Fifty Plus (50+) - a saddle for the seat

i see a whole bunch or "recommendations" for saddles for different types of riding. what i don't see is recommendations for the over 50 seat. you know, the seat we sit in those saddles. let's face it. at 50+ some of us wouldn't look too good in those streatchy skin tight shorts with the padding in the shorts. damn i must be old i don't even know what they are called. but face facts, most youngsters would rather face a firing squad than face our "mature" fannies in those wierd pants. so what's a good saddle for the seat of our seat? and with or without padding, on the saddle, not the seat?

I'm 62, lycra + Brooks saddle = Happy Butt!:thumb:

Ride more and tone up that flabby fanny. My butt still looks just fine in lycra bike shorts, or so I'm told.:o

Lycra rules. And my B.17 is the best. Just get over the embarrassment and do it!

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r250/WillisB_photos/DSCF0003.jpg


Taken at work last week prior to my commute home.

so what's a good saddle for the seat of our seat? and with or without padding, on the saddle, not the seat?
I have a Terry Fly (http://www.terrybicycles.com/saddles/detail.html?item_no=2164490) (second one) on my commuter and a (men's) Terry Fly for the Cure (http://www.terrybicycles.com/detail.html?item_no=2123941&c=On+Sale) on my road bike. I also wear bibs whether I'm commuting to work or out on the road bike. And I'm 63.

i see a whole bunch or "recommendations" for saddles for different types of riding.

you know, the seat we sit in those saddles. let's face it. at 50+ some of us wouldn't look too good in those streatchy skin tight shorts with the padding in the shorts.

most youngsters would rather face a firing squad than face our "mature" fannies in those wierd pants. so what's a good saddle for the seat of our seat? and with or without padding, on the saddle, not the seat?

I'm still experimenting with saddles so I'll have to get back to you later on that one.

However, I wear Lycra Bib Shorts everytime I ride. I rode in gym shorts the first couple of times I rode and found them to be very uncomfortable, so I bought padded bib shorts. Big time difference. I like the lycra/spandex jerseys as well.

Finally, I'm 63 y/o, weigh 245# and don't really care what the young folks think I look like when in my bike attire.

If you don't want to wear lycra shorts there are quality baggy shorts available with padding built in. Anyone who has tried lycra will tell you they work, however.
As for saddles, I am not in the Brooks camp and prefer narrow lycra covered saddles from Selle San Marco.

I'm 62, started at 210#, down to 185 so far. I ride a Specialized Crosstrail Hybrid.

I wear lycra because it really does make bicycling better. The heck with what it looks like. It allows me to ride over 42 miles every day in relative comfort, and I can't ride out of the saddle because of a bad knee.

My new Brooks B-17 seat means I don't have to if I don't want to, as it is just about as comfortable in regular clothes. But, boy, is that damned thing hard.

It is in the process of being broken in, and gets better with every ride. I just hope the damn hard thing doesn't get tooooo damned soft. (This seat really is amazing - but you have to fiddle with it to get it set right - mine took a lot of fiddling before I got it dialed in perfectly. I usually like a seat perfectly level. This one ended up very slightly nose up to keep me from sliding forward, and a very slight touch lower than others.)

The heck with what anyone thinks I look like, as I'm doing it for me! (I actually ran across my sister in law, in a downtown area yesterday; and, she said I was lookin pretty good for an old guy!) LOL

Maybe I should get some white or colored shorts...................... Nahhhh!

Next time I'll get a honey colored Brooks, though, as it's a gorgeoous seat to look at....even though the black does go nice with my black bike.

Did I mention that the Brooks is amazingly comfortable for such a damned hard thing? And, also, that it soaks up bumps like it's made out of jello? But, boy, is it ever damned hard.

I'd buy another Brooks in a heartbeat. It actually felt pretty good right out of the box, hard or not. And, the sit bone spots are softening up a little more with every ride. But, they are still hard (I just don't understand it!)

p.s. The Specialized Body Geometry seat sits pretty nice,too; but, requires bike shorts to be really comfortable on anything over 20 miles.

If you don't want to wear lycra shorts there are quality baggy shorts available with padding built in. ...

That is what I wear for all of my transportation/utility cycling and most of my club riding, as well. I believe mine are called "Expedition Shorts" at REI, and they have numerous pockets, including a zippered one for my wallet. They are essentially padded bike shorts sewn inside regular hiking shorts. The leg elastics read "Never a Bad Time to Ride," but at one of the seams this becomes, "Never Time to Ride." I think the seam of the other leg reads, "Never Ride."

As for saddles, nothing beats a Brooks Pro or Team Pro. :)

i see a whole bunch or "recommendations" for saddles for different types of riding. what i don't see is recommendations for the over 50 seat. you know, the seat we sit in those saddles. let's face it. at 50+ some of us wouldn't look too good in those streatchy skin tight shorts with the padding in the shorts. damn i must be old i don't even know what they are called. but face facts, most youngsters would rather face a firing squad than face our "mature" fannies in those wierd pants. so what's a good saddle for the seat of our seat? and with or without padding, on the saddle, not the seat?

1) lycra is damned comfortable.
2) brooks b-17 seat is awesome (but damned hard)
3) most of the youngsters are significantly faster than me, so very few of them will be looking at my 50+ butt.
4) i don't really care what somebody else thinks about how i look. i am riding for me. if they don't like the view, they can pass me (very easy) or close their eyes (not suggested.)

be well,

ride far and prosper,

jim

Lycra with a bit of padding works- and most will tell you that. But on the saddles and there are three camps- Brooks- No Brooks and stuff the Brooks.

Brooks and me do not get on together but I have found that saddle comfort comes in a variety of guises. Gell padded- Fine for about an hour. Wide saddles for wide butts- Does not work. Cheap saddles that are supplied OM on the new bike. They are like cheap plastic pedals- Just so you can ride the bike away from the shop. Then you start on the saddles people use and it if you have 50 riders- there will be 51 saddles.

So sorry- Can't help- I know what works for me on 3 of the 4 bikes I normally ride (The 4th one hurts after 4 hours) I can tell you that Selle make some good saddles- so do San Marco- so do a few other makes but you and your butt are on your own.

My only suggestion is to go to as many shops as you can- Find bikes that are similarly set up to yours and sit on them. One of them may feel comfortable so start looking at saddles of that type.

There's just about as many different shapes, thicknesses, designs of saddles out there as there are butts. And no two saddles seem to fit an anatomy the same. I just tried one of the Serfas saddles, the Dorado, and while it's a firm saddle, have found it to be more comfortable than many I've tried (a wider saddle, which suits me). One of these days I'll clear the moths out of the billfold and try a Brooks or Selle An-Atomica. Both seem to get lots of very good reviews. For the money, they should! Many brands offer a money back guarantee if you return a saddle within a given time frame. I tried a Terry from an online store, didn't care for it, and returned it with no problems. The Serfas was ordered by my LBS, who said he'd return it if I didn't like it, but never had to.

Ride more and tone up that flabby fanny. My butt still looks just fine in lycra bike shorts, or so I'm told.:o

You've submitted a lot of pics here, but I don't remember any butt pics.

I have brought this topic back up because I am also looking for a new saddle. I have been riding my Road bike with the stock saddle now for a few weeks and a bit over 300 miles and while my sit bones are doing better there still is a bit of a sore spot I don’t care to describe. Yes I have been adjusting the saddle ever so slightly and I believe I have it about as good as it is going to get. So fortunately my LBS will let me ride before I buy and I have decided to try an ISM Adamo Road. I can ride it a few days and then decide if I want to buy it. They will even give me credit for my old saddle. However they have also suggested a Stella that is designed a bit like the ISM but a bit harder.

http://no-nose.com/

One of the advantages of being as old as I am is that I don't give a rat's arse what most youngsters think about my personal appearance. My seats have gotten lighter, flatter, and firmer over the years, and they seem to be working just fine. So, my recommendation is that after one has ridden enough to firm up some of those backside muscles, that one gets a flat, firm seat and then spend ample time getting the adjustment dialed in. I've found that seats with too much padding are good for short rides, but for longer one, you sink down in and get pressure discomfort in places you wouldn't with a firm flat perch.

LWB recumbents have the most comfortable seats out there. bk

One of the advantages of being as old as I am is that I don't give a rat's arse what most youngsters think about my personal appearance. My seats have gotten lighter, flatter, and firmer over the years, and they seem to be working just fine. So, my recommendation is that after one has ridden enough to firm up some of those backside muscles, that one gets a flat, firm seat and then spend ample time getting the adjustment dialed in. I've found that seats with too much padding are good for short rides, but for longer one, you sink down in and get pressure discomfort in places you wouldn't with a firm flat perch.


My problem isn’t with the sit bone area as much as with a more in-between area. I have put 300 miles on my stock seat and I am able to ride 40-50 miles with only minor aches and pains. But the one small pain I do have bothers me. My hope is that the Adamo I posted will relieve the problem. MY LBS is willing to let me test the Saddles before I buy. If not I am prepared to put more miles into the stock saddle or maybe look into a Sella V2 or Strike TRK.

I have had brooks but nothing compares to sella anatomica great right out of the bag

The only upright bike riding I am doing these days is on a tandem sitting on a WTB Rocket V Race, which is quite tolerable. (The seat has a Love Channel)
No comparison to the RANS Comfy Chair on both my 'bents.

I have had brooks but nothing compares to sella anatomica great right out of the bag

I sorta like the Adamo but before I make up my mind I plan on giving the Sella a try. So far the ISM saddle relieves the pressure in the spot I wanted it to on todays 40 mile ride. However the sit bone area seems a bit flat for my particular bottom. I will work on the adjustment a bit before I make up my mind but the design itself seems to work well.

I'd suggest also looking at Specialized.

As for saddles, nothing beats a Brooks Pro or Team Pro. :)





Thats right!!! :thumb:

Thats right!!! :thumb:

The reason I am not exploring Brooks is because they don't address the area I am complaining about. The Sella and the Adamo have nothing there to put pressure where I don't want it. The butt isn't the problem I can deal with that. Take a look at the ISM Adamo Road saddle and you can get an idea of what I am looking for.

http://no-nose.com/

You must have an extreme problem to be looking into such extreme solutions. For most people a Brooks saddle does address the problem of pressure on the 'taint area by suspending it above the saddle. There is no pressure because you aren't sinking into the saddle as you would on a padded saddle. The sit bones carry the weight.

You must have an extreme problem to be looking into such extreme solutions. For most people a Brooks saddle does address the problem of pressure on the 'taint area by suspending it above the saddle. There is no pressure because you aren't sinking into the saddle as you would on a padded saddle. The sit bones carry the weight.

Not an extreme Problem just an irritating one. Even my stock seat was getting better after 300 miles and finally I have it pretty level giving me better balance I guess because my hands aren’t hurting. But I don’t think my complaint is rare. Look how many new saddles are now being made with a channel of missing material down the center. From the first minute I sat on the Adamo even before I did any personal adjustment I could tell there was no pressure at all in the crotch. That was with a slight nose up tilt. The Sella looks to be a similar design, maybe a bit stiffer. It isn’t a no nose per say but it has a very deep channel relieving any pressure. Looking at the line of Brooks Saddles I don’t see any such cutouts to minimize any contact in that area. I am not looking to go with a saddle that has no nose for my road bike but I do want a lightweight saddle that is more comfortable than what I have been riding to date.

The reason I am not exploring Brooks is because they don't address the area I am complaining about. The Sella and the Adamo have nothing there to put pressure where I don't want it. The butt isn't the problem I can deal with that. Take a look at the ISM Adamo Road saddle and you can get an idea of what I am looking for.

http://no-nose.com/




uhh...Okay. :D

...but also be aware that a Brooks saddle will more than likely address these very same issues that bother you, whether they look to be specific to it or not. Its not just a pretty saddle (although some may argue). Brooks has a following that has passed down over the span of a century for a reason. The leather you sit on is not like the other saddles where there's just a thin layer covering over dense foam glued to a plastic base. The leather on a Brooks is the saddle, suspended like a tightly stretched hammock to a metal frame.

The saddles are hard because they have to be, but the weight of your sit bones into the leather causes the leather to mold to your sit bones and surrounding tissue. This wearing in, or breaking in process effectively bridges the bearing weight of the rider and therefore lessens the weight of your 'nether' region. In other words your 'nether region' or 'taint area' is only bearing a small portion of your overall rider weight on the saddle. Your sit bones and surrounding tissue bridge the majority of it.

For most people this process works, hence the cult following passed down over a century. But there are always variables, so it may not work for everyone (but it does for most).

Believe me, I am not a blind follower of scripture. I had the same problems as you and was very scepticle about trying out a Brooks in the first place. I did, and I'm glad I did, and the whole reason of this post is only to tell you what worked for me. So having said that, I wont push a Brooks on to anyone. I've been down the hard road and I've suffered on long rides, and there is no saddle in the world I would want under my ass at mile 80 than a big, ugly, heavy Brooks.

Looking at the line of Brooks Saddles I don’t see any such cutouts to minimize any contact in that area.

As I explained in my previous post, Brooks addresses this problem in a different way. The pressure is caused when you sink down into the saddle padding and it pushes back. Since you do not sink into the hard surface of a Brooks saddle, the sit bones support your weight such that there is no pressure on the 'taint which is suspended above the saddle. No cutouts needed.

Even this horribly spoiled recumbent rider can handle a road bike hour or two or three without saddle pain on a Selle An-Atomica. Hands, wrists, neck and shoulders, not so good, but although it looks like a torture device, the An-Atomica is unbelievably comfortable.

Apologies to the OP, that is with lycra and an artificial chamois. Without, I'm good for maybe 10 or 20 miles before bad things start to happen.

Thanks for the information on the Brooks. I am skeptical but I am willing to accept they might work. But to be honest the idea of trying before you by gives the Sella and Adamo an advantage, as well as some others I can try. From what I have been reading you need to break in a Brooks, only from what I read. Also I don’t know anyone that has one to at least sit on one to see if it might work for me. I stumbled on the Adamo and the Sella after doing an Internet search on the particular discomfort I was experiencing. I believe half of the pages I was looking at were from some medical publication, which pointed me to the anatomic saddles. To be honest no one in my bike club rides on a Brooks and some of them do ride a Sella carbon Fiber so they may be biased. But I won’t be looking much for the next two or three weeks because we are taking off on vacation to Colorado. Toss the Mountain bikes in the Travel trailer and lock the road bike in the house.

Not an extreme Problem just an irritating one. Even my stock seat was getting better after 300 miles and finally I have it pretty level giving me better balance I guess because my hands aren’t hurting. But I don’t think my complaint is rare. Look how many new saddles are now being made with a channel of missing material down the center. From the first minute I sat on the Adamo even before I did any personal adjustment I could tell there was no pressure at all in the crotch. That was with a slight nose up tilt. The Sella looks to be a similar design, maybe a bit stiffer. It isn’t a no nose per say but it has a very deep channel relieving any pressure. Looking at the line of Brooks Saddles I don’t see any such cutouts to minimize any contact in that area. I am not looking to go with a saddle that has no nose for my road bike but I do want a lightweight saddle that is more comfortable than what I have been riding to date.

I share your concerns with conventional Brooks saddles - I used a Pro exclusively as a young man, and no problems. I tried one and an Ideale 92 (wider both at the rear and in the middle) when first returning to cycling in my 40s, and both had problems with chafing and numbness. I experimented for a painful year with angle, fore/aft, and height, with no consistent solutions causing relief. Same when I came back again at 50. I don't know if my problem is extreme or not, but I don't care about that.

If you can't make a Brooks work, I don't think you're wierd. With my Pro, following the common advice of tilting nose up has the predictable result of high perineal pressure with equally predictable consequences. Tilting down just a fraction of a degree too much results in sliding forward and losing ischeal support. I'd consider trying a B17, but it's as wide as the Ideale 92 that adds inner thigh (right at teh top where the thigh begins) chafing to this list of problems.

What does work for me is a Specialized Alias 143 and a Specialized Toupe 143. They have extensive relief spaces and very narrow horns. Another which is promising is the E3 Form, but it's quite narrow for me - it's hard to find and stay on the sweet spot.

I think you need to be more specific talking about "Selle." There are Selle Italia (maybe a dozen different designs), Selle San Marco (another dozen) and Selle AnAtomica with one main design. I've tried a few Selle-Italias (50 cents each at a swap meet!), with moderate success. I tried a Velo and a Selle San Marco, with zero success each. I am interested in the saddles by VeloOrange, on their website.

There is a huge sticky thread on C&V about the experimental Brooks Imperial series. Early in the 1900s Brooks designed and sold a range of saddle with relief cutouts. They're product testing several modern interpretations of these designs, and a number of BFers have testedthem and recorded their reactions. They were supposed to be hitting the markets maybe November or December if I recall. My results with a B17N were not great, but many of us loved them.

Road Fan

I share your concerns with conventional Brooks saddles - I used a Pro exclusively as a young man, and no problems. I tried one and an Ideale 92 (wider both at the rear and in the middle) when first returning to cycling in my 40s, and both had problems with chafing and numbness. I experimented for a painful year with angle, fore/aft, and height, with no consistent solutions causing relief. Same when I came back again at 50. I don't know if my problem is extreme or not, but I don't care about that.

What does work for me is a Specialized Alias 143 and a Specialized Toupe 143. They have extensive relief spaces and very narrow horns. Another which is promising is the E3 Form, but it's quite narrow for me - it's hard to find and stay on the sweet spot.

I think you need to be more specific talking about "Selle." There are Selle Italia (maybe a dozen different designs), Selle San Marco (another dozen) and Selle AnAtomica with one main design. I've tried a few Selle-Italias (50 cents each at a swap meet!), with moderate success. I tried a Velo and a Selle San Marco, with zero success each. I am interested in the saddles by VeloOrange, on their website.


Road Fan

If you take a look at the Sella Italia SLC it has the design I have been talking about. The ISM Adamo Road saddle is bit bulkier but has a similar design solution. The Sella CX zero and the XO look promising. Thank you for pointing me in the direction of the specialized Alias and troup 143. That is something that looks like it might interest me. I think I bought my first Anatomic seat in 1982 and some of my friends thought I was strange back then. I will look with interest to see if Brooks decides to come out with a similar solution.

Thanks ever so much for the suggestion on the specialized.

After wanting a Brooks saddle since the early '70s, I finally took the plunge and ordered a B17 Standard tonight from Wallingford. Now in a few days I'll find out if it lives up to 35 years' worth of expectations. (I fully expect that it will.)

I have tried many different saddles and all were fairly uncomfortable. Then I was told about the selle an-anatomica, leather with a perineal cut-out. I have put several k miles on two of these saddles this summer even doing some 65-100+ mile rides. They are very comfortable and after a short break-in period you will hardly know it's there. BTW i am 60 and ride daily so comfort is very important to me.
Try one, I think you search may soon end.

After wanting a Brooks saddle since the early '70s, I finally took the plunge and ordered a B17 Standard tonight from Wallingford. Now in a few days I'll find out if it lives up to 35 years' worth of expectations. (I fully expect that it will.)

Drum roll.......... How's the B17 working out for you? I ordered one today.

Drum roll.......... How's the B17 working out for you? I ordered one today.

It's working out great! As others here have said, it's sensitive to adjustment. I spent about an hour trying it in different positions on short test rides (complicated by the fact that it's so slippery at first; that wore off in a few days). Once I got it in exactly the right position I could hardly tell it was there anymore. Perhaps the best way to explain it is to say that on several of my regular rides I've started out intending to see how it felt on various hills, etc. along the way, then realized afterward that I'd forgotten to pay any attention to it.

Ride more and tone up that flabby fanny. My butt still looks just fine in lycra bike shorts, or so I'm told.:o

A weird turn of phrase but then I'm in Australia where one of those words has an altogether different meaning. :lol:

A weird turn of phrase but then I'm in Australia where one of those words has an altogether different meaning. :lol:

Oh dear **extreme blush**
The thought is enough to put anyone off lycra :D

Richard

Just bought a selle italia SLC. I have about 200 miles on it and I like it. It does what it is supposed to do. That is it fits my butt, is comfortable and eliminates any discomfort due to the large cut out. It was not cheap but it is worth it. I was not unhappy with the previous saddle but consecutive blood tests indicate that my psa levels encrease with a long bike ride. Getting the adjustment just right is still working but I believe I have it just about right now.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w76/cgallagh/selleitaliaslc.jpg

Have been wearing cycling shorts for 3 decades and ride a hard saddle. Currently ride Selle Italia SLR on my single bike.
No, I dpn't have a fat butt with lotsa padding that hangs over the edge of my skinny saddle!

Oh dear **extreme blush**
The thought is enough to put anyone off lycra :D


Unfair!

Culturally-biased faffing is going on here and most of us are being cut out of a laugh.

I experienced the numbness talked about here with my Brooks. I also was never satisfied that I had broken it in to the point where it was as comfortable as most folks report.

I sent it to Selle An-Atomica to be modified with their proprietary center cutout. It came back with a comprehensive set of saddle adjustment procedures that proved to be as helpful as the cut out. After experimenting with various hight and tilt adjustments I found the perfect fit for me. Now my Brooks lives up to its reputation with no numbness or discomfort. It is still darn hard tho!

Which word?

Ride more and tone up that flabby bottom.

OK. Fixed it.:o

OK. Fixed it.:o

Thank you. Now the thread is G instead of R18. :thumb: I was blushing before!

I would start with the shorts first. Just as some butts feel better with some saddles, some butts feel better with some shorts while using some saddles. Another words this is a three way equation.

So many riders try different saddles, find the right one then switch to different shorts and suddenly the saddle doesn't feel so good. Find the right shorts first, then try to find the right saddle.

I use Pearl Izumi 3Dmicrosensor shorts but of course any recommendations on shorts, saddles, gloves, shoes, pedals are all subjective as what works for one may not work for another. Any place where a rider contacts the bike is an area of individual choice.