Dave Cutter

You have a good point. My reasoning is... it is better to focus on the more obvious issues like sit bone width and the cyclist getting toughened-up in the right places. If a cyclist needs a cut-out.... they know it. And my recommendation isn't needed.

Everyone wants to be a cyclists.... this upcoming weekend. After all (at least in our imaginations) we all rode millions of miles on our bicycles as children. But in real life. Conditioning ourselves to cycling takes some time. There should then also be plenty of time to decide on and select a good saddle [style]. Everyone would like a cheaper/faster way to find their dream saddle... me included. If I had advice on how to do that... I would share it.

JohnJ80

I guess this is my point - we all have a nerves and blood vessels in the perineum that are easily compromised. Since people who don't need the cutout are typically unaffected by having the cutout and those that need the cut out really need it, then if you are starting the quest for a saddle, save a lot of time and just go for a cut out saddle. In the event that the cutout causes a problem (the minority case) then go for a non cut out one.

Saddle manufacturers have figured this out and that's why they are releasing so many with cut outs.

J.

Wanderer

This in response to a query to Selle AnAtomica, Ryan ---

" You really ought to look at the WaterShed Black. It isn’t as slippery as the TruLeathers but it has the best longevity for us statistically. Leather saddles are a catch22. If you do it like Brooks they’re hard and take a long time to break in but they last forever and get comfortable eventually. If you make them like we do, they’re instantly comfortable but longevity is reduced to about 5-7 years in most cases."

Right now, my plan is to use Proofhide on it to hopefully keep it stiffer, longer. Like I said, on a short ride (only thing available for me right now,) it is comfortable right out of the bag.

Time will tell, and I can always go back to my old standby, B-17. Or maybe even an Imperial if this doesn't work out. It's only money, and cheaper than a new bike......................... (justification.)

BlazingPedals

For many, maybe. But in my experience: a) I never found a saddle that was truly comfortable, and b) the older I got, the less my butt could handle the discomfort. Saddles aren't WHY I switched, but since I have, my butt thanks me on every ride.

Dave Cutter

Yeah. Isn't that the old argument that went with a short lived and likely misguided campaign to change the bicycle saddle to a "safer" design? I know many well intentioned good people wish to make cycling as safe and user friendly as possible. The desires are very noble! But ultimately are misguided.

There has been many "no pain" saddle designs through the decades. The idea is: That if cycling was made simpler and easier it would become more widely accepted and the number of cyclists would swell with popularity. I think there are flaws in that reasoning. After all... I am pretty sure we in America have at least one bicycle for every able-bodied individual in the nation. I don't think that a beginners sore behind is limiting cycling's popularity.

Nor do I think a fat book full of OSHA regulations about bicycle design, or countless new laws and/or legal actions are going to be helpful to ETHER cycling... or cyclists.

It doesn't matter if you think cycling is a sport, a toy, or a form of transportation. Actually bicycles fit well into all three areas of use. And with all three there is a learning curve. And a bit of adaption. And there is also likely a saturation point of cycling popularly. And realistically we've probability been statically near the center of that saturation point of popularity for nearly 100 years.

Cycling greatest selling point (as if cycling needs to be sold) is the joy that cycling brings. Real joy... is NOT the result of instant gratification. There is some small amount of effort, sacrifice, and dedication required to experience the real pleasure of cycling.

JohnJ80

It's a matter of saving time. You'll spend less time looking for a saddle if you start with the ones that have cutouts. The shortest path to getting a comfortable seat is the shortest path to "cycling joy". Besides the fact that they work.

The issue of "cycling saturation" is a canard. Cycling popularity is traceable to infrastructure because you need a place to ride. Infrastructure is increasing. But whether the market is saturated or not has just about nothing to do with what's a comfortable saddle and the fastest/easiest way to find one.

J.

Dave Cutter

OK... your one of those.... "build it and they will come" dreamers.

America spends more than a billion in bicycle infrastructure.... and cycling popularly dropped by millions of cyclists. Likely... because Lance stopped winning races. "Product (cycling included) saturation" is NOT a canard. Your just being silly. All products have saturation points for sales... everyone knows that.

There was NO bicycle infrastructure (or cutout saddles) more than half a century ago when I got my first road bike. And if the current Administration gets its way... and converts the local rails-to-trails paths back to a high-speed train system.... I will still continue to ride my bikes. Just as my Dad rode his Rollfaster on the brick streets in the 1920's.

Yes. That is why most people drive cars... they save time.

BluesDawg

really?

Wanderer

And, People for Bikes wouldn't skew statistics********************????

JohnJ80

My comment was about the fastest way to buy a saddle and get to "cycling joy" (you're term). That's all. The canard is the venture into the weeds of product life cycles when the topic is "really comfortable" saddles and how to find them. If you want to debate the other stuff, just PM me.

j.

fietsbob

Give up and Bought a Recumbent yet ? Road racing is not about rider comfort . live with it.

Dave Cutter

Yes really!!!! Cycling in America is down by over 4 million cyclist. And that is with known increases in some cities along with the increased popularly of mountain biking.

I love cycling! I wish cycling COULD increase in popularity. But I am also realistic. Fewer parents are willing to send their kids out to ride in traffic... and I don't blame them. And bicycles as transportation missed the boat in America. I had hopes that the cycling sports might catch on here.... but that isn't happening ether.

All products have a saturation point! If [Chevy] Corvettes sold for the same price as a Domane bicycle.... do you think everyone in America would own a Vette? Or do you understand that there is a saturation point to all products.

That is why I don't own a boat... I don't want a boat. Or at lease I don't want a boat more than I want the money that the boat would cost.

JohnJ80

Apparently you're having trouble with reading comprehension. Please PM me and we can quit boring everyone else to tears with a subject that has nothing to do with this thread.

J.

flan48

That would be appreciated
But seriously, before the insults really start flying, just simply disagree, move on, and:
Just ride!
And be well!

Best regards

qcpmsame 

+1, a good thread hijacked.

Bill

cb400bill

Hey hey hey, guys!

Lets keep it civil here and on topic.

If you want to argue, take it to PM's.

smoore

Got my Selle Anatomica T-Seris in Watershed Black and here is the good and the bad.

Yes, waay heavier than the Roman Evo Expert I took off. Disturbingly so.
I attached it to my Thomson zero seatpost and then took some measurements and compared to my Specialized. I found that I had to push the saddle all the way back and still had a lot more nose showing than I normally have. This of course is in part because the saddle itself is a good half inch longer than the Roman.

I set the nose of the saddle a bit higher than level as others have recommended but had my doubts. In over thirty plus years of riding I have never ridden a saddle at anything but level. I rode out my driveway and pedaled about five times….and realized this was the most comfortable I have EVER felt on a saddle. Even though the nose wasn’t high enough and I was slipping forward and even though I felt I was in the hammock of the saddle and not far enough back….this was very comfortable.

I spent the next forty-five minutes riding a few hundred yards (including a small hill) coming back and raising the nose a couple of millimeters and then out for a ride again. After about six adjustments I think I am very close to where I need to be…but it was beginning to get dark and so I called it a day. The nose is now pitched higher than what my three foot level will indicate with the bubble so any other adjustment in that regard are by feel.

The BAD; I am very close to being back as far as I need to be but not quite. I ride a 49cm Look 585 with 50.5 TT. The zero setback post works very well for all the other saddles on my wall….but apparently not with this one. I could ride this way for a short distance but only if I force myself back all the way and sort of feel like my butt is hanging off the rear. This is the short rail model and I’ll be bummed if I have to try to trade it in for the older version. I special ordered this with chrome rails and I love the look and afraid the longer rails my not offer that option.

Where are you guys on your saddle? My sit bones measure 55mm from the rear of the saddle with the measuring tape over the rear edge. Unless I am sitting far too forward on the saddle, I’m afraid I will have to send it back. OR buy a set back post…but then my $99 saddle doubles in price and I have to change the post back if I want to use any other non-leather saddles.

The sensation of this saddle is one of extreme comfort but it also feels a bit soft if you end up in the middle “hammock” part of the saddle and as if the side wings might be splaying out a bit. And at 131 lbs I’m a little surprised it is not stiffer than that. Hopefully I can get things sorted out because this is one crazy comfortable ride….at least for the total of two miles that I tested it.

FarHorizon

Wisdom here! Thanks.

FarHorizon

Amen, brother! LOL

mobilemail

I agree that if you have t at least test ridden a recumbent, you should at least include that in your search for a comfortable ride. Not all my rides are on a recumbent, but my best ones are.

FarHorizon

I bought a tadpole recumbent once, but my wife forbid me to ride it ("too low to the ground - you'll get run over"). Nevertheless, it was a pleasure to ride!

mobilemail

Mavbe she would give you a pass on a Terratrike Rambler, Greenspeed Anura or Hase Kettweisel, they all sit up higher.

rydabent

IMO finding a DF saddle that never causes pain is about as possible as meeting a unicorn.

Matariki

My all time favorite saddle was an Ideale 59, which I rode for almost 40 years until the frame broke. I will probably re-frame it one of these days. My daily commuter is fitted with a Turbo, although I recently switched the early 80's one with a new one. They seem to fit me well and that's what counts. I had a Brooks B-17 on it for a while but that's in the bin waiting to go back on the Raleigh Competition when I am done restoring. I really, really want to try a Brooks Cambium, but the price is a bit too much, and the jury is still out about their durability (i.e. will it last 20 years?).

Road Fan

NICE! Hot Nurse Chipcom is back!