Road Cycling - What style seat does everyone prefer?

I just wanted to get some ideas on what type of seat to get for my road bike. The one I have just broke. I've been able to find a few articles in Bicycling Magazine about them, but I was wondering what everyone thought. Should I go for the wider seats with more padding or should I go for the skinnier seats. I've read good things about both styles. Anyone who wants to share their two cents, feel free.

Geoff

A lot depends on the style of riding you're into. Are you a commuter - casual - serious - fitness cyclist?

Let's know what kind of cycling you do most often.

I like the Terry Ti-fly, which is a narrower version of the liberator. Narrower seems to be better for me, but "your mileage may vary"!

Media

I would say somewhere in between casual and serious right now, but I'd like to get to the more serious point.

IMO a softer wider seat is better for touring,mtn. biking or long commutes with a more upright body position while a narrow firm seat is better for performance,speed and a more aerodynamic lower body position on road/racing bikes so I guess it is a matter of which type of riding you will primarily do.

You could buy a Brooks B.17 - treat it well and it will treat YOU well.

A wider saddle may be OK for lower speeds but gets in the way as you pedal faster. Over the last couple of years I went from the widest softest seat I could find to progressively narrower saddles as I increased my cadence. I have used a Terry Liberator and found it quite comfortable if you want something with a slot. On my two road bikes I have a Selle Italia Flite Gel (standard, not wide) and a Selle San Marco Era. I find both quite comfortable.

It mainly comes down to personal preference, I would go to you're LBS, and see what their return policy is and try a few out. I like the San Marco Aspide saddle, it has minimal padding is very light and I find it extremely comfortable, but that is my personal preference you might hate it :)

I wasn't able to test run any. I chose mine from internet research and got lucky...selle italia flight ti gel... it's been great! :D

Brooks Team Pro :beer:

I really liked my Avocet racing, but of course they
haven't made that particular model since the mid
80's. . .
currently I have a Brooks B-17n which I think
is the most comfortable saddle I have ever had.
after that Flite Trans am is pretty good.
But, as everyone else has said,
Its a personal thing, no one saddle is right
for everyone.

Marty

Just make sure that it is wide enough for your sit-bones (the two pelvic protruberances). And, when you sit on the saddle, make sure that you are actually sitting far enough back to actually use them (rather than putting the pressure on more tender parts).

If you do this, then you will likely find that harder saddles remain quite comfortable on the long all, and that the soft spongey ones that feel great in the store become a nightmare on a long ride. Sheldon Brown explains why at: www.sheldonbrown.com/articles.html (look for something to do with saddles).

cheers,
Jamie

I currently am using a Selle Italia Flite Ti. It's fine up to about 60-70 miles, then it starts to get a bit uncomfortable. I am considering trying a Terry Fly Ti for an extended period. A lot of people seem to like 'em.

I like saddles that are light, long, firm and narrow. They fit me.

On my roadie and touring bikes I use the Flite Ti. I find it comfortable for all day riding.

On my Mountain bike, I'm riding a Bontrager saddle for its shorter nose and "clipped wing" profile. It's a little easier to move my butt around on the Bonty.

Padding is overrated.

I've done up to 100 miles on my SI SLR with no problem. I think Selle Italia makes good saddles. THey have a big selection so that would be something to look into.
They make saddles for every market. I think the ProLink is a touring/racing saddle that looks like a racing saddle but has more comfort features.

I'm with Dave on this one.
I bought a Terry Ti Fly last spring to replace my old "too soft" worn out saddle. Love it.

My wife said I bought it for the "logo" on the rear of the saddle. :D
http://www.finalkick.com/Qstore/custom/terryflyti.gif

flite gel ti. just got it about 300 miles ago, but i'm enjoying it much over the old san marco i had. it was b/w that or the san marco era. hopped onto the latter and felt IMMEDIATE discomfort in the...uhm...area, so i went for the flite and have been happy with it.

Is a Brooks saddle appropriate for a racing bike?

Serious question.

San Marco Regal... Ti rails. I just bought a Terry Ti Fly ($60.00) that I will put on my new road bike I'm in the middle of building.

Mountain bike: Terry Liberator (the plain one, no gel)

Road bike: Specialized 02 Pro Men's Saddle (body geometry design)

PBW

Originally posted by Greg
Is a Brooks saddle appropriate for a racing bike?
Sure! The problem is that, by todays standards, they're pretty heavy.
If I were getting one for a racing bike, I'd look at the swallow (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/saddles/brooks-swallow.html), since I have large thighs. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with Ti rails. Alternatively, there's the swift (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/saddles/brooks-swift.html), which looks like a similar width, but not cut away in the sides. And, Ti rails!

I'm not sure, but I suspect it's true for all Brooks... they work best with a seatpost that has plenty of setback. The rails "narrow" further from the front than most modern saddles, so you can't slide it as far back on the rails.

I use a fi'zi:k pave` (http://www.fizik.com/Products_Road_Pave.aspx) on my road bike. It's the best recreational saddle I've tried. I have fairly wide hips, but large thighs. So I need a saddle with a narrow nose. The tips of my sit bones don't actually rest on top of the saddle. Rather, the inner sides of my sit bones rest against the sides of the saddle. This keeps my "vitals" suspended sufficiently that I don't have any numbness problems, but I doubt it would work for everybody. In any case, riding a saddle this way requires a saddle with a round profile, rather than flat.

Originally posted by Greg
Is a Brooks saddle appropriate for a racing bike?

Serious question.
yeah, if you're riding a vintage racer. . .

As stated above they are pretty heavy.
I believe the swift is the Ti version of the pro?
The Swallow is no longer made, but still available
from wallbikes.
Basically if you ride a brooks you're not a weight weenie

Marty

I like my two 30-year-old Brooks saddles (a Pro and a Competition) and my Serfas ARC anatomical.

On my third (and possibly last) trying to get comfortable. It is a fi'zi:k Nisene, and pretty nice. Interesting, as it is an MTB saddle, but narrower than any of the road saddles I tried.

Cheers...Gary

Originally posted by lotek
Basically if you ride a brooks you're not a weight weenie

I am strongly considering adding a Brooks Swift to my 17 lb. bike.

I can justify the comfort for the added 100 grams over an average saddle.

Most of my rides are from 45-65 miles with two water bottles and the assorted tools, tire, tube and crap anyway.

Whats an extra 100g? :)

I should add, the bike currently has a CODA branded Selle Italia perenium masher that at 60 miles feels like an anvil on the a$$.

I have a Calfee Luna Pro with Campy Chorus grouppo coming in a few weeks, and the saddle my LBS has spec'd out is a Flite Genuine Gel Saddle.

I am 42 and mostly a recreational rider who is REALLY into it. My goal is to do a Century next year, but most of my rides are probably going to be between 20-40 miles.

Any thouhgts on this saddle?

Originally posted by Greg

I am strongly considering adding a Brooks Swift to my 17 lb. bike.
I can justify the comfort for the added 100 grams over an average saddle.
Most of my rides are from 45-65 miles with two water bottles and the assorted tools, tire, tube and crap anyway.
Whats an extra 100g? :)
I should add, the bike currently has a CODA branded Selle Italia perenium masher that at 60 miles feels like an anvil on the a$$.

FWIW I think the Brooks is exactly the type of saddle for rides
of that length (of course I'm biased). I had Flites, Trans am
(now my backup),Fi:z'ik, Concor and they were all perinium
mashers or uncomfortable. The Brooks seems the best for
my butt. They take a while to fully break in but should be
comfortable out of the box. Setup is VERY important.
and due to rails etc. they are a little higher than most
plastic shell saddles, you'll need to adjust height.
check out Wall Bikes (http://www.wallbike.com/)
they carry Brooks, and have a great return policy.
Marty

After trying everything, almost, I have to say Brooks, I ride a Brooks swift Ti on my touring bike (14,000 + miles), a great all day, day in day out saddle, after the 1700 mile break in period that is, and I ride a Brooks B-17 standard saddle on the commuter (17,000 + miles), a good tough comfy saddle that's a pleasure to ride after a hard days work. On the road bike (5,000+ miles), I ride a pro-link gel, a good short ride saddle, gets hard after 50 miles or so, but it's better then others I've ridden.

Quite happy with a cheap Selle Italia XO on my commuter - slim enough and not overly padded.

Richard

im new to this site and saw you guys talking about seats. I hardly sit on my bike cause im always in the air or falling on my face.. (ride a BMX dirt bike) but when i ride long distance on my beach cruiser, i use my seat.. it's great and does not get my (you know what numb and stuff) im not advertising it, just giving my two cents about it..

Just ordered the Swift.

I've seriously been waffling on this for a year now.

Thanks for the push guys.

:beer:

Um, since this has turned into a ton of posts about Brooks saddles, do they have ANY padding ?

My lord, they look prehistoric.

In a word, OUCH !!!

All the warnings about pressure in the nether regions just tossed aside ?

Help a rookie out here, they just look painful.

I have a Serfa and a Specialized saddle.

Well, the brooks is kinda counter intuitive.
The big thing with brooks is as stated before SETUP.
again, counter intuitive but set it up with a slight
(and i mean slight) uptilt to the nose. The leather
under the sit bones softens to cradle your delicate
butt. The nose should just support all the
dangly bits, no pressure.
Yes they look prehistoric, no they do not pad them
(but you can get sprung saddles), they are so
comfortable you don't need the padding.
with care they last forever (seen the 1950's brooks
swallow selling for $450?) and all the care they need
is some proofhide now and again.
Sheldon Brown does a good write up on em.
Sheldons Saddle articles (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html) and Sheldons Leather Saddles article (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/leather.html)
Every cyclists should try a Brooks at least once in their
lifetime.
Marty