Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Saddles, saddles, saddles....

I have been having a hell of a time finding one that doesn't f**ckin' hurt!
Swapped out four so far, in order of ascending quality:
An old Avocet Touring II
A low-end Selle Italia
A high-end Velo Forte
A Vetta Tri-Shock
They've all kind of sucked, despite that I've dialed in fit and angle, and I wear bikeshorts.
Keep in mind that I've acquired these all for free or cheap, but I'm now willing to spend some $$ (two dollar signs, not three) on something that is rad.
I ride a lot.
Please offer suggestions or personal experiences and, on behalf of my special stuff, thanks.

Brooks B17 was a real improvement for me. I'm currently rocking a Selle Italia Turbo...only one ride so far, but no pain.

(also...no more San Diego? Moved to Portland in time for the rainy season? How's the BK?)

Fizik Arione is a wonderful thing. I know it's a bit over the $$ range, but not by much.
There is so much room to move around, and it has so much back-forth adjustibility.

on behalf of my special stuff they really like:) selle smp eveloution a little pricey ....performance has it if you dont like it return it no numb butt & everyones happy

I like my Flites. Firm shell (this is the main difference between Flites and their many knockoff as far as I can tell), long rails, just wide enough, and just the right amount of padding. They're also not butt ugly, grossly overpriced or heavy like some "vintage" saddles.

Over long distances I like a Brooks better.

Brooks B17 was a real improvement for me. I'm currently rocking a Selle Italia Turbo...only one ride so far, but no pain.

(also...no more San Diego? Moved to Portland in time for the rainy season? How's the BK?)

ok so i have found that the turbo is the only saddle i've had worth owning... only problem i got into a scuffle that left my saddle destroyed, as in one of the rails came out of its socket.

I haven't thrown it away but can someone please tell me how i can reset it, i refuse to give up on the most comfortable piece of equipment mounted on my bike.

thanks

p.s. search function didn't work

I've had good luck (daily 30 minute commutes up to centuries) on Bontrager Race Lites. This is the standard saddle on mid-level Treks, Lemonds, etc, and can be had pretty cheap ($30 to $40) on Ebay. For instance: http://cgi.ebay.com/TREK-SADDLE-BONTRAGER-RACE-LITE-Lux_W0QQitemZ230037456325QQihZ013QQcategoryZ106952QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

concor! i've got 6.

http://www.bullteksports.com/catalog/pictures/Tioga/SpyderSaddle.jpg

ok so i have found that the turbo is the only saddle i've had worth owning... only problem i got into a scuffle that left my saddle destroyed, as in one of the rails came out of its socket.

I haven't thrown it away but can someone please tell me how i can reset it, i refuse to give up on the most comfortable piece of equipment mounted on my bike.

thanks

p.s. search function didn't work


This is often repairable if nothing is actually broken, pretty tough to describe how. Basically you want something that you can flex the rail with & maybe something else to pry on the part of the saddle where the rail plugs in. A second set of hands can really help.

http://www.bullteksports.com/catalog/pictures/Tioga/SpyderSaddle.jpg


wafflebutt

wafflebutt

don't hate, appreciate

With bike shorts, something like the one I have should work. It's roughly the same as this Velo:
http://www.velosaddles.com/products_detail.php?cat_id=5&id=7

Basically it's an SLR clone with more padding and less price. I'm sure I'd love the lovely new SLR XC (SLR with extra padding and extra beefiness made for MTBing), but it's too expensive 4 me.

Velo make the rail + nylon/CF base, Acor and BBB make or spec their own padding and cover... so there's a dozen different saddles with the same base body from three different brands to choose from:)

Mine is a Ti rail Acor w/ cutout, and it's reasonably comfy even withot bike shorts. For a saddle that cost $30 and weighs 195g, that's rather nice:D I really like the looks, I have to say. Both the acor and the bbb looktons better than the velo above.

http://ebike.hu/images/upload/products/0003544_001.jpg


(BTW, the CroMo rail BBB version is rather spartan in terms of padding. I used to have one... well, still have it in a drawer, actually.)



Oh, one more edit. With modern racey saddles, there isn't much padding. That's not a problem, if 1)the shape is right for yous ass and riding position 2) there is enough flex in the body. This is crucial for comfort on bumps. If you buy one of these SLR-ish saddles, make sure it's easy to flex down the centre section. The SLR XC I looked at bends down half an inch easily in my hands, an inch if I really squeeze it, and the Acor is nice and flexy, too. These saddles sometimes bottom out on the saddle clamp, actually. You may even have to cut/file stuff there to protect the saddle, esp if you're fat:)

This is often repairable if nothing is actually broken, pretty tough to describe how. Basically you want something that you can flex the rail with & maybe something else to pry on the part of the saddle where the rail plugs in. A second set of hands can really help.

what would you suggest as far as the item for flexing the rail in concerned?

The last time I did this I used two adjustable wrenches. One on the rail out sideways the other on the first providing leverage. I think a small pipe wrench would work well because the jaw is 90 deg. to the handle. Getting leverage in the right direction is the hardest part.

Tape jaws of tool to minimize marking.

i think my fizik dolomiti or whatever is amazing, its falling apart though from lots of falling over a few years and i'm scared that i wont be able to find/afford a replacement

The last time I did this I used two adjustable wrenches. One on the rail out sideways the other on the first providing leverage. I think a small pipe wrench would work well because the jaw is 90 deg. to the handle. Getting leverage in the right direction is the hardest part.

Tape jaws of tool to minimize marking.

excellent i am going to try that once i finish this week...

concor! i've got 6.
I don't have 6 but the concor is my favorite too.

I've got tons of saddles... Most of them have been uncomfortable. My pretty looking rolls is especially bad for killing my groin area (and tearing apart my pants since its perforated).

I also have some selle italia xo genuine gel saddle that really sucks (I have seen it mounted on road and mountain bikes before). Its good to bash around but really uncomfortable!!
http://www.pedalpushersonline.com/productreviews/largegraphics/xo.jpg

I have an ugly looking (in yellow) selle italia flite oktavia genuine gel (what the heck is 'genuine' gel anyways?) saddle that is my comfiest at the moment.
http://www.parker-international.co.uk/productimages/fullsize/SelleItaliaOktaviaGengel.jpg

I also have a plastic sparkly blue with flakes and racing stripes schwinn saddle that I keep on my commuter that I love. Just the right amount of padding, good shape, 100% water proof, cheap etc. Can't find any pictures of it, but its basically a flite clone with thick blue sparkly vinyl covering and a couple of black patches on the corners in case of scuffing. Its got a great big S in the middle and racing stripes.

and I'm about to pick up a british racing green brooks b17 for my touring/cx bike.

Ha! Different asses... I find the same XO gen. gel really comfortable. No complaints even after a (metric) double century. Well, other than the fact that now I find it rather ugly and heavy. One of those is my other bike (MTB).

I must have an agreeable ass, because I don't have a saddle that is UNcomfortable.

Methinks enough miles will do that. Everything becomes comfy.

I had a brooks b17 that developed a ridge where other saddles have a cutout. **** that noise. I got a Terry fly -- its comfy, relatively light, good for bike shorts or no bike shorts, and I am just secure enough in my heterosexuality not to mind the fact that it looks ****ing gay.

Selle San Marco Era has been a comfy saddle for me... I won't yet say it's the best though

The SLR clone Velo saddle that comes on the Concept is the worst thing ever in my eyes. I swear to god it will be the end of me, and my childern producing dance I do in ze bed.

I want a Turbo :(.

Are they really comfy? Worth it to shell out the cash? I'm just worried that i'll buy one and not like it.

Shell out the cash? You can get them NOS in the box for relatively cheap. Keep an eye on these (http://sporting-goods.search.ebay.com/turbo-saddle_Cycling_W0QQcatrefZC12QQfromZR9QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQfstypeZ1QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQsacatZ7294QQsspage nameZFAVQ3aHPSQ3aFSRCH).

See it is funny, because anything above the price of trade is shelling out for me. I have friends that loan me money, but i'm paying them off right now with just too much money going out.

I have a hard time with money and waiting until I actually have money to buy stuff heh.

That white one on top is exactly what I want though. Sweetness! Thanks man :).

Yeah, I hear ya. I have a Kashima saddle I was trying to trade for a turbo (pretty large price difference there...) with no biters.

I have a turbo, and it's fine, I traded it for some handlebars. Think I might try a Brooks at some point though.

Yeah, I hear ya. I have a Kashima saddle I was trying to trade for a turbo (pretty large price difference there...) with no biters.

I saw a 5 gold go on Ebay for like 10 bucks a couple days ago. I was planning on bidding, but got really drunk the night before and couldn't wake up to do it at 10 am. I was sorta pissed hah.

They are nice for real though.

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/400/50-3276-NCL-ANGLE.jpg

http://www.punk77.co.uk/graphics/devo/devoband.jpg

Brooks B17 was a real improvement for me. I'm currently rocking a Selle Italia Turbo...only one ride so far, but no pain.


the two saddles i own. both are great

I've tried the 'Spongy wonder seat'. I'll try and post a pic. It's the most comfortable seat I've ever ridden on by far... Only its so wierd looking I haven't had the balls to go out on a group ride with it yet :(

I think the site is spongywonder.com

I've tried the 'Spongy wonder seat'. I'll try and post a pic. It's the most comfortable seat I've ever ridden on by far... Only its so wierd looking I haven't had the balls to go out on a group ride with it yet :(

I think the site is spongywonder.com

Yeah...I can see you getting ruthlessly mocked for rocking that on a group ride. Although I'm sure it's nice not to have saddle all up in your taint.

I don't wear bike shorts and I am an iron butt
so here is what I ride a 25buck sette saddle with ti rails it is the softest of all tof the saddle I ride
an old 80''s elina hard plastic with leather race saddle
and old hard plastic bmx saddles

they work well for me I also ride alot

I have heard now from two people that the arione has got caught on their shammy while they were racing cross and both wrecked hard

I ride a Selle San Marco Aspide Aerohead Ti Whatever.
It weighs less than 170g.
I paid about $90 for it.
People describe it as hard and they wonder how I can ride it, but for the first time in my bicycle-riding life I forget I even have a saddle.
I just don't think about it.
It doesn't hurt.
A big nonevent nothing nada zero.
What saddle?
Kinda cool.
Sheldon Brown wrote that harder saddles ride better and now I believe him.

Currently riding SLR Gelflows but really miss my old WTB SST2K. Hard with a drop nose but I had one of the Ti rails break while mountain biking. Other rail is cracked and they aren't in production anymore.

Currently riding SLR Gelflows but really miss my old WTB SST2K. Hard with a drop nose but I had one of the Ti rails break while mountain biking. Other rail is cracked and they aren't in production anymore.

buy 3 of them!

http://www.greenfishsports.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=190&MMP=1

I use a specialized body geometry its called the avatar gel or something like that. Its a little weird sitting on it at first but once you get used to it its a really nice saddle. Also i ride in Carhartts a lot and i dont get any pain in my groin area.

I use and SDG I-Beam Bel Air FX Saddle. I have tried other saddles, but I keep going back to this one. Can't say it will work for others though given that a saddle is such a particular choice.

That selle SMP saddle looks like it could make a huge difference for me.

I have a very flexible back which allows me to feel very comfortable with a big drop to the bars. In fact, I can slap a set of drops on my pursuit bike and feel great, but the saddle is always an issue (the lower I go, the more pressure I put on the boys, even with a cutout). Basically my question: Is it worth the high price?

http://www.bullteksports.com/catalog/pictures/Tioga/SpyderSaddle.jpg= junk. seems like a good idea right? but the webbing flexes wayyyyy to much, and your ass can actually encounter the rails in perfectly normal riding conditions. unless your really small, run!
but it is very light...

Thanks for the link Soil Sampler. I am glad to see there are still some of the old SST 2k's in circulation.

Thanks for the input. I do have a Super Turbo on my Cinelli road, but I haven't ridden it in so long (she's in another state) I kind of forgot how much those saddles rule.

vetta race lite...that is what my ass likes

I fifth the Brooks B17. Just go easy on the proofide and don't leave it out in the rain w/o a breadbag or something.

Any tips on saddle angle? Also, on a Bareknuckle, Anyone know how far the saddle should be adjusted forward? I have a Concor and I can't get the angle quite right.

There are a lot of variables, but I've found that perfectly level, if not nose up a few degrees, is good. I ride a BK too, and it seems I've gotta ride my saddle further forward than I imagined at first, with the positive rise to avoid pain in knees and wrists, respectively. Try the old plumb-line from that protruding bone below the kneecap to the pedal axle to determine fore-aft position.

Yeah, level or pointing up a few degrees is what works for most people.