Road Cycling - Will an un-comfy Selle Italia SLR ever become comfy?

I just ordered a Fizik Aliante today because I found it had the most positive reviews, aside from the much heavier Brooks. Well, the Aliante is pricey, so I stopped by the bike store to see what they had in the meantime. No Fiziks, but they had a sa-weet looking Selle Italia SLR. I love the look - hollow Ti rails, minimalist carbon shell, and a thin leather covering. Ultra light, too. Looked like it would have plenty of flex for comfort, and I know the Flite has long been a preferred saddle.

So I bought the SLR with the understanding I can return it in new condition. It was about $40 less, so I figured it's worth a try. I taped the rails and installed it on my bike, and....OUCH! I did not ride it, because the immediate feel was hard and uncomfy.

I did some searching on the SLR and some reviews implied it will break in. Will breaking this in be enough to make it comfortable, or would it have to already feel fairly comfy straight out of the box?

I guess I will hang onto it until the Fizik arrives and I can try it, just to make sure the latter is substantially more comfy before I decide which one to return...

I just ordered a Fizik Aliante today because I found it had the most positive reviews, aside from the much heavier Brooks. Well, the Aliante is pricey, so I stopped by the bike store to see what they had in the meantime. No Fiziks, but they had a sa-weet looking Selle Italia SLR. I love the look - hollow Ti rails, minimalist carbon shell, and a thin leather covering. Ultra light, too. Looked like it would have plenty of flex for comfort, and I know the Flite has long been a preferred saddle.

So I bought the SLR with the understanding I can return it in new condition. It was about $40 less, so I figured it's worth a try. I taped the rails and installed it on my bike, and....OUCH! I did not ride it, because the immediate feel was hard and uncomfy.

I did some searching on the SLR and some reviews implied it will break in. Will breaking this in be enough to make it comfortable, or would it have to already feel fairly comfy straight out of the box?

I guess I will hang onto it until the Fizik arrives and I can try it, just to make sure the latter is substantially more comfy before I decide which one to return...

They become quite comfy when replaced with a Brooks Swift TI. ;-)

One persons gold is another persons copper. Those reviews,what kind of bike,tire size,frame material,size of rider,get the pic. It all matters. Yes,it takes awhile for a seat to break in{even a brooks which i would never put on my bike** so make sure its set up right and you got a good pair of shorts and put some shorter rides on it and see. A $200 saddle might be a nail and a $50 one might be a 10,000 miler.

I just ordered a Fizik Aliante today because I found it had the most positive reviews, aside from the much heavier Brooks. Well, the Aliante is pricey, so I stopped by the bike store to see what they had in the meantime. No Fiziks, but they had a sa-weet looking Selle Italia SLR. I love the look - hollow Ti rails, minimalist carbon shell, and a thin leather covering. Ultra light, too. Looked like it would have plenty of flex for comfort, and I know the Flite has long been a preferred saddle.

So I bought the SLR with the understanding I can return it in new condition. It was about $40 less, so I figured it's worth a try. I taped the rails and installed it on my bike, and....OUCH! I did not ride it, because the immediate feel was hard and uncomfy.

I did some searching on the SLR and some reviews implied it will break in. Will breaking this in be enough to make it comfortable, or would it have to already feel fairly comfy straight out of the box?

I guess I will hang onto it until the Fizik arrives and I can try it, just to make sure the latter is substantially more comfy before I decide which one to return...


They become quite comfy after they magically transform into a Fi'zi:k Aliante..

the SLR is a board, it never breaks in.
the carbon plastic shell is elastic (ish) but I hated the thing and after a year of saddle sores and numb nuts i gave it away.

Now I haven Aliante, love it so much that the agents ar sponsoring me with them for the next year.

sweet deal, sweetsaddle

Doesn't a shop or two near you offer a "saddle try-out"? We have a couple of shops around here that has a big bin full of saddles for this, you pick out one you think you may like, give them a deposit (unless you are "known" to them) try it out for awhile, if you don't like it you bring it in for another, if you do like it you can buy a new one.

Andrew

I like my SLR. I think its quite comfortable. IMHO

You do not break in an SLR. It is the saddle that breaks you in.

The saddle will maintain it's shape and rigidity as long as you own it. However as you spend more time in it you adapt to the shape and feel of the SLR. Personally after 1 or 2 long rides it became the most comfortable saddle I have ever used. I have regularly spend hours on this saddle in single rides and find that it just disappears beneath you. No saddle sores, no discomfort, and no standing up for relief.

Been there - done that. I used the Flite for the first 1,000 miles on my Litespeed - it was ok for the first 20 miles or so but it would be unbearable by mile 50.

I read about the Fizik saddles, both the Aliante and the Arione. The Arione sounded better because it offers more positions than the Aliante. The lbs happended to have the Arione on the wall so I bought it. The Arione has been on the bike for 200 miles. Let's just say I still look down to make sure my tires aren't going half flat - it is that comfy. I feel bumps in my arms more than in my touche now - it's wonderful and has put the joy back into going long distances again.

That Flite saddle now sits on my coffee table as a reminder of the uncomfortable days. Maybe I'll sell it to some other sucker on ebay.

Mark

I got rid of my but busting flight for an arione too but so far after about 175 miles it aint workin out for me. I think I am going for a terry zero next. What a pain in the ass it is to find a good saddle, pun semi intended but really I am so sick of trying to find the right one. I swear there is no such thing and then people come on the forum and say they can sit in there saddles all day long blah blah are they liars :) So far for me there is no such thing as a comfortable saddle :( And for all you Brooks people they coudl be as comfy as a cloud but I aint puting 5 pounds of leather dead wait on my light weight racer ;)

Most modern saddles do not break in (unlike the old school Bricks). The key thing with modern saddles is to get one that feels right to you from the get-go. Sounds like the SLR does not fit you properly.

I tried 4 different saddles before finding the SLR, which seems to fit me just right, and is plenty comfortable for everything up to and including hilly century rides (where it's weight compared to the Bricks is definitely appreciated).

You might also want to make sure that your bike shorts are adequate - cheap, thin chamois will make any saddle feel harder that it otherwise should be.

Some like thinner chamois better as to thick bunch up on some but your right,a good pair of shorts{bibs are better at holding things up where they belong** will help alot.