably 3 thousand miles easy if I think about it. I had it on a comfort bike, a hybrid, a Specialized Sequoia and until recently, my Roubaix.

It was a great investment for me at the time.

Steve

I've still got two of these. (http://www.spiderflex.com/)

When I started biking, early last year, I was just coming off a 30 month bout of prostatitis and the act of sitting on a "regular" bicycle seat was unbearable. Hell, I couldn't even wear briefs. This saddle is what permitted me to start biking and I went through a lot with one of these. Probably 3 thousand miles easy if I think about it. I had it on a comfort bike, a hybrid, a Specialized Sequoia and until recently, my Roubaix.

It was a great investment for me at the time.

Steve
Steve...my sense is you have moved on? If so, why did you change and what saddle did you choose that you found liveable?
Thanks,
George

I've still got two of these. (http://www.spiderflex.com/)

When I started biking, early last year, I was just coming off a 30 month bout of prostatitis and the act of sitting on a "regular" bicycle seat was unbearable. Hell, I couldn't even wear briefs. This saddle is what permitted me to start biking and I went through a lot with one of these. Probably 3 thousand miles easy if I think about it. I had it on a comfort bike, a hybrid, a Specialized Sequoia and until recently, my Roubaix.

It was a great investment for me at the time.

Steve

Are you still using it? Most of the testimonials I read from users of these types of saddles do not appear to be from road riders. But I am still thinking about trying one out. Thanks for posting. I see in you sig you must be using this saddle now, how do you like it?
http://twowheelerdealer.com/site/images/library/large/spec_sad_alias_130_silver_06_m.jpg

Steve...my sense is you have moved on? If so, why did you change and what saddle did you choose that you found liveable?
Thanks,
George

George,

I really didn't have a good reason. The saddle was working great for me. It was a very, very comfortable saddle, and I could literally spend hours in it (and did on many occasions). However, I felt it may have been slowing me down due to there being no horn when I was in the drops and that my hands were bothering me a bit.

By last June, my symptoms had subsided to the point where I could actually ride a conventional saddle so I thought I'd try one. I got a Brooks, but that wasn't the answer (numbness hours after the ride), so I ended up with a Specialized Alias which I really, really like.

Knowing the chances of a reoccurance of prostatitis, I hang onto the Spiderflex just in case.

Take care,

Steve

Are you still using it? Most of the testimonials I read from users of these types of saddles do not appear to be from road riders. But I am still thinking about trying one out. Thanks for posting. I see in you sig you must be using this saddle now, how do you like it?
http://twowheelerdealer.com/site/images/library/large/spec_sad_alias_130_silver_06_m.jpg

I like it a lot. No numbness. No pain. It looks really firm, but it's every bit as comfortable (more so for me) than the Brooks B.17 I tried to like. I've got about 500 miles on it and I like it more all the time. Good saddle.

Steve

Steve,
Size is relative of course, but what width Alias are you using?....I think the 155mm Alias matches the 155mm width of a B-17. The next, middle-sized Alias is 143mm. My Regal is around 150mm as a reference.

I just traded Dan (thanks FarHorizon for our brief but glorious Parts Exchange!) a B-17 for his 155 Alias.
David.

I have a B.17 if someone wants to embark on a parts exchange for an Alias 143. I would like to try an Alias saddle. I measured my sit bones and contacted Specialized and they suggested a 143mm width if riding in the drops frequently which I do. One's sit bones narrow when rotating pelvis forward for riding in the drops. My bike is deliberately not set up aggressively with less than an inch from saddle to handlebar height delta. My sit bone spacing is 113mm or so the best I could measure.
George

I carry powdered water. It's much lighter than the reconstituted stuff. :p


Especially the hydrogen component.

Saddles I've tried:

Selle Italia: Flite, Flite SLR, Flite Gel - yuck, don't fit me and can't find a comfortable position.

Fi-zik: Aliante - comfortable but limited size means you can't move around much. Also very expensive for no reason.

Selle San Marco Saddles:

Rolls: too squishy soft.

Concur: These seem to vary a bit but the wider ones work very well for me and are super light.

Regal: Perfect

Several Regal-shaped models: excellent

Aspide: Super light, Super hard, yet surprisingly comfortable. Can't move around a lot on it like on the Regal (Tom Boonen rides a Regal so weight isn't every consideration).

Specialized saddles: Since they started making "body geometry" saddles they work very well as long as you get the proper width. Many Specialized dealers have some loaner models that you can try.

Vetta: Made a Concur look alike that worked well for me on a cyclocross bike.

Saddles I've tried:

Selle Italia: Flite, Flite SLR, Flite Gel - yuck, don't fit me and can't find a comfortable position.

Fi-zik: Aliante - comfortable but limited size means you can't move around much. Also very expensive for no reason.

Selle San Marco Saddles:

Rolls: too squishy soft.

Concur: These seem to vary a bit but the wider ones work very well for me and are super light.

Regal: Perfect

Several Regal-shaped models: excellent

Aspide: Super light, Super hard, yet surprisingly comfortable. Can't move around a lot on it like on the Regal (Tom Boonen rides a Regal so weight isn't every consideration).

Specialized saddles: Since they started making "body geometry" saddles they work very well as long as you get the proper width. Many Specialized dealers have some loaner models that you can try.

Vetta: Made a Concur look alike that worked well for me on a cyclocross bike.
Nice review Tom. The Aspide looks nice...but a bit narrow at 130mm's and not sure it will work with my sit bone spacing. Hear good things about the Rever and would like to try the Specialized Toupe as it looks like a very nice saddle as well. You seem to really like the Regal and I don't know anything about it.
George

Saddles I've tried:

Selle Italia: Flite, Flite SLR, Flite Gel - yuck, don't fit me and can't find a comfortable position.

Fi-zik: Aliante - comfortable but limited size means you can't move around much. Also very expensive for no reason.

Selle San Marco Saddles:

Rolls: too squishy soft.

Concur: These seem to vary a bit but the wider ones work very well for me and are super light.

Regal: Perfect

Several Regal-shaped models: excellent

Aspide: Super light, Super hard, yet surprisingly comfortable. Can't move around a lot on it like on the Regal (Tom Boonen rides a Regal so weight isn't every consideration).

Specialized saddles: Since they started making "body geometry" saddles they work very well as long as you get the proper width. Many Specialized dealers have some loaner models that you can try.

Vetta: Made a Concur look alike that worked well for me on a cyclocross bike.


Specialized saddles: Since they started making "body geometry" saddles they work very well as long as you get the proper width. Many Specialized dealers have some loaner models that you can try.

How do you measure for proper width? Is there a chart somewhere that tells you?

BikerZ,
Regarding Regals, I've ridden them for years and they're still available (not currently thru Performance or Nashbar) just do a search-- $80 to $100 or so. Plastic base, leather covered saddle fairly wide by today's racing standards at 150mm. Not particularly light but lighter than a B-17. The rivets are cool but merely cosmetic. Fairly firm saddle under your behind. Appearance wise, to me it has an elegant look.

The perforated leather version, if still available, looks good but doesn't wear as well...tends to tear when the bike inevitably falls over from time to time. (Rubber cement, etc work well enough on those little tears.) Also, the perf wears on "rubbing" areas like the nose--for those of us with fat thighs! Overall, both learther covered versions wear well over many miles--the padding is dense and doesn't noticably pack down much.

Overall, the saddle was marketed as a plush, luxury saddle in the mid 80's...one snake skin covered model sold for big bucks at the time.

I try other saddles....but come back to the gool ol' Regal. We all are waiting and eager for that rumor of the next saddle, surely the final, perfect one, eh--just over the next hill! After 60 miles or so, I don't think any saddle is going to be truly "comfy"...some are just less of a pain in the ***
David.

Steve,
Size is relative of course, but what width Alias are you using?....I think the 155mm Alias matches the 155mm width of a B-17. The next, middle-sized Alias is 143mm. My Regal is around 150mm as a reference.

I just traded Dan (thanks FarHorizon for our brief but glorious Parts Exchange!) a B-17 for his 155 Alias.
David.

Sounds like a good trade! I have the 155 Alias. My prior saddle was a B.17 Champion Special, and I think the Alias feels a bit narrower to me. I used the "assometer" at the LBS when I got the Alias and was measured at 143-155, so it was pretty much a toss between the two. It feels a bit flatter than the Brooks did. With the Brooks, I felt like I was balancing on the taint, with the Alias, it just sort of disappears under me.

I think you'll like it!

Steve

How do you measure for proper width? Is there a chart somewhere that tells you?

Specialized dealers have a measuring gauge, I call it the called the "assometer", which is a memory foam pad that you sit on for about a minute. When you get up, the indent of your sitbones is there and they measure it and compare it to a chart which gives you your measurement.

Steve

Specialized dealers have a measuring gauge, I call it the called the "assometer", which is a memory foam pad that you sit on for about a minute. When you get up, the indent of your sitbones is there and they measure it and compare it to a chart which gives you your measurement.

Steve

Now that cracks me up (and no pun intended). I mean, it sounds like a good tool and serves a real purpose, but I just keep trying to imagine the engineer who said to himself, "What the world needs is a good assometer -- and I'm going to invent it!"

Guess it's a good thing he (she?) did, though.

Gary.........no more wise cracks. As for me, I'd better get crackin' here at work!

After a 100 mile bike ride, I got what seems to be a fairly common numb knob. That felt the same as when your arm goes to sleep, no feeling there. That went away after a couple of hours but some other really troublesome problems persisted. For about one month, I had what seemed to be a nerve problem. There was just no sexual feeling left. There was also a blood flow problem that prevented erections. My doctor told me to stop riding for at least six months. After two months now, the nerve problem and blood flow are about 50% better. My doctor told me that he has a doctor friend that the same thing happened to and it took him 18 months to get back to normal.

I just bought a Specialized Avatar Gel saddle (similar to the Alias) which has the cutout to prevent the pressure that was caused by my old saddle. When I purchased my old saddle, I knew nothing about the different widths of saddles and purchased one that was too narrow for my body. The old saddle was nice and padded which, along with the narrowness, bunched up under my soft tissue causing the additional pressure in the wrong area. I finally learned about the Specialized "Assometer" and measured in about 135mm. So I went with the 155mm saddle. I've only taken two 5 mile rides to see if the saddle will be comfortable enough to ride after my six month haitus from riding.

So, the point of all of this is, don't take your bike saddle for granted. You hear about this stuff all the time but you never think it will happen to you. I suspect that this is a LOT more common than what we hear but it's such a sensitive subject that most people don't want to talk about it, much less let any of their friends know about their issues.

Has anyone else had this problem? How did it turn out for you and how long did it take to get back to normal?

So, the point of all of this is, don't take your bike saddle for granted. You hear about this stuff all the time but you never think it will happen to you. I suspect that this is a LOT more common than what we hear but it's such a sensitive subject that most people don't want to talk about it, much less let any of their friends know about their issues.

Has anyone else had this problem? How did it turn out for you and how long did it take to get back to normal?

I haven't had it that severely. The worst case I've had it was numbness during a ride and for a couple of hours afterwards. Adjusting the saddle wouldn't help. I just couldn't make it work. Once I switched to the Alias, it went away.

Steve

...I just bought a Specialized Avatar Gel saddle (similar to the Alias) which has the cutout to prevent the pressure that was caused by my old saddle....

I'm a believer in perineal cutouts on saddles. The first one I tried (the Specialized Milano) was a MAJOR improvement to me over my Brooks B-17. I've got a Specialized Alias on order to try it out too. The only conventional looking saddle that gave no perenial pressure was the Fizik Dolomiti. That saddle had the under pan serrated to allow "give" in the perenial region. The sit-bone pressure, though, was too high for me to use the Fizik regularly.

If the tilt isn't right, you can STILL get perenial pressure from even the cutout saddles. Keep the nose down! You'll know it if the tilt is too high in front. :eek:

I'm a believer in perineal cutouts on saddles. The first one I tried (the Specialized Milano) was a MAJOR improvement to me over my Brooks B-17. I've got a Specialized Alias on order to try it out too. The only conventional looking saddle that gave no perenial pressure was the Fizik Dolomiti. That saddle had the under pan serrated to allow "give" in the perenial region. The sit-bone pressure, though, was too high for me to use the Fizik regularly.

If the tilt isn't right, you can STILL get perenial pressure from even the cutout saddles. Keep the nose down! You'll know it if the tilt is too high in front. :eek:

What I did with my B.17 or more to the point felt I had to do was tilt the saddle down a bit. Below is a picture of the tilt I run on my B.17...or very close to it. The nose is actually level or perhaps even a degree or so up but the rear of the saddle is above the nose and hence if a level is placed on the saddle it is slightly nose down in overall elevation. This relieves in a major way the perineal pain I was experiencing on rides of over 30 miles I have been doing lately. There is a downside and it isn't a good one....and that is by having the rear of the B.17 up relative to the nose with the cant of the rear section of this saddle...I am forever sliding down onto the nose unless exerting much too much pressure with my hands and shoulders to keep my weight back...even with running a fair amount of saddle set-back. This is frankly uncomfortable and a major reason I am considering making a saddle change. I can ride the B.17 for long distances now with virtually no pain at all but experience too much tension in my upper body to be comfortable. Which leads me to the Specialized Alias. I am hopeful I can run the saddle a bit more level and the curvature of the rear section is in general more level compared to the B.17. The concavity of the B.17 is a two edge sword. On one hand if you can keep your weight back allows clearance to one's perineum but the approach that Specialized takes of a more level saddle and a cut-out I think is a better solution.
If I ride the Brooks with the nose more up to take the weight off my hands and level out the rear of the saddle, then I experience perineal pain. In summary, I prefer a flatter saddle with relief to the perineum and hopeful the Alias meets this need.
George

Sounds like a good trade! I have the 155 Alias. My prior saddle was a B.17 Champion Special, and I think the Alias feels a bit narrower to me. I used the "assometer" at the LBS when I got the Alias and was measured at 143-155, so it was pretty much a toss between the two. It feels a bit flatter than the Brooks did. With the Brooks, I felt like I was balancing on the taint, with the Alias, it just sort of disappears under me.

I think you'll like it!

Steve

Here is some info I found on the assometer

The code on the back of the assometer specifies a 130 saddle for a sitbone center to center width of 100 mm or less, a 143 saddle for a sitbone center to center of 100 mm to 130mm and a 155 for a sitbone center to center of 130 or more.

Here is my new bike, I might have to get a new seat for it if I do not like this one.
New Scattante from Supergo
http://www.arklatexmall.com/scattante/scattante_sm1.jpg

Glassman,
Congrats on a beautiful bike....I take back my idea for drilling it out. How does Supergo warranty their frames? My screen resolution won't let me count your cogs...53/39 up front, what cluster in back? Have you picked out pedals yet? Don't know but can't exactly see a sprung, brown Brooks on so rakish a frame...8-) Wanna share the price with us? Above all, enjoy and send back a ride report.

Here is my new bike, I might have to get a new seat for it if I do not like this one.
New Scattante from Supergo

Nice bike! Congrats! I hear the road calling...

Steve

I am coming to this thread a little late, but, my comments may be worthwhile to anyone interested in the Spongy Wonder Seat. I bought one this spring because serious prostate problems made it impossible for me to ride on a regular seat. The Spongy Wonder was just the thing to get me riding again. It only touches your sit bones and no matter how long you are on it you will get no soft tissue soreness.

On the down side, it is not a bicycle saddle. As others have said, you lose the control you get from the nose on a proper seat. I would only recommend it to people with problems and, to those who do very relaxed cycling in a very up-right position without often standing on the pedals. I have since moved on to a Split Rail saddle that is just O.K. I plan to do some saddle testing for next season.

Glassman,
Congrats on a beautiful bike....I take back my idea for drilling it out. How does Supergo warranty their frames? My screen resolution won't let me count your cogs...53/39 up front, what cluster in back? Have you picked out pedals yet? Don't know but can't exactly see a sprung, brown Brooks on so rakish a frame...8-) Wanna share the price with us? Above all, enjoy and send back a ride report.

Thanks,
53/39 is right and 12/25 cassette, I paid $1199 for it using the 20% off coupon. I have only rode it once for 5 miles and will be riding it this weekend. So far I like it, the utegra 10 speed is smooth shifting. It weighs 17 pounds 8 ounces without the reflectors and with no pedals.Here is the large image of the picture I posted http://www.arklatexmall.com/scattante/scattante1.jpg

I think I may try to locate a specialized dealer to look at the seat everyone likes.

I think I may try to locate a specialized dealer to look at the seat everyone likes.

I *think* I may have a used Avatar around here that came off of Linda's Roubaix. I'll check, but if you'd be willing to pay shipping both ways, I be happy to let you use it for a bit to decide if you like it. The Alias' shape is almost identical. However, the Avatar didn't work for me, whereas the Alias did. They're constructed differently, with the Alias having a bit more firmness, but at the same time, a bit more flex.

IF interested, PM me. It's a 143mm.

Steve

cheeseflavor,
Thanks for the offer, I am looking at another seat.
http://www.performancebike.com/e3saddle.cfm

I have been reading a little about it on the road forum. However, I am going to go to the bike shop and see if they have the specialized seats. I don't have any problems with soreness now but I don't want any in the future. I just looked at the Avatar and it is a nice looking seat and really appreciate your offer.

Glassman,
I just traded another FiftyPlusser a B-17 for a 155mm Alias...should arrive in a few days. I won't be "putting it on" for a while....if you'd like to borrow the Alias and try it out for a time then you're most welcome-- same offer as Steve's up above.
David

BTW....the Scattante seems one helluva buy...CF with Ultegra for the cost of a moderately priced sofa!