Bike Forums - Advice on new saddle purchase

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Quote:

Originally Posted by DrIsotope (Post 19574643)

My Titanico X has proved to be the most trouble-free saddle I've ever used. I'm a bit past 5,000 miles on it, and I think I've put maybe four turns on the tension screw. I was initially worried because I had read so many reports of bent rails or the saddle prematurely stretching, but have experienced none of that myself. Thomson Elite seatpost, rider weight 190-200lbs.

Most of my Titanico saddles are older, so they don't have the most recent rail type/material. I broke the rails on a very early mode, and my remaining ones' rails are slightly bent. The new X2 looks very interesting, but I'd like to confirm that they still offer lots of setback before purchasing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flounce (Post 19574572)

Saddle sore = some chamois cream, vaseline works.

Saddle discomfort = find the right one.

I've test ridden 20 plus saddles and purchased a few, ranging from WTB padded saddles to Sella SMP, which I rode for year on rides up to 190 miles, thought it was okay. But - finally - after everyone kept talking about Brooks Brooks Brooks ... I tried one. They are clunky and bulky and don't match a $5000 carbon road bike and we all want to look cool, but it was obvious after a few rides that what they say is true. Brooks wins. I'm riding faster simply because my mind is no longer on my butt, i.e. I can exert power more evenly through the pedal stroke without being distracted by discomfort. Try a Brooks if you are not entirely happy with the Fizik.

Which Brooks did you end up with? I looked at their range and all of their saddles tend to be on the wider side.

I take the above back, this looks like a nice option (spendy though)

http://www.brooksengland.com/en_us/s...ved-132-1.html

Try out a union sport saale rxs. After I switched over, I found I can ride for much longer and the padding and scoop to the seat is very ergonomic like a bucket seat. I use to ride fizik and selle italia.

What are everyone's thoughts on ISM saddles?

I am also trying to pick a saddle.. If I go to an LBS they'll fit me and I'll have my choice of Specialized or Bontrager Saddles.. but I'm just not interested in those. I'm sure they COULD get me something else, but, I'll pay a lot more and they may not know which one to recommend outside of their inventory. (This happens a lot). SO, I'm trying to figure out.. for a non-racer.. non triathlete..What to get? I don't want to play the spend hundreds of dollars guessing game. lol I do have an issue with sometimes getting comfortable on long rides.. where I feel a little numbness (and I think some of that has to do with the tight bib shorts I wear putting pressure on my man parts) and just general discomfort, but rarely 'pain'. I'm 5'7" 195ish. Not a racer. I mostly ride endurance.. 40, 40, 50, 60 mile rides.

Don't worry too much about it. Just buy one of your candidate saddles from a source that will allow you to return it with no penalty other than shipping. I always try to ride a century on a candidate saddle. If it works for that, it's good. One can't really tell for sure about a saddle until after the 3rd hour.

First thing when you put on a candidate saddle is to put on thin nylon shorts and take a brief ride. Padded shorts can disguise saddle problems. If that doesn't feel good, don't go further, take or send it back.

Repeat testing until you get a good one. The saddle should vanish on a long ride. You shouldn't notice that your butt is planted on a saddle.

Leather saddle true believers are vocal on BF. However, as you've undoubtedly noticed, they'r a tiny minority in the general road cycling population, and for valid reasons.

Everyone's butt is different, which is the reason for the existence of so many different saddle models and shapes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sojodave (Post 19572460)

Everyone is different and what is a comfortable saddle for some can be a torture device for others. I went through 8 saddles before I bought the Specialized Power Expert saddle. It is a short saddle with a huge cut out. Check it out and oh yea, use Chammy Cream or Bag Balm before you ride.

Also a big fan of the Specialized Power saddles. I don't know if it's a Specialized thing or not, but my LBS had a 60 day return policy on saddles in case I didn't like it after a few rides.

Quote:

Originally Posted by absoludicrous (Post 19571642)

However, I'm looking for some input from those of you who have either upgraded saddles or have found yourself looking for something new.

I have been battling discomfort on the bike this year, and it's developed into a saddle sore. I have ruled out bibs as the culprit. I was fit at a local shop, but I'm starting to consider the saddle itself may be the culprit. I have never been truly comfortable on it.

I am currently on the stock saddle that came with my bike, and it measures 136mm wide. My sit bones measure at 110mm wide, give or take a mm. Which falls on the narrow side of the spectrum. My initial thought was that my current saddle may be too narrow and have been looking into a wider saddle. However, everything I have read states that a wide saddle can cause chafing, not a narrow one. Which is exactly what I'm experiencing.

I thought maybe a wider saddle might be in order, but I reached out to Fizik and they suggested I run an Antares Regular (130mm wide). I have also been looking at a Fabric Line Shallow Elite which is 134mm wide.

Now I'm confused.

Maybe my only option is riding demo saddles from a local shop.

My cousin, who rides a lot, has been using a Specialized Toupe. You go to a store that has a measuring system, that measures your sit bones, and lets you know what size, what gap etc, will fit you for your shape. They have different materials, costs from low to high, might be worth checking out. I am just getting back into riding, so I can't offer you help, from experience. Hope this helps.