Road Cycling - Hard ass saddle

Hey folks,
I have a 2004 S-Works Tarmac and for me at least the saddle is a little too hard. I need a little more cushion for the long rides. Should I get a Gel cover or just purchase another saddle. Again, I just need a little extra cushion, not too much.
Manny

Cushioning may not be the issue. The saddle choice is a very individual thing. But, you might try adjusting the saddle position before you add to or replace your current one. Personally I find Specialized saddles uncomfortable. Got one that's been residing in my basement for the last 8 months. I dust it off and curse it when I walk by. Currently use a Sadddleco on my Specialized and a TranAm Selle Italia on my Merckx. I've found both to be reasonably comfortable. The key test of a good saddle is not to have to think about your sore butt during a ride.

Yeah, put a gel cover on your S-Works Tarmac.

Won't look stupid. Trust me.

Yeah, put a gel cover on your S-Works Tarmac.

Won't look stupid. Trust me.

Well, I really don't care if some sucka like you thought it looked stupid. I'm just looking for comfort. Besides, when you're in the aero-tuck position, it would be impossible to tell if a Gel cover was covering my saddle. Nah, it won't look stupid. It'll feel good. Trust me.

I just put a Fizik Arrone saddle on my litespeed - replacing the Flite Trans Am Gel saddle I was using. The Flite was good but I got sore on longer rides. The Fizik is great. I like the multiple positions the long saddle allows and at first I kept looking down at my tires when I would hit a bump because I thought I had a flat - the new saddle was that smooth. So far 250+ miles in two weeks on the Fizik and love it. No more soreness. It is pricy but not too bad on ebay.

Mark

In case you don't look, saddle discomfort isn't caused by less padding (try the ones on exercise bike then :D). It has to do with a particular saddle and its shape. I am riding a SLR which weights in 135 grams. Padding? I think my skin has more padding than the saddle. You know why, the shape of the saddle fits me well. I can spend 5 hours riding on it without issue.


Hey folks,
I have a 2004 S-Works Tarmac and for me at least the saddle is a little too hard. I need a little more cushion for the long rides. Should I get a Gel cover or just purchase another saddle. Again, I just need a little extra cushion, not too much.
Manny

That would be "Fred." :D


Yeah, put a gel cover on your S-Works Tarmac.

Won't look stupid. Trust me.

Brrrooooookkkkssssss!
Brooks B17 saddle, best buy I ever made.
Tried any number of saddles. Always started getting painful after 50 miles or so.
I can ride 100+ on a brooks and feel great.

Brrrooooookkkkssssss!
Brooks B17 saddle, best buy I ever made.
Tried any number of saddles. Always started getting painful after 50 miles or so.
I can ride 100+ on a brooks and feel great.

Ah, yes. I'm currently breaking in a new Brooks on my commuter. It's pretty comfortable out of the box, but when I get home and switch to my 2000 mile Brooks it's like sitting in a recliner. Man, that's comfy!

I'm with you Joat, I can ride all day and never give the seat a thought.

oh no here we go again with the Brooks business. I don't think he wants to put a Bricks on his light weight racer :)



I just put a Fizik Arrone saddle on my litespeed - replacing the Flite Trans Am Gel saddle I was using. The Flite was good but I got sore on longer rides. The Fizik is great. I like the multiple positions the long saddle allows and at first I kept looking down at my tires when I would hit a bump because I thought I had a flat - the new saddle was that smooth. So far 250+ miles in two weeks on the Fizik and love it. No more soreness. It is pricy but not too bad on ebay.

Mark

You I need to talk too. I understand that saddle fit is very personal and it is almost impossible to get a reccomendation from anyone but since you went from a flight to an Arrone then I may be on to some thing. OK I am struggling with the saddle question now. I decided I cant handle my Sella Flight any more so I went to the LBS and they are good enough to let me ride a saddle for a week or so to test it out and trade it back in for some thing else till I find the right one. I've heard good things about the Fizik Arrone so I started there. Friday I did 45 miles and it felt ok. It was certainly better than the Flight, which consistently bothered me after about 35-40 miles. Then on Sunday I rode 100 miles and by about mile 60 I felt like my ass was bleeding :( Now maybe jumping on a new saddle and riding 150 miles in 3 days was a mistake? But what I noticed was that there is a lot of contact area on your but and this is what they say the saddle indeed is supposed to do. The contact area is leather and so it basically chaffed me raw over time. Did you notice any discomfort at first on this saddle? I think that I need to break my but in more than the saddle needs to break in. Just wondering if you had a similar experience?

If this one does not work out I think I will try the Terry Zero.

Just can't resist this (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/real-man.html)

Joat, thanks....never saw this one. It was just the topic of conversation on Sunday when I took ribbing for having a B-17 narrow on my Trek 5200 CF.

> am riding a SLR which weights in 135 grams.
> Padding? I think my skin has more padding than the saddle.

Yes, the SLR is definitely a padless saddle.
I tried this one this year and couldn't take it. I'm using a Terry Men's Firefly, much heavier but much more comfortable. So much so, I put one my Gary Fisher as well.

Buy one from a store that'll let you swap 'em out til you find one that's comfy.
Best.

Take a look at Koobi (www.koobi.com). I put on an AU Enduro a few weeks ago. Several hundered miles later, my bum is liking it very much! There was no discernable break-in period that I could tell either.

P.S. I see you've met ewitz ... one of the resident clowns here.