EURO

I've never had any problem with any saddle I've ridden. Just stick on the bike, do a thousand miles, and you'll be used to it.

biker7

Since this thread has been resurrected from the dead, only thing I will will add since I have been saddle testing of late with both...look at what pro riders ride. Those guys spend up to 6 hours a day in the saddle. Will go out on a limb and say most (not all) don't ride a saddle with a cut out. To me, the saddle geometry and in particular width is the most important.
George

inkdwheels

I was going back and forth between an Alias and the E3 form saddle. I picked the E3. It should be here in a few days. Im comming from a selle italia flite gel. Once i found out that my hands were hurting bcause of my seat angle, I adjusted it and discovered it made my nuts hurt... I'll let you know how the E3 gets on.

bung

I just got my E3 Gel saddle yesterday. I am still getting it set up just right but so far it looks like it will greatly alleviate my numbness problems. It takes a bit of getting used to since the shape is different from a "normal" saddle.

Here are some pics for comparison. Pictured are a Specialized BG saddle, the E3 Form Gel and my goto saddle, the San Marco Concor Light.

Duke of Kent

go with an SLR.

Mariner Fan

Cutout +1. Works for me

60cycle

go to the lbs and sit on the specialized butt-measuring foam. find the right width and start from there. i did this same thing and ended up buying a 130 avatar. i've been on the thing for 5 weeks and i love it. you don't necessarily have to even buy a specialized saddle.


good luck.

garysol1 

After a year of playing with saddles trying to find the perfect one....I am still looking. 3 saddles I am playing with now .......One has a perinal cut (Specialized Alias) and one does not(Arione) and one has half a cut and lots of padding(Specialized Comp). Some days the Arione feels great and other days it feels like is pounding the bottom of my spine. The Alias feel awesome in the nether regions with the big cut but I just cant get the butt nerves used to all my weight on 2 small areas.....but I am trying. The 3rd seat(comp).....The jury is still out. It is sort of heavy and not very OCP so I am trying not to go that route unless I really need to.

nnewton123

I first tried several with cutouts... this mostly led to slight numbness.

Arione has been the best for me so far - no numbness on 130+ mile rides.

I am giving a Toupe a try at the moment as i've never tried a saddle with little bit more width and cutout.

BryanW

Another vote for the Alias. Before, I would get numbness after an hour, and after two hours I'd be getting out of the saddle just to relieve the pain in my butt. Now my bike is very slightly heavier and slightly uglier, but I'm enjoying the ride a hell of a lot more.

Turns out my old saddle, though not a bad saddle, was simply too narrow. Specialized have this gel thing where you get measured for the right saddle width. My old saddle was more like a 130, I needed a 143. I wonder how many people have too-narrow saddles because they look cool?

cs1

I used to like boutique saddles until I tried my first Brooks. At 47 I gave up trying to to be trendy and go for comfort. It might not look "cool" on a carbon frame but it sure is comfortable. If your tastes trend toward the sleek try the Brooks Swallow or Professional. They even have models with titanium rails for weight weenies. Good luck.

Tim

cell

So, Alias = Avatar + Ti rails?

Is there any other difference between the two? Anyone own/try both?

garysol1 

Avatar has gel where I believe the Alias does not.

pecos

Hi,

I had a real problem with 'numbness'. Very scary, I wish it to noone.

Briefly, since I'm at work, make sure your seat height is proper. I had mine too high and paid the price -as well as the Mrs for about a month, if you catch my drift.

The cutout does help but in my experience what makes the real difference is having the seat tilt angle as well as the fore/aft position and last but not least the seat height settings correctly set. Some experimentation may be necessary.

Say you do get the settings right, you also want your sit-bones placed on the saddle's support points, so size is important. The saddle should support your body on the iliac (sitting) bones, which should shift the pressure points away from the perineal area.

Hope this helps. Wish you good luck as this is no trivial matter.

BryanW

I hadn't thought of seat height. Can I ask, what method did you use to get to your eventual correct seat height, and by how much was it too high before?

antiquebiker

I tried the E3 Form and found it was like sitting on a small stool. Also perhaps 175 lbs is too heavy for this saddle as I found I sunk in and it pressed on my perineum anyhow.

I bought the SLK (not the SLR) as it is firmer (no chance of sinking down onto your pernium) and have no complaints. I put the same saddle on both my A and B bike in fact. I like it that much.

https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=5210