Fifty Plus (50+) - Question for users of Specialized BG Saddles

I'm still in the search for a saddle that will help my numbness.

Just curious...

Those of you who use the Specialized "BG" Saddles.

Which model of the saddle do you use? What width? I know that width will vary from rider to rider.

Did you have numbness and did you find relief with the specialized saddle?

TIA

Ed

I've got some relatively old Specialized BG saddles. A couple of comps and a ti-something. I liked them better than anything that i'd tried previously but they didn't completely eliminate the problem of "numb manhood".

The bikes that I ride farther than about 30 miles now have Brooks saddles. They solved the problem for me. YMMV.

I've ridden the BG Comfort Plus saddle for three months. No complaints. I ride my Trek 7100 100-130 miles a week, including one 30-35-miler, without saddle-soreness or numbness.

I'd seen this saddle on the Specialized website, but unlike now, there was no width mentioned. No shop within 50 miles had it in stock, so I couldn't see it up close and put my hands around it. I had my LBS order it for me. When it came in I was surprised it was as wide as it was: 180mm. I almost rejected it for that reason alone, but I saw the nose was long and skinny and decided to give it a one-hour test ride around my LBS's neighborhood. I'm glad I did.

I've got the Alias on two bikes and the Toupe on another. (I believe both of these are part of the BG series). All three saddles are in use because I can ride on them without problems. Neither of the two styles are my favorite saddle. (My favorite is the Selle An-Atomica Titanico.) I have found that careful adjustment of all of my saddles is key to making them work - especially the tilt of the saddle. However, the fact that all three have cut aways in the center section helps too.

Ed, I have the V-Groove model of that saddle on my hybrid. I like it a lot. The stock saddle was what I called a big satin pillow that I slid around on as I rode. The owner of an LBS talked me into this one so I decided to try it; it took a week or two to adjust to a firmer saddle (not hard, just firmer than the satin pillow) but now it's great. Hubby has the same model on his Trek 7500 hybrid and he likes it. We both have the same one... it has a red ribbon stripe down the middle of the groove.

toupe gel on one road bike, toupe( non gel) on another. like them both

Had one on the Merlin and hated it -- swapped it out for a Terry Butterfly. My backside has been thanking me ever since.

Buy a BROOKS!

Is the Comfort Plus a soft/padded/squishy type saddle or is the padding relatively firm/dense?
Is the profile of the saddle relatively flat or does the rear portion have an upward slope ?
Thanks in advance if you will share some info about this saddle


I've ridden the BG Comfort Plus saddle for three months. No complaints. I ride my Trek 7100 100-130 miles a week, including one 30-35-miler, without saddle-soreness or numbness.

I'd seen this saddle on the Specialized website, but unlike now, there was no width mentioned. No shop within 50 miles had it in stock, so I couldn't see it up close and put my hands around it. I had my LBS order it for me. When it came in I was surprised it was as wide as it was: 180mm. I almost rejected it for that reason alone, but I saw the nose was long and skinny and decided to give it a one-hour test ride around my LBS's neighborhood. I'm glad I did.

I've got the Alias on two bikes and the Toupe on another. (I believe both of these are part of the BG series). All three saddles are in use because I can ride on them without problems. Neither of the two styles are my favorite saddle. (My favorite is the Selle An-Atomica Titanico.) I have found that careful adjustment of all of my saddles is key to making them work - especially the tilt of the saddle. However, the fact that all three have cut aways in the center section helps too.

I also like both the Toupe and the Alias. Width is personal from Specialized's point of view. They want you to get your butt measured at one of their dealers, which is no charge, no mess. There's an elastomer pad on a bench, and you sit on the pad leaning forward as in your riding position to get your pelvis tilted realistically. The pad retains divots from your sit bones. You measure the distance between the divots, and then use a chart to identify what saddle width you are suited for.

I tried both a 130 Alias and a 143, and found that too narrow really is too narrow - I was teetering on the narrow butt bone platform. This system works.

BsLeVan has it absolutely right about gently experimenting with saddle angle. Authorities recommend setting the saddle "level" and leaving it that way, but there's no common standard for what level means, especially for a cutout that goes back to the back, or a saddle that has a hammocky shape. I've found a small amount of forward (nose down) tilt helps to relieve pressure that would produce numbness. Plus, I think exploring this adjustment can save a lot of $$ from prematurely buying more saddles.

I hope you've found a solution by now. If not I'm wondering if you need to take a look at either the reach to your bars or the height of the bars so you're riding on your sit bones more often-as opposed to putting so much pressure in the soft tissue area.

I'm still in the search for a saddle that will help my numbness.

Just curious...

Those of you who use the Specialized "BG" Saddles.

Which model of the saddle do you use? What width? I know that width will vary from rider to rider.

Did you have numbness and did you find relief with the specialized saddle?

TIA

Ed

I bought the BG 155mm, but still have THE problem. The only saddle which works fro me is the RIDO http://www.rido-cyclesaddles.com/product-information-c100063.html

I have no commercial or other interest but am a very satisfied customer. Have not tried the new R2

The Selle An-Atomica works for a lot of folks. It's like a Brooks saddle that allows you to adjust the tension so there's no break in time. You just have to read the instructions carefully and continue to tweak the saddle until you get it just right.