Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

saddle

Old 10-29-07, 04:29 PM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 37

Bikes: 2 cannondales, scott

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
saddle

I have 2007 caad 9 and want to upgrade my saddle. was thinking of the forte pro slx carbon. my stock saddle is hurting after 20 miles. have any other recommendations
dayvyboy is offline  
Old 10-29-07, 07:13 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
texascyclist's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 439
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
What kind of riding? What's your weight? Not sure if anything Forte could be an upgrade. That is a generic performance bike house brand.

If you are less than 170, the Selle Italia SLR is my recommendation. Forget the cutout or the XP version (xtra padding). The shape of the saddle is what matters. BTW, you may have to ebay a couple before you find the right one.

Does it hurt at the sit bones or is your junk going numb?
texascyclist is offline  
Old 10-29-07, 10:47 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
yogi13's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 1,113

Bikes: '06 Specialized Allez Expert

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
That forte is actually a decent saddle. I have one on an old bike, it's pretty comfortable on rides up to maybe 50 miles. It puts slightly more pressure on my junk than the specialized alias I have on my main bike, but involves less aching in my sit bones, as it flexes a bit when you're pedaling. Having said that, there are better saddles to buy out there, and what works for me might not for you, but it would be hard to find another saddle I'd recommend that can be had for less than $50.
yogi13 is offline  
Old 10-29-07, 11:01 PM
  #4  
100% USDA certified
 
the beef's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Seattle -> NYC
Posts: 4,023
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 2 Posts
Forte's not bad, and easy on the wallet.
the beef is offline  
Old 10-29-07, 11:20 PM
  #5  
hobo
 
grahny's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: CO
Posts: 3,784
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
whew, I was getting worried, there hasn't been a saddle thread in a while... balance in the universe has been restored.

OP, try the search function... countless saddle threads. Saddles are a very personal thing. Only way to know what works is to ride them yourself. Or if you know your sit bone width, you can start there.
grahny is offline  
Old 10-29-07, 11:45 PM
  #6  
How much does it weigh?
 
prendrefeu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Weight Weenie on a budget.
Posts: 3,427

Bikes: Lotus Fixed, Bianchi Virata 2004

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Step 1:
Get your ass sized up. Find an LBS that has the Specialized Ass-O-Meter (no joke) that'll measure how wide your butt-bones are. Once you know that, you know what 'size' saddle to look for.

Step 2:
Knowing the 'width' of the saddle will help you find a good saddle. Now, it's a matter of you finding a saddle with the amount of padding you want, the weight/price ratio, and ultimately of the appropriate width for your physical dimensions.

Step 3:
Install saddle.

Step 4:
RIDE.
prendrefeu is offline  
Old 10-30-07, 04:51 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
d2create's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Houston we have a problem
Posts: 2,914
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
^^^^ What he said. ^^^^^

I did this last week and it seems to have worked like a charm.
Ended up with a 130mm Specialized Toupe Gel. Never would have thought i had narrow sit bones.
d2create is offline  
Old 10-30-07, 07:34 AM
  #8  
Home, home again
 
Pharmr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: West Texas
Posts: 2,543

Bikes: Scott S10, Ultegra

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
+1 on the Toupe Gel....I love mine....or should I say my butt loves it!
Pharmr is offline  
Old 10-30-07, 08:24 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 6,900
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Where is the post about starting with $500 and keep trying saddles until you find the right one?

Saddle comfort has as much to do with proper bike fit as the saddle itself. Are you sure everything is sized correclty before you start spending $$$ on saddles?
oilman_15106 is offline  
Old 10-30-07, 08:30 AM
  #10  
Zebra
 
Treker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Ottawa ON
Posts: 590

Bikes: '04 Trek 1000, '05 Devinci Millenium; 07 Spec. Allez

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by texascyclist

If you are less than 170, the Selle Italia SLR is my recommendation. Forget the cutout or the XP version (xtra padding). The shape of the saddle is what matters. BTW, you may have to ebay a couple before you find the right one.

Does it hurt at the sit bones or is your junk going numb?
Why do you say that? Preference? Weight? Just curious. I have the XP version and it works very well.
Treker is offline  
Old 10-30-07, 09:45 AM
  #11  
SpIn SpIn SuGaR!
 
FIVE ONE SIX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 2,078
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by Treker
Why do you say that? Preference? Weight? Just curious. I have the XP version and it works very well.
probably because extra padding usually good for short rides, but not good for long rides...
FIVE ONE SIX is offline  
Old 10-30-07, 09:51 AM
  #12  
Decelerated Motorist
 
Spin Cycle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 137
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
The Forte Pro SLX is actually a pretty good saddle - just be aware that it is only 127mm wide, and so if you have wider sit bones it won't work for you. I tried one for a while and if it was wider would still be using it - ended up getting a 143mm Toupe instead.

Since they're usually on sale for $39 it's a cheap experiment...
Spin Cycle is offline  
Old 10-30-07, 10:03 AM
  #13  
DocRay
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
Originally Posted by oilman_15106
Where is the post about starting with $500 and keep trying saddles until you find the right one?

Saddle comfort has as much to do with proper bike fit as the saddle itself. Are you sure everything is sized correclty before you start spending $$$ on saddles?
Right after the post from the guy who weight and size we don't know, whose riding habits are unknown, blurting , "da toupe is da bestest saddle".
Size 13EEE shoes fit me perfectly, thus, you should all wear size 13EEE shoes.
 
Old 10-30-07, 10:41 AM
  #14  
Black La Lane
 
GeoLes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Maplewood, NJ
Posts: 317

Bikes: EPX 303 (You probably never heard of it)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by prendrefeu
Step 1:
Get your ass sized up. Find an LBS that has the Specialized Ass-O-Meter (no joke) that'll measure how wide your butt-bones are. Once you know that, you know what 'size' saddle to look for.

Step 2:
Knowing the 'width' of the saddle will help you find a good saddle. Now, it's a matter of you finding a saddle with the amount of padding you want, the weight/price ratio, and ultimately of the appropriate width for your physical dimensions.

Step 3:
Install saddle.

Step 4:
RIDE.

Before doing that, consider your current riding habits. Do you ride often? Long rides? If you suddenly began riding longer distances, expect some saddle discomfort. You can "develop you chops" by gradually increasing time in the saddle. Also consider your riding position. Is the bike properly fitted? How relaxed are you in riding postion. Tension will give you saddle discomfort too.

If you really believe a new saddle is the answer. You can take you own measurements (Warning, do this in the privacy of your home or your friends will never let you live it down".

Wear your bike shorts, place a piece of paper on a hard, flat surface. Sit on the paper, reach down and feel where your sit bones impact the flat surface. With a marker, carfully mark the location of your sit bones on the paper. Measure that distance and compare it with the sweet spot on any saddle you are considering. When I did that, to my suprise a narrow, harder saddle was ideal for me.

Remeber, take your time with the break -in period, so gradually increase your time in the saddle.
GeoLes is offline  
Old 10-30-07, 01:25 PM
  #15  
Sensible shoes.
 
CastIron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: St. Paul,MN
Posts: 8,798

Bikes: A few.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Trial and error. Make CERTAIN of the return policy before you buy.
The Specialized butt meter gave me a false reading: every saddle in the that size tried was an epic failure.
Some saddles require zero break-in, some 1,000 miles or so.
Fit is so individual that any saddle recommendation here would work only on sheer luck.
__________________
Mike
Originally Posted by cedricbosch
It looks silly when you have quotes from other forum members in your signature. Nobody on this forum is that funny.
Originally Posted by cedricbosch
Why am I in your signature.
CastIron is offline  
Old 10-30-07, 05:10 PM
  #16  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 37

Bikes: 2 cannondales, scott

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I checked with some of my Officers today and they also recominded the toupe gel in the 130mm and or the 143mm. I am 53 yrs, and ht, 5.6, wt 130. with diabetes, I have lost 45 pds, with diet and bike riding. I have a few bikes but I got a new caad9 and had it fitted by a pro, I have put 350 mi, on the bike and the doctor wants me to go from 60 mi, a week to 100. a good fit is a must i have to really watch the sores. This weekend I think I will see if they can fit me with one. THANKS.
dayvyboy is offline  
Old 10-30-07, 05:53 PM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
rick1's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: connecticut
Posts: 148

Bikes: 2010 Giant tcr advanced SL - 2016 Giant TCR advanced SL - 2014 Giant XTC 29er - 2019 Giant TCX cross

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Love it, but that's just me. I found this oddly comfortable.

rick1 is offline  
Old 11-10-07, 03:13 PM
  #18  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 37

Bikes: 2 cannondales, scott

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I tested all the above saddles and some others and they did not work for me. Idid try fizik aliante carbon t- rail and it was the saddle for me... thanks again.
dayvyboy is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.