Running into an issue with seats. MTB seats haven't been to much of an issue as I don't spend long periods of time and miles just sitting on them.

But having bought a road bike last year and now being convinced to do Ragbrai (which I'm now training for) I have found the limits of my road bikes stock seat. Tried a couple selle and those things didn't make it out of the parking lot. Only thing I liked was the gap down the middle.

So I decided to try the seat I have in my fat bike which is the best fitting seat I have. WTB Volt. Like it because still easy to slide around on but comfortable when I'm just sitting and cruising around with my kids.

And first ride of 14 miles on my road bike it was great, except the channel in the center I wish was deeper or at least extends further forward. Not near as beat up as I would be from the stock saddle and no chafing on my thighs (I'm not skinny) from the seat being too wide up front. Love it except the channel.

Do any other companies make saddles that are more like the Volt: flat in the rear, fairly wide in the sit bone area (150ish) without a ton of padding, but sharp taper to being rather narrow for the rest. All while having a fairly decent channel for pressure relief???

My thing is duplicating the Volt while having a deeper/longer channel. Would be my "perfect" saddle for my road bike.

Thanks.

There's some science to seat design, but since there's so much variation between people, the science doesn't help much in predicting an individual's response to a specific design.

The name 'selle' is downright confusing - apparently it's Italian for 'saddle', so the important part of a brand is what comes after 'selle'.

For a good discussion of saddle choice, see https://www.cervelo.com/en/engineeri...f-road-saddles. Also, since you're interested in cutouts, search on 'steve hogg selle smp' for the thoughts of a bike fitter who has a following.

Brooks c17. 162mm wide. There is a cutout option too.
The c15 is 140mm wide.

I think it has a relatively sharp taper.

Thanks for the help, especially the first link.

My issue with the selle saddles I tried first off was the thick ass padding. Puts a lot of direct pressure on my sit bones. Secondly was the taper was too wide. I'm not skinny so doesn't work well. One was the Extra, other was the TRK. Haven't found anything as wide with about half the padding. If I could I'd try selle again

My bike came stock with a 140mm bontrager paradigm saddle. Sit bones are killing me after a long ride

10 miles today on my VOLT was nice and maybe that's just the saddle that's going to work.

Oh as for Brooks, the taper is too wide for me.

Specialized make saddles in different widths. Some dealers have a device you sit on to measure the width of your sit bones and tell you which size you need, but if you look around the internet you'll find ways you can do the same at home.

Ya I found that a bit before I saw your reply. Doubled up some cardboard and stole one of my kids 200 crayons.

I had guessed right on the selle saddles I tried, lbs had me try a Terry as well. It's the big humps of padding it seems. For some reason (at least right now with my size which I'm working hard to get down where I should be) where my sit bones are wants a flat surface, not bubbled up.

I do wonder is part of the issue is I'm so used to flat MTB saddles (wtb and Chromag trailmaster) that my body needs to adjust to a road saddle design???

go to www.competitivecyclist.com and look at the Serfas Phantom. They're dirt cheap right now, and it sounds like what you're looking for.

Supposedly it has a 90 day comfort guarantee.

You can still buy Brooks Team Professionals the Ti frame version will save weight.


Go forth and sit on more saddles .. BTW "selle saddles" is redundant, it's same thing, in Italian and then English

The Team Pro is made for long hours in the saddle

You could give one of these a shot . https://selleanatomica.com/

Specialized, Terry, Selle Italia, and Fizik.

They offer saddles with flat back sections, more taper, different levels of padding, deep and/or completely open centers in quite a few widths. Go through their sites and see what they offer. Some places have good try out periods and/or long return times. REI is one for example, Terry offers a guarantee from their site, etc.

I second the selle anatomica

There are quite a few Terry saddle, and what Terry will recommend varies with the angle you sit on the saddle, and type of riding you do. Had a nice conversation with them, which I appreciated, they recommended the Terry Butterfly Ti. So, I tried it for around 50 miles, but like you found, too squishy for me. See they now have the Butterfly Century, which one did you try? It is advertised as having a lower profile, and longer channel cut out..maybe? I did find relief with a traditional brooks b17, which I have on a couple bikes, and the Selle Anatomica with the cutout. The SA is maybe a little more narrow than the b17 I think? There are certainly narrower brooks saddle than the b17 as well. Their own webpage gives the detailed measurements, if you know wht the WTB saddle is to find a match. You at least don't have to worry about soft material bunching up.

Many companies suggest wider saddles for sitting more upright on the bike..

#_3 for example ; C17, has a narrower C15, and a wider C19 sibling, in the product lineup..




...

Check with your local Specialized dealer. Specialized has a good selection of saddles with relatively flat designs and large cut-outs, and most models are available in 2-3 widths.
You might try the Power model its relatively new and gets very good reviews.

Have a look at the Specialized Avatar Comp Gel. I have an older version of this saddle and has been my favorite saddle. As JGWilliams has already posted, Specialized make saddles in different widths. Try one in 155 you may like it.

I'll second the selle anatomica. My wife and I have them on our single bikes and tandem. 50 milers are no problem, 100 milers are doable but you will know it...

Unfortunately, OP, the only sure way to find the right saddle is to try them out. Even if you do all the ass-o-meter stuff, and get the right width, in the end it still comes down to trying a saddle out.

In my saddle quest I must have tried 35 saddles--including many of the saddles people have listed above--and finally settled on an SMP Drakon. But it took a lot of saddles to get there, playing with the angle and placement of each, putting miles on, etc. In the end, I have a saddle that I can ride for 100 miles without the slightest discomfort, and without ever having to get out of the saddle to give my butt a break, so it was worth the effort.

Good luck, and be as systematic about it as you can and you'll also be able to find that saddle that fits your butt like a glove. Er.

Just wanted to add to this part. The way you set up the saddle can really influence the feel of it. The last saddle I bought, the one I thought would feel best, didn't seem like it would work out at all when I first got on it... But I spent a ride tweaking the angles, height, etc. and its now my favourite saddle.

I'd definitely change each around a bit while taking a decent ride, just to make sure, before returning them.

Little slow replying sorry. Been crazy.

Appreciate the advise, sounds like best route is just trying different stuff out. Going to be a long process there since that gets expensive in a hurry.

I did find as pointed out a minor change in saddle position makes a huge difference good or bad. So I will slowly test and adjust. From reading finding the perfect saddle can be a life time process. At least for me I have a place to start (after a few years of mtbing and having a few saddle options).

One thing I have learned is fancy, thin, light saddles are not great for most. Having decent padding makes a massive difference in comfort for short or long rides.

Bike Shop Take Offs are low cost , new, and maybe you can talk the shop into a try and return series of tests , riding on several in sequence.

I have the Selle TRK and Pro in my garage right now. The TRK is huge and the padding was very spongey. the Pro is about the same width in the seating area but way more firm. may work for you. I never mouted the TRK because it looks cheesy

I used Ebay and Craigslist to make it a bit less expensive. It wasn't too hard to find $150+ (for example) saddles used or new take-offs for about $20 or less. Even if some weren't in great condition, I figured if I liked it enough than I would just buy a better used or new one in the future. It took me a few saddles and about 6-ish months IIRC, but I was waiting for $20 or less type deals. Selling them off would help fund the next ones also.

BikeForums has sale threads in some sub forums and at the bottom of the main page also, where saddles pop up for sale, and there is a saddle swapping thread in the sales section on the main page (though not too active). And of course the lbs is a good place to look for take-offs (ours sell them for $20 & they're returnable). Some LBS have test models available too.

I wish I was near a populated area where I had LBS that could do that. Not that lucky, so Im stuck playing it with trying to use Amazon other others that are pretty laxed on the return policy.

I cant lie, I am growing more fond of my WTB Volt. but weather hasn't cooperated to get a 20-40 mile ride in. And seeing as one trail set just opened up (last for the weekend then we get snow) Im using tomorrow for hitting dirt again finally. Fat bike after that then mother nature stops the cold ass winds out of the north so I can work on this on a long ride again.

We used to joke around here that "if you don't like the weather wait a day or 2", well Tornadoes on Monday, below freezing as of yesturday and light snow Saturday, snowstorm monday..... Dont get me wrong, I love riding my fat bike, but it isnt what im using for Ragbrai, so I gotta get my road bike sorted and be racking those miles up.

++ to the Specialized Avatar Comp Gel (level 3 cushioning). I use a 155 on my touring bikes and have been really very happy. Try also Specialized Romin Evo Comp Gel, 155 which is slightly less cushioned (level 2) but incredibly comfortable. I've been using these on my road and cx bikes for four years and love them.