Fifty Plus (50+) - Any seat recommendations out there?

This would be for a road bike.

This would be for a road bike. Most of my rides between 30 and 75 mi.

Yes, I recommend you use one. A saddle would be a good thing to have on a road bike. ;)

Yes, I recommend you use one. A saddle would be a good thing to have on a road bike. ;)

Now you tell me!! :)

I remember, back in the mid/late 80's, reading about a women's NORBA champion that won without a saddle for the last 25 or so miles of the championship race. Her seat post broke and somehow she had the fortitude to not only finish but win the national championship race for the year. Wow!

This would be for a road bike. Most of my rides between 30 and 75 mi.

When it comes to saddles, what I would recommend based on my experience might prove to be torturous to you. Saddle fit/preference is very individualized. That having been said, I currently ride a Selle SMP.

And the Brooks crowd will be here in 3...2...1...
:innocent:

Brooks! That's what I use on my Raleigh Sojourn, because that's what it came with.

But like they said up there, everyone seems to like different things.

On the lady riding without the seat- not so remarkable because some of those better cyclists don't spend much time on the seat anyway. It'd be remarkable if I did it, maybe.

And the Brooks crowd will be here in 3...2...1...
:innocent:
How about a Brooks hater? Well, not so much a hater as that rare person who had one, back in the '60s and early '70s, and really didn't like it at all.
I suggest you find a bike shop that has a few loaners and try them out to get a feel for what works. When you get the right saddle you'll know within the first fifty miles. I have found that my rear end is wider than expected for a male, so I have often happily used saddles labeled for females. The Specialized thing I ride on now comes in various widths. Of course I use the widest one they sell. Strangely, my wife has always used the ones marketed to males.

I'm part of the Brooks crowd, I bought my saddle used 15 years ago, it's now on it's 3rd bike....

And the Brooks crowd will be here in 3...2...1...
:innocent:

Soon to be followed by the 'bent true believers.

I've been awfully happy with a Serfa on my hybrid. It doesn't matter how far I ride my legs give out before my rear is sore.
http://www.serfas.com/saddle_products.asp?CatID=1
For my road bike I am looking at Terry or another Serfa since I have been so happy with theirs. Terry makes mens seats, too.
http://www.terrybicycles.com/Saddles

I have found I need/want/prefer the cutout seats- airflow, less pressure - BIG difference for me.

My husband likes his Fizik Aliante Gamma.
http://www.fizik.it/product.aspx?c=ALIANTE-GAMMA
He says it is very comfortable (a little wider than most mens road seats and it curves down- is not flat), which is hard to believe for me, but he says it is.

Saddles are very individual. If you haven't tried a cutout, I recommend you try one. Most bike shops have loaner seats.

How much money do you have to find the right one? Standard rule of thumb is about $500 is what it takes to find one that really works.

2 that work for me are Fizik Aliante and Selle Signo. There is not enough bandwidth to list the ones I have tried and not worked for me.

I had an Ideale (similar to Brooks) for a couple of years. Meh. I prefer to only spend about $30 on a saddle, so I tried out a bunch, several were bike shop takeoffs I got for $5.

SDG Belair is my favorite so far. Mine are all chewed up, thinking about taking them in to an upholsterer, new ones are probably cheaper though.

I've heard tell of some fancy bike shops offering demo saddles if you're looking for something fancy.

Agree with others that it is so personal but I will throw out the Fizik Airone, that is what I use and stuck with.
I tried the Antares and Aliante but kept the Airone. Many thousands of miles and no problems.
I may try the Antares again a some time though. LBS has them as loaners so no cost to try them out.

It's totally personal. I've tried several Brooks and a bunch of others, including a half-dozen $5 old Italian ones from the Madison Swap. In order what I like:

Selle AnAtomica (running three of them now)
Brooks B17 Imperial
Specialized Toupe 143
Specialized Alias 143
Brooks B17
Brooks Team Professional
Specialized BG
Specialized Toupe 135
E3 Form
all the rest

I got a bunch for sale if anyone wants to buy a "test kit"

This would be for a road bike. Most of my rides between 30 and 75 mi.

What are you using now, and why don't you like it?

Brooks B17 or B17 Narrow. Took me 10+ years to learn that there is no better saddle available.

What are you using now, and why don't you like it?

+1
This is the most useful reply so far in this thread.

(My earlier replies would be among the most useless)

+1
This is the most useful reply so far in this thread.

(My earlier replies would be among the most useless)

The OP's own post history indicates 2000-3000 miles ridden annually. Why not know what saddle works or not by this point? Makes no sense to me...

Brooks B17 or B17 Narrow. Took me 10+ years to learn that there is no better saddle available.

10+ years? That's how long it takes your backside to adjust? ;-)

Specialized Avatar

Just one question. If DF saddles dont cause pain, why is the so much discussion and switching to find one that causes the least pain??? We bent riders are smiling.

Gloves, grips/tape, shoes, pedals, shorts, saddles any item that interfaces between your body and your bike are highly individualized choices. What works well for one could be complete garbage for another. Its all trial and error with some educated guesses thrown in for good measure. Good luck!

Brooks B17. If you have sore butt troubles, you should at least give this saddle a try. It's not for everyone, but an awful lot of people (including me) love theirs.

Just one question. If DF saddles dont cause pain, why is the so much discussion and switching to find one that causes the least pain??? We bent riders are smiling.

Your post was the first mention of pain in this thread. :)

Maybe it is evangelical 'bent riders who cause the most pain. :innocent:

Brooks B17. If you have sore butt troubles, you should at least give this saddle a try. It's not for everyone, but an awful lot of people (including me) love theirs.

I wish I did... I loved its looks but not how it felt. It might have broken in after many more miles, but meanwhile it gave me my first saddle sore. :( I shipped it off to a happy home. :)

I do love my Terry Butterfly, I have one on both bikes. :love:

How much money do you have to find the right one? Standard rule of thumb is about $500 is what it takes to find one that really works.

2 that work for me are Fizik Aliante and Selle Signo. There is not enough bandwidth to list the ones I have tried and not worked for me.

:eek: Really??? The Terry Butterfly works for me, under $100.

There were two seat/saddle threads by the same OP - they have been merged.

There were two seat/saddle threads by the same OP - they have been merged.

Well...I wrote three brilliant paragraphs for this thread and as I tried to preview the result, BF gave me a weird message and my work was erased. I suspect I posted at the same time you merged. We had simultaneous.....

OP good luck with your saddle selection.

I remember, back in the mid/late 80's, reading about a women's NORBA champion that won without a saddle for the last 25 or so miles of the championship race. Her seat post broke and somehow she had the fortitude to not only finish but win the national championship race for the year. Wow!

That would by Cindy Whitehead, IIRC. A regular bike monster!

SP
Bend, OR

I ride a bent, and use a Brooks on my df, so I'm part of both crowds. But my advice is to find a shop that has a saddle trial/trade-in program and start trying 'em. That's the least expensive way to do it.

SP
Bend, OR

I like the Fizik Arione. It came with a new bike and I liked it so much, I replaced a Selle Italia on another bike I have. It's longer than most saddles and provides slightly different positions for climbing or just re-adjusting your position on long rides - like taking a break.

Ok, not trying to hijack this tread, but can any of you Brooks lovers tell me what is the difference (besides the obvious, ie spring vs unsprung) in models? Been looking at them for a while now and can't decide which model is right for me. I ride a Specialized Crosstrial Hybrid. Thanks!

I keep looking at the Terry Butterfly series Yen talks about, but it has this big, friggin pink monogram on the side. The black and white leather one I like has pink stitching to boot! I don't know if I can do pink...It might clash with the bike. LOL.

One of the Selle SMPs. My next saddle. Running Fizik Ariones on my bikes now.

I keep looking at the Terry Butterfly series Yen talks about, but it has this big, friggin pink monogram on the side. The black and white leather one I like has pink stitching to boot! I don't know if I can do pink...It might clash with the bike. LOL.

Neither of mine has pink... in fact one of them was on Hubby's bike (I don't recall why he switched it... he liked the saddle). Keep looking, even on Ebay.

I found a 2010 black Terry butterfly on sale on the Terry site- no pink. I don't think they are going to do well this year with that pink stuff. I think they made a boo boo doing that:
"Completely updated for 2011 with black perforated leather, pink stitching and distinctive Terry logo."
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b17/outwest5/CAERYWMP.jpg

I found this one- no pink:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b17/outwest5/vanoxsaddle.jpg

Just one question. If DF saddles dont cause pain, why is the so much discussion and switching to find one that causes the least pain??? We bent riders are smiling.

I could build you a recumbent seat that caused pain, and thus prove that recumbents are worthless, if that's how you figure it.

Ok, not trying to hijack this tread, but can any of you Brooks lovers tell me what is the difference (besides the obvious, ie spring vs unsprung) in models? Been looking at them for a while now and can't decide which model is right for me. I ride a Specialized Crosstrial Hybrid. Thanks!

I ride a CrossTrail as well. The various models from Brooks stumped me, so I went with a standard unsprung B17. My intent is to break it in on the CrossTrail, then move it over to the road bike in time (actually, well before) BRAG in June.

I finally settled on this seat, and I love it. For once, all the manufacturer claims turned out to be true. I went from perineal related numbess (you can figure out what that means) on any ride over an hour or so, to no numbness whatsoever, ever. And after a few rides, no butt soreness. Full length cutouts rule. Not cheap, but worth it for me.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=191313&d=1298660971

I found a 2010 black Terry butterfly on sale on the Terry site- no pink. I don't think they are going to do well this year with that pink stuff. I think they made a boo boo doing that:
"Completely updated for 2011 with black perforated leather, pink stitching and distinctive Terry logo."
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b17/outwest5/CAERYWMP.jpg



I like the pink stitching, but I'd bet some female athletes won't appreciate the association of pink with women's anything.

I rode a Terry saddle (Men's Fly), with a pink Tour de Cure ribbon, for over a year. :-) Tremendous deal I couldn't pass up, but I ended up needing a full length cutout.

I forget which saddle I use.........................um.................................Oh yea.




I have a B17.
Ever since I put it on my Specialized Sequoia I have forgotten about it cause my butt don't hurt no more.

I ride a CrossTrail as well. The various models from Brooks stumped me, so I went with a standard unsprung B17. My intent is to break it in on the CrossTrail, then move it over to the road bike in time (actually, well before) BRAG in June.

This will be my first time in many years (more than a dozen) to ride BRAG on anything other than a Brooks B17. Not sure if I'll stay with the Avatar saddle that came on my Roubaix or go with something else like maybe a Koobi (http://www.koobi.com/koobixenon.aspx).

Brooks B17 or B17 Narrow. Took me 10+ years to learn that there is no better saddle available for me.

Fixed it for you.




Me...Fizik Antares

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/images/products/fizik/2011/15378_i_1.jpg

Yen, it isn't the association with pink- I think the seat looks nice, too. It would clash with the bike and most bikes I imagine.

I ride a bent, and use a Brooks on my df, so I'm part of both crowds. But my advice is to find a shop that has a saddle trial/trade-in program and start trying 'em. That's the least expensive way to do it.

SP
Bend, OR
I was fortunate enough to have a LBS that had the trial saddle program . When i had gone thru three different saddle changes i tried this one------- http://www.wekeepyoucycling.com/en/p-240-2011-selle-san-marco-mantra-saddle.aspx I knew in the first 3 miles this was my saddle.

A saddle test program is a very good way to find what works for you!

Yen, it isn't the association with pink- I think the seat looks nice, too. It would clash with the bike and most bikes I imagine.

I agree - I like the pink stitching, but probably not so much on my Surly LHT. :) It would be fine on my black Roubaix with red pin-striping.

Yes, looks are important. :) Maybe it's a girl thang.