sunburst

This may seem trivial to some, trying to find a decent saddle, but who would better understand than you guys (and girls). Here's the deal. It seems I need a long saddle. I discovered this entirely by accident. I bought an old mt. bike, put on street tires for around town, and it didn't feel right. So I found this WTB Power V Comp saddle ($20 on sale!) and everything fell into alignment. Then I bought one for my real off-road mt. bike, then for my old Trek road bike. It dramatically improved the fit and feel of each bike.

So anywho, I got a new Giant OCR C1 for xmas (my first sub-20lb bike), and it came with a worthless (to me) Fizik Vitesse. Knowing the WTB is heavy, I decide to put it on anyway, and viola, the bike now feels perfect. Thing is, it's almost one pound! The Fizik is almost exactly one half the weight!

So getting to the point, who makes a long, light, comfortable saddle? I tried the Fizik Arione on my son's bike, but its shape and padding were not comfortable. That's the only other long saddle I'm aware of. Btw, the WTB Power V is 307mm x 153mm (12" x 6"), with a cutout area, a lot of padding, steel rails and weighs in at 480g! Many racing saddles come in around 220g. I'm willing to give up a lot of the padding, and pay for ti rails (or whatever), but the length is critical I think. Most road saddles seem to be about 10.5" (266mm), with 11" being described as 'long.'

I doubt most people are aware how the length enhances riding, allowing a variety of body positions on the bike. It certainly took me a while to realize it. Some reviews of the Arione mention this. With all my previous saddles, I was pretty much stuck in one position. My preference may have something to do with my dimensions (long arms and legs, short torso), but I use the extra length, and move about quite a bit during the course of a ride.

roadwarrior

I scanned your post quickly...the longest saddle for a road bike is the Fizik Arione, and I see you tried that. If more padding is what you are after, Fizik makes an Arione that's for triathlons that's got more nose padding.

From my perspective, the Arione is the best saddle I've ever ridden, but you did not appear to explain why you thought it was uncomfortable. Longest saddle with the most sitting area of any saddle out there right now.

Saddle issues can also come from a bike fit being off..."using the extra length" might suggest to me (who does fittings) that there may be a setup issue with your bike...and I am assuming you are referencing the OCR.

Jynx

Honestly if you like the saddle you have so much dont worry about another one. Yes its heavy but...

- Your bike is 20lbs which is on the heavy side for a road bike so who cares
- The saddle is comfortable so who cares
- You can drop tons of weight from other places on your bike and they wont effect comfort like your sadde does.

draxine

personally i'd stick with what works. it's not that much weight really...

if it really is a new saddle you want, the Specialized Tritip is fairly long as well

dekindy

https://www.sellesmp.com/en/pro.htm
This is 278 and the longest that I have seen.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?...smp_strike_pro
mountain biker review.

https://www.neuvationcycling.com/saddle/s2/s2.html
I saw this on the Neuvation website and thought of your thread. 295mm long.

sunburst

This saddle has one feature which I think is important - extremely long rails. That's actually what I think I need, rather than just length. I need the saddle pushed back. But in the review you provided the link too, it put the whole saddle/body/position issue into words better than I did. It is exactly what I was trying to get at though:

"The Selle SMP Strike Pro saddle is designed from extensive studies conducted which analyzed the different positions assumed by a cyclist in the various phases of a ride and the constant interaction between the body and the saddle."

It's during different phases of a ride, particularly when my body loosens up a bit, that I find myself using the full length of the WTB.

Btw, the WTB Power Comp, that works so well for me, is a mountain bike downhill saddle, hence the length and the padding.

I could possibly get over the look of the Selle SMP, but not the price!

dekindy

https://www.neuvationcycling.com/saddle/s2/s2.html
I saw this on the Neuvation website and thought of your thread. 292mm long.

sunburst

That Neuvation saddle looks like a Fizik Arione clone, and of course, if you're going to clone something, you've got to lower the price. I tried my son's Arione and it didn't feel right. Not enough of a center cutout, or groove, for me. Plus I just don't get that saddle's shape. The length in the rear seems unusable to me, unless you've got a very odd shaped posterior.

Since I started this thread I've also bought and tried a Terry Fly, a Forte Pro SLX, and a WTB Pure V Team.

The WTB Pure V is very close to the Power V that I currently have, just a little shorter and narrower (and half the weight!). It was almost a keeper. The others didn't even require a test ride to face elimination. I went out twice on the Pure V and was seriously considering it.

I spent quite some time trying to figure out what worked so well for me with the Power V. It's not only the length. The shape, including the way the rear ramps up, the center groove, and the density of padding were factors.

At any rate, I'm riding the 15oz (that 480g!) Power V, and my butt's liking it. Funny thing is, after all this micro-analyzing the bike position, I ended up moving the Power V forward a bit. Now my hands are more easily falling on the brake hoods, where I like them.

rog

ridethecliche

If you need longer rails, why not get a setback seatpost instead?

BarracksSi

+1

It can't be good for the rails (or the seatpost clamp itself) by sliding the saddle far to the rear, adding more leverage towards bending or breaking parts. I'd think that getting the clamp near the center of the rails, or at least nearly underneath your sit bones, would be better. And, if you need to add a seatpost with more setback, or even switch to a longer frame, then so be it.

sunburst

Yeah, well I didn't even realize that was an option until I saw an Easton one on the "for trade" thread in this forum. The guy was looking to trade for one without so much setback. That actually would have been a very good solution, and I've still got that on the back burner. But I've already ordered another Power V, and paid the outrageous $10 shipping fee (Performance stopped carrying it).

As far as the rails being stressed - this Power V has 8mm rails, so I'm not too concerned. They're huge! It is a downhill saddle, after all. And like I said, after all this, and ordering the new saddle, I ended up moving it forward a bit.

sunburst

Hey I had one of these Schwinns as a kid. Mine had the totally cool "automatic" two-speed rear hub, where you pushed back a bit to change gears.

sunburst

Here's what I ended up with, after about five different saddles: Perf. Pro SLX, Terry Fly, WTB Pure V, WTB Power V, Fizik Vitesse (came with the bike). Of all of these, the Power V felt the best. I've still got the Power V and Vitesse for sale/trade if anyone's interested.

Performance Pro RS1
https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...slisearch=true

It looks like a Fizik Arione clone, as far as size and shape (so it's long!), at easily less than half the price, on sale. It's very comfortable, and after a month of riding on it, I'm sold. On a ride today, someone commented on the amount of flex. Maybe it's the Ti rails, I don't know, but I do like it. Wish it were as nice looking as the Arione, but for that price, I can live with "Forte" embossed on the top.

Oh yeah, and I'm ever-so-slightly embarrassed to admit this, after starting this thread, but I eventually moved the saddle forward three different times before the bike's fit felt right. So much for needing a long saddle.

One last thing - this saddle, at 250g, is almost half the weight of the Power V, so I accomplished that goal as well. Success all around!

Flak

I ,too, have the forte. I wanted an arione, but just coudlnt afford one. Picked up the Forte RS1 on sale for $40.....dimensions are very similar and it's designed to be a clone. Worked well for me, eliminated numbness, while allowing me to scoot it forward for TT riding, then back on the rails for weekly group rides.

Construction isn't as nice underneath, but if it holds together (which i think it will) it's a good buy.

Everest

I'd just stick with what you have. Honestly you are not going to notice the weight, you will notice a sore a** alot more.