nesdog

Hi all,

Don't feel like dealing with all the flame wars at the Road forum so a question.

I'm riding a Spec Avatar. It's only a year old but I think it's breaking down and I'm a bit sore after today's ride. I'm considering an Alias as the replacement...don't really want to spend the coin on a Toupe plus I want some comfort!

Suggestions?

Sheldon

herbm

I can't speak for the Avatar or Toupe...I had an Alias...hated it...felt like i was sitting on cement...
Got a Fizik Arione...awesome saddle....but now I may be a Brooks convert...have done a 60 and 80 on my brooks...no real soreness...
Its heavy, its fugly, its hard, but I dont get sore from it..
just my 2 cents...

jschen

It's a highly personal thing. My butt seems rather insensitive. I've bought three bikes so far, with three different saddles. (Not sure offhand what Specialized saddle was on my Roubaix. Something semi-squishy. A Specialized Avatar on my Allez. A Selle Italia SLR XP on my R3.) I don't seem to have complaints about any of them, and I've done a century+ ride on all three bikes. Your rear may care more.

Brian Sorrell

Brooks convert here. Just disappears under your a$$ after 10 miles. I don't think they're ugly though. To the contrary, I think they're little works of art. I got the B-17 Champion Special about 400 miles ago and the bike and I love it.

herbm

Maybe fugly was to strong...but my Arione does look way cooler...butt, the bottom line is I agree it just disappears...(great description)

Chucklehead

think of your butt as a new baseball glove, and your saddle as the ball you're using to shape it. of course you have to find the right ball/glove combo, but once you do, you've got to give it some time, massage the glove a little with oil, beat it up a little, stick it under your mattress, and soon enough the ball will practically seat itself perfectly in the pocket of the glove.

roadfix

I would rather think my butt as the baseball.

VanceMac

But are you a pitcher or a catcher? Oh, this is not going to end well... so to speak.

Chucklehead

and do you bat on this side or that side? or are you a switch-hitter?

and while we're at it, what team do you play for?

roadfix

I pitched for the Yankees in 1967.

VanceMac

The year of YAZ!

1265 Lombardi

Like what Jason said, different saddles for different butts. I heard people swear by Fizik Aliante but its expensive. The bikeshop that I bought my bike from raved about arione but I liked my SLR. Its a minimalist saddle but its very comfortable to me. I tried on helmets yesterday and only thing that fits my head well is a Bell, but I wanted a Specialized. You gotta just try 'em.

Tiffanie

^yeah that^

I think I'm on my 7th or so saddle. Currently trying out James' Selle Italia Flite which seems to be ok - two rides in to it so far. Can't wait to try the Brooks... which reminds me, I need to contact Mo about that!!

1265 Lombardi

[QOTE=Tiffanie]^yeah that^

I think I'm on my 7th or so saddle. Currently trying out James' Selle Italia Flite which seems to be ok - two rides in to it so far. Can't wait to try the Brooks... which reminds me, I need to contact Mo about that!![/QUOTE]

Its amazing to me how those Brooks saddles can be comfortable the way it looks. I am not doubting its comfort, its just doesnt look comfortable.

roadfix

little league, obviously

umd

My butt is not very picky; I've just used whatever came on my bike. Currently I have a Fizik Aliante Sport and I like it better than whatever came on my old Specialized. I've considered off an on getting an Arione but I'm too lazy and don't want to spend the money. My wife just got a Fizik Vitesse and seems happy with it but has only done one ride with it so far.

nesdog

Thanks. I did the Brooks B-17 for three years. It was comfy enough but I still had some issues with it, despite much adjustment. It now resides on our permanent trainer.

I considered the Arione but like the cutouts of the Specialized products. I've not had any problems with numbness just feel like the Avatar is getting harder as the gel flattens. Definately feel it after 40 miles today.

So was thinking of the Alias as an upgrade to the Avatar.

Sheldon

spingineer

Did your LBS test your butt with the ass-o-meter? Kind of like a fit kit for saddle. I haven't tried it yet, but I saw someone being fitted for one at a LBS.

Chucklehead

i found the avatar(143) to be pretty comfy on shorter rides, but ride for too long and it starts bringin the pain. also, hopefully you'll be getting one of the newer ones, because the first version with the stitching on the butt padding part tends to tear up shorts in my experience.

spingineer

I found the Terry saddle, although it may feel cumfy on shorter distances, can really start feel irritating after about mile 80 .. and I did a double with this. In particular, it affects my sit bone. I'm shopping for a saddle before my next one, that's for sure.

nesdog

I also looked at the Fly and came to the same conclusion....it's a bit too soft for longer rides.

Saddle selection sucks! This is like buying a car!

Sheldon

umd

My Specialized saddle had a cutout, and I was a little worried when I moved to the Aliante, but after a few minutes on it I realized it didn't make any difference to me.

ronjon10

+2

My Terry was awesome for rides up to 5 hours or, then it went from fine to pure agony. I've now got a Toupe and a Brooks Swift that I'm testing.

spingineer

Aha, maybe I can blame my saddle for my century and double century times???

umd

In the approach to Los Alamos on the Solvang double I was going faster because my ass wanted off! I even I dropped a few people off the train when it was my pull.