Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Saddle broken- need a new one. Suggestions?

Last night on my way home I felt something like going over a bump except I only felt it in the saddle. I stopped and inspected it, and sure enough it was broken. The right saddle rail broke in half just ahead of the seatpost clamp. I put on a spare saddle when I got home. Getting home was no fun. I had to ride a broken saddle 3 miles. I seriously thought I was going to have to get off and walk, or call for a ride. The left rail held up just enough to get me home.

So, now its time for a new saddle. I'm seriously considering a sprung saddle. I am also seriously considering a brooks saddle, but I'm worried about my weight. I weigh 312lbs, and have heard of brooks saddles giving out.

So, can somoene suggest a saddle that'll do well?

I have two Brooks and they're great. The Team Pro being my fav. After losing a fair bit of weight I'm now even happier on an Arione. Saddles are a VERY personal choice. Find a store with a good return policy and start trying 'em.

Last night on my way home I felt something like going over a bump except I only felt it in the saddle. I stopped and inspected it, and sure enough it was broken. The right saddle rail broke in half just ahead of the seatpost clamp. I put on a spare saddle when I got home. Getting home was no fun. I had to ride a broken saddle 3 miles. I seriously thought I was going to have to get off and walk, or call for a ride. The left rail held up just enough to get me home.

So, now its time for a new saddle. I'm seriously considering a sprung saddle. I am also seriously considering a brooks saddle, but I'm worried about my weight. I weigh 312lbs, and have heard of brooks saddles giving out.

So, can somoene suggest a saddle that'll do well?


Consider yourself lucky. My entire seatpost snapped off last month.

I have put about 500 miles on my Brooks B-33 Sprung saddle, and it has not given out on me. Still looks like the day I bought it and I outweigh you :D

I have a brooks, but I would try the Ti railed Aliante if you can get a good deal on one. It makes my bits and pieces VERY happy.

Last night on my way home I felt something like going over a bump except I only felt it in the saddle. I stopped and inspected it, and sure enough it was broken. The right saddle rail broke in half just ahead of the seatpost clamp. I put on a spare saddle when I got home. Getting home was no fun. I had to ride a broken saddle 3 miles. I seriously thought I was going to have to get off and walk, or call for a ride. The left rail held up just enough to get me home.

So, now its time for a new saddle. I'm seriously considering a sprung saddle. I am also seriously considering a brooks saddle, but I'm worried about my weight. I weigh 312lbs, and have heard of brooks saddles giving out.

So, can somoene suggest a saddle that'll do well?
Brooks Conquistador or B33, either one! Conqistador is designed for a even with stem or lower position and B33 is designed for a more upright position.

I all ready have a suspension seat post I really like, is there a non sprung version of the Conquistador or the B33?

I all ready have a suspension seat post I really like, is there a non sprung version of the Conquistador or the B33?
Sorry, I meant Conquest, not Conquistador and the B17 is the unsprung version of the conquest

Ive been using this for about two years now,(http://www.hobsonseats.com/) and i can tell you im never going back,But you got to be able to get out of your paradigm for it to work,good luck on your search!

I had Fizik Arione Ti rail saddles on 2 bikes up to last summer. My rides were getting longer and the Arione getting more uncomfortable. For me, the Arione is great up to 30 miles, after that it became uncomfortable. I was ready to go to a recumbent. Took a chance and bought a B17 and loved it - long rides are no longer a problem.

I'm 250 and have had no problems with over 1,500 miles on the B17. I even softened it up with leather conditioner when I first got it to soften it up. There is a bolt in front that you can use to loosen or tighten the sag of the leather saddle.

I have since bought a B17N, which isn't quite as comfortable as the B17 when you first get on it, but after 30 minutes its fine, but maybe because it is newer. I've sold both my Fizik Arione saddles on ebay.

I had Fizik Arione Ti rail saddles on 2 bikes up to last summer. My rides were getting longer and the Arione getting more uncomfortable. For me, the Arione is great up to 30 miles, after that it became uncomfortable. I was ready to go to a recumbent. Took a chance and bought a B17 and loved it - long rides are no longer a problem.

I'm 250 and have had no problems with over 1,500 miles on the B17. I even softened it up with leather conditioner when I first got it to soften it up. There is a bolt in front that you can use to loosen or tighten the sag of the leather saddle.

I have since bought a B17N, which isn't quite as comfortable as the B17 when you first get on it, but after 30 minutes its fine, but maybe because it is newer. I've sold both my Fizik Arione saddles on ebay.
I second you on the Arione.....just sold one and am going to sell the other next week. After a few hours in the saddle.......well you know the story. Might have to try out one of the brooks, I have not had one since the 80's

I love my Brooks B17.


Gabriel

I've had this happen also. Next time, loosen the clamp holding the saddle rails, and slide the saddle back so that the both sides of the broken rail are clamped in the clamp. Ride softly, and you can get home.

Bob

Thanks for everyones respones! I am going to go with a Brooks Conquest (A sprung B17, I love it!) when I have the dough. I've seen it for $89=$120. Hope the cheaper retailer is good to work with....

I found a great sale on b17's. Is there any problem with 300lbs on a b17?

I found a great sale on b17's. Is there any problem with 300lbs on a b17?
Only if you don't share where the sale is :D

Nashbar has them on sale for $50! I've never seen them that cheap. I'm about to hit the order button but I want to make sure that I won't decimate the saddle.

I just pulled the trigger. Brooks B17 saddle, $45 with code w227! Also bought the trekking bars and bar tape, some tubes, a new chain (two in one, the recumbent/tandem chain is $1.50 more and has 232 links instead of 131 links for $6.50). Had to work hard not to spend a lot more! I did spend $4 on the saddle wrench, but I hope to not have to use it.

I just pulled the trigger. Brooks B17 saddle, $45 with code w227! Also bought the trekking bars and bar tape, some tubes, a new chain (two in one, the recumbent/tandem chain is $1.50 more and has 232 links instead of 131 links for $6.50). Had to work hard not to spend a lot more! I did spend $4 on the saddle wrench, but I hope to not have to use it.
Welcome to leather instead of plastic! Once you get that puppy broke in, I believe you will love it!:D

I can't wait! Hopefully I'll get it next week some time. Right now the saddle I'm riding is a spare that is a real butt-hatchet. Its livable though until the Brooks gets here. I'm also chomping at the bit to try the new handle bars. I hear they are really good, and my hands have a hard time not going numb. I tried drops. That was 3x worse than straight bars with bar ends that I currently have.

I can't wait! Hopefully I'll get it next week some time. Right now the saddle I'm riding is a spare that is a real butt-hatchet. Its livable though until the Brooks gets here. I'm also chomping at the bit to try the new handle bars. I hear they are really good, and my hands have a hard time not going numb. I tried drops. That was 3x worse than straight bars with bar ends that I currently have.
Personally, I prefer drops and am looking at some clip on aerobars as well. I've developed a lot more core strength and flexibility as I've lost weight, so the aero position isn't an issue with me. I know they'll sure be nice if I'm riding against a headwind, but not if I'm in a group!;) (Unless I'm pulling,that is!)

I've never tried Brooks. I've heard good things about them but since I've never had significant comfort issues with the saddles I use I'll mention them. I use Selle Italia Turbomatic saddles. I have a Turbomatic 2 on my Saint Tropez and its my favorite it has the "maganese" rails and is plenty strong. These saddles have elastomers where the rails attach to the shell, this little feature really helps. I also have a Turbomatic 4 on my Flyte. Its good too with dense gel under the real leather cover. This one has some embroidery on it that your butt slides on and off of which isn't ideal but its OK.
Clydes should generally seek out saddles with steel rails (the marketers might call it chrome moly or manganese moly or something like that) Titanium or worse yet carbon :eek: rails should be avoided. I had my vintage Avocet seatpost break a bolt 13 miles from home and it was starting to rain - I had to ride that 13 miles of hilly terrain all the way home with my butt planted on the saddle continuously so as to prevent the thing from flopping around and to try to prevent the rails of my perfectly good saddle from getting chewed by the unsecured seatpost clamp.
BTW: Speaking of Avocet: older Avocet Touring II saddles were always nice as are the "Air O2" saddles from Avocet. These had steel rails, you can find them on ebay cheap and I would think would work really well.

Don't waste your money on Brooks, go for the next best thing...Check out these saddles, like Brooks but improved upon. They even have a model that is made for the heavier rider. My Brooks B17 standard was destroyed after a few months of use. I would not recommend the standard Brooks but get the one with the hand hammered copper rivets. The machined rivet models use softer inferior leather. I think the Selle Anatomica Saddles are the the cats meow. I haven't yet tried one but somebody told me that they have used Brooks for years and then made the change to the Anatomica. He says there is now going back, as good as a Brooks is these are just better. I mean do you really want to have more pressure on your prostate than necessary? I'll be ordering one when I get my tax return. Follow the web url and fish around they offer a clysdale model for riders over 180LBS you can also get small medium large or narrow widths.

http://www.mcmwin.com/saddle%20shop.htm