Originally Posted by
SouthFLpix
Saddle tilt is used to combat pain in the hands. With the saddle tilted down on a road bike, your weight is being supported by your hands, which can lead to wrist or hand pain. So you tilt the saddle up very slightly and this forces your body to keep the weight back and off your hands.
To the OP: click the COHO link in my signature. I rode 5000+ miles on this saddle, including dozens of centuries and a 200 miler. the saddle tilt was determined by 1000's of miles of tweaking above and below that position.
To SouthFLPix and others who believe that saddle tilt has something to do with weight on your hands: I don't believe it one bit. When pedaling, your upper body is on a fulcrum and that fulcrum is primarily your pedal spindles. On one side of the pivot is your butt and the other side is your hands. There are a zillion ways to create balance between the two sides: fore/aft saddle position, height of bars, stem length, etc. One of the ways that I believe does NOT work is saddle tilt.
Is the theory that you are somehow "levering" your torso upward by lifting the front of the saddle up? I can not imagine lifting 80lbs of torso with a 10" saddle and even if I could I would not want to lift it with that region.
That said, I do sympathize with the OP about seatposts that allow decent adjustment. the Kalloys do seem the best.