wookv

Well, I don't think I'm skinny, I'm about 5'6" and a bit under 160lbs. Might look for a good priced Aliante on ebay. Thanks!

bikeman68

HI WOOK V
Hope you got something from the un biased reviews n comments. We mainly assume you ride a road bike with drop bars.If you ride a mtn bike, look into mtn specific saddles, and pay attn to your shorts technology! Chamoix designs are so important.Stay away from retro saddles like Brooks, or San Marco Rolls , that domed up horn will keep your package numb and blood deprived.
FORDFASTERR put in a good suggestion, its a cheaper copy of an AIRIONE, which is so popular, its MAVIC's choice of saddle for their neutral support bikes.
Good luck, dont ignore bike fit pain

bikeman68

You cannot determine saddle width by the physique or height of rider.The Aliante is really wide btw. Arione seems most agreeable for road bikin at 135mm width. I like the SMP saddles, I have a Strike Pro and evolution, I think they are the best.

herrflick

bought a new saddle over the weekend, the Inform series from Bontrager, they make you sit on a gel thingamajig which measures your sit bone distance and then through color coding, pick out a saddle in their range that's right for you. Finally got a chance to ride today for a total of about 20 miles according to the cycle comp, so far not bad, feels more like i'm perching than sitting though if that makes any sense, but soreness was minimal which is surprising for a new saddle. Priced nicely too.

wookv

Thanks everyone for your input so far.

Did a total 110 miles on the Selle Italia Max Flite Gel Flow last weekend and had the least amount of butt pain compared to all the saddles I've tried! no sitbone pain, no chafing. I attribute the soreness I felt towards the end of the 80 miler on the second day to me needing to HTFU (as many here on BF say)!

Anyways, I still have the Selle Italia Signo Gel flow here. Will give it a try this weekend. Unless it's kissing my behind the entire time, I think I'm set on the Selle Italia Max Flite Gel Flow! Will report back soon!

italiaandyf

I changed earlier this year from an Arione to a Toupe. Saddles without a cutout or channel in the middle cause me to go numb after a period, and too much padding I also find is uncomfortable.

The Toupe took some getting used to and the sit bone pain initially was sometimes too much. But I decided to persevere. About 2 months into using the Toupe, I raised my saddle 3mm as I felt I needed to extend my leg a bit more, and ever since the Toupe has been so much more comfortable. I've read that saddle position, i.e. height and fore/aft, has a big influence on the comfort of a saddle - and I believe it. Now after 4 months and 2500 miles the Toupe is staying on the bike.

wookv

Thank you everyone once again for your advice and input.

I think I have a winner: Selle Italia Max Flite Gel Flow!

I tried the Signo Gel Flow this weekend and no matter how I adjusted it, I was only able to reduce the pain+soreness but it did not feel like the Max Flite. The amount of padding in it was very similar to the Toupe Gel, but just more flexible in the middle.


Saddles tried:
Scott Speed (stock), Selle Italia Flite, Specialized Toupe Gel, Selle Italia SLR Gel Flow XC, Bontrager RL, Specialized Toupe, Selle Italia Max Flite Gel Flow, Selle Italia Signo Gel Flow
== 5 were bought/sold on ebay, 1 bought/returned to LBS

Trouble

I'm trying out the Bontrager InForm RL. My first ride was 52 miles. It wasn't any worse than the Aliante. But, I didn't have any numbness in my perineum and the sitbone pain was tolerable. I am going to make some adjustments and keep trying this saddle until I have exhausted all possible positions.
I do like the flatter saddle style as I like being able to move around so I plan to stick with that.
Not sure those SMP would work for me.
Good to hear about the SI Max Flite Gel Flow because that is the next one I'll try.