Originally Posted by
RNAV
The saddle. It's arguably the most important contact point on the bike, and you'd think manufacturers would get it through their head that if there's one thing they need to get right, it's the saddle.
[rant]
I just bought a new Trek & dropped a significant amount of money doing so. Although I held no high expectations for the stock Bontrager saddle, I was kinda excited about the UNCONDITIONAL Bontrager Guarantee: "Ride it and love it. If not, we’ll take it back. It’s that simple. If for any reason you’re not satisfied with your Bontrager products, return the item - along with the original sales receipt - to the place of purchase within 30 days of purchase date for exchange or store credit (emphasis mine)." This led me to believe that, since my bike came with a Bontrager saddle, if it's not comfortable, I can swap it out with a different one until I find something that is comfortable, and pay for any price increase over the stock saddle. Perhaps I'm unrealistic for thinking this way.
As it turns out, the "Unconditional" Bontrager Guarantee is actually quite conditional. Namely, the guarantee only applies to products that you purchase separately from the bike. If it's included on the bike at the time of purchase, the guarantee doesn't apply. The saddle that came with my bike is 138mm wide, and I am experiencing numbness -- I'd like to try the 148mm version. I'm not even asking to try a different model . . . just a different size. I can't, because I didn't buy the saddle separately, and so the guarantee doesn't apply. So basically, if I want to be able to take advantage of the "Unconditional" Bontrager Guarantee, I've got to BUY A SECOND SADDLE, when I just dropped north of $6k on a bike!!!
I'm of the opinion that if you're going to do business like that, then you should: a) advertise that the unconditional guarantee does not apply to items that come stock on the bike, b) include a "saddle credit" toward any bontrager saddle in the sale price of the bike, or c) don't include your saddle with the bike. Because as it is now, I'm not happy with my saddle, and I sure as heck won't buy a second one if Bontrager won't even stand behind the first one.
[/rant]
Your rant mimics my thoughts verbatim!!!
Consider that my SuperSix EVO (and many, many other bikes) come with a Fizik @$$hammer......errrr......I mean, Arione! Now, if there even WERE an option for a wider width, I don't know that I'd like it but in the case of the Fizik Arione.....you get 2 choices......black or white! That's it!
My sit bones are 118mm, the majority of most riders anyway, which would normally call for a 143mm seat, yet they include a 130mm Arione with the bike. In these days of legal paranoia, I'd almost consider the inclusion of a saddle nearly legal suicide anymore. (i.e. "I have nerve damage in my arse forever because of your bike, I'm going to sue you now!')
Why not just omit the saddle altogether & let us pick something ourselves?? Heck, it would probably most likely lead to an upsell for the LBSs, for sure.
/rant