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Old 03-16-08 | 09:39 PM
  #5  
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BengeBoy
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,955
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From: Seattle, Washington, USA

Bikes: 2009 Chris Boedeker custom; 2007 Bill Davidson custom; 2021 Bill Davidson custom gravel bike; 2022 Specialized Turbo Vado e-bike

Hi, coincidentally, one of my colleagues gave me an Allay to try as a sample. I put it on my commuting bike and so far have about 40 miles on it (my regular saddle on that bike is a very nicely worn in 26-year-old Brooks Professional).

My first impression is quite positive. It's really comfortable. And the middle of the saddle has no pressure to it at all...my old saddle really wasn't bothering me but riding with no pressure at all is actually a nice change.

I did tilt the nose up a bit, as recommended in the literature, but after a 2nd ride I tilted it up even more.

About the only downsides I can think of are:
1. I think you have to be a bit more comfortable w/the saddle positioning than on a Brooks. I find that on the Brooks I can slide around a bit and try different positions during a ride...it seems to me that on the Allay there is one optimal place to ride; it's super-comfortable, but you gotta stay there.

2. The traditionalist in me still says it's a little gimmicky. The air bladders/air cushions seem like "moving parts" to me that will eventually wear out. I guess any saddle will wear out, but I do wonder about longevity.

In any case -- after years of riding a Brooks -- I've been trying several different saddles lately...I think this saddle (so far) seems worth checking out.

I'll check in w/an update after more riding.

EDIT: I think I have a slightly different model than the one the OP mentioned. The one I am testing is the Allay Sport 1.1.;
http://www.allaysaddles.com/line/sport.htm

(BTW, on one of my other bikes, I'm about 200 miles into a new Selle-Anatomica. It's quite nice, but 3x more expensive than the Allay).

Last edited by BengeBoy; 03-17-08 at 09:01 AM.
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