Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - saddle advice

i'm in the market for a new saddle, i am currently using a specialized alias. it's ok. for 2 hour rides but after that its like ridding on pins. so if anybody out there has any advise let me know. thanks

I'm a big fan of both Selle SMP and WTB saddles. I've tried both the Specialized Toupe and the Phenom. Neither works for me on a road bike. My mountain bike came with a Phenom SL which is fine for 1-2 hour MTB rides, which are a 50/50 mix of standing and seated riding.

:thumb:
I have the Brooks B-67 and I love it. Right out of the box it's great I was one of the lucky ones for having a great feel and not worrying about break in.
Buying the Brooks saddle was the best move I have made.:love:

Take a look at an Avenir Comfy... it has what I'd call the perfect amount/stiffness of foam.

What kind of bike? road/mtb/hybrid?

I have a Brooks B17 on my Long Haul Trucker and love it. I personally did not need any break time in, it was comfortable from the beginning. Depending on your riding position, you may choose the Brooks Team Pro if you have a more aggressive riding position. Generally, if your bars at level with your saddle or above, you should go with the B17, if below go with the Team Pro. Mine are level, so I went with the B17. I've heard more people who find the Team Pro uncomfortable at first and require a long break in time before they find their Brooks nirvana.

But Brooks saddles are not for everyone, I guess.

+1 on the B17. I have a B17 Imperial (it has the cut-out), and it is the most comfortable saddle I have ever owned.

i ride a cannondale road bike.

Selle An-Atomica

don't get one from Philly...

back to you Kent...........

I've tried a number of saddles over the years. Right now, all I really ride are Brooks. I have ridden/owned the B-17, the B-67, the B-72 and Brooks Pro. The Pro is a little painful out of the box for a big guy and takes forever to break in. The B-17 is comfortable out of the box but becomes like butter after it's broken in, nothing else is as comfortable for me. The B-67 is nice, comfortable out of the box, but I found was only really suitable for a cruiser or comfort bike. Same with the B-72 but the B-72 is nowhere near as comfortable as the B-67. I use my B-17 on my fixed gear and my Pro on my path racer.

I have, however, in the course of my travels also used a number of other gel saddles. The WTB Rocket is a little pricey but, oh my, so comfortable. I used to use it all the time for mountain biking. After that the Selle Italia Flight Gel Max Flow (I know, long name) was one of the most comfortable I rode until I got the WTB.

Hope that helps.

has anyone tried those cheap gel pad covers (such as from walmart)? opinions (other than 'buy a real saddle')?

has anyone tried those cheap gel pad covers (such as from walmart)? opinions (other than 'buy a real saddle')?

Yeah, I tried them. They are ok for short periods, but they cause more problems than they solve.

+1 on the B-17 and the B-67. The B-17 is on my Bianchi Axis and the B-67 is on my Hardrock.

I love the fizik aliante. Very classic shape and width.
(http://www.fizik.it/catalog.aspx?subid=aliante_gamma_twin_flex ) .

My new bike just came with a prologo kappa ( http://www.prologotouch.com/acid_kappa1.asp ) and just after the first couple of rides its great.

i'm in the market for a new saddle, i am currently using a specialized alias. it's ok. for 2 hour rides but after that its like ridding on pins. so if anybody out there has any advise let me know. thanks

i switched to an oversized seat about 5 years ago, and love it. it is so big, its in the same class as a big seat from a stationary bicycle. The extra size is a good match for my big butt, but even if I lose substantial weight, I beleive that my next seat will still be slightly oversized.

just my 2 cents.

best of wishes to you

i switched to an oversized seat about 5 years ago, and love it. it is so big, its in the same class as a big seat from a stationary bicycle. The extra size is a good match for my big butt, but even if I lose substantial weight, I beleive that my next seat will still be slightly oversized.

I'd be curious to know how far/long you normally ride. I find that large seats are good for the first 10-12 miles or so, but lead to either chafing or numbness on longer rides...

has anyone tried those cheap gel pad covers (such as from walmart)? opinions (other than 'buy a real saddle')?

I have, and it's ok for short rides i.e. less than 10 miles. But the fundamental problem literally is still in place.

I have the Brooks Flyer pre-aged on my LHT. My saddle is below the handlebars. I believe certain Brooks saddles are recommended for different riding positions.

You might also want to get sized by a Specialized dealer, though they will probably recommend one of their saddles (which isn't necessarily a bad thing).

However before you go out and start purchasing saddles to try out. Make sure the saddle height and fore/aft position are correct.

I agree; I have a Fizik Aliante and it is the best most comfortable that i have ever had

has anyone tried those cheap gel pad covers (such as from walmart)? opinions (other than 'buy a real saddle')?

Yes I tried one on my OEM saddle. I think what happened was that the gel all shifted (when seated on it) where there was space available, i.e. between my sit bones. I felt the same pressure on them with or without the gel cover.

I have a hybrid with a Brooks B67 and I love it… Like some of the others who have posted here, the saddle fit me right away.

I thought I would ‘upgrade’ to a B17... And after 5 miles I had to take a break. We decided to head home and I could not ride more than one mile at a time - the seat hurt so bad. I could barley walk the next few days and couldn’t ride for over a week. It felt like my hip bones were forced apart.

Lesson is, you will find a seat that YOU like. What’s best for others could be the worst thing you ever sat on.

I’m back on my Brooks B67 and rode 65 miles without complaint.