Deord

I got a new bike a month ago.....a CAAD 8 Sora.....Nice bike, but the saddle is a killer. I'm 5'10 and weigh in at 252 lbs. Any recommendations?

clydeosaur

Let me guess, does it have a San Marco Ponza? Go to shop that carries Specialized, Fizik, Bontrager, or simply demos saddles. Try some different ones and listen to recommendations the shop guys might give you. It seems a lot of bigger guys like Aliantes and Romins, but saddles are such a personal choice.

magohn

I threw away a couple of hundred bucks trying to find the perfect saddle. I eventually went to a Brooks B17. Takes a hundred miles or so to break-in as its one solid piece of leather, but when it does, its like an old baseball cap, it just bends to fit you. I went 33 miles today and never thought once about my rear end.

cyclist2000

or measure sit bones with a butt-o-meter (specialized?) to determine the proper width of saddle.

cyclist2000

I just scored a Brooks Team Pro this last week and just put it on the bike that is on the trainer, hopefully I can break it in before longer outdoor rides.

Deord

It's something from c'dale. Just brutal. Thnx

Deord

I've heard a lot about Brooks. Will check it out. Thnx

Deord

They do that? Lol

F15Todd

Take a loot at Koobi also

clydeosaur

Yep, That's why I recommended Specialized or Bontrager. Both of them use a measuring device. Figuring out shape / type will come next. Some people like cut outs, some don't . Some like flat saddles, some curved or the "hammock" effect. If you play your cards right & work with a good shop, your saddle experiment shouldn't cost more than the saddle you end up purchasing. Just make sure you experiment with saddle height, set back and angle. I learned quickly it can be a millimeters game.

CraigB

Hope you have better luck with your Team Pro than I did back in the '80s. I rode it for about 500 miles and it never even thought about conforming to my anatomy. I know many, many people who swear by Brooks, but I never got past swearing at mine.

magohn

They do. My LBS put me on one and its basically a large gel pad that saves the indentations your sit bones create. From that visit I bought a $150 Specialized saddle that was more uncomfortable than the first after riding 10 miles.

I bought my Brooks from https://www.wallbike.com/brooks/unspr...s/b17-standard. Its was $90 (if I remember right) with a "no quibble" return policy. You cant lose!

exile

Saddles are so personal, but the most popular brands tend to be Brooks, Body geometry, WTB, and Terry. You might have to try some different ones, so see if your LBS has a return policy or Wallbike like Magohn mention has a good return policy.

iforgotmename

It took me a bit more than 500 miles but now it is great.

CraigB

Great. I gave up on it 10 miles too soon.

JohnA42

Even if you end up not buying the Specialized saddle you will come away with a very important piece of data: your sit-bone width. Knowing that can help you eliminate a lot of saddles.

ldeg

i spent a lot of cash on saddles... i also started with the ponza and love my max flite gel, also tried fizik Arionne, not as comfortable....

Team Ogre

+1 on the Brooks B17.

It's really funny that the perception of softer/squishier is better(not saying this is anyone's perception here). I know when I started riding a couple years ago, that's what I thought. I just got a Brooks saddle for my bday in Jan. Only have about 40 miles on it and I already like it significantly more than any other saddle I've had so far. I think the real key is identifying sit bone width like others have said and then getting into a good pair of shorts!

superslomo

I keep thinking I am going to start liking my Brooks. Hasn't happened yet, but I feel like I'm not allowed to get rid of it.

My Fizik Aliante Ti on my normal tour/road bike is heaven, and I liked it out of the box... the Brooks is on my short hop beater/train bike, and I assume maybe it will eventually be less rotten. The problem I have with it is not even the hardness/stiffness, but the fact that you don't get a grippy purchase on it at all... I'm just sliding all over the thing even now after some break-in.

cyclist2000

I had a team pro on my Raleigh Pro in '75'. I really don't have seem to have a problem with saddles, I have 9 or 10 bikes and have all sorts of saddles, even stock. I just got this one because it was so different. It's a Team Pro that has the Vans pattern on it. I started breaking it in on the trainer bike this week, but it hasn't felt too hard or uncomfortable for 30-40 minute trainer rides.

cyclist2000

I hate when that happens

RobertL

Like you, I recently bought a new bike, I'm a little taller at 6'2" and about your weight. My brother is an avid cyclist and loves his Selle Italia SLR saddles. The Selle Italia SLR is pretty tiny and hard, so I went with the Selle Italia C2 Gel Flow. It's leather, it's just a bit wider at 136mm than the smaller saddles and it has a small amount of gel for a little extra cushion. I opted for the "Flow" version with the center cut out, but they also have it without the cut out. So far only some trainer time on the saddle, but so far so good.

As has been said, saddles are very individual, but I'm very pleased with mine.

digger531

+(must be up to 85)on the brooks. If you want to be reeeeaaaaal comfy get the flyer (the one with the springs)

bikingtolive

+1 on the WTB. I'm using the WTB Speed V and am happy with it after several hundred miles. Like many have said above, saddles are very personal though. Somebody recommended finding a shop that has a demo program which is a good suggestion. Sometimes the shop will let you put the rental price towards the purchase of the saddle.

bautieri

It would be ashame to toss it out, why don't you play it forward and give it to someone who is interested in trying a Brooks out? Better to let it see some action than collect dust in the parts bin.

OP, it took me a long time to finally give a Brooks saddle a shot...and I found it to be comfortable right out of the package. I didn't believe the hype or the cult like following...maybe I need to give Surly a shot next. Now, there is some homework involved for the Brooks buyer. There are several different models and you'll need to find one that fits your pelvis and the type of riding you do.