Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Uber clyde asking for saddle help.

Hello all, I'm an uber clyde and I'm in need of a saddle for my hybrid bicycle. I've read the threads and from what I read, the recommendations are for a saddle with springs. Aside from the Brooks saddles which have other clydes that swear by them and clydes that don't care for them......what other "springed" saddle/seats are recommended. Your help would really be appreciated. In case you're wondering what kind of riding I do....mainly street/asphalt/concrete riding and up to 17 miles or less.

Get a Brooks Flyer!
http://clevercycles.com/store/galleries/brooks_saddle_flyer-2.jpg
</thread closed and locked>

Hello all, I'm an uber clyde and I'm in need of a saddle for my hybrid bicycle. I've read the threads and from what I read, the recommendations are for a saddle with springs. Aside from the Brooks saddles which have other clydes that swear by them and clydes that don't care for them......what other "springed" saddle/seats are recommended. Your help would really be appreciated. In case you're wondering what kind of riding I do....mainly street/asphalt/concrete riding and up to 17 miles or less.

With a Brooks you either swear by it or swear at it.:D

It's hard to recommend a saddle, a saddle that one person finds as comfy as a couch can leave another person thinking they are sitting on a torture device that was designed by the spawn of Satan. A sprung saddle can be helpful in that it adds some suspension, providing that the springs are intended for someone of similar weight to the rider. If the spring is designed for someone who is 100kg, then a rider who is 50kg may not compress the spring at all, it's the same as if there were a solid bar instead of a spring, for a 150kg rider they compress the spring completely and it's as if there were a solid bar instead of a spring in this case as well.

Your best bet, is to find a Specialized dealer with an Ass-o-meter and have your sit bones measured, then select a saddle that is designed for that width. Leather saddles like a Brooks (there are others) will breathe and they tend to be more slippery allowing for movement on the saddle. One of the problems for most people is that they spend all their time on soft cushy sofas and car seats and their butt is no longer able to deal with hard seats, once your butt toughens up then you will find a hard saddle is actually more comfortable.

While 17 miles can seem far at first, few riders that are comfortable, can stay with shorter distances. Another recommendation is to get a professional fitting done on your bicycle, if you're an uberclyde planning on graduating to plain clyde on your way to becoming an emeritus, then you will probably need to get future fittings done, as one loses weight and strengthens their core muscles, they gain flexibility, but you may also be changing bikes in the process.

I have a Brooks B-17 Imperial on the suspended seatpost that came with my Iron Horse Urban. Not reccing it really. Boke in really nicely and a lot shorter time then most folks claimed it takes. Until it did break in though it kinda sucked a little and made me sore. Right now you would have to pry it from my cold dead fingers to get it from me, but your mileage may vary

I just bought a Brooks Flyer and its great. If you have a suspension seatpost already just try something wide at the back

Get a Brooks Flyer!
http://clevercycles.com/store/galleries/brooks_saddle_flyer-2.jpg
</thread closed and locked>

+1 on the Brooks Flyer, I have it on both my bikes no break in required for me it was sweetness from the start.

It's hard to get around just trying a few saddles. Personally, I think that spring saddles are a waste of material for road riding. I'd suggest picking up a B-17 from Wallingford Bicycle Parts (http://www.wallbike.com/). They have a 6 month return policy on Brooks saddles, you can't beat that.

+1 for the Brooks Flyer. I have one on my commuter and I loved it from the first day. Like Neil suggested, pick one up from Wallingford and if you don't like it, send it back.

Unfortunately, there's no agreement on what a saddle ought to be like. I use the cruiser seat that came on my Worksman, but I've seen other knowledgeable people say no, that's absolutely the wrong thing to use, but it works for me.

I will say this: I once bought a $100 mountain bike that came with a skinny little saddle that was about like sitting on a 2x4. I assumed that meant skinny little saddles were just uncomfortable. But then I tried a very similar size and shape saddle that was way more comfortable. So that first saddle wasn't uncomfortable because it was a skinny little saddle, it was uncomfortable because it was cheap piece of crap.