First thoughts: Wow this thing is firm. Far less padding in the back than my Specialized Alias. Cut out down the center is larger and the decrease in pressure up front is quite noticeable. I really like the Alias (rode a century on it without any trouble), but have always felt like it'd be better with less padding in the nose.

If my sit bones can tolerate this thing, it may be the new king. It's trickier to level, so I'll mess with the saddle angle a bit more.

Still like the Alias though. If the Romin doesn't work out, I'll be more than happy to switch back.



Bob

I certainly like mine now, but it's taken a couple hundred miles for my sit bones to stop being so sore after the swap. Now it feels great.

Also, hard to find such a comfortable saddle for $150 that weighs in at 160g (Romin PRO).

Jon

Totally agree, comfiest saddle by far and no numbness where it counts. My sitbones also hurt but I recently bought a Specialized BG Pro RBX bib short and it totally eliminated it. Best shorts i've ever own and i have tried the best including assos. Seems like they were created to go with each other, give it a shot.

Put another 25 on it today. I've learned to not sit on the tail section (like I did my Alias -- had to keep crotch pressure in check), but to sit further up and push against the tail. Sloping down nose section is awesome. I used a credit card and a small level to get the center section (above the post) level and so far that is working out ok. A touch more padding would be great, but I think (hope) my sit bones will adjust.

Bob

Specialized saddles are great.
Toupe solved some numbness issues I was having, though more than likely it was just I finally got properly sized to a 130 saddle. Took me a month or so to get over sit bone soreness, but numbness was absent, I can tolerate soreness, the numbness was scary.

Now 60-90mile rides are nothing. Good it a good amount of time.

Good to hear. I have a Phenom on one of my bikes that has got to go, and a Romin on an unfinished bike that initial tests (sitting on it leaned in a doorway and going "Ooh yeah, this is gonna be sweet") indicate it may be just the ticket.

Now marvel at that run-on sentence.

Sore sit bones is typical of a new saddle. I bought a SMP Plus and it solved the numbness I was getting with my previous saddle but was hard on the sit bones. After riding it for a few hundred miles, I no longer feel it at all on the sit bones. So, you saddle will get better in time.

I think I need to lower my Romin a few mm. On my ride today, it felt like my legs were stretching out a bit further. I checked my BB-to-top-of-seat height when I got home. It was exactly the same as with the Alias, but then I realized that there is very little compression with the Romin vs the Alias.

Bob

Is this how people are leveling the saddle? Just leveling the section above the post?

I picked a pro (black/neon green) up for $60 last week for a new bike build. I haven't tried it yet but I'm looking forward to it. I've been using an Arione for a while and it can occasionally become an ass hatchet on longer rides.

I read somewhere while setting up my Toupe that the middle part of the saddle is what should be leveled. I guess the flair at the back of the saddle.

That's funny, I had the opposite experience. I had the same 143mm Alias on my bike for a while, but I wanted something that would reduce numbness after 40+ miles, so I bought a Romin Evo in 143. At first, it seemed like an improvement, but no matter how many micro adjustments to setback and angle I made, I just couldn't get it to work. I'd get numb sooner and with greater severity than my Alias, so I switched back to it and now have a $110 paperweight in my parts bin. Oh well, should have gone for a demo at an LBS instead of buying online.

For me, the Romin solved numbness that the Arione was providing.

For me the Romin solved the numbness the Arione caused and the Brooks Professional solved the pain that the Romain caused in solving the numbness of the Arione, Now I am happy.

Unless Specialized changed their minds, the Alias has been discontinued and you won't be able to get a replacement for it when it's wore out. IMO, you might as well find one.

I went through this search several months ago when the padding on my Alias wore out. I'm now riding one of the Romin Evo saddles.

Try the romin evo pro if you thought the romin was to firm!!! such a big difference. I also thought the romin was very ridgid and firm.

I love my Romin Pro!

I ride a Romin and a Fizik Arione on two of my bikes, Personally the arione is much more comfy than the romin although the romin runs a close second. Two of the best saddles the world has to offer after spending untold $$ on saddles. I'm sitting here looking at 12 of them not counting above mentioned.
I have like 17 with not one being under $100..........So sad the story.

One came on my new Tarmac. Definitely very firm but getting better after about 165 miles.