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Road saddles that worked for you

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Road saddles that worked for you

Old 04-28-13, 12:54 PM
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Road saddles that worked for you

Hello guys.

I'm after a new saddle since the ones I tried from Specialized didn't really fit me (they gave me either sore sitbones or numbness). I've tried Specialized Riva 143, Toupe Expert 143, Romin Expert 143 and Romin Expert 155. I sat briefly on an Avatar 143 (no Gel) and although I liked the padding on my sitbones, I felt great pressure on my perineum and rejected it. I did the sit-bone width test and the fitter said I fall between 143 and 155, depending on my posture. My bike is a Specialized Secteur (relaxed geometry) and the handlebars are almost level with the saddle.

I'm still heavy (230+ lbs) so the ones with minimal padding feel like sitting on nails especially after 30 miles or so when my legs get tired. I went through the saddle selector tool on Specialized's website and it recommended Avatar Comp Gel for me (probably 155mm wide). I will give this one a try but I'd like to hear if it ever actually worked for a Clydesdale.

I'm also considering Selle Italia Max Flite Gel Flow because it is a best seller, it has great reviews, they say it works well for larger/heavier guys, it has an elastomer suspension, its cover is made from natural leather, it is available in white and it costs only 10 bucks more in Europe.

Has any of the above models worked for you fellow Clydesdales? What has been comfortable for you in a relaxed geometry fit?
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Old 04-28-13, 01:33 PM
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The saddle that works best for me is the Selle SMP Lite 209. A proper fit is extremely important to bike comfort. Well worth the price. My fit was done in a Specialized shop, even though I did not get fitted on a Specialied bike. Since going to SMP saddles, I've never experienced numbness "down there". In my younger days, I've had good experience with those old Brooks saddles. I have a new one in a box, but think I would like one of theirs with the cutout.
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Old 04-28-13, 02:16 PM
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Thank you for your input. I did the Specialized BG Fit, but we haven't figured the saddle part yet :/
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Old 04-28-13, 02:17 PM
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This is what works for me, and I have three of them.

https://www.ismseat.com/saddle/adamo-typhoon
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Old 04-28-13, 03:23 PM
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Try the Selle SMP TRK. It might have too much padding for most riders, but even on 40-50 mile rides it is still comfortable. My problem was pain in the groin area as well, but this has a cut out so it reduces that pain to almost zero. Great saddle.
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Old 04-28-13, 03:56 PM
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Long, flat saddles don't seem to work for me: I've tried many of the same Specialized saddles as the OP and found them all to be uncomfortable or down right painful. The Specialized Toupe Comp Gel was the worst saddle I've ever ridden, followed closely by the vaunted Brooks B17...

Saddles that have worked for me include the Selle SMP Extra ( ~$100 @ Performance Bike), the Selle SMP Lite 209, the ISM Adamo Road, the WTB Rocket V Pro, and the WTB Speed V ProGel. These saddles have either a shorter nose or more curvature from front to back than the Specialized saddles (or both). The ISM Adamo Road is my favorite, but it also has the least padding. I thought the Lite 209 didn't have much padding, but the Adamo Road felt, literally, like sitting on a pair of dull hatchets for the first week or so! But it's the only saddle I own where I'm just as comfortable in an aggressive racing tuck as I am when sitting bolt upright... or anywhere in between.
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Old 04-28-13, 03:58 PM
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I'm still in the early stages of my brooks b17... but so far I like it...
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Old 04-28-13, 05:06 PM
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I have 2 of the selle italia you mentioned and love them for centuries. For shorter rides or club rides, I ride the selle itallia slr superflow...both the saddles in 145

BUT all of these saddles take getting use to. I dont care what you ride, if you think theres instant comfort on 4-6 hours in the saddle, your mistaken in my opinion. If I come off the bike for a week or more, I always, and I mean always hurt after my first long ride....over the next week, but but gets use to the saddle again and then not so much pain, but its never perfect.
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Old 04-28-13, 07:30 PM
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I don't ride as far as some of my fellow Clydes, but I do know that what may work great for some is pure torture for others. My rear end, I discovered, is absolutely happy on a Fizik Nisene Gobi saddle. I hope that translates to an Arione saddle, as I'm trying that next on my Road bike.

I have a Selle Superflow SLR on my Mountain Bike (that I use to commute on, at least 3 days a week, for 6.5 miles each way), and while it works fine for those shorter rides, I start feeling it at the 9 mile mark--maybe I need to get used to it, but that's where it stands.

My current Selle Italia Max Flite is very much in the same boat as the SLR Superflow, but I haven't take it on a proper long ride yet.

I really am curious at about the Selle SMP Pro--I really want to try one soon (maybe I'll try to buy one and decided between it and the Arione).

If worse comes to worse, I may have to fit a Gobi to my road bike too...
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Old 04-28-13, 08:00 PM
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Believe it or not these 2 saddles work for me on 2 different road bikes
one is $ 135.00
the other is $ 35.00
totally different saddles price wise and style
and I think I like the cheaper planet bike one the best

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...31&cagpspn=pla


https://ecom1.planetbike.com/5022.html
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Old 04-28-13, 08:16 PM
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I don't think that I have the money or the time to find a saddle that is comfortable. I will probably just try a cheap saddle about every 3 years and see how it works.

From what I have read the saddle is only part of the solution. You also have to adjust the saddle to your riding style or you will be in misery even with a great saddle. Again I am at the point that I just try to get something set up good enough that I can endure the discomfort/pain and ride. Maybe one day I will find the perfect solution. If I ever get fit enough that I can just ride standing up all the time my saddle problems will be over.
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Old 04-28-13, 08:23 PM
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I'm 6'2" and a bit heavier than you, I've been riding on a Selle Italia 'C2 Gel Flow' for 2400 miles. It's been very good since day one.

https://www.selleitalia.com/se_it3/pr...oad/pagina_c2/
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Old 04-28-13, 09:25 PM
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I have quite a few bikes and use many different saddles. I like my Concor saddles, I also have a couple of Brooks Team Pros. The proper angle makes more of a difference to me than the saddle itself.
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Old 04-29-13, 12:36 AM
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Originally Posted by vesteroid
BUT all of these saddles take getting use to. I dont care what you ride, if you think theres instant comfort on 4-6 hours in the saddle, your mistaken in my opinion.
I am comfortable riding for 4-6 hours at a time. I have purchased saddles (the Selle SMP Extra and Lite 209 come to mind) that were instantly usable for those durations. If you're used to riding for 1-2 hours at a stretch, then you're right: nothing is going to be comfortable if you suddenly try to go 2-3X longer than normal.
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Old 04-29-13, 01:07 AM
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Originally Posted by DOOM_NX
I'm also considering Selle Italia Max Flite Gel Flow because it is a best seller, it has great reviews, they say it works well for larger/heavier guys, it has an elastomer suspension, its cover is made from natural leather, it is available in white and it costs only 10 bucks more in Europe.
Selle Italia makes some excellent saddles, with different ratings to match anatomy and riding style. Saddles are rated either S for narrow, or L for wide. In addition to the width rating, they rate saddles 1-3 for the amount of perineum relief.

The Max Flite Gel Flow is a very nice saddle, with an L3 rating (wide with maximum perineum relief). Another L3 saddle to consider is the Man Gel Flow, not a great name but a very comfortable saddle for many riders.
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Old 04-29-13, 01:32 AM
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Originally Posted by vesteroid
I have 2 of the selle italia you mentioned and love them for centuries. For shorter rides or club rides, I ride the selle itallia slr superflow...both the saddles in 145

BUT all of these saddles take getting use to. I dont care what you ride, if you think theres instant comfort on 4-6 hours in the saddle, your mistaken in my opinion. If I come off the bike for a week or more, I always, and I mean always hurt after my first long ride....over the next week, but but gets use to the saddle again and then not so much pain, but its never perfect.
"Perfect" is a big word, but my saddles pretty much disappear, so I am comfortable for 4-6 hours without a problem. I use a variety. The B17 on my touring bike is entirely comfortable, and I am frequently on that bike for upwards of six hours. The Swift on my SS/FG is pretty much as good, thoughnow it is on that bike I rarely use it for hours at a time. The bike I race has a Fizik Aliante on it. This is not quite as good as either of the Brooks, but is fine, I have ridden centuries on it with no issues. Finally, I have a cheap stock Giant saddle which looks as if it should be terrible but is in fact extremely comfortable.

On the other side of the equation, I absolutely cannot ride Specialized saddles. The Toupe cut me to pieces and the Phenom, while not as agonising, simply took longer to beat me up.

So I guess what I am saying, to you and the OP, is that it does matter what you choose and that unless you are very unfortunate it is likely that there is a saddle out there that is as nearly perfect as makes no difference. The trouble is that there appears to be no method other than trial and error for discovering what that saddle is.
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Old 04-29-13, 02:09 AM
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From the mid 70s until about 5 years ago I rode Brooks Pros on most of my road bikes. I'd tried dozens of saddles before I found the Brooks Pros.



I used an Avocet Gel MTB saddle on my off road bike.

The ~1992 Avocet gave out and I replaced it with a WTB Pure V saddle. I liked it so much that I replaced several of the Brooks Pros on my road bikes with them.



About 3-4 years ago I started having severe prostatitis anytime I rode over 20-30 miles. Two years ago I went through the Goldilocks saddle routine again.

Several WTB saddles helped me considerably: the Devo/Diva and Silverado models worked well for me.







I was surprised that these saddles were so comfortable because they're so thin. The hard padding in the rear fits my "sits" points perfectly and the "love channel" relieves pressure in the middle.

Everyone's posterior is different.... YMMV

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Old 04-29-13, 07:39 AM
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In recently years I've tried all the Specialized saddles the OP mentioned. I also went through a few Fizik saddles. I also tried the [h=1]Selle Italia Maxflite Gel Flow Saddle for about 3,000 miles.[/h]
No joy. Bad sit bone pain enough that the thought of a century ride was not good.

So I went old school and bought a Brooks B-17. I had one for over a decade back in the '70s and 80s. It's officially broke in now and the sit bone pain isn't a problem. I might go with a narrow version as it's a little too wide.
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Old 04-29-13, 11:47 AM
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Any Clyde here with Selle SMP feedback? They look like they would be the business as far as width and anatomical design. Thanks!
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Old 04-29-13, 12:10 PM
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I use a RavZ saddle I got used on my road bike. Love it!

And I have a well loved Bontrager saddle on my MTB that works great since I sit more upright, but sucked on the road bike. It had too wide a nose and was too "cushy" for long trips. I did a century on it and regretted it.
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Old 04-29-13, 12:20 PM
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Originally Posted by verktyg
The ~1992 Avocet gave out and I replaced it with a WTB Pure V saddle. I liked it so much that I replaced several of the Brooks Pros on my road bikes with them.


it is funny how different people can be... I have the pure v saddle on my MTB and I love it's shape and size... but the stitching just makes it painful for me in short order :-/...
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Old 04-29-13, 12:35 PM
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Selle Anatomica Titanico X
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Old 04-29-13, 01:28 PM
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Originally Posted by donalson
it is funny how different people can be... I have the pure v saddle on my MTB and I love it's shape and size... but the stitching just makes it painful for me in short order :-/...
WTB make/made a lot of variations of this model. Some have no stitching, others could be uncomfortable... There were/are also manufacturing variances in the density of the foam padding in the rear. I can't ride the softest ones on a road bike!

My off road bike that I built in 1992. There's an Avocet Gel saddle under the purple polka-dot seat cover. After about 15 years the thick gel went soft.



Here's the latest iteration of that bike showing the first WTB saddle that I bought about 2006. The seam is out of the contact area.



BTW, It was built as a "rough-stuff" bike not a MTB. I used heavy gage Reynolds 531 Tandem tubes in the main frame plus 700c wheels. I don't ride off road anymore so it's more of a hybrid now.

Cushy saddles may feel great at first but for many people they become uncomfortable after 5-10 miles because the sink into the gel/foam a start to experience pressure in the wrong places.

Gel and cushy saddles aren't as big a problem when riding off road if you are in and out of the saddle a lot!

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Old 04-29-13, 02:07 PM
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I have Brooks on most of my bikes. My butt seems to be happier with the slightly wider flatter top of the B17 & Flyer, but the Team Pro I have on one bike is pretty good as well. They are hard as a rock when new. Some of mine have been comfortable right off the bat and a couple have needed some break in to get a little flex before they were comfy. It's a matter of how well it fits, not how soft it is. But you already know that.
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Old 04-29-13, 08:49 PM
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Selle Italia Turbomatic Flow

Wide with a cut out but narrow up front so no nonsense with chafing. I have three bikes and three of these saddles
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