Road Cycling - San Marco Rolls vs San Marco Regal - Which do you like better?

For those of you who have tried both saddles, what are the differences between the two (yes, I know the Regal has the rivets)? I am interested in knowing how the saddles' profiles differ and if the padding on each saddle is similar. It's hard to find these saddles at the LBSs in this area so I'll probably have to mail order one of them.

Thanks for your help!

I can't help you with a comparison, but I can tell you that I just got a Rolls Titanio on my vintage Merckx track bike and it is exceptionally comfortable. I ride a Specialized Toupe on my road bike, and so far, the Rolls seems its equal in comfort, if it is twice as heavy!

-Steve

I have ridden both for years (although I don't now).

They are both shaped the same, both the same width, the Regal measures almost an 1/8 inch longer. The Regal's rails are closer together at the nose. The Rolls has a tiny bit more padding, and of course more at the rear where the Regal has rivets. They both have a thick plastic shell with the padding and leather pulled over it. I can't tell them apart on a ride.

I'm sure the forum's more discriminating "Butts" will add a more subjective review.

Here's some pics side by side:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e19/serotta/rollsregaltop.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e19/serotta/rollsregalbottom.jpg

I have both—I find that while they're very similar in construction and dimensions, the Regal is flatter where it counts (across the sit bones) and therefore more comfortable (for me) than the Rolls, which has somewhat of a "peak" down the center. Rolls is fine for me for around town, but for any distance or for racing I'm a Regal devotee (have one on the road bike, one on the track bike, one on the TT bike, and one on the cross bike, so I'm pretty committed).

The rails on that Regal, are quite different from the one I have.

Two more shots that may help:

ViperZ, do they look more like the Rolls rails? I have several Rolls, and they all look the same, but this is the only Regal I own so I have no comparison.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e19/serotta/rollsregalside.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e19/serotta/rollsregalfront.jpg

Two more shots that may help:

ViperZ, do they look more like the Rolls rails? I have several Rolls, and they all look the same, but this is the only Regal I own so I have no comparison.



Quite Different, mine look to be cast magnesium.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/7965/dscn5294mediumjn1.jpg

http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/902/dscn5295mediumwq4.jpg

Quite Different, mine look to be cast magnesium.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/7965/dscn5294mediumjn1.jpg

http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/902/dscn5295mediumwq4.jpg

Very interesting, I've had mine about 20 years... maybe yours is newer? I believe at one point they made a titanium or magnesium version of the Regal.

I was thinking the same thing, I believe they made special editions of these, this being one example of it. I'm not sure of the vintage of this one as it was given to me as a gift from 14Max, another BF'er :beer:


I'm glad you posted yours. It's nice to see a familiar product in different iterations.