I am very partial to the classic Selle San Marco Rolls saddles (steel rails). I have used them forever on my mountain bikes that were rigged for road and trail ridings. I have recently purchased a road bike, and I am wondering if a Rolls saddle (titanium rails) is gonna make any difference for me in terms of comfort and reliability. There is a big differential in price between the two saddles, and also a substantial weight difference. The Ti comes in at 275gms, and the steel at 375gms.

I am not a weight-weenie, and I also currently weigh 220Ibs, but aspire to about 200Ibs.

My questions are these:

What exactly are the benefits of titanium rails on a saddle?;

Are titanium-railed saddles gonna hold up under my big rear-end?

Is the substantial price differential worth it?

Thanks for all responses.

Regards,

What exactly are the benefits of titanium rails on a saddle?;


They're light. Plus, they look a LOT better. :p

Yep, TI is for the guys and gals looking to shave every ounce possible off of a bike. Does ti rust? When I want to shave weight off the bike I watch what I eat.

Well beyond being a bit lighter some may argue that the flex of titanium would provide a plusher ride over steel, I doubt there is a noticeable difference though. As far as titanium looking better? whatever you say.

No ti doesn't rust by the way.

I always thgouth cromo would be tougher that ti. Gina's cromo snapped on Sunday's ride. Only a year and 2 months old. If it is more durable that ti, I'm wondering if the ti would have only lasted 2 months!:D

Snapped towards the rear of the rails, not even where the rail is clamped. Strange, but the shop replaced it for free!

I've got titanium rails on both my bikes, I've never had a problem at my various weights (300 down to 235). I never had problems with steel rails either. I was sold on the titanium rails when I picked up both versions of my old saddle, and the titanium railed saddle weighed noticably less and only cost $15 more.

Plus, it looked SO much better :)

I've got titanium rails on both my bikes, I've never had a problem at my various weights (300 down to 235). I never had problems with steel rails either. I was sold on the titanium rails when I picked up both versions of my old saddle, and the titanium railed saddle weighed noticably less and only cost $15 more.

Plus, it looked SO much better :)

It doesn't matter what a saddle looks like, it's covered -- by a butt -- most of the time anyway, it's how it feels, if you find the Ti one $15 more comfortable, go for it, if not, pass.....

There are many many many different types of titanium as well as many many many different types of steel so trying to compare "Steel" to "Titanium" is not a easy as the question. If you REALLY want to compare the two, find out what size and type of steel or titanium is being used,has it been heat treated or annealed and to what hardness and then look up the spec.s for said material. Once you have the correct info(hardness, stress/flexibility levels etc.) on the materials, you can make a "educated guess" as to what would work best for your use.;) For a bicycle seat.... I'd go with what pleases my butt :D

I don't want to insult you, but you weigh over 200 lbs, so a 100 gram weight difference between steel and titanium rails is going to be truly insignificant for the overall package of you and the bike. Ti rails can flex a bit more (which can act like a bit of suspension), but they can also break more. You might be better off with the steel. Selle San Marco saddles are great!

I don't want to insult you, but you weigh over 200 lbs, so a 100 gram weight difference between steel and titanium rails is going to be truly insignificant for the overall package of you and the bike. Ti rails can flex a bit more (which can act like a bit of suspension), but they can also break more. You might be better off with the steel. Selle San Marco saddles are great!

Actually, the weight of the saddles is really not a very important issue. Although not a weight-weenie, I'll take some weight savings anywhere I can get it and not pay through the nose for it.

A couple of things piqued my interest about the Ti saddle. First, I am wondering about getting some kind of suspension from the Ti. Also, the Ti saddle is actually covered in leather, as opposed to some immitation leather, called Lorica, that is used as cover for the Cro-Mo saddle. The leather is definitely gonna last longer than the Lorica cr*p on the Cro-Mo saddle.

Hey, Mr. Beanz, how are you and Gina? Hope fine? Are you guys gonna be on the Santa Ana River Trail this Sunday? If yes, around what time are you guys gonna be at The Honda Center? It sure would be nice to ride back to the Beach with you guys again. I'll PM you also.

Regards,

Hey, Mr. Beanz, how are you and Gina? Hope fine? Are you guys gonna be on the Santa Ana River Trail this Sunday? If yes, around what time are you guys gonna be at The Honda Center? It sure would be nice to ride back to the Beach with you guys again. I'll PM you also.
Regards,

Hey Lucas! We should arive at Imperial about 9:30-45. Maybe at the HC by 10am. I just replaced Gina's saddle so I might have to make one or two quick stops for adjustments. I think I have it right, so maybe not. Steel rails broke!:eek: ...Maybe I should go ti next time!:D

Hey Lucas! We should arive at Imperial about 9:30-45. Maybe at the HC by 10am. I just replaced Gina's saddle so I might have to make one or two quick stops for adjustments. I think I have it right, so maybe not. Steel rails broke!:eek: ...Maybe I should go ti next time!:D

Did Gina have a crash before? It kind of seems weird that a Cro-Mo railed saddle would just fail like that.

I know that one time I had a spill, and my Cro-Mo railed Rolls was bent slightly on the rails, and I had to kind of pull it back into shape. I wonder if I could have done that with Ti.

Regards,

Did Gina have a crash before? It kind of seems weird that a Cro-Mo railed saddle would just fail like that.

I know that one time I had a spill, and my Cro-Mo railed Rolls was bent slightly on the rails, and I had to kind of pull it back into shape. I wonder if I could have done that with Ti.

Regards,

No, no crash! I baby her bike. I even lift it onto the truck with even force so that I don't hurt the paint!:D

Strange, broke near the rear of the rails, not on the bend either. Straight section of the tubing!:rolleyes:

I am very partial to the classic Selle San Marco Rolls saddles (steel rails). I have used them forever on my mountain bikes that were rigged for road and trail ridings. I have recently purchased a road bike, and I am wondering if a Rolls saddle (titanium rails) is gonna make any difference for me in terms of comfort and reliability. There is a big differential in price between the two saddles, and also a substantial weight difference. The Ti comes in at 275gms, and the steel at 375gms.

I am not a weight-weenie, and I also currently weigh 220Ibs, but aspire to about 200Ibs.

My questions are these:

What exactly are the benefits of titanium rails on a saddle?;

Are titanium-railed saddles gonna hold up under my big rear-end?

Is the substantial price differential worth it?

Thanks for all responses.

Regards,

Lucas, I’m 6’ and 225# and I ride a Rolls Ti saddle. I just broke a frame rail on my saddle last week, of course I had been using for six years and it had 42,000 miles on it. I’m using my back up steel Rolls until I get my new Ti Rolls. I find the ride a little softer with the Ti saddle.

Lucas, I’m 6’ and 225# and I ride a Rolls Ti saddle. I just broke a frame rail on my saddle last week, of course I had been using for six years and it had 42,000 miles on it. I’m using my back up steel Rolls until I get my new Ti Rolls. I find the ride a little softer with the Ti saddle.

How did you break the rail? Did it just snap, or did you have a crash? I was thinking the same, i.e. the ride might just be a tad softer with the Ti. Also, the Ti saddles are leather-covered, which is kind of nice. The Cro-Mo saddles are covered with Lorica, whatever that is. 42,000 miles is quite a lot, and I'll be happy if I can get that kind of mileage/use out of a saddle.

No, no crash! I baby her bike. I even lift it onto the truck with even force so that I don't hurt the paint!:D

Strange, broke near the rear of the rails, not on the bend either. Straight section of the tubing!:rolleyes:

:roflmao: :roflmao:

I am sure that from now on, while lifting Gina's bike onto the truck with even force, you'll be talking to and pleading with the bike to just "Please don't break anything". It is a carbon bike afterall, and we all know how "temperamental" carbon fiber can be.:D

Both my ti-railed saddles have lasted almost 10 years now. My old flyte ti even outlasted my Cannondale R1000 frame. Now its a big white eyesore on my new Lemond.

How did you break the rail? Did it just snap, or did you have a crash? I was thinking the same, i.e. the ride might just be a tad softer with the Ti. Also, the Ti saddles are leather-covered, which is kind of nice. The Cro-Mo saddles are covered with Lorica, whatever that is. 42,000 miles is quite a lot, and I'll be happy if I can get that kind of mileage/use out of a saddle.

I was out on a ride and when I got home I lifted the rear of my bike by the saddle and it felt funny. I looked at the saddle and noticed the rail was broken just behind the seat post clamp, I didn’t even noticed it while I was riding. I’m not easy on the saddle, I do a lot of long distance cycling and sometimes the roads aren’t the best in the world (rough roads). I’ve already ordered a new Ti Rolls and it is waiting for me at my LBS, I’m on vacation and as soon as I get back the new one will be on my bike. I don’t know but I think the Ti Rolls is just a little better looking. You only go around once, why not have what you want.

You only go around once, why not have what you want.

Amen to that.

I'm so crazy, I never even answered the original question. Too busy thinking about Gina's hiney I guess!:D

I use a Terry Fly on my Lemond and a WTB SpeedV on my Cannondale (actually an mtb saddle). Both have ti rails and have been very reliable at my 220-235 heavyweight body. Over 9,000 on the Fly ti with no problems! The WTB should have about the same.

Actually, Probikekit.com sells the steel-railed Rolls for $28, while the Ti version goes for $87 at Universalcyles.com. That is quite a price differential!

I have sent an e-mail to Probikekit.com asking that they look into carrying the Ti version in their inventory. They replied saying they'll ask their supplier to look into it.

Beanz, if you have ridden steel-railed saddles before, do you notice any difference between how those rode, as compared to your ti-railed saddles?

Honestly, I didn't notice one bit of difference when I went ti, well in the rails! I was concentrating more on the design of the saddles with the cutouts.

I had a Trek stock saddle that I loved with cromo rails. Srock Cannondale was rough. So I can't say that I didn't enjoy the steel rails.

How does the Rolls compare to the Regal? They look almost identical...

How does the Rolls compare to the Regal? They look almost identical...

I do not know how the Regal rides, since I have never been on one. By observation alone, the Regal looks more flat on the top, as compared to the Rolls. The Rolls just works for me. Saddle preference is such a personal thing anyway.

People who are familiar with the Regal, could you please chime in?

Regards,