Road Cycling - Best Road Saddle

Can anyone recommend a confortable road saddle? I've been looking online at the Selle Italia line, but our local shops don't carry them so I don't have a way to see and feel how they are made, confortable, etc. I have a Selle San Marco Era LVXE on my bike now and its like riding on a board. I'm looking for something that has some padding, gel and a center cut out for venting and less pressure points. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Apollo. :rolleyes:

Saddles are a very personal thing, alot of people suggest the brooks saddle since it will mold to you. I have the Selle San Marco Aspide and I love it but it probably has less padding the the Era. Just remember padding will not make a saddle comfortable in the long run, it excess padding will bunch up and push against the soft spots and make you sore.

I just picked up a Selle Italia Flite Ti... it is a pretty hard seat... my second ride out on it was a metric century.. somewhere around mile 25.. I wanted to pitch it as far as I could.. my butt hurt soooo bad... but then, miraculously, around mile 40 or so, it started to feel pretty good... I think it just took time to get my butt used to it... everyone is different.. adn I'm sure before it is all over here the retrogrouches will mention the holy Brooks Saddle... which does look comfy, and gets great reviews... so who knows... see if you can find a LBS with a saddle tryout period

JEff

Terry Fly Ti- it has the cutout, is lightweight and exceptionally comfortable.

I have a Selle Royal Lookin gel saddle , I find it comfortable but after the old sunburnt, shrivelled plastic ball breaker that came with the bike ( I think the previous owner removed his saddle when he upgraded ) , a piece of wood for a saddle would have felt better:eek: My wife bought me the new saddle for my birthday 3yrs ago , maybe protecting her own intrests & investment :D

i have:
a selle italia flite Ti - $70
a vetta TT trishock - $24
a random kona seat - free from a friend.

the selle italia is SO ridiculously uncomfortable for me at the beginning of rides too, it feels like it's breaking me in half, then later, it feels a little better, but then toward the end it starts feeling like it's breaking me in half again, maybe it's got something to do with my posture at different points in the ride.

the trishock is actually pretty nice all around, but the free kona seat is where it's at for me. i got the selle italia because it was roughly the same shape as the trishock, but for me it turns out it's just a bit too wide and flat in one part of it and it REALLY hurts whatever parts of me that surround my prostate area. two little bony points right in front of my booty. right on the inside of my thighs, but underneath...i guess i'd call it my "undercarriage."

basically what i'm trying to say is, get a seat that is comfortable for you. and in order to do this, you have to try out a bunch of different styles/shapes...i always giggle to myself when people walk into a shop looking to buy a seat and they push their thumb into the padding to test if it'll be comfortable. a better way is to test it with your palm. i've found that the distance between the thumb/hand and the hand/pinky joints is a pretty good gauge for figuring out how wide the seat needs to be in that one key area...

i've been checking out the selle italia SLR, 'cause i've heard it's pretty comfortable for skinny guys like myself (5'6", 115lbs). but i don't have the cash to spend on a seat that i might not like...and i'm pretty content with all the seats that i have now...

i've got a selle italia flite gel ti, which is ok. i really liked it for the first few hundred miles, but lately it's...er...numbing me a bit. i'm surprised to see how many guys in the peloton use seats with no cut outs. lance and several of the posties use the old san marco concor lite, and jan uses a similar design. i wouldn't buy it just because they use it (especially since saddles are such a personal fit sort of thing), but if pros trust it to ride a few thousand miles in 3 weeks, it might work for a weekend warrior.

I think i am going to pick the Sell Aspide Arrowhead seat. Anyone use it?

I've got the regular Aspide, which is pretty good. However, it seems like every now and then I'll get out on a ride with it and it's just not comfy. I think the Arrowhead would be the way to go.

I cant find it anymore on the selleitalia website, i hope they still make it.

San Marco Concor Light. Great saddle!

SI Flite Ti here and it did take some getting used to after my old Terry saddle but now I love it. Just needed to break the new contact points in on my chubby little but.

Originally posted by OneTinSloth
i have:
a selle italia flite Ti - $70
a vetta TT trishock - $24
a random kona seat - free from a friend.

the selle italia is SO ridiculously uncomfortable for me at the beginning of rides too, it feels like it's breaking me in half, then later, it feels a little better, but then toward the end it starts feeling like it's breaking me in half again, maybe it's got something to do with my posture at different points in the ride.

the trishock is actually pretty nice all around, but the free kona seat is where it's at for me. i got the selle italia because it was roughly the same shape as the trishock, but for me it turns out it's just a bit too wide and flat in one part of it and it REALLY hurts whatever parts of me that surround my prostate area. two little bony points right in front of my booty. right on the inside of my thighs, but underneath...i guess i'd call it my "undercarriage."

basically what i'm trying to say is, get a seat that is comfortable for you. and in order to do this, you have to try out a bunch of different styles/shapes...i always giggle to myself when people walk into a shop looking to buy a seat and they push their thumb into the padding to test if it'll be comfortable. a better way is to test it with your palm. i've found that the distance between the thumb/hand and the hand/pinky joints is a pretty good gauge for figuring out how wide the seat needs to be in that one key area...

i've been checking out the selle italia SLR, 'cause i've heard it's pretty comfortable for skinny guys like myself (5'6", 115lbs). but i don't have the cash to spend on a seat that i might not like...and i'm pretty content with all the seats that i have now...
If it dont work,return it.

I have a Gipiemme Nitrec Gel. It is very comfortable. It's a darn good looking seat too.

My Brooks Team Professional is absolutely the most comfortable saddle I've ever used.

Originally posted by shokhead
If it dont work,return it.

yeah...i'm pretty bad about returning stuff...i have a track frame that i was trying out for a few weeks from a shop (paid for it and everything). i ended up not liking it too much, and now, since it's been about 4 months, i don't think i can return it for a refund, even though it's only been ridden built up and ridden about three times. i might be able to exchange it for some parts and labor, but there's only a few things i need at the moment, and i'm leaving in 3 weeks. i figure i'll just sell it on ebay once i get tired of looking at it. but that probably won't be for a while now, since it's pretty beautiful.

i realised today that the reason the flite Ti felt so bad was just a matter of seat position. YAAAY!!! I CAN RIDE MY BIKE AGAIN!!! well, i could if my knees weren't killing me.

i use a selle italia onda, trans am, it's the cheapest split-in-middle saddle i could afford at LBS.

most of my LBS offer to take the saddle back for exchange of another saddle within 10 days or up to a month after purchase, but no refund, ask about it when choosing a saddle.

Brooks B17 for general riding, touring.

John Hawrylak
Woodstown NJ

saddle preference is personal however certain shapes are suited to certain physiques.
People with narow hips will enjoy a narrow rear end
People with wider hips will need a saddle with a wider rear end.

Then decide if you want a flat topped saddle so you have more than one position or if you want a saddle with a concave section in the middle which will in effect allow only one position on the saddle.

I have a Fi:zi'k Aliante which is bowed and wider in the rear than Selle Italia SLR, but narrower than a Selle Italia Pro Link. supports the bum bones at just the right spot and the concave is very pronounced giving only one position in the saddle.
Very comfy
Very expensive
But worth it . No numb nuts, seldom get saddle sores either. works for me

Only after several trials and errors, the best saddle is the one that's most comfortable for you. My two all time favourites are the original Flite saddle (on my roadie) and the Brooks Pro (on two fixies).

LIke has been repeated over and over in this thread, one man's barcolounger is another's ass hatchet.

I used Specialized Body Geometry saddles for a few years, after finally wearing out an oooooold B17. Then I lost weight.

I bought a Flite Gel on a whim and after tweaking the position for a month or so, I've finally got it where it feels like the Brooks. Suprising, I know, but it's that comfy. I'm also running an older Velo Crossbow on a bike and it is equally comfortable, though thinner than the Flite at the nose, so the roadie is wearing that one.

It's all personal preference. I'll be breaking in another B17 during winter training.

If you're willing to drop $150 on a saddle, I'd recommend the Fizik Aliante with Ti rails. I never felt comfy with the cut-out saddles, so I purchased this one. I absolutely love it. I can sit on it through the entire ride with no numbness. Beware, though, the leather is fragile and scuffs and tears easily.

Cat

BROOKS! END OF STORY. B17, Pro, Team Pro, Swift.

The best saddle:

one that contacts you mainly at your sit bones, and relatively little pressure anywhere else. I like gel rather than a cutout for "perineal relief" if you know what I mean.

If it is a good fit in a saddle it will probably make your sit bones hurt like hell for a week or two, then you will be fine.

For long distance riding a sit bone fit for the saddle is really all that works, anything else and you are going to have soft tissue pain that makes a sit bone throb pale by comparison.

peas,

Jester

I use a Terry Fly Gel. Not bad and fairly light and expensive. I have been following the new Saddleco Saddle, which is just now hitting the market. Anyone tried it yet - also very expensive - but appears to have possibilities.
Saddleco.com

I'm with RacerX - Terry-Fly-Ti...
And I agree it's very personal as are the items that get set upon it...
I'd like to see manufacturers provide LBS with a set of products that could go out for test rides... I hate paying $100 for a seat that could make or break your riding experience.

I like mine saddle, but who knows I could like something else - just don't have a grand to buy and test ten....

And when you find a saddle you like buy an extra one. The company I loved went out of business and now I can't get their saddles. I didn't follow the advice of the LBS and buy more. Now I'm on a search, too. Good luck!

Kathi

A saddle that hasn't been on the market too long is the Flow saddle by a company called Saddleco. It can be seen at Saddleco.com. PerformanceBike.com sells it for $129. It was reviewed at RoadBikeRider.com and they had five riders try it and all seemed to like it. The only downside to it is that the rider can't weigh over 200 lbs and that leaves me out!!!

Looking at the Brooks website ( http://www.brookssaddles.com/ ) I can't believe those are the most comfortable saddles out there. I believe all of you, but those things look like torture devices. Maybe I can pick one up some day on sale and give it a try. I'm on the market as I hate my gel seat but for now I'll keep shopping.

Originally posted by lovemyswift
And when you find a saddle you like buy an extra one. The company I loved went out of business and now I can't get their saddles. I didn't follow the advice of the LBS and buy more. Now I'm on a search, too. Good luck!

Kathi

This is another reason to ride a BROOKS. It lasts for twenty plus years!!

I have now used a Selle Italia Prolink( Genuine Gel) for 3 months and love it. No numb butt, rode 200+ in one ride and was plenty happy...well...as happy as could be after that distance on a saddle!

To epicycle: You sound like a candidate for a Brooks! Don't be deceived by the misconception that padding=comfort. If you order a Brooks from Wallingford they unconditionally guarantee that you will like or you can return it within 6 mo for a full refund. Check them out: http://www.wallbike.com/Products.html#Brooks
A Brooks is a lifetime investment and when you consider the penny per mile cost compared to the plastic fashion statement saddles, even a Swift at $150 is incredibly inexpensive! They are hand crafted and look fantastic as well. I have a box full of slightly used san marco, avocet, selle etc. languishing in the basement.

got a Selle Royal and really like it. Just put it on today and rode 41 miles and felt no pain. Felt nothing after the ride. Perfect. Its comfortable but looks ok on a road bike. Took off the tiny Alspide that came with my bike, after 1700 miles I never did get use to that tiny P O S . Its my first year of road cycleing and I see there is a lot of hype in this hobby. No the Selle Royal isn't 3 ounces like the one I took off, and no I'm not going to go ride with Lance Armstrong any time soon, and I know it. I'm strong and this extra weight means nothing to me. LBS tells me this one isnt as aero dynamic as the other one was. What's aero dynamic about something I'm sitting on anyhow? I don't get it. So much money is spent in this hobby on mental hype advertised to us it makes me wonder how some of these ridders could even enjoy cycleing!

I'm on a Terry Fly Ti as well. I tried out quite a few different saddles, but I was always numb after 30 miles or so. I'm loving it so far.

my ass likes my SLK so this ass likes the SLK

I have the Selle San Marco Aspide Arrowhead. It is an ok saddle. I find it a little hard for pressure points on the Arse, but it is a racing saddle so I guess I can't complain.

Just picked up the Selle Italia Flite Ti today and did two hours on it. It replaces a WTB Speed-V (very comfy seat, but so ugly). The first thing I thought was, "hey, who replaced my aluminium frame with carbon, and how come those rough roads have all disappeared?" Not sure if it's the gel or the Ti rails, but this thing is absorbing a lot of road roughness. It is also reasonably comfortable on the tush, though after two hours the perineal area was (I think) getting marginally number than it had been with the WTB and its cutout. I think that will just be an adaptation issue. So far I'm very impressed with the SI Flite Ti. I got a blue one to match my bike, and where the WTB saddle was ugly, the blue Flite Ti is very sexy.

Ross

Jester69.
Why do you think that the saddles with cut outs are not as good at relieving pressure than gel saddles?:beer:

I rode from San Francisco to New York a few years ago and had NO posterior problems riding a Specialized Body Geometry. Since then I won't sit on anything else.

People with narow hips will enjoy a narrow rear end


Let's keep it clean here....

Although I don't have one on every bike I ride, I still like Brooks.

Although I don't have one on every bike I ride, I still like Brooks.

Wish I could like Brooks, as I know several ultra-distance guys who swear by them. I've got a B17 on my old Raleigh Gran Sport, which is now on my wind trainer. That thing has been like a rock from day one, and still isn't comfortable. I remember using Neatsfoot oil on it to try to get it to soften up, and adjusting the tension bolt a couple of times, but nothing seemed to help.

Maybe I didn't get the break-in ritual quite right those many years back and the old-time british cycling gods are still making me suffer for it...

I really like my Brooks Champion Flyers, I have 2.

I have the brooks finese, the chick version of the swift or pro or something. I had a brooks a long time ago, it was a different model, I forget which one. I just got this new one. I am getting a new seatpost as the setback isn't as much as some saddles but I can't say the seat is uncomfortable. I have 6 months to decide! My old one never got soft but was very comfortable. We'll see how this one goes, you can't go wrong with a six month trial period.