Fifty Plus (50+) - Never Ending Quest for the Perfect Saddle

So in my continuing search for the elusive "perfect" saddle I scored a brand new Specialized Toupe saddle on eBay for $80. :D There has to be the perfect mate for my backside out there somewhere...hopefully this is it. I was in an LBS out in Arizona (visiting my daughter and son in-law) and they had the Specialized sit bone measuring thing so I'm pretty sure this saddle in 155mm will be the right size...I just hope it's the one since my collection of "like new" saddles is growing. :rolleyes:

http://www.specialized.com/media/equip/2720-1000_-1016_d.jpg

I gave up on looking for the perfect saddle after the prostate op. Then 5 years later itarrived on a bike I bought. Didn't last long though. Suddenly on one ride it went off and I had to start the search again.

After lotsa years riding, I've never found the perfect saddle that disappears under me-- including the iconic Brooks. I have managed to accumulate a box full of failed candidates for the honor. Some saddles are noticably betther than others. These days, and for several past seasons, I've been riding Regals and Flite Trans Am Gel's.....but after "x" amount of miles on any given day on any given saddle....the butt can still complain.

But, its all relative. I remember when the late 80's Turbo was considered a comfy enough racing saddle.....I happily enough owned 2, but were I to ride them today I'd probably think otherwise. Some people still like the old Rolls.

Simple practices can help get you farther w/o discomfort...change position frequently, get up off the saddle regularly, sometimes spin heavier gears to help "unweight" the butt, good shorts, butt balm if need be, right saddle height, blah, blah................and simply some stoic endurance "in the end".

Padded (not gel) shorts have worked great for me. This spring I am adding a Thudbuster ST twixt me and the ground.

So in my continuing search for the elusive "perfect" saddle I scored a brand new Specialized Toupe saddle on eBay for $80. :D There has to be the perfect mate for my backside out there somewhere...hopefully this is it. I was in an LBS out in Arizona (visiting my daughter and son in-law) and they had the Specialized sit bone measuring thing so I'm pretty sure this saddle in 155mm will be the right size...I just hope it's the one since my collection of "like new" saddles is growing. :rolleyes:

http://www.specialized.com/media/equip/2720-1000_-1016_d.jpg

You will get a chance to see on the 13th. Palm Springs is the perfect testing ground. I have to take my Jamis because my Lapierre is heading for the bike hospital. I will be using the saddle off of the Lapierre for the century even on the more relaxed Jamis. Once you find the saddle that fits you will know it and at least know what will work. So far I think there are seven of us riding together.

You will get a chance to see on the 13th. Palm Springs is the perfect testing ground. I have to take my Jamis because my Lapierre is heading for the bike hospital. I will be using the saddle off of the Lapierre for the century even on the more relaxed Jamis. Once you find the saddle that fits you will know it and at least know what will work. So far I think there are seven of us riding together.

That's what I'm hoping for Bob...is Lapierre covering the frame?

That's what I'm hoping for Bob...is Lapierre covering the frame?

They said they would but until I get my frame to them and it gets back I am not putting anything in the bank. Though the representative said they had never had one of these frames returned there is always a first time I guess. They are supposed to be pretty good at standing behind their frames so we will see.
At least I had finished the rebuild of the Jamis and while it isn’t a performance bike it was what I did my first century on. More relaxed with a bit longer wheel base. Easy to ride with no hands when you remove a jacket or arm warmers. There is a long shot the Lapierre will be back by then but I am not sure I can get it back together in time. :twitchy:

It might knock me out of Bull Dog however but that is 4 weeks away. :(

Got three letters for you: SMP

One can spend a considerable amount on the search. Mine got easier when I found an LBS that would let me try one and return it if it wasn't the right match. Only catch was that I had to end up buying somethings. I lucked out and found three saddles that all work for me. One of which is the gel Toupe. One suggestion is: don't over tighten the seat clamp on the seat post. These saddles or so minimal that they eaisly distort shape.

Got three letters for you: SMP

I'm on a Selle Italia gel flow right now...not impressed. I have a B-17, and several Specialized saddles (low end) as well as a couple of recommended Bontragers too. Perhaps an SMP is somewhere in the future, but I have a small fortune invested as it is.

One can spend a considerable amount on the search. Mine got easier when I found an LBS that would let me try one and return it if it wasn't the right match. Only catch was that I had to end up buying somethings. I lucked out and found three saddles that all work for me. One of which is the gel Toupe. One suggestion is: don't over tighten the seat clamp on the seat post. These saddles or so minimal that they eaisly distort shape.

I see the Toupe on more bikes than anything else. There must be a reason. Thanks on the tightening part too.

So in my continuing search for the elusive "perfect" saddle I scored a brand new Specialized Toupe saddle on eBay for $80. :D There has to be the perfect mate for my backside out there somewhere...hopefully this is it. I was in an LBS out in Arizona (visiting my daughter and son in-law) and they had the Specialized sit bone measuring thing so I'm pretty sure this saddle in 155mm will be the right size...I just hope it's the one since my collection of "like new" saddles is growing. :rolleyes:

http://www.specialized.com/media/equip/2720-1000_-1016_d.jpg

I saw one of those in my bike box this afternoon when I was looking for some parts. Mine is white with blue trim and the non-gel version but the wider option. I hope you're able to use yours longer than I used mine.

Simple practices can help get you farther w/o discomfort...change position frequently, get up off the saddle regularly, sometimes spin heavier gears to help "unweight" the butt, good shorts, butt balm if need be, right saddle height, blah, blah................and simply some stoic endurance "in the end".

I am new to riding (Something other than Schwinn or Sears). I changed the saddle that came with my Fisher Wahoo (a Bontrager Race Lux - I felt it was too hard) for a Sonoma Gel 155 (it just looked & felt good in the store - no research so I have no idea how that saddle ranks)- Also I got shorts with padding, but I also use heaver gears, keep the seat low and don't put much weight on the saddle. I don't know what I am doing, just trying to figure things out and avoid a sore rear end.

I am new to riding (Something other than Schwinn or Sears). I changed the saddle that came with my Fisher Wahoo (a Bontrager Race Lux - I felt it was too hard) for a Sonoma Gel 155 (it just looked & felt good in the store - no research so I have no idea how that saddle ranks)- Also I got shorts with padding, but I also use heaver gears, keep the seat low and don't put much weight on the saddle. I don't know what I am doing, just trying to figure things out and avoid a sore rear end.

Welcome Razzoo...I have a Sonoma Gel 155 as well. It started out good but I quickly decided it was too soft for me.

I saw one of those in my bike box this afternoon when I was looking for some parts. Mine is white with blue trim and the non-gel version but the wider option. I hope you're able to use yours longer than I used mine.

That's encouraging. :bang::lol:

For me the perfect saddle is the old Ritchey Vector. It's highly rounded and fairly narrow so it LOOKS like it should feel like heck. But of all the ones I've tried it's the one that all but dissapears under me.

My 2 recently acquired Brooks are comfy and all but in the one case it's SO comfy that I languish in having my butt cheeks coddled in such a manner and it interferes with the riding. The other is OK and is much like my beloved Vectors.

I've managed to get 3 of the Ritcheys and they are not going anywhere but from one bike to the next as I purchase them.

Why do these work? They are highly rounded and common sense says they should feel like sitting on a knife blade. But they don't. Instead they support where needed and don't get in the way of the inner thigh muscles on the downstroke like some others seem to do. The one in your first post looks like it would cut into the inner thigh on the downstroke. A longer side skirt would likely fix that issue if it's there like I think it would be. A longer side skirt like... oh... the one on the Ritchey Vectors for example.... :D To get around the pressure on the naughty bits I angle the nose down as needed until I feel the pressure on the sit bones. For me this ends up with the saddle having a 5 to 7 degree nose down attitude. Some folks say I'll slip off but in use this just doesn't happen. It's also needed because that's how I'm built. I have to do the same thing with the fancy cut away saddles.

There is no such thing.

The perfect saddle is (your favorite here). There is no need to try any other.

^ +1

My current flavor of the day is the Specialized Phenom and it only cost $75, even less with a LBS discount. I now have three bikes with the saddle, one is 3 yrs old, one 2 yrs old and one attached last fall.

^ +1

My current flavor of the day is the Specialized Phenom and it only cost $75, even less with a LBS discount. I now have three bikes with the saddle, one is 3 yrs old, one 2 yrs old and one attached last fall.

Almost went that route...

I agree the perfect saddle is the one you like. I also agree there is one no perfect saddle for everyone. As you have discovered some highly recommended saddles aren’t necessarily as comfortable for you as they are for some. When you ride with us you may notice a greater number of SMPs but you might also notice they are not all the same model. I like the one with a little padding and some like a bit more or a bit less. Little Ben tried the SMP race with no padding and ended up buying one with more padding than I have. Some people have the saddle you are showing as well. It is a hard task you are trying. I wish you luck.

I just got a Toupe over Ebay also. Hope to give it a try some time this week.

I saw one of those in my bike box this afternoon when I was looking for some parts. Mine is white with blue trim and the non-gel version but the wider option. I hope you're able to use yours longer than I used mine.


That's encouraging. :bang::lol:


There is no such thing.


I just got a Toupe over Ebay also. Hope to give it a try some time this week.

Sorry but if you have butt ache- then there is not a great deal that can be done. You will be doomed to forever buying saddles till you have no room for any more.

Then one day the butt fairy will send you a gift and it will work---For a while.

So keep looking and keep buying- It helps the economy.

Sorry but if you have butt ache- then there is not a great deal that can be done. You will be doomed to forever buying saddles till you have no room for any more.

Then one day the butt fairy will send you a gift and it will work---For a while.

So keep looking and keep buying- It helps the economy.

OK, so when I think of what the butt fairy must do to earn a living, my rough days at work don't seem all that bad. Thanks for the image.

I scored a used Selle San Marco 7 at a flea market yesterday for $1. It's a little cushier than the WTB saddle I have now, so I'm going to try it out.

I did have a problem after the Prostatectomy and I could not find a saddle that worked. I'd find one at the shop and it did work for a couple of weeks- then the pain came back as the internal body adjusted shape. This went on for 5 years and I just do not know how much the total number of saddles I bought cost me. Then I bought my first road bike and after a couple of rides that saddle worked. Didn't last long though- about 6 months but it gave me a lead to what type of saddle I needed.

I settled on two similar shapes that worked and they are still good. But saddle set up is critical. One ride and I got Butt ache within about 10 miles. Got home in pain and checked the bike out and I found that I had lowered the seat post by 1/4". Readjusted and the saddle worked again.

I found an Origin8 Pro Road Saddle, $14, that seems to work as well as anything, for my backside. Ass-tounding, huh?

But saddle set up is critical. One ride and I got Butt ache within about 10 miles. Got home in pain and checked the bike out and I found that I had lowered the seat post by 1/4". Readjusted and the saddle worked again.

This part couldn't be more true. Without several different measurements for proper adjustment you are not comparing apples to apples. Even then I find that I can adjust the new saddle exactly the same as another and because it may have more padding in it I will compress the padding while riding and actually be lower, even though the height measurements may be exactly the same.

The "perfect saddle" is a corporate conspiracy to get you to spend all you money trying to find it.

Have been riding my Brooks Pro for the last 18 years so I consider myself lucky to have found the perfect match. Or maybe my "butt" is now shaped for that saddle.

The answer when I asked a friend who rides a lot: "I don't pay any attention to my butt and after awhile the pain goes away." I asked: "But wouldn't another saddle maybe make things better?" Him: "Nope, no proof of that so I won't waste my money on it".

I received my new Toupe yesterday and put 25 miles on it today...in the rain. :notamused: My first impression is good...very good. :thumb: More saddle time will tell the whole story.

I have been using the Toupe 155mm for the past 20 months now, works very well for me. A previous try with the 143mm was not good though. Width can make a huge difference.

3Hi gpekpel, how come you switched to 155 - after a second butto-meter test? I ride a toupe 143mm - and the only issue I now have is sometimes some rash in certain area ;-) - after trying several saddles and returning to the toupe. Would a different width solve that?

HI,
For me its my seat adjustments more than the saddle, padding for me makes it worse, position is the critical piece, and changing your butt position every 10- 15 min. I found that using time trial handle bars 136417where I slide forward on the nose of the saddle and spin for 10-15 mins this uses more quads then I slide back all the way on the saddle and hit the sit bones I drop to the lower bars this use the powerful muscles on the back of your legs and when they start to complain I drop back down on the nose and ride on my forearms for a while. So your constantly changing back and forth resting some of your leg/thigh muscles and soft tissues in the under carriage. for me standing up on the pegs only last about 10 secs relief its changing positions on the saddle .
136416 When I slide back on the sit bones the saddle feels flat as a board but it supports the entire under carriage equally and feels fine to me cause there isn't any pressure points.When you seat dosen't allow you move around alot it may be to low or too far back. Riding I beleive is supposed to balance your weight on your hands, legs and ars when your ides seated in one position you cutting off blood to that one spot its similar to bed sores its not a rubbing problem its lack of blood flow and tissue damage from pressure points.
When its only one pressure point your going to have problems with that area be it hands , knees, ars's.
I like a rather hard saddle that flexis a bit when your hammering and stil prevents pressure point . The pressure for me is when the weight is spread across all the soft tissues no just one spot. requires a level saddle, with the nose pointed a couple degree to the right this allows me let the boys hang out on the left side of the saddle.
So you need to be sure your saddle is level, I like it above the handle bars cause I like thoses TT bars, stay off the hoods use only the TT or lower parts of the bars. When you adjust the handle bar for the hoods to be comfortable hand holds the other two are to low to be comfortable The TT's absorb alot of the road shock and the lower bars seem to flex alittle when I mash or hit bumps like shock absorbers, my hand pain has improved and my fingersand thumbs aren't getting numb on longer rides over 2 hours. I never ride with my hands on the hoods now.
Doug

I rode my B17 in the rain for 50 miles and it got all wet. Now it fits my butt to a T.

Last month replaced our saddles on our tandem after 25,000 miles.
Pilot's was a Ti-Flite (minimal padding, no cutout); stoker's was a Serfas (with cutout).
Replaced with a San Marco Intergra and a Kuota (Italian made). Picked both up at swapmeet for under 5 bucks each (still in the box). Neither saddle has a cutout and work fine for us.
After 225,000+ miles riding in tandem, we pretty well know what our buns need: no spongy/squishy/holey hokus pocus.

After years of riding nothing but Brooks B17 on my RB-1, I moved that saddle to my new Casseroll. Since I wanted to shift the focus of the Bridgestone to a more sporting role, I decided to try the Velo Orange Model 6, a trimmed down version of a leather saddle. When it arrived I thought I had made a terrible mistake as it was hard as a rock - far harder than any of my Brooks saddles. It looked great, but I was afraid this one was not going to work. But much to my surprise, it has been very comfortable. I only have a few hundred miles on it with no rides over 35 miles, but it has not caused me any pain at all. I can't wait to see what it will be like after it is broken in.
136521

3Hi gpekpel, how come you switched to 155 - after a second butto-meter test? I ride a toupe 143mm - and the only issue I now have is sometimes some rash in certain area ;-) - after trying several saddles and returning to the toupe. Would a different width solve that?

On the "butto-meter" I am borderline between the two sizes. When I tried the 143mm Specialized didn't have the 155mm yet, so I switched to Selle Italia Max Flite that is wider. The Max Flite was ok but much heavier (it is now on the tandem and on the MTB). When the 155mm Toupe became available I had to try it. It solved the issue I had with the 143mm which was rash along the outside edge of the saddle.

On the "butto-meter" I am borderline between the two sizes. When I tried the 143mm Specialized didn't have the 155mm yet, so I switched to Selle Italia Max Flite that is wider. The Max Flite was ok but much heavier (it is now on the tandem and on the MTB). When the 155mm Toupe became available I had to try it. It solved the issue I had with the 143mm which was rash along the outside edge of the saddle.

Hi gpelpel, thanx for your reaction. I may try a 155 myself -although after almost a year of searching resetting etc, I am quite happy with my toupe. It took a while to get rid of the pressure issues. It appeared that I had to move the saddle about a cm to the front al done in little steps. It also helped to put the saddle in a perfect horizontal position. I have only a very mild pain in the b... after a 2 hours ride and no other issues. And I usually had the pressure issues the day after... not while/short after riding... strange though.

I used a Toupe and Alias 143 for a while, until a year or so ago. The lack of perineal pressure was good, better on the Toupe. What I like better are a B17, a B-17N Imp, and a Selle Anatomica. The Toupe is good for up to 35 miles. The others so far are good up to and past that distance.

After years of riding nothing but Brooks B17 on my RB-1, I moved that saddle to my new Casseroll. Since I wanted to shift the focus of the Bridgestone to a more sporting role, I decided to try the Velo Orange Model 6, a trimmed down version of a leather saddle. When it arrived I thought I had made a terrible mistake as it was hard as a rock - far harder than any of my Brooks saddles. It looked great, but I was afraid this one was not going to work. But much to my surprise, it has been very comfortable. I only have a few hundred miles on it with no rides over 35 miles, but it has not caused me any pain at all. I can't wait to see what it will be like after it is broken in.
136521

35 miles is not enough - can you go 60 w/o pain? I have an old Terry Liberator on my Simoncini, it will last 100 miles at a time. However when I switch it to the Tarmac it's good for about 40. I am now working on a Sella Anatomica on the Tarmac, a Metric is about as far as it will go - but only after a lot of tweeking. I am still trying things to make that bike comfortable, even after almost 3 years with it now.

35 miles is not enough - can you go 60 w/o pain?.

No joke, really? :rolleyes:

I have no idea if this is going to turn out to be a comfortable long distance saddle or not. I am only reporting what I know so far which is that it was comfortable initially, which I did not expect. I thought I made it clear that this was a first impression, not a long range test.

It is not too likely that I will be doing any really long rides on this saddle as it sits on a bike that has been set up for shorter, faster rides while another bike has assumed the long distance role. So I will be happy if I can ride 50 miles without discomfort. My century rides will mostly be done on the Casseroll with the B17 Brooks.

Love my Koobi PRS. Wonderful quality and service. Held up well after two crashes
where previous saddles didn't fair as well.

My experience is that whatever saddle they all managed to hurt my butt. Some more some less. The butt pain is not that alarming - however, I also tried saddles that hurt the day(s) after the ride, not in the butt, however in the perineum area upfront... very strange - I could ride 4 hours on a SMP saddle without problem during the ride - the day after it felt like I was kicked... there.
Careful and sometimes almost minuscule movements of the saddle to the front - back finally solved that matter too. Had the saddle pointed downwards; didn't work, perfectly level did work.

I've had this saddle for 37 years. It was used during 3000 miles of riding last year. I must like it!

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll210/wildcat-bucket/Soma2x2009seatpost-1.jpg

As a recumbent rider, I just love threads with titles like this one. I have nothing useful to offer, but I sure love the reading! I think Brooks is still in the lead for overall most happy users.

Have been riding my Brooks Pro for the last 18 years so I consider myself lucky to have found the perfect match. Or maybe my "butt" is now shaped for that saddle.

Been riding the same Brooks Pro since the early '80s. I am about to replace it, and am not looking forward to the break in period... that old saddle was perfect, but started developing a tear at one of the rivets.

Have been riding my Brooks Pro for the last 18 years so I consider myself lucky to have found the perfect match. Or maybe my "butt" is now shaped for that saddle.

Other way around. If you look at your Brooks it probably has a couple of groves worn in it where your sit bones rest. Either way, the point of the leather saddles is that they eventually conform to your particular anatomy - assuming you take the time to break them in properly and take care of them (mainly, don't get them soaking wet).

I finally bought a B17 on my new bike and while it isn't perfect I have noticed it slowly disappearing. I'm only 100 miles in so hopefully it will continue to get more comfortable as the miles rack up...

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/road-bikes/demo-saddle