Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Please Help Me Choose A Saddle

Hello all,

So I just scored a new (08) Bianchi San Jose at a LBS for $499. :thumb: I've been out a few times on it and I am loving riding again. I feel like a kid again. My only gripe is with the seat. Horrible leopard print pain in the arse. It's got to go. I wanted to check in with you guys and see what people around here are sitting on. I don't want to spend more than $50. I'll be riding mostly road and very light trail, I'm 200lbs and my seat is slightly higher than my bars. I want something comfortable that I can ride on all day but I don't want some big granny gel looking thing. What do you guys recomend? Thanks

Spend $60 and get the new Turbo. they're a classic and for $60 not bad at all. Ben's Cycle has them.

As everyone should tell you, we can't determine what saddle will work well for you. You have to go out and try some.

Some saddles that people will tell you they like:
WTB
Fizik
Selle Italia
Selle San Marco
Brooks
Specialized Body Geometry

I probably missed a few. Go to a shop and see what they have. If you like the way it looks, buy it. Chances are the first saddle you try won't be the right one, but since you seem to be pretty new to riding, no saddle will feel like you want it to right now. Just ride it for a while and try another one when you get the cash. It took me three years and 5 saddles to find the one I like.

make one out of nails and screws, or for you, a *****. :thumb:

+1 on Brooks. I have the B17. They are around $100 bucks though but are the best saddles ever.*



*If you are not concerned with weight.

I too have tried many saddles in the last year. That's the only way to find what works for your butt. I looked for months at saddles for $30, 40, 50 and I couldn't find one that I liked for that price.

I got lucky and 2 used bikes I bought came with Selle San Marco Concor. Both vintage, white leather, not light weight but the most comfortable saddle I have tried. I haven't ridden a Regal or Rolls.

Someone here will tell you of a $50 saddle that they like and all will say, it's like a pair of shoes. I might like mine but you won't.

You didn't say if you wear cycling shorts. If you go on a long ride then you might want to and they will make a lot of crappy saddles a lot easier to handle. YMMV.

Charge Spoon

i got a MegaSoft Gel Air :p not the super elite saddle you usually see around here, but comfy and the price was right

terry fly is a great saddle IMO

Nashbar GR2 Saddle:
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_175172_-1_201476_10000_201484

This is supposed to be an imitation Fizik saddle from what I've read. The reviews on Nashbar were good, so I bought the saddle in black. It's definitely the most comfortable saddle I've ridden and it looks great. Can't beat $35 either :)

I have ridden mostly WTB, Selle San Marco Aspide, and Brooks types of saddles.

I like Brooks saddles, but they take some expertise or just good happenstance to work right.

Generally, I find that a saddle with a groove down the center (no pressure on sensitive skin, blood vessels and nerves) and minimal padding works the best.

The minimal padding part seems counter-intuitive, but Sheldon Brown said so and I have found it true from experience.

Center groove and minimal or no padding.

This spring I got a Bianchi San Jose for about the same money from one of my local bike shops...I love it. Glad to hear you are liking yours, too. Mine came with a racing saddle that didn't fit me...
I have a black titanium San Marco Regal saddle on mine now, got it used off ebay for about $70. It looks good, but I am not sold yet. It's not that comfortable on long rides, but it might be for a guy. My brother swears by Charge Spoon, and it's cheap. And I know many people who like WTB Rocket V. Those are two I would look in to. But maybe you already found a saddle.

charge spoon

+1

Charge Spoon

+2 :thumb: Most inexpensive, yet extremely comfortable, not to mention attractive, seat I think you can find (at least brand new).

as already said, everyone's ass is different, what one person loves another person hates.

that said, as for your budget, i have bought all my saddles (that didn't come on a bike) on ebay. i don't really give a damn if someone else rode it first, and i've never paid more than $30. with the exception of a brooks saddle and maybe a fizik arione, you can get pretty much any saddle you want. if you ass doesn't like it, buy another and sell that one.

charge spoon all the way
if you have more cash to blow buy the charge knife saddle :)

While out of your stated price range, I honestly have not met the person who didn't find a properly set up B-17 or B-17 narrow to be the most comfortable saddle they've ever ridden. That's out of the box. I, like you am a Clydesdale. I own both and have a slight preference for the B-17 on longer rides. It does take a few minutes of riding, stopping adjusting, riding, stopping, adjusting to get it set up just right but once that is accomplished a Brooks gets nothing but better. While you are adjusting the saddle, make sure to ride over a little bumpy terrain. If you feel pressure in sensitive areas adjust the nose a tad upwards (counter intuitive) until you no longer feel pressure. Work in small increments and give yourself 15-20 minutes to get it right. You'll be in like Flynn. They really are worth every penny and $100 isn't terribly out of range considering the quality and longevity of the product not to mention the comfort you will experience.

hey, glad this thread had been resurected. thanks all for the replies. I'm still riding around on my awesome leapord print ***. I had decided to save my pennies for a b17 but the charge spoon keeps coming up and for the price i'd be really interested to try one out. except i can't find one. any ideas?

Choose your own god damn saddle.

Choose your own god damn saddle.

What the hell is the point of a forum if people can't ask questions like this?

hey, glad this thread had been resurected. thanks all for the replies. I'm still riding around on my awesome leapord print ***. I had decided to save my pennies for a b17 but the charge spoon keeps coming up and for the price i'd be really interested to try one out. except i can't find one. any ideas?

Ugh yeah getting a spoon saddle was a pain in the butt. What I did was order one on wiggle while they were backordered and they sent them out like a month later. Sad to wait, but it was sold out everywhere as well. : (

It looks like wiggle actually has some black ones instock. I may have to order one of my other bike. Hmmm

anyone ever try vader vd666 saddle?

http://www.53x11bike.com/servlet/the-112/Saddle-Vader-VD666-Flow/Detail

I ride a San Marco's Rolls saddle. No complaints. I own two. :9

What the hell is the point of a forum if people can't ask questions like this?

I should have clarified: It's your ass, choose your own god damn saddle.

Astronimical,

While I feel confident that what I'm about to say will do little more than cause you to go from behaving like a 6 year old to behaving like a 5 year old I'll do it anyway.

Go away little boy/girl. Go away.