Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Need a new Clyde-friendly saddle

I've broken my last two saddles (the metal bar under the nose on the right side both times - not the rail but the bar that gives the nose its shape has broken probably 2-3 inches from the tip of the nose, I don't know the name for this). Both of the saddles were el cheapo gel cushiony saddles (I know I should be looking for something firmer this time anyway), but am looking for suggestions of something that'll be strong enough to hold me (~230 lbs) and be a good fit for my riding.

I ride a mountain bike with drop bars and slicks mainly for commuting and recreation if that gives any info on my riding style.http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ObfGD5rhStM/SJCuxvJIEzI/AAAAAAAAAVI/KkBoD-LOUJs/s320/P1000632.JPG

I've had good luck with Charge Spoon and WTB designs (the rocket model, i think). I'm exactly your weight, and have done over 2,000 on the spoon and over 5,000 on the WTB.

Brooks B17....that is all

Brooks B17....that is all

Sorry forgot to mention that I'm looking for something on the cheaper end. While I know lots of people love a brooks, that saddle costs more than I paid for my bike.

hey, can someone get this guy a deal on a brooks.......I paid $65 for mine brand new (i know a guy)....every big guy should be on a Brooks

The Bontrager SSR saddle, A 25.00 saddle was surprisingly comfortable + it was firm and wide..

http://bontrager.com/model/08381

I bought a Terry Firefly for my MTB & love it. I'm 235

I paid $65 for mine brand new (i know a guy)Wow, I wish I knew your guy. I'll just have a hard time justifying to my wife dropping a full $100 on a saddle for a bike that cost me $100 on craigslist. What with us being poor grad students and all. Maybe I can talk her into it explaining the money I've spent so far on two saddles that I managed to break that a stronger saddle once is a better investment. Or I might take one of the other suggestions. Thanks all...

I'm 250lbs and I've been racing and training Fizik Ariones for years with no problems.

I know two riders who were die-hard brooks guys...till they tried the Arione. No break-in needed, no oiling, no protecting from rain...

My Brooks costs about $65 too. You could find them for that prices a few years ago, but I guess not now. I weigh more than you, have never bothered to treat or otherwise serviced the saddle, occassionally ride in the rain, and it's fine.

For those of you considering the B17, just be aware that they have very short rails and getting the seat back far enough on your seatpost can be a challenge..

I would highly recommend the VO Seatpost because it has 30mm of setback and is priced very reasonably..

http://www.velo-orange.com/vogrcrusepol.html

I have weighted 225-245 for the last 30 years and have never broken a seat, I thought that bar is just an part of the rail. Could you provide a picture of the break and the seat post. As for the seats that I ride, Selle San Marco Concor had one on my bike for the last 25 years, Selle Italia Flite gel, Selle Italia SLK, Pearl Izumi flow, old peugeot leather covered plastic seat.
and a stock Jamis and Cannondale saddles. I mostly found my non stock saddles on clearance racks or end of year sales. Some of the shops have a box of saddles that are take offs from new bikes that are normally cheap. I got my last saddle the Selle Italia SLK for about $70 as a take off.

ok, I'll try to take some pictures tonight so you can see what I'm talking about. It's possible that I ride too far up on the nose or something and that's causing the breakage. It's weird that's it's in the same location on both saddles.

Specialized Avatar/Toupe here (in the 143 width)

So here are pictures of my saddle from the underside. Hopefully you can see the tear near the nose that is on the top in both pictures. It's immediately under the tear that the break is (and was on my last saddle, which I no longer have). This saddle came with the bike when I bought it off Craigslist, and is too heavily padded for me, so it needed to go even if it didn't break, but this speeds up the process, I guess. It's still ridable, it just has a lot more give on that side when you sit down on it. Not so noticeable once you get moving, but not something I want to happen on my next saddle.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ObfGD5rhStM/S8jonuW0mUI/AAAAAAAAGmk/0gFzpGY57IU/s640/P1020714.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ObfGD5rhStM/S8joqTqfx-I/AAAAAAAAGms/g8rhy1C_eZ0/s640/P1020717.JPG

You really need a new saddle and a new seat post. Go to a LBS and see if they've got a bargain bin if money is tight.

I ride Specialized saddles too and I weigh about 250 lbs right now. I've never ever had a problem with Specialized saddle even when I weighed a lot more.

what's wrong with the seat post? I haven't tried taking the saddle off, so I don't know.

I'm not fond of that type of mounting clamp ;)

oh, ok. I know nothing about such things.

A higher quality seat post will have the clamp integrated into the top of the post instead of being separate pieces.

are seatposts a uniform diameter or am I going to have to measure mine to make sure I get the right sized replacement? Thanks for all the help. I should be able to convince the wife that it's worth it to drop the cash on two different things (saddle and post) as money isn't really that tight, just having a hard time convincing her that bikes are more than toys and are worth a serious cash investment. Was hoping that by commuting every day that I could do that (and drop some weight at the same time).

are seatposts a uniform diameter or am I going to have to measure mine to make sure I get the right sized replacement? Thanks for all the help. I should be able to convince the wife that it's worth it to drop the cash on two different things (saddle and post) as money isn't really that tight, just having a hard time convincing her that bikes are more than toys and are worth a serious cash investment. Was hoping that by commuting every day that I could do that (and drop some weight at the same time).

Seatposts come in an amazing range of sizes (and they're often only seperated by 0.2mm, so you really need a mic to measure them. (unless, of course, yours has the size stamped on it, and it can be read.) Nice, modern micro adjusting seatposts are nice and all, but I don't know that they're necessary. A two piece seatpost is heavier, but not that much, and not that much less strong.

You will need to measure the seatpost diameter get the proper size seat post, they come in all different sizes. The problem with this type of seat post is that the adjustments are notches and the best position may be between the notches so it is not adjustable enough.

The seatpost in the link attached is an example of a two bolt seat post that lets you micro adjust the tilt of the seat.

2 bolt seat post (http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=22651&category=167)


The seat that you have is a very cheap seat. I think that any off the shelf seat that you get will be an improvement in quality. Again I have never broken a seat in all my years of riding but I also never had that seat. I hate to give suggestions since a seat is such a personal item and what works for me may not work for you.

I think that many people recommend this saddle and it's not too expensive but I'm not sure of the model.

WTB Rocket Saddle (http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=33360&category=159)

I hope this helps

Thanks guys. Things to think about anyway. I think a new saddle is top priority and if I can't get it to work for me, then try a better seatpost and if I still can't get it work work, go with a new saddle again at that point. Does that sound like a sensible plan?

Does anyone know why I would have broken two saddles at that same spot? Is it something with the way I'm riding? Crappy manufacturing quality control? Poor design?

This saddle was on the bike when I bought it from craigslist, and the last one was a gift from my parents, but yeah they both were probably really cheap from K-mart or something.

Thanks guys. Things to think about anyway. I think a new saddle is top priority and if I can't get it to work for me, then try a better seatpost and if I still can't get it work work, go with a new saddle again at that point. Does that sound like a sensible plan?

Does anyone know why I would have broken two saddles at that same spot? Is it something with the way I'm riding? Crappy manufacturing quality control? Poor design?

This saddle was on the bike when I bought it from craigslist, and the last one was a gift from my parents, but yeah they both were probably really cheap from K-mart or something.

Start with getting a new saddle, any of the mentioned saddles should be fine.
I don't how you ride to know if that is the problem. Do you know what you were doing when they broke? You didn't mention specific seat problems, so I would look for any similar seat in your price point

I'm 250lbs and I've been racing and training Fizik Ariones for years with no problems.

I know two riders who were die-hard brooks guys...till they tried the Arione. No break-in needed, no oiling, no protecting from rain...

I am your size and also rather like my Fizik Arione. It's not perfect but it is way better than the first four saddles I rode. I am hoping it will only get better when the weight starts coming off, whenever that will be. :(

Thanks guys, I decided to try the wtb rocket that several people recommended. I guess we'll see what happens with regards to fit/comfort when it arrives. Thanks all.

I don't really remember what happened when it broke, I just remember sitting on it one time and feeling it was sagging more on one side.