cydewaze

Last fall, I picked up a new Specialized Toupe Team saddle to replace my aging Flite Ti. The Flite was good - I've been using one version of it or another for over a decade - but every once in a while, some things down there would get tingly.

So I tried out the Toupe, and noticed there was no "taint" pressure, leaving all my weight on the sit bones. It was a little rough at first, but I figured that was normal because I have 10+ years of "Flite butt".

This season however has been no picnic. Even though I've gotten a really slow start to the season, I'm enough rides in for the butt to be settled. But it's not. On every ride, the sit bones are screaming. It takes around 15 miles before they finally quiet down, but they're still sore.

Tonight I checked closer, and I've developed two strawberry-sized lumps under the skin, right where the sit bones are. I guess it's just bruised flesh, but it's something I've never had before.

I might have to switch back to the Flite. My rides are really getting to be a drag like this.

shoerhino

There's nothing like a saddle that doesn't work for you to cut a ride short. I tried a specialized avatar for a few weeks but there was only one good spot on the saddle and my sit bones would hurt sooner into a ride as well. I've always come back to a version of the flite saddles although I've thought that the koobi saddles looked interesting. They seem to have the same general shape as the flite and the prs system is a unique idea.

Overall, I'm think I'm pretty happy with the flite. After long rides, it's still uncomfortable but that's more likely due to the fact that my sit bones are not used to any ride above the "normal" for me.

delmont425

My Toupe Gel did the same thing...very sore sit bones and eventual saddle sores. I'm now trying an Alias. I think it has potential, but the jury's out at this point.

cydewaze

Hmmm, I think what I probably need is a Flite with a cutout. Time to start looking.

varian72

I have a Toupe gel as well. Similar resuls. But hurts everytime I ride for the first few miles and then settles in. I't snot bad....but could be a lot better.

Thinking of picking up an Aliante for comparison.

cydewaze

Anyone ever tries one of these?



This one looks promising too.

CyLowe97

cydewaze, check out the Selle Italia SLK. There have been a couple of forum reviews. Click here.

cydewaze

Yeah, lol. I was just looking at that thread.

After a few googles, it looks like I'm gonna have a hard time finding anything in white.

Backordered...
Backordered...
Backordered...

kensuf

Hmm, I just switched from an Alias to a Toupe yesterday afternoon because I found the Alias was too soft and it was putting pressure on some parts during longer rides. I think it was the century last weekend, the 80 miler on saturday, and the 60 miler on Sunday that convinced me to switch.

aham23

i too have the toupe team and it is fabulous for the taint relief! i do notice that my soreness now involves the sitbones, but so far it is nothing serious. i would say i have about 300 miles on it and it is much better then the taint pressure saddle sore causing stock Fizik i had. good luck. later.

willieb

Well, I have one sitting on my desk in front of me. My other bike will be in Thurs, so I will know by next week maybe.

JayC

Been there, done that. Went back to the Terry Fly Carbon. Got the white one on both bikes now.

CastIron

The Terry Fly is made by Selle BTW.

recursive

I like my toupe. I found out on Saturday that it's not ideal for TTs, but zero complaints other than that.

cydewaze

Nice monitor setup. Similar to what I have at work.

7rider

I like Al's monitor setup, although they seem a bit close to the edge of the table:



I have two Samsung 20-inches flanking a Dell 24-inch. Nice for multi-tasking (or reading bikeforums while pretending to work).

willieb

What are you trying to say? lol

Ok you have me beat with that setup. At least my laptop was sitting there, hehe...

It's no wonder you have all that paper work to do. If I had that setup, it'd pile up too, hehe.

MWB1977

You might want to check out Koobi. It is a lesser known brand but I have used their saddles and they do a nice job of keeping pressure off the key areas.

John Ryder

How about this one...well the Composit version not this carbon one.


Works for me.

CastIron

^^^I've seen that one in person. I found it mildly alarming. WTH is with the nose of that thing? How's it working for you?

cydewaze

I'm frightened of that thing.

John Ryder

One of my LBS owners brought one in for himself and loved it, he then let others try his saddle....of the 10 ppl who have tried it 9 have bought/ordered 1...or in my case 2. Now the word its out here, if you try it your probably going to buy it.


Because the nose is tilted down....shorts don't get snagged and when your in the drops its very comfortable....no squashing.


https://www.sellesmp.com/en/composit.htm

matthew_deaner

I have the Selle SMP Pro and I like it quite a bit, even though the price was exorbitant IMO. After proper adjustment, it's a pleasure to use in the drops - no genital pressure at all. It tends to place most of your weight on your sit bones, which takes some getting used to. It took a few hundred miles for the SMP to feel comfortable, but now that I'm used to it I can't imagine using anything else. I tried several saddles before the SMP and had problems with numbness and chafing on longer rides.

bernmart

After about 250 miles I'm quite satisfied with my Toupe (the original one, w/o gel). There's so little padding that it's hard to see how it's been "breaking in," but it feels better and better with every long ride. For me it's best when adjusted so that it's absolutely level fore and aft, using a carpenter's level.