Road Cycling - saddles

Is the choice just a matter of taste, or are there reasons for so many choices? I see wide, narrow, slotted, un-slotted, gell, leather, well padded and some not so well padded. Is there some way of distilling the list without putting each and every one on to try it out?

It's because there are so many different types and shapes of anatomy that there are so many different saddles. Finding the one that is perfect for you is the hard part. And also costly.

Every butt is different. Mine just happens to fit a Selle Italia Flite Trans Am.

Yup, every bottom is different! I talked to my LBS, and they gave me 6 different saddles to try out. In most of the cases, I rode each saddle for at least a week to see which one felt the best for me. My final choice, a Surfas Cosmos dual density. You might also check with some of the other local bikers to see if they have some extra saddles for you to test drive! Find one that you like and ride, ride, ride!

[[B]Yup, every bottom is different!

Is there some way of classifying Butt Morphology.
Perhaps, inter sit-bone distance.
Also the vertical height difference between sit bones and squishy bits. so you know how much cut-out or depression you like.

Most saddle manufacturers only produce their shape in one size.
Currently, only Brooks produces the same model saddle in different width fittings.

I used to ride a Rolls, but found the padding too soft. My best plastic saddle was one from a 2nd hand bike, but my Brooks seems to conform to my own very peculiar BM index.

I'm now using a Selle Italia Nitrox on my commuter. www.probikekit.co.uk have a lot of Selle Italia's cheap (Idon't know about international shipping). Mine took over 50 miles to get comfortable, but now I'm really pleased with it. Whatever you try give it time to get comfortable.

Richard

One thing to keep in mind is that a lot of padding is usually not comfortable because your bottom seems to squish around on it. My favorite saddle is the Brooks Team Professional, a narrow solid leather saddle so hard it sounds like wood when you knock on it. For a new road bike I just put together, I am currently trying out a Selle Italia San Marco variation that was original equipment on a Bianchi. My LBS sold it to me very cheap. It is quite narrow and very lightly padded. So far it feels perfectly fine. I was always afraid of firm, narrow saddles because I am, uh, "broad of beam". I started off with wide cushy saddles but have gradually gravitated to the hard narrow ones and found them more and more comfortable. Go figure.

Originally posted by nebill
I talked to my LBS, and they gave me 6 different saddles to try out. In most of the cases, I rode each saddle for at least a week to see which one felt the best for me

Ya know, saddles are so personal, aren't they? I mean, just look at how many people post to these kinds for threads. Everybody writes so passionately about their favorite saddle.

That is what caught me when I read Nebill's post. He tries out six saddles for a week each.

Isn't that kinda like testing out underwear for a week and then returning it?

Not to mention Nebill's quality bike shop for allowing him to try six saddles for a week each.

We all need to support these kind of bike shops, if and when we find 'em.

I've fallen in love with a Brooks B-17 standard, she's a honey. :love:

Interesting little thread here. I currently have the saddle that came with my bike, a Bontrager FS2000 WSD. I may be looking to change it, but don't have the funds to try a million different saddles.

One saddle there has been no mention of is the specialized body geometry - Why is that? I'm interested in your opinions (which y'all have - some more than others I know). I am thinking that I may stick with Women Specific Design saddles, I know that Terry makes them, and specialized, and Trek.

I love my Specialized Body Geometry. Like most saddles it seems to be a love or hate thing. The SBG seems to get a lot of hate from most reviewers, but it works great for me.

Another thing to keep in mind about saddle comfort is actually bike fit/setup. I see a lot of people riding with their saddles too high so that their legs are stretched straight at 6 o'clock pedal position. That position forces the rider to rock back and forth slightly which will never be comfortable with ANY saddle. The rider's leg should have some bend in it at 6 o'clock. Look at videos of the pros. Most of them have considerable leg bend.
FWIW,
Raymond