rhm

You can reshape that! It's a bit risky, of course, but if its uncomfortable I would go for it.

blt

Indeed, it would be silly to spend a lot on a saddle on the theory that an expensive saddle will be better than a cheap saddle. The best saddle is the one that works for you, regardless of price. If the one that is most compatible with your body is the cheapest, get it. If the one that is most compatible is the most expensive, get it. Given how much the most expensive saddles are compared to the cost of a bike, I wouldn't hesitate to pay for the most expensive saddle IF it is the right one, although I'd be happier if the cheaper saddle is the right one.

When I made my saddle purchase last year, I did brief try outs of a few test saddles the LBS had and got to briefly ride three different saddles on bikes owned by others (2 different Brooks models and a Selle Anatomica). From relatively short rides, I determined there were 2 that clearly felt the best to me, one that the LBS had a test saddle for, and a Brooks Imperial that the LBS had to order, but said if I decided I didn't want it, I didn't have to pay for it. I tried each of the top 2 for a couple of weeks, got to put a lot of miles on each for a good test. The Brooks Imperial was about $30 cheaper than the other finalist, but price was irrelevant. The Imperial won because it was the more comfortable saddle. I was a little happy that the Imperial won because I would have felt guilty not paying anything for putting triple digit miles on a new non-test saddle and then giving it back, even though I knew the LBS owner had agreed to that deal. But neither guilt nor money would make my decision. My butt would make my decision.

Gerry Hull

This bike would not be possible without cobb saddle.
A seat that allows a 48 yr old with a past history of lumbar pain to ride something like this all day long without discomfort .....has something going for it.

i do get occasional nosebleeds from the handlebar drop but i can live with that.

the base of seat has been reformed a bit. That's easier to do than I thought. I place it in oven heated to 230 deg for 10 min, then hold it in the curvature I want while running it under cold water. When it cools, the new shape is maintained. This works even better when I slap together a jig to hold new curvarure throughout the process. Perfect seat is 15 minutes away.

This one only took a bit of extra sag in the middle so entire sit bone would be supported.

All cobbs are 130 mm wide. I thought no way is that gonna work, Ive always ridden 145.

It works.

Fitting instructions say, set the saddle level, don't worry, your junk is not gonna get crushed. I thought, right.

All good there, too!

The Adamo was my plan B, but those things are ugly as sin and too many folks complain of chafing.

Gerry Hull

I love looking at different saddles, trying to assess how it might fit me. Is kind of fun guessing game. Here is closer picture of one in case anyone shares that interest- though there are far better photos on the cobb site.

roundout

I've had a similar experience. I have an older an atomica which I moved to a townie beater and replaced with a titanico x on my main bike. I prefer the normal an atomica. I weigh 170ish.

said, due to genital numbness, the s-a is the only saddle I can tolerate for more than 40 or so miles. I had bad luck with specialized, fizik, and a few others. I did find San Marco comfortable on a bike I test rode, but I was only on it for an hour. The others I tested more extensively.

FrenchFit 

I was looking for his ride report. I found the Titanco X to be unrideable, a truly terrible saddle. Almost like it was designed to cause permanent injury to its owner, a flagellation device.

I would have suggested he demo a few saddles out of the Selle SMP line. The Cobb saddles look promising, unlike the SMPs it looks like the Cobb saddles would allow you to shift forward and aft. I'd demo one of those.

Richard Cranium

I always ride with my "short-distance" saddles. I mean along with my short-distance tires and my short-distance bike snacks and short-distance shorts and short distance frame - I guess I know nothing of these other bike parts.

Thank God. You guys have all this great insight into how cycling equipment works.......... I just thought bike stuff was supposed to work.

I rode 101 miles yesterday on my regular bike saddle - but luckily I had my "long-distance" petroleum jelly with me - it all turned out well.......

Gerry Hull

Well, I think the misunderstanding can be cleared up quickly: "short-distance specific" in bike industry-ese means "expensive and unendurable" or "numbing both to wallet and groin".

The idea that bike equipment is just supposed to work- that is a dangerously radical proposition. I would be very discreet about mentioning it.

chasm54

I'm interested, Gerry. If you can be bothered, tell me about the advantages of this "droop snoop" job. How does it feel relative to other saddles you've had, that sort of thing?

unterhausen

I think the main advantage of that saddle is supposed to be the groove down the middle. The nose is a bit truncated. I think the droop is to get the nose out of the way, but still allow sideways pressure when it is useful for control. Just having a truncated nose can be a disadvantage when control of the bike is considered. I know someone that was riding with one, but I didn't notice if he still is.

Gerry Hull

You dont really get near the droopy part, its just like that to keep your shorts from snagging when you stand up/sit down. There is plenty of nose available to control the bike. Its not a short saddle.

The principle is a very simple one: utilize the anterior portion of your sit bones, not just posterior part. Make plenty of room in between for your junk so circulation is never compromised, no matter how far forward you roll. Youre rolling on bone, not soft tissue, so its ok. It feels a bit strange to be carrying weight there at first, but not very long. And since the load is distributed over a much larger area of bone, you don't get that burn you feel when you sit too long without moving.

Why these are tagged as "long distance saddles" I have no idea.

All the cobb saddles employ basically the same idea, with some variety of shape and hardness/lightness to accommodate different folks needs.

Smart money.

How can a saddle be so narrow and yet I never have that feeling I'm about to roll off of it if I move a 1/4 inch to the left or right?

I believe it is because the platform is quite flat.

If I sit on something like an SMP I feel like its trying to split my pelvis in half.

Road Fan

Is your saddle collapsed? Pro's when new don't have a center ridge. They're not flat, however.

Carbonfiberboy 

+++
Might have to try a Cobb, though I like what I have.

unterhausen

I wouldn't exactly say it is collapsed, but it definitely broke in with divots for my contact points. It really doesn't have too many miles on it. I'm not particularly motivated to ride it more, I just keep it around for show because it's 30+ years old at this point

Erik_A

+1 on the Brooks B-17 - I have 2 & love them, the standard isn't bad price-wise; the titanium is a bit lighter and doesn't rust.

ThermionicScott 

I'm not 100% in love with my Pro at the moment, either. It's much younger and only has about 1000 miles on it, but that's all it took for the shape to go from simply rounded to having a prominent center ridge. My problem is in adjusting the nose down enough so that I can comfortably rotate my hips forward, but without sliding forward on it. The bike it's on is set up more aggressively than my others, so it seems that I'm contantly needing to push myself backward on the saddle. I may try adjusting the angle upward by a notch, but I dunno what I'll do if that doesn't solve the problem. (I mean, apart from replacing it with a B17N. )

Road Fan

I'm going forward with my fingers crossed. I just bought a Brooks B17 select, and am about to Proofide it and install it on my Terraferma. I hope the same thing doesn't happen.

EdgewaterDude

From what I understand, the select line of saddles has similar thickness to Berthoud saddles, which are also pretty thick. I've got over 1000 miles on my Berthoud now, and there is still no sign of forming to my contact points. The only discernible difference is that the leather isn't as rock hard and is slightly more pliable now. To me, it's night and day difference between my old B-17 std.

etw

FWIW- I had the same experience. When the X came out I bought one and was really looking forward to it based on the positive reviews I had heard. I rode it for a bit and ended up hating it. It was not comfortable and the edges at the sides really bothered my inner thighs. It certainly helped me to understand how personal these things can be.

Bmxovich

I just tipped the scale at 178, down 30+ lbs since last December. I've been ridding a Titanico X since last summer, and have around 1500 mi on it. It's felt pretty good at times, and painful at others. I seem to constantly be searching for a place to sit on it that feels good. Just when I have some faith in it, it gives me fits. It did stretch some from the get go and required tensioning for the first 500 or so miles. Since then its streached some more making me question the thing. I've done 2 century's on it in the last 5 weeks, plenty of 4 - 6 hour rides, and now have itchial bersitis. I can't say it's the saddles fault, just that it requires constant fiddling around to set up and remain constant. I'm doing a double century in 6 weeks and am concerned about trying to make a switch at this point. Given the original $189 purchase price and shipping, I'm a little disappointed in it.

A quick update. Did a Century yesterday, and the saddle felt really good. I loosened it a tad, and even more important, switched my bibs. I've ridden on it with Castelli's, Pearl's, and LG's. The Castelli's have been the best, but still painful on long 70+ rides. I switched to some Voler Elite FS bibs with the Estrella LD chammois. The Estrella is thick, kind of stiff new, but I was surprised how well they worked for me. I may have solved my saddle woes, hope so.

fietsbob

one of the developers of the Selle Anatomica saddles loved looong rides.. he died in the saddle, on one..

Salubrious

Brooks saddles, IME, vary from one to the next. Plus I think my butt is changing

I have a Swift I love. I used to go with the B17, can't ride them now. I have a Pro I hate, and one with TI rails that I like OK. I do OK on the Selle Anitomica.