Fifty Plus (50+) - Saddles - Cross another one off the list

I don't know why I keep trying different saddles. My Specialized Alias just works. It's comfy, weighs under 200g and pretty much disappears under me. Maybe it's my curious nature. Maybe I just wonder if the grass really is greener on the other side...

Anyway, I purchased a new saddle off of eBay. A Fizik Arione. Headed off for a ride yesterday and did what I thought would be an easy 20 miles. I don't think I've spent so much time out of the saddle on a ride yet. This thing was so uncomfortable I felt like I was sitting on an ice skate, blade side up. No amount of adjustment would help either. Alias is getting installed again as soon as I get home from work.

I keep telling Linda to not let me change my saddle no matter what I say, but....

Steve

I suppose the first question is: If you are comfortable, why switch?

I have an Avatar on my main ride and it's not too bad, but I wanted to try something different for another frame I'm building up, so I bought an E3. Haven't finished yet, but this should be interesting. I heard a lot (both good and bad) about the Arione.

I suppose the first question is: If you are comfortable, why switch?

I have an Avatar on my main ride and it's not too bad, but I wanted to try something different for another frame I'm building up, so I bought an E3. Haven't finished yet, but this should be interesting. I heard a lot (both good and bad) about the Arione.

The E3 was another that I tried. I liked it. But it still wasn't as comfortable as the Alias. As for why switch? Good question. I don't have an answer, but it's a good question :)

Steve

I suppose the first question is: If you are comfortable, why switch?

I have an Avatar on my main ride and it's not too bad, but I wanted to try something different for another frame I'm building up, so I bought an E3. Haven't finished yet, but this should be interesting. I heard a lot (both good and bad) about the Arione.

Its that not too bad bit- We don't want a saddle thats OK- we want Nirvana on the long rides. A saddle that works for twenty miles can be a bag of flints after 30 and still another 70 to go.

I now have Nirvana for this weekend - I've got my trans am back for my big one- Just so it doesn't get nicked by my pilot- I'mm welding it and the seat post to the frame.

I notice a lot of pro riders use fairly normal looking saddles despite their weight consciousness. Don't see a majority using the extreme cutaway, feather lites. Certainly that highly regarded semi-pro, jppe, discovered that in a recent thread. Maybe such saddles are mostly bait for OCP'ers and pain-denying weight weinies.

Still, the grass is always greener and tecnology/advertizing hype always holds the allure of newer and better. We're all trained to salivate over new & "improved stuff"---me, too!

Best turn the bike budget over to the wife....its like committing yourself....but, say Steve, have you seen those new one-spoke wheels, etc etc.

I think you've hit on it, Stapfam - I'm okay until someone comes along and says they just finished a double-metric on their <insert saddle name here> and never noticed their butt hurtin'....

If you find one that really works for you go out and buy a few of them if you can afford them. Many manufacturers change models at the drop of a hat. Case in point: my Serfas Monaco RS (luckily I found two more online after they quit making them). Now down to one spare and it will have to go on the bike pretty soon. Then is time to start all over again.

Man, you all hit the nail on the head. Saddles----the cyclist's never ending search for perfection. I've been riding with a Bontrager Race Lite Lux on my half bike for 2 years now. It rates an 8/10 for comfort, and I've been pretty happy with it. Pretty happy, not estatic. Generally I can finish a century without too much discomfort. I picked another one up fairly cheap as a take-off, and put it on our tandem and it's okay there, too, but a tandem really tests ones limits when it comes to the comfort of a saddle (isn't that right Stapfam?).

Usually I start hurting about mile 60 or so on the tandem with the Bontrager. So, I've been looking for a better solution. Last week my stoker and I picked up a couple of Terry Liberators. I've read all these wonderful things about Terry, but you couldn't prove it by me or my stoker/wife, at least not that model. We were both killing ourselves after a 40 mile club ride on Saturday. Yesterday (Sunday) the Terrys went back to REI and we're back to square 1, but we'll keep trying. Perhaps I'll give the Alias a try.

Maybe such saddles are mostly bait for OCP'ers and pain-denying weight weinies.

Hey! I resemble that remark! :)


Best turn the bike budget over to the wife....

Let me think about that....

Uh nope!

:)

Steve

Yesterday (Sunday) the Terrys went back to REI and we're back to square 1, but we'll keep trying. Perhaps I'll give the Alias a try.

I didn't know that REI took saddle returns.... hmmm....

I can't say enough about the Alias. I really can't find a fault with it - try as I might. They also make a women's model - the Jett - it's the exact same saddle with some different graphics on it.

Take care,

Steve

I didn't know that REI took saddle returns.... hmmm....

I can't say enough about the Alias. I really can't find a fault with it - try as I might. They also make a women's model - the Jett - it's the exact same saddle with some different graphics on it.

Take care,

Steve

Oh yes, that's one of the great things about REI. I've taken back gloves that I though wore out too soon, a 2 year old pump that wasn't worth the powder to blow it to hell (one of those Crank Brothers mini pumps), clothes that fell apart, and now these saddles. I'm not an overly picky guy, but when I pay a decent price for something, I expect it to work as advertised. REI has been great in that respect.

I don't know why I keep trying different saddles..

Hi Steve!

Mainly, because they're THERE, yes? I just love my Specialized Milano, but I like to throw on a strange saddle every once in a while just to try it out. I (reluctantly) sold my Fizik Dolomiti on e-Bay, but now that I've got the fit dialed in, I wish I had it back! :rolleyes:

I watch for saddle "deals" were I find them (mostly yard sales) and am always eager to try something new. The cost is nil (sometimes, I even make a profit) and the enjoyment is great.

PM me when you want to get rid of a saddle that doesn't work for you. I'll buy it from you and try it myself!

Thanks!

I do the same thing with tires. I'm always looking for something the feels just a little more this way or that. But when it comes to my bottom... no way! I've been riding the Specialized Alias too and am thinking about getting a bumper sticker that says, "You can have my bike saddle when you can pry my cold dead cheeks off of it."

..."You can have my bike saddle when you can pry my cold dead cheeks off of it."

:lol: Thanks for today's chuckle!

I had a Bontrager CRX on my Frankenbike tourer that replaced the 80's vintage Spenco that finally gave up the ghost, that Spenco was a good seat for long distances. Started using the Bontrager for MS150 training rides, and felt good on it until about the 50 mile mark. When I built up the LaRaza frame, I picked up a Specialized Avatar to try and have been very happy with it. I also found that it works better with bike shorts that have a smaller, thinner pad area. I have one pair of new shorts that have a large thick pad, and they chafe the inside of my legs in the 'man parts' area. But older pairs of Canari and Bellweather shorts with small minimal thickness pad areas allow my sit bones to seat properly in the small pads of the Avatar and provide a more comfy ride:p ....

B'Dog

Try this one...
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/real-man.html

Bill

I have a Fizik Arione and it has been the best riding saddle I have ever owned. Amazing how what works for one does not work for others. Seems like saddles are either loved or hated .

Cheese' won't turn the bike budget over to me becasue I'll spend too much :D

WHAT?! A bike saddle thread with no mention of the beloved Brooks saddles? What is this world coming to?! :D

"You can have my bike saddle when you can pry my cold dead cheeks off of it."

LOL!

I put my beloved Alias back on tonight and took it for a spin. Ahhh... heaven!

Steve

I use Fizik Paves on all four of my bikes. I tried a lot of saddles and only a Selle felt close to right but the Pave was perfect for me. I bought the last one just before they stopped allowing you to order them customized to your tastes. My nephew inherited the six I rejected.

WHAT?! A bike saddle thread with no mention of the beloved Brooks saddles? What is this world coming to?! :D

It's just too early in the story for him to get a B-17 and ride off happily into the sunset. The plot needs more twists before the conclusion ;)

WHAT?! A bike saddle thread with no mention of the beloved Brooks saddles? What is this world coming to?! :D

Dynamic,
Funny you should mention Brooks. I brought mine in 1980. It took a couple of years, gallons of leather goop and mucho miles to finally break it in. It was very tough on the derriere until then. Once it was form fitted, it was so confortable that as I acquired new metal (both road and mtn bike), I would move the Brooks along. The only problem I ever had with this saddle was as the leather continued to give, the rivets would become more pronounced. I would wear shorts out at one of the rivets contact points and also had some nice little calluses you know where. My beloved Brooks met its demise on a gonzo downhill run in Blue Ridge, GA. The railing broke, ending a 20 year relationship. My companions and I gave the Brooks a proper memorial service. Sniff, it is still difficult to talk about it.
Ray

i use to try different saddles and nothing ever seemed to be right or be comfortable but the San Marcos Era, So I don't try different saddles now and I keep an extra San Marcos Era saddle in my tool / bike chest.

Some equipment and things you have to go by Murphy's Law.{if it ain't broke leave it alone, especially saddles and set-up on bikes**

HELP!!!! Cheese' emailed this to me this afternoon (Erik's is the local BS)

Quote, "Erik's is having a sale - 10% off of Specialized saddles, so....

Alias is $89.99 after discount and.....

Toupe is $134.99 after discount.

What a coincidence, huh?" end quote!

ARGH....Is there any sanity? :)

HELP!!!! Cheese' emailed this to me this afternoon (Erik's is the local BS)

Quote, "Erik's is having a sale - 10% off of Specialized saddles, so....

Alias is $89.99 after discount and.....

Toupe is $134.99 after discount.

What a coincidence, huh?" end quote!

ARGH....Is there any sanity? :)

I thought you were in charge of the budget!?!

Edit for double post.

ARGH....Is there any sanity? :)

Not in this house :)

Steve

We'll have to wait for Dr. Phil Diego to weigh in. :D

The only saddle I ever had even close to my Brooks (Old days a pro, nowdays a B-17) was the Uncanitor made by Cinell in Italy. Then there was the Mexican copy of that seat which was the most uncomfortable seat ever made.

Once you have a saddle that you completely forget about you realize that certain traditions exist for a reason.

B17.

I thought you were in charge of the budget!?!

Only after Cheese' approves the budget - well, it is better to let him *think* he approves it :D You know how that whole male dominate thing goes...:p

Dr. Diego is here and at your service.



It is most revealing that Cheeze is obsessed with a saddle called the "Alias," while at the same time he is contemplating a saddle called the "Toupee." Does he wish to be someone else, with more hair, if only for a moment?


Hmmmmm????? You may be onto something :D

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/609/cheezehair1zg.th.png (http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cheezehair1zg.png)

Dr. Diego is here and at your service.

I think I smell something rotten here, DG :)

User since May 2006?

Hmmm...

Hmmmmm????? You may be on to something :D

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/609/cheezehair1zg.th.png (http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cheezehair1zg.png)

That was a picture taken of me back in my Parliament / Funkadelic, Tower of Power listening days.

Notice the young babe hanging on to my shoulder, however :)

Steve

My saddles, from most to least preferred:

Brooks Team Pro (no break-in required)
Brooks Pro (custom fit from over 40k mi / 65k km of MY riding)
Brooks Competition (hate those small snaggy rivets)
Serfas ARC (with depression on center ridge)