Bookman

I own a Trek 7100. I've put 300 miles on it so far. I've gone back to my LBS for a complete fitting, just to make sure all the little adjustments I'd made hadn't thrown me out of whack. (They hadn't.) Yet despite this and despite investing in well-padded biking shorts, my boys complain about the saddle after a half-hour or so. I relieve the irritation temporarily by repositioning myself or by hoisting my hiney off the saddle for a few seconds. My boys squawk less vociferously when my hiney is back so far that the saddle seems to interfere with my pedaling. When I scoot forward to pedal more freely, my boys chime in.

My longest ride so far has been about seventeen miles. And the way I'm going, I'll be trying to ride twenty-five or thirty before too long. I'm considering replacing the stock Bontrager saddle with something more road-friendly. (BTW, my riding position is at a 45-degree angle, which suits me perfectly.)

Any ideas? Thanks.

envane

That sort of saddle is not designed for distance riding. So, you are right to replace it.

However, I don't have any specific saddle suggestions for you.

jaxgtr

Look at the WTB Speed V and also make sure the saddle is not too wide. You might need to go see a Specialized dealer and get the butt-o-meter check. Measures the sit bones. I found I was riding a saddle that was too wide and it made it uncomfortable after 20 miles or so.

dynodonn 

I immediately replaced the saddles on all my 7100s with gel anatomical versions, since the stock saddle leaves much to be desired.

Bookman

Thanks for the help so far. I've seen the Specialized BG Comfort Plus online, but haven't seen it in a store where I could tell whether it was too wide or too cushy or both. The WTB Speed V looks about right. But keep the advice coming, please.

Wiggle

I can go about 90 minutes without much discomfort. My 7100 is newish too, only about 350km so far.

Bookman

You can go 90 minutes on the stock saddle without much discomfort? I'm jealous. I'm not dying to change saddles. I'm OK with it. The Little Admiral is OK with it. But his two sideboys are prepared to abandon ship.

Bookman

I went to three LBSs this morning, including my own. My LBS and one of the others are Specialized dealers, and I hoped I would see a wide selection of models. All either store had for less than an-arm-&-a-leg was the Bontrager Sport CRZ, and it was a lot cushier than I was expecting, so I didn't buy it. Has anyone looked at this saddle up close or ridden on it?

I stopped by the third, Performance Bikes, on the way home, saw the WTB Speed V Comp on sale for $26, and bought it. I went out for a quick 45 minutes just awhile ago (instead of waiting till this evening, which was my first impulse, to let the firestorm smoke clear a little). The ride felt much better than my stock Bontrager saddle. Thank you for the recommendation, jaxgtr. I'm still in the test-ride phase, obviously, so everyone please keep your input coming.

DieselDan

Saddles are too subjective. The saddle that came with my Motobecane Messenger is the most comfortable one I have on all my bikes.

ProFail

What's with the stupid euphemisms?


It's called a PENIS. Not "the Little Admiral".

Bookman

Thanks for your input, ProFail.

jaxgtr

Glad I could help. I put that same saddle on my road bike and it felt like hell, so I got the Specialized Avatar Gel in a 143mm. I think the difference is basically the position I sit on the bike. Since I am more upright on the 7300, the wider saddle was a little more comfy, a narrower saddle for the road bike. For $26, that is an cost effect upgrade.

Groundhawg

Hi Bookman. I own a 2004 model Trek 7100 and I can go about 20 miles without any problems with the stock seat. I wear blue jeans when riding and a bike jersey. I seldom ride the 7100 anymore as I bought a 1986 roadbike for $20 at a yard sale. I find it much more comfortable for me. I did purchase a different seat a couple of years ago for the 7100. It was one of the worse mistakes I ever made.

It's called "The Seat." Lots of people were giving it good reviews at the time so I purchased one online. "The Seat" for me was like sitting on a rock. After about 4 miles of riding. I removed it and put the stock seat back on. I can't tell you what would be a good seat as everyone is different. I would stay away from "the seat" as the stock saddle on the 7100 is much more comfortable. At least for me. Here's a link to "the seat" Worse thing I've ever sit on. lol. The Seat

ProFail

Well, I see that it's my resonsibility to bring mature thoughts and ideas to the table.

TalkingHead

I would really like to try out a Brooks. I had a bontrager i rode for a month and had to chuck.

Went with the forte classic from performance, while not a huge improvement..it does have the slit in the middle, and has leather on it. Overall i would say it's 40% more comfy over some long miles compared with the bontrager stock saddle.

this was on trek 7.3, very similar bike.

envane

mine is "the Big Admiral"

Bookman

Thanks for the warning, Groundhawg. I checked the link, and from the picture, it isn't the contour I'm looking for anyway.
TalkingHead, I'll look for the Forte Classic in-store. The online picture looks right. I test-rode the WTB Speed V Comp for an hour yesterday, and everything felt good. The contour did precisely what my stock Bontager saddle wouldn't—allow completely free leg movement during pedaling. I would like a little more cush in the back than that offered by the Speed V, and maybe the Forte Classic has more. I can't compromise on the contour, though. Cushier than the Speed V, yes; wider, no. And, unfortunately, my budget won't allow me to go over $50, which rules out the Avatar Gel that jaxgtr rides. Even at $50 max there seem to be several choices, the difficulty being finding them in-store for a close-up inspection.