saddle help: choices
09-01-05, 10:43 PM
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saddle help: choices
I currently have a selle italia oktavia gel. I hate it. anything over 20 miles it rubs raw and puts pressure in the wrong places
I am trying to choose between 3 saddles
1. fizik arione
2. Selle Italia SLR Gelflow
3. Selle Italia Trans Am Max Flite
the last 2 have cut outs and I was leanig toward them because they would take the pressure off of the nether regions. but I don't know much about the arione so I'm not sure.
opinions please
I am trying to choose between 3 saddles
1. fizik arione
2. Selle Italia SLR Gelflow
3. Selle Italia Trans Am Max Flite
the last 2 have cut outs and I was leanig toward them because they would take the pressure off of the nether regions. but I don't know much about the arione so I'm not sure.
opinions please
09-01-05, 10:57 PM
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I tried 2 saddles with cutouts and did not like either. I have ridden an Arione for the past 3000 miles and will probably never use another saddle. (it did take a little bit of time for my butt to get used to it.)
But with saddles there are no guarantees that any of them will work for you. Try them out and eventually you will find what works.
But with saddles there are no guarantees that any of them will work for you. Try them out and eventually you will find what works.
09-01-05, 11:09 PM
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I'm getting a new bike and plan on using a different saddle every ride for a while. when you buy one they will let you keep trading out so you can try em all. just have to keep it in new, sellable condition.
that selle italia gel flow thing does look comfy
that selle italia gel flow thing does look comfy
09-02-05, 12:29 AM
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Originally Posted by ******bagonwhlz
I'm getting a new bike and plan on using a different saddle every ride for a while. when you buy one they will let you keep trading out so you can try em all. just have to keep it in new, sellable condition.
that selle italia gel flow thing does look comfy
that selle italia gel flow thing does look comfy
more opinions please
09-02-05, 01:27 AM
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i've had my arione for around 1500 miles ad i love it.
i also noticed that two of the racers on the Cal team (one with a merckx team sc and the other with a felt f15) that i rode with on monday, both have arione's on em.
i also noticed that two of the racers on the Cal team (one with a merckx team sc and the other with a felt f15) that i rode with on monday, both have arione's on em.
09-02-05, 04:02 AM
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Saddle choice is a very personal thing. For example, alot of people who ride short distances love the Arione, but I find it quite uncomfortable because of its flat shape. I prefer a saddle with some a little curve to sit in the saddle more. The Arione, because of its flat shape, puts alot of undue pressure on my nads. I guess if you ride fairly upright then the arione might be good, but if you like to get area frequently and lower your back and shoulders getting in the drops, then your balls are going to be pressed into the middle flat part of the saddle and nose. That's a big no no for me. Other than that, other users mile may vary.
09-02-05, 04:22 AM
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Pressure in the wrong place is likely a positioning/posture issue. The cut-out style saddles are an attempt to make up for the bad posture but they generally create other issues. Most (all?) road bikes being sold have ridiculously low handlebars. At least 90% of roadies would be better off with their bars not more than an inch below their seats but then they wouldn't look like a pro.
Before you change anything check that your bars aren't too low and consciously think about how you are positioned on the seat. If the majority of the pressure isn't on your "sit bones" roll your hips back until it is. With adequate flexibility you can do this without raising or rounding your back. If you can't get on the sit bones then your bars are too low for your level of flexibility or some other adjustment is out. Work on the flexibility and raise your bars.
If you manage to get the discomfort to shift to your sit bones and after a couple of weeks riding it's still uncomfortable then start looking at other saddles. Gel saddles are often problematic as they distribute the load to where it doesn't belong.
Before you change anything check that your bars aren't too low and consciously think about how you are positioned on the seat. If the majority of the pressure isn't on your "sit bones" roll your hips back until it is. With adequate flexibility you can do this without raising or rounding your back. If you can't get on the sit bones then your bars are too low for your level of flexibility or some other adjustment is out. Work on the flexibility and raise your bars.
If you manage to get the discomfort to shift to your sit bones and after a couple of weeks riding it's still uncomfortable then start looking at other saddles. Gel saddles are often problematic as they distribute the load to where it doesn't belong.
09-02-05, 05:28 AM
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***Obligatory Brooks Plug***
Brooks Swift, Team Pro, or Colt. No cut-outs, no gel, no foam wonderfunken. Just fine British leather. Yerass will thank you.
Brooks Swift, Team Pro, or Colt. No cut-outs, no gel, no foam wonderfunken. Just fine British leather. Yerass will thank you.
09-02-05, 10:59 AM
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Originally Posted by phinney
Pressure in the wrong place is likely a positioning/posture issue. The cut-out style saddles are an attempt to make up for the bad posture but they generally create other issues. Most (all?) road bikes being sold have ridiculously low handlebars. At least 90% of roadies would be better off with their bars not more than an inch below their seats but then they wouldn't look like a pro.
Before you change anything check that your bars aren't too low and consciously think about how you are positioned on the seat. If the majority of the pressure isn't on your "sit bones" roll your hips back until it is. With adequate flexibility you can do this without raising or rounding your back. If you can't get on the sit bones then your bars are too low for your level of flexibility or some other adjustment is out. Work on the flexibility and raise your bars.
If you manage to get the discomfort to shift to your sit bones and after a couple of weeks riding it's still uncomfortable then start looking at other saddles. Gel saddles are often problematic as they distribute the load to where it doesn't belong.
Before you change anything check that your bars aren't too low and consciously think about how you are positioned on the seat. If the majority of the pressure isn't on your "sit bones" roll your hips back until it is. With adequate flexibility you can do this without raising or rounding your back. If you can't get on the sit bones then your bars are too low for your level of flexibility or some other adjustment is out. Work on the flexibility and raise your bars.
If you manage to get the discomfort to shift to your sit bones and after a couple of weeks riding it's still uncomfortable then start looking at other saddles. Gel saddles are often problematic as they distribute the load to where it doesn't belong.
09-02-05, 11:05 AM
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Does anybody still ride the Bernard Hinault Turbo? Are they still for sale?
09-02-05, 02:56 PM
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Specialized Avatar. Of course it came on my bike, but I still love it.
Last edited by voltman; 09-02-05 at 03:08 PM.
09-02-05, 03:06 PM
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I have both the Selle Italia SLR GelFlow and SLR Genuine Gel (no cutout). I prefer the Genuine Gel, but the SLR GelFlow is good too, although it is a bit harder.
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Last edited by SpongeDad; 09-02-05 at 10:51 PM.
09-02-05, 05:47 PM
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I used the Selle Italia SLK for a while but never got use to it. It just felt a little too hard and rough.
I'm now using the Terry Zero Y (221g) which has the cutaway section in the middle and is very comfortable for longer rides.
I'm now using the Terry Zero Y (221g) which has the cutaway section in the middle and is very comfortable for longer rides.
Last edited by kster; 09-02-05 at 10:56 PM.
09-02-05, 07:01 PM
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Originally Posted by phinney
At least 90% of roadies would be better off with their bars not more than an inch below their seats but then they wouldn't look like a pro.
back on topic...my own butt seems to like the shape of Selle Italia's offerings...but everyone is different.
09-02-05, 07:27 PM
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90% of us better off? In what way, comfort? Maybe, but then aerodynamics will probably suffer.
09-02-05, 07:36 PM
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Originally Posted by phinney
Gel saddles are often problematic as they distribute the load to where it doesn't belong.
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09-02-05, 07:56 PM
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On advise by some on this forum, I raised the bars 2" and installed aero bars on both my bikes. Next I installed Brooks on one and Speziallized cut out on the other.
Both saddles work great whereas the Brooks is more slippery which helps with the aero bars for sprinting and powering up some hills.
Since I use the aero bars most of the time on my 100 mile rides, there is much less weight on my saddle and the saddle is no longer THE issue. Legs and nutrition are the focus now.
Both saddles work great whereas the Brooks is more slippery which helps with the aero bars for sprinting and powering up some hills.
Since I use the aero bars most of the time on my 100 mile rides, there is much less weight on my saddle and the saddle is no longer THE issue. Legs and nutrition are the focus now.
09-02-05, 07:58 PM
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Methinks it's not so good to have your "load" (twig n' berries?) "distributed" to where it doesn't belong. 
09-02-05, 08:06 PM
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Originally Posted by jpbova
I currently have a selle italia oktavia gel. I hate it. anything over 20 miles it rubs raw and puts pressure in the wrong places
I am trying to choose between 3 saddles
1. fizik arione
2. Selle Italia SLR Gelflow
3. Selle Italia Trans Am Max Flite
the last 2 have cut outs and I was leanig toward them because they would take the pressure off of the nether regions. but I don't know much about the arione so I'm not sure.
opinions please
I am trying to choose between 3 saddles
1. fizik arione
2. Selle Italia SLR Gelflow
3. Selle Italia Trans Am Max Flite
the last 2 have cut outs and I was leanig toward them because they would take the pressure off of the nether regions. but I don't know much about the arione so I'm not sure.
opinions please
The sweet spot on the Flite seemed to angle out and it felt like it was pushing my sit bones apart. The SLR is flatter than the Flite so I didn't notice this effect. I think the saddle lengths were almost exactly the same but the width of the SLR is slightly thinner than the Flite (131 vs 143 or something like that) The SLR was slightly firmer than the Flight but because if its shape, was more comforable for me. So, I ditched the Flite out of the selection. Now, the Arione was a sweet saddle. It felt just as good as the SLR but had a bigger sweet spot. It came down to the SLR and Arione. I read in some reviews that the stitching down the middle of the Arione caused some riders discomfort. The Arione was $100 more than the SLR and the weight weenie within me appealed to the lighter weight of the SLR (only a few grams) so I went with it.
Your preferences may differ to the shape/size of your sit bones.
T.J.
09-02-05, 08:16 PM
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Hey TJ, I'd probably wind up busting anything like an SLR, me being in the 195 lb. range. But good luck with the choice - hope you get lots of happy miles from it.
09-02-05, 09:28 PM
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Originally Posted by nnewton123
I tried 2 saddles with cutouts and did not like either. I have ridden an Arione for the past 3000 miles and will probably never use another saddle. (it did take a little bit of time for my butt to get used to it.)
But with saddles there are no guarantees that any of them will work for you. Try them out and eventually you will find what works.
But with saddles there are no guarantees that any of them will work for you. Try them out and eventually you will find what works.
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09-02-05, 09:56 PM
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My butt likes the Terry offerings right now my favorite saddle is the Firefly Ti. I also have an SLR that is OK for sub 20mile rides but the butt get sore after that.
As for loads where the don't belong a good pair of shorts keeps the boys up front where they don't feel any loads.
As for loads where the don't belong a good pair of shorts keeps the boys up front where they don't feel any loads.