With a saddle that fits you properly, you should feel no discomfort at all. That is, you should hardly notice the saddle at all -- with a few caveats. First, anyone new to cycling will probably experience some saddle discomfort until they get used to riding regularly. Second, all saddles need to be properly adjusted and positioned. Even with the best-fitting saddle in the world, you might be uncomfortable if it is too high or too low, too far forward or back, or tilted the wrong way. Third, saddle width is very important if your seat bones are wider or narrower than usual.

Finally, if you find a saddle that fits you just right, get some extras. Saddle makers are notorious for changing designs, discontinuing models, etc. When I found the perfect saddle -- after using about a dozen different models over the years -- I bought extras and installed them on almost all of my bikes, with one extra to spare. You can often buy lightly used saddles for very good prices on eBay. If buying from a bike shop or store, make sure that they allow returns and/or exchanges. It is nearly impossible to determine whether a saddle is comfortable until you have ridden it a few times, including at least one long ride.

Saddle fit is very personal. There is no one brand or model that is comfortable for everyone. A lot of Brooks owners rave about their saddles and seem to assume that everyone will have the same experience, but they are tortuous for many riders. I rode a Brooks B17 for years until I picked up a Fizik Vitesse in a trade. The Vitesse is actually more comfortable for me than a B17, yet it weighs less than half as much. I now have them on all of my bikes except one with my old B17.

I have a san marco concor max, it is one of those discontinued good saddles.

Yes, I have this to be a very comfy saddle. Because the cover is made of vinyl, I wouldn't expect it to last more than ten years, maybe less, but it's still a decent value. I think my wife has the women's version, and we both like it. I like it despite the fact that it has a lot of padding. The padding doesn't get in the way of pedaling, and it doesn't give me that bad after-effect I spoke of earlier.

I don't have any problems with my Brooks B17 Champion. I'm fine in the drops (I don't go their often, but my comfort level isn't affected by the saddle.) My biggest concern with my Brooks B17 is keeping it dry. I have a cover and fenders on my touring/commuter bike and that works fine. I'd love to have the brooks on my road bike (it looks funny, but it's comfy, and I'm not going to break any speed records anyway) but without fenders I'll only put it on when the ride is longer than 60 miles AND it's guaranteed to be a dry day.

I've found that I can be reasonably comfortable on a pretty wide range of saddles, but there are also some that I just can't tolerate. The common factor for me seems to be saddle width. Narrow saddles don't work for me. I went to a Specialized dealer and set on their ass-o-meter and the chart told them I needed a 143mm wide saddle. That has really worked for me.

Of course, Brooks is a whole different ball game. I think because of the differences in the way a Brooks saddle is constructed the width of a Brooks saddle means something different than the width of a typical plastic-ish saddle.

So my Team pro arrived last night. My sit bones feel just fine on it, but I'm getting some nasty pressure in my perineum area. I've tried tipping the saddle up a bit, maybe I need to go more? Or adjust forward/backward?

Adjust fore/aft positioning. It probably has more to do with where you're sitting on the saddle, as opposed to the angle (if the nose/tail of the saddle are at least level with one another).

I have Brooks B17s on all of my bikes, and I have no issue when in the drops. Then again, I run a high bar, with the bar at seat height. I've heard the Brooks Professional is better suited to a more race bike type fit.

Tilt the nose up...as much as 7/8" difference between the front/back of saddle. Also move the saddle forward so that your sit bones are positioned at the widest portion of the saddle. The Pro is quite stiff and can take more than 1K miles to conform to your body.

Selecting a saddle - what are realistic expectations?
 

Selle Italia's "Genuine Gel" saddles have just the right balance between hardness and comfort for me. I don't wear padded bike shorts for either commuting or touring.

My favourite is the "XO"
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mobile/MobileModels.aspx?ModelID=68747

Oh, it's made of synthetic leather as well, if you prefer not to sit on a dead cow ;)

Agreed. Cheap, and comfy. I haven't ever liked padded shorts, but I've only tried a few cheap pair. I refuse to ride with bibs : P

Welcome to Brooks saddles. :)

Sorry, but if you adjust the saddle correctly for you, you won't experience pain. I see people having trouble with Brooks saddles often having the seat too high which will cause pain. Many people take their old saddle off, place the Brooks on the seat post, then leave the seat post in the same position, or at the least, they look at how much seat post is showing and try to leave the same amount showing as with their old saddle. The Brooks B17 sits higher than most saddles so in doing this the saddle will be too high.

I kept increasing my saddle height in an effort to be more efficient, I ended up having my saddle too high and had pain, I dropped the saddle height and all is well. I had gone too far.

Trust me, I tried every adjustment.

Brooks saddle does not work for everyone.

I would love to try a Brooks but have found over the years I can't ride a bike for any distance without a cutout in the saddle. The only exception has been the WTB Rocket V.

Yeah, and they're darn ugly too!

' not sure if you are being serious, but I did find it to be so classy looking. That's what attracted me to it.

But, yeah, it was a torturous experience after >30mi of ridding.

Selecting a saddle - what are realistic expectations?
 

Sorry, bit of a tongue-in-cheek jibe at all the Brooks fans here. Most saddle threads bring out the choir... Personally I don't like the way they look, but ugliness is in the eye of the beholder ;)

the imperial version has a cutout.

I like my team pro, but it took at least 2000 miles before it really felt comfy.

I have some minimal experience with that one. Bought it to put on a road bike and since it's been winter, the road bike has only been on a trainer. Didn't like it much on the road bike, I don't think it was meant for the leaned-forward position (though I'm new to road bikes so getting used to that too).

I'm going to put the ARS on my commuter hybrid now. I imagine it will be better there where more weight is on the saddle.

I think the consensus is, there's no consensus. One advantage of brands like Brooks and Selle XX is when you wear one out (in 50 years) you've got a pretty good chance of being able to buy another just like it. I've had the same Selle San Marco Regal seat on a bike since 1994 and it's still perfect. I want another for my commuter bike and I can buy the exact same seat. However, I don't really want to spend $80 so I think I'm going to come into the 21st century and try some of the cheaper saddles mentioned in this thread. Good luck!!

Selecting a saddle - what are realistic expectations?
 

A saddle called "Ars!" Sorry that "cracked" me up :D

Yes, it's so very personal, and when you find Your Saddle, you'll want the same exact one on all your bikes. And if they discontinue it, you'll hunt eBay for NOS and lightly used ones. Mine happens to be the Selle Italia Flite Ti. Lucky for me, SI decided to reissue it as a "classic."

It's worse than 99 bottles of Beer on the wall , because there are well over 99 different saddles made.

But "take one down, and pass it around, 98 bottles of beer on the wall" :beer:

Why doesn't someone start a seat exchange?