I completed the BC Randonneurs series up to 600 km this year on the fixed-gear Benotto. The 600 km ride got to be really uncomfortable after the first 300 km on the San Marco Era, the saddle I'm used to and have on all my bikes. It got to be a little excrutiating on the descents, where all your weight has to be on the saddle so you can float the pedals down the hill, so I'll be experimenting with saddles for the next little while in preparation for riding the 1200 km Paris-Brest-Paris in 2011 on the fixie. I will be taking delivery of a San Marco Regal next week, which is sort of a padded leather-covered nylon take on a riveted Brooks saddle,a bit wider than the Era.

I've tried Brooks and Ideale leather saddles and quickly tossed them. Well, the Brooks Pro came with an early-in-my-career Peugeot PX-10, and it was destroyed after some wet riding. It was forming into an assymetrical shape and was not comfortable at all, even with lots of Proofide. In the 1980's, I got tired of waiting for an Ideale to break in, so I sold it and went back to the relatively comfortable Cinelli #3.

I've pretty much gravitated to San Marco saddles. I've tried a gel Sella Italia Flite and an old Fizyk on the tandem, but neither was as comfortable as the Era, and I remember wearing out a Rolls completely. So I'm counting on the Regal to perform.

L.