Anyone running a modern cutting edge saddle on their vintage ride?
07-03-12, 11:06 AM
#26
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I've got a Selle SMP Pro on my Waterford. The bike isn't vintage (2007), but looks vintage.
At my age (70), the Brooks saddles were giving me perineum numbness on long rides, so I made the switch on the bike I use exclusively on 100 mile rides. The rest still have Brooks Professionals.
At my age (70), the Brooks saddles were giving me perineum numbness on long rides, so I made the switch on the bike I use exclusively on 100 mile rides. The rest still have Brooks Professionals.
Chombi
07-03-12, 11:39 AM
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I've got Regals on four of my bikes; never cared much for the Turbo either. I've got a Hinault hanging on the wall. Dunno what it is, but the Regal just seems to fit me best of all.
07-03-12, 11:53 AM
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I have an Arione on my daily rider. It was not immediately comfortable, but after 10 rides or so, I have no trouble going 40 miles on it.
07-03-12, 12:01 PM
#32
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It's been on the bike since 2009 after I got open sores on my sit bones during the S.F. to L.A. AIDS/LifeCycle ride that year. In 2010 and this year I noticed an increasing number of various model Selle SMP saddles on the ride.
07-03-12, 01:17 PM
#33
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Both the Regal and the Concor were re-issued starting from about two years ago.
They use slightly thicker and softer padding for the new saddles. The Concor uses a much coarser textured suede leather cover on the new ones which does not look as good as the ones on the original that looked like fine velvet. It's not really a big deal as the velvet finish on the old ones wore out quickly and you end up with a smooth leather saddle cover afer just one season. No girardi versions were re-issued but they started making perforated versions for both saddles about a year ago. I guess enough people asked for it. Maybe it's just me but, therWe's something weird about the size and spacing of the perforations on the leather as it does not seem to match what they did in the 80's on the Regal and other saddles from that period. It does not seem to look as good to me.
So, the new ones do not seem to exactly match what we rode in the 80's but at least you do not have to pay as much these days to have a Concor or Regal saddle on your bike as NOS ones were already hitting $200+ just two years ago.
Chombi
They use slightly thicker and softer padding for the new saddles. The Concor uses a much coarser textured suede leather cover on the new ones which does not look as good as the ones on the original that looked like fine velvet. It's not really a big deal as the velvet finish on the old ones wore out quickly and you end up with a smooth leather saddle cover afer just one season. No girardi versions were re-issued but they started making perforated versions for both saddles about a year ago. I guess enough people asked for it. Maybe it's just me but, therWe's something weird about the size and spacing of the perforations on the leather as it does not seem to match what they did in the 80's on the Regal and other saddles from that period. It does not seem to look as good to me.
So, the new ones do not seem to exactly match what we rode in the 80's but at least you do not have to pay as much these days to have a Concor or Regal saddle on your bike as NOS ones were already hitting $200+ just two years ago.
Chombi
Well, most of them at least.
More importantly, they fit my rear.
I can't ride Concors.
Btw. The Regal prices on eBay are absurd.
I have a "few" Girardis that are in very nice condition.
They are quite happy on their current locations, but if those prices keep going, I'll settle for a re-issue.
07-03-12, 01:38 PM
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I really like the Terry Liberator Y.....it's really comfortable and looks good on a vintage bike, imo. (See my thread on Nishiki Tri-A in the stable....that's what is on that bike)
07-03-12, 03:22 PM
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I have one of these on my latest acquisition:
It was very comfy on its inaugural 30 mile ride, and it looks great in person.
Hard to beat the price too!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o04_s00_i00
It was very comfy on its inaugural 30 mile ride, and it looks great in person.
Hard to beat the price too!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o04_s00_i00
07-03-12, 03:32 PM
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Sorry, had to do it.
When I saw the saddle, I thought of this scene in Nothing But Trouble (circa 1991).
When I saw the saddle, I thought of this scene in Nothing But Trouble (circa 1991).
07-03-12, 04:42 PM
#37
What??? Only 2 wheels?
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I've been wondering what is meant by "cutting edge saddle", then I decided I really wouldn't want my saddle to have any cutting edges. 
When you have to sit on it for hours at a time, comfort is the only thing that matters.
But if knew which WTB performance models felt similar to the Speed V I'd consider one just for the lower weight. 100g saved is 100g saved.
When you have to sit on it for hours at a time, comfort is the only thing that matters.
But if knew which WTB performance models felt similar to the Speed V I'd consider one just for the lower weight. 100g saved is 100g saved.
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Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
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07-03-12, 05:29 PM
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I use modern, light, hard saddles on all my bikes.
Mostly Selle Italia, from Filante to SLR's to Flites.
I do have a SSM Ponza, not expensive, but light enough and works well.
The Fizik Vitesse is a woman's saddle, but one of the most comfy I've ever been on.
I've never found a C&V saddle that was comfortable.
Mostly Selle Italia, from Filante to SLR's to Flites.
I do have a SSM Ponza, not expensive, but light enough and works well.
The Fizik Vitesse is a woman's saddle, but one of the most comfy I've ever been on.
I've never found a C&V saddle that was comfortable.
07-03-12, 06:14 PM
#40
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This unusual "Daytona" saddle made by Selle Italia in 1993 (as the date stamp on the plastic base shows) is on my 1972 Line Seeker build project. Got it for cheap, NOS from the bay about a year and a half ago. Certainly more modern than what was expected back in 72, but the "classic" details and shape makes it look the part without the weight and cost. Plus the "Daytona" name kinda gives it an American flavor which is approrpiate to the bike. Don't know how it feels till I get the bike on the road. If it turns out to be horrible, I'll just maybe put on a Brooks Swallow instead......
Was it meant to be the first of the Regal copies?,....I dunno...... If it was, they sure did not make too many of them. Maybe San Marco made them stop the production as it infringed upon patents for their Regal design.
Chombi
Last edited by Chombi; 07-03-12 at 06:22 PM.
07-03-12, 06:42 PM
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Brooks pro on my paramount, brooks B17 on my Miyata touring bike, brooks swift ti on my newer ti bike. Thats as cutting edge and modern as it gets around here.
07-03-12, 09:06 PM
#42
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I just put a Selle San Marco Aspide on the Panasonic, we'll see how it works. I was getting some numbness after 1 1/2-2hrs in the saddle, and I'm hoping the cut out might help. It does look slightly out of place, but then again nobody can see it when my ass is on it.
07-03-12, 09:45 PM
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My saddle is killing me, I can't take it anymore. Instead of upgrading to a finer classic saddle I thought I might try doing something totally crazy like seeing what the latest in comfy racing saddles might be like. So I ordered a Selle Italia Max SLR Gel Flow. I hope it works out. I’ve never had a saddle with a hole in middle before, or gel padding.
I was wonder if any of you guys have tasted the cool aid, or is this an usual thing to do on an old bike?
I was wonder if any of you guys have tasted the cool aid, or is this an usual thing to do on an old bike?
07-03-12, 10:26 PM
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way back when i started cycling again i had a fizik on my home painted bianchi.
It was a full carbon saddle before i changed it. I used to rid it with no pants with padding. After a few rides the family jewels didn't agree. Then i changed it to the fizik I thought it was so rad before i got into C&V, now all i like are selle italia turbo's, san marco rolls, and san marco supercorsa's
It was a full carbon saddle before i changed it. I used to rid it with no pants with padding. After a few rides the family jewels didn't agree. Then i changed it to the fizik I thought it was so rad before i got into C&V, now all i like are selle italia turbo's, san marco rolls, and san marco supercorsa's
Last edited by mapleleafs-13; 07-04-12 at 06:30 AM.
07-04-12, 08:08 AM
#47
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I tried several saddles and settled on the Fizik Arione. I have tons of them in the garage, on bikes and waiting in the wings. I've tried a Brooks B17, B17N, Pro, & Swallow and they were all ok, with the B17N being my favorite of the group. I tried several others as well but none that I like for any distance.
Then I found a cheap ISM Adamo to try out. It's about as ugly as they come but for me it's so much better than anything else. It's the only one I've ridden with zero perineum pressure...everything is on the sit bones. I'd love to find a classic looking saddle that fit the same (narrow and flat).
Then I found a cheap ISM Adamo to try out. It's about as ugly as they come but for me it's so much better than anything else. It's the only one I've ridden with zero perineum pressure...everything is on the sit bones. I'd love to find a classic looking saddle that fit the same (narrow and flat).
07-24-12, 07:45 PM
#48
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I've done it, got my new saddle, been trying it out. With my old saddle, my prostate and seat bones were sore about 50/50. With the new saddle, my prostate area is 0% sore, and my seat bones are about half as sore as they were with the old saddle after a long ride.
One of the things I noticed right away, is the top of my seat post is now very visible and I had to clean it up. The down side about this new saddle is that I would prefer a vintage looking saddle, but I'm glad I'm giving it a try because of the gel padding, my old saddle really was unbearable on a long ride.
Here's a few pictures. For those of you living in Toronto, they were taken along the Humber River Bike Trail, at the bike path bridge by the railway bridge.
One of the things I noticed right away, is the top of my seat post is now very visible and I had to clean it up. The down side about this new saddle is that I would prefer a vintage looking saddle, but I'm glad I'm giving it a try because of the gel padding, my old saddle really was unbearable on a long ride.
Here's a few pictures. For those of you living in Toronto, they were taken along the Humber River Bike Trail, at the bike path bridge by the railway bridge.
07-24-12, 08:19 PM
#49
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I've now got about 350 miles on the Selle San Marco Aspide Arrowhead, and am pleased so far. They aren't cheap, but not too bad if you find one on sale. But as Ed in Toronto said, you gotta have a tidy seatpost top clamp.
07-24-12, 08:27 PM
#50
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I recently went in the other direction and switched from a Selle SMP to a Gyes GS-06H (Brooks Swallow copy) pictured below:
Edit: Note cut-out to relieve perineum numbness. (It works!)
Edit: Note cut-out to relieve perineum numbness. (It works!)
Last edited by ciocc_cat; 07-24-12 at 08:34 PM.