Road Cycling - Butt Heaven!!!!!!!!

I finally found it! After years of looking, and collecting a box of saddles that just did not want to fit my butt, I have found paradise. One week ago I went into the LBS in search of "THE SADDLE". I walked out with a Selle Italia Pro Link Trans Am Gel. (Boy thats a mouth full.)
After 150 miles I can report, with a smile on my face, that I have found butt heaven.:D

Gee, I was hoping that your post was about something else!

Oh well...:(

Glad that you found the right saddle!

Rob

I have the same saddle minus the gel on all three of my bikes. So far, so good. Its not a light weight, but it sure works great for me!

I have the non Non Trans Am (ie the one without the nut snipper slot) cversion and it is a great saddle.
After riding a Selle San Marco Rolls for about 10yrs it was hard t make a change but It was worth it.

On My Litespeed I have the San Marco Era Pro but that's about to e replaced by the Selle Italia SLK Gel Flow.

This business of finding the one really is as hard as finding a soul mate.

Yup. Count me among one of the ProLink converts. I discovered this saddle -- the non-gel TransAm version -- in July of last year and I must concur: Butt Heaven indeed.

I'm contemplating trying out the ProLink (non TransAm version). My Flite's getting a little worn. Glad to see so many rave reviews of it. I know the ProLink's a little heavier than the Flite but what's a few hundred grams between friends? :)

I've got the Selle San Marco Era on my Cdale. I can only ride about 40 miles on it . I have been hearing good things about the Trans Am, and it will be the next saddle that I try. I want to be able to complete a century this summer and hopefully I can do it on the Trans Am.

Prolink all the way. Even on my MTB. It was such a nice ride after trying several others that the weight penalty is well worth. I can lose another pound or twenty, so the saddle weight is not that big a deal. But the nice ride certainly is!

Hey dudes & dudess',

I'm not a rep. of Assos shorts or anything, however, I strongly suggest that you get a pair if you're having seat problems. I use a Specialized Body Geo. seat, which I have heard bashed on this forum for being uncomfortable. I'd probably agree, if I could feel the thing to begin with. I only bike in Assos shorts and I've had '0' discomfort in the saddle. I have their bibs and standard shorts. Both are outstanding. I'd give the bibs the top notch rating, though. I'd rather have one pair of ($199.00) Assos than 3 pairs of lesser quality ($70.00) shorts!

Steve

excellent point Merckx. Assos rule!!
I have the campionissmo and the newer F1.13 which brilliant. most comfortable thing i've slipped into...

Originally posted by Merckxrider
I'm not a rep. of Assos shorts or anything, however, I strongly suggest that you get a pair if you're having seat problems.

I've seen the Assos shorts in magazine ads and they looked nice but they seemed really expensive and I wondered about wearing something that had the word "ASS" all over my behind. :D Hmmm... then again... come to think of it... that might be a selling point for me.

Merckx, Which one are you using or are they all that good? I searched the web and saw a FI3 for about $190 and I believe it was a Evo for about $140. Up till know I have used Garneau (good), Pearl (good), Nalini (better) and Castelli (best). The Castelli's are by far the most comfortable of the bunch. Have you tried the Castelli's and how do they rate with the Assos?

I've used Nalini( OK), Cannondale (very good) and Castelli before Assos and the Assos is in a league of it's own.
The FI.3 is simply brilliant. The chamois is moulded in places and that helps a lot with reliveing numbnuts. Then there is the cut which just seems to suit my legs, it does'nt bite in or ride up the leg. It just sits there hour after hour.
Well worth the money.
My campionissmo has lasted 2yrs and is still going. I expect the FI.3 to last as long.

Hi George & others,

I recently purchased the F1.13 Bibs, which are $199.00 per pair. I also bought the Assos H shorts ($109.00) which are also excellent. I think the bibs are slightly more comfortable, as they use a different type of insert in the crotch area. Some have complained that the bibs are tight in the strap that goes over your shoulder. They will stretch out over time, though. I have tried several types of $70 shorts and they don't even come close to Assos. That's not to say that a great pair of $70 shorts doesn't exist...I just haven't experienced any. I think many bike shorts are sold by looks and logos. Who doesn't want to have a cool team logo stretched down your side? BTW, Assos shorts are very subdued. You have to squint to read the logo. I wonder if they manufacture custom shorts for pro teams? Oh, I forgot. Pro riders are sadists and only into pain, so maybe not. I've never tried Castelli's but they look nice and in that price range I'd guess they're a similar product (quality-wise). There are certain areas of biking that you don't want to skimp on and your butt is one of them! BTW, this is the first time, starting a riding season, that I haven't experienced saddle rash. I mean NONE, notta. If that isn't worth an extra 40 bucks for a pair of shorts, then I don't know what is!


Steve :D :D

Originally posted by georgesnatcher
I finally found it! After years of looking, and collecting a box of saddles that just did not want to fit my butt, I have found paradise. One week ago I went into the LBS in search of "THE SADDLE". I walked out with a Selle Italia Pro Link Trans Am Gel. (Boy thats a mouth full.)
After 150 miles I can report, with a smile on my face, that I have found butt heaven.:D

Quick question for you Selle lovers out there. After reading this thread I bought one of these saddles to try. I put the saddle on the bike yesterday and quite honestly it feels like I'm riding on a brick compared to my Body Geometry saddle I've been riding.

What's a normal break in time for one of these saddles? I've put about 1 1/2 hours riding time into it so far and I'm very tempted to go back to the old saddle (especially since I have a 25 mile ride scheduled with Donna on Saturday).

Any advice would be appreciated.

Zack

Hang in there. It hurts because the saddle's shape is forcing you to sit on you "sit bones". It's a strange sensation since you can actually feel your sit bones contacting the saddle. Tough it out and give it a week or so before calling it quits.

This is a link to a previous thread that dealt with the pains of the ProLink break-in process where you can read more comments from me and others who have gone through it:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24849&highlight=transam

Nonononono...You hav it wrong, butt heaven is a Fizik Pave.

I knew this thread would be about saddles and I wasn't even going to open it but then I saw something very funny.

Until I posted, this thread had 16 replies, but over 500 views

I looked down the list and noticed a number of threads with double the number of replies but only half the number of views.

I guess an interesting thread title will drag them in every time.:D

I think the thread title is also the name of a popular porno series.
Saddles I like: the classic selle italia flite, selle italia transalp(I think out of production) specialized pro, the new one
Saddles I don't like but they look cool so I have them on two bikes any way: Bontrager, miserable sit, but good for trials, Regal titano, to much curve but a classic look, like a Brooks without the weight.

I've been using a Selle Italia San Marco Era and I can only handle it for about 40 mi. So I just purchased a Selle Prolink on Ebay NIB for $37.00, including shipping. I can't wait to get it and put some miles on it. I have a Question for the guys who have tried Asso shorts. I now have a pair of Pearl bibs. But whenever I ride if I don't use some type of Creme like Chamois buttr or some other type. I get chaffed big time. So my question is have any of you had my problem? And did the Assos cure it? Thanx.

Originally posted by kingajo
I have a Question for the guys who have tried Asso shorts. I now have a pair of Pearl bibs. But whenever I ride if I don't use some type of Creme like Chamois buttr or some other type. I get chaffed big time. So my question is have any of you had my problem? And did the Assos cure it? Thanx.

I've worn just about every type of cycling short made and none of them have ever done anything on their own to solve heat rash/chaffing in the nether regions of my tweeners. The only way I prevent it is by "pre-treating" my nether regions with A&D ointment before putting on my shorts. Assos sells a chamois cream, there is also Udder Butter, Butt Balm and a slew of other preparations that can be used but they key is using them if you happen to have heat sensitive skin.

Just my .02, as it took me a few years to figure out that no chamois would ever solve this problem, natural or synthetic.

What type of selle italia saddle are you using Zack?
I used to have a flite trans am which i thought was quite uncomfortable.
Using the Pro Link genuine gel now which is very comfortable (altho not the lightest).
Have also used the Turbomatic quattro (for about 2 weeks) and thought that was fairly good also.

Assos Fi.13 and Brooks Team Pro...perfect!

knp: According to the box it's a Prolink trans am Composite. If you go to this page (http://www.gearlink.com/en-us/dept_142.html) scroll down to 8th saddle that's the one I bought. Did I buy the wrong one??

Everyone else: Thanks for the replies. I'll stick with it for a while longer and see if it feels better.

Zack