Tunnelrat81

How much of their design is patented? Is it the full length grundle groove, the beaked nose, the width of the cutout...or all of the above?? I ask because the saddles have been out for a while now, and it seems that most other big name saddle brands have coinciding cheaper(read: affordable) knock-offs...and there's nothing else that even comes close to the selle smp as far as grundle isolation.

This post may seem a bit shilly, but I don't own one, or have a LBS that stocks them (yet). A friend of mine did the demo program and I had a chance to do a ride on one and it seemed to really work well for me. I'd like to get one, but my budget has yet to find a way, and I'm having to deal with the occasional numbness associated with every other saddle shape that I've tried. I'm all for protecting investments...and I can understand their strategic pricing etc...but darnit, I'd even settle for a better intermediate. The cutout size between, say, the Toupe and the SMP is huge. $240 for a saddle? In the words of Gob Bluth..."COME ON!!"

-Jeremy

axelfox

What's the price of a pain-free ride?

sstorkel

I just bought a Selle SMP saddle for $80 at Performance Bike! Look for the Strike Extra model, normally priced at $110. It's 100g heavier than the other SMP saddles that Performance sells, but seems to work very well... especially for 1/3rd the price!

Surferbruce

unfortunately the price doesn't include a rebate for the 150.00$ doctor visit to treat the boil i got on my ass from an SMP Composit.
absolutely one of the biggest complete wastes of cash i've made.

Tunnelrat81

Haha...sorry about the boil man. I've been lucky enough to avoid saddle sores so far, but have only spent limited time on super hard commuter bike saddle.

I've thought about the Extra saddle, but one of the reasons I haven't given it a try was the fact that it's almost as wide as my current saddle, and I really do need a narrower one. I've got slim hips, and am riding a Specialized Avatar 143 currently. The Extra is basically the same weight and only very slightly slimmer. A question though for sstorkel, how firm is the extra? I'm looking for a hard saddle. I've spent enough time on over padded saddles, that combining the apparent "loft" in the Extra model with the fact that it doesn't really solve my narrower saddle issue....I've held off for now. Performance is good about returns though right? Maybe it'd be worth a "demo" if they'll take it back. That's the thing. I've seen Evolutions and Stratos saddles sell used on ebay for 140-150 before, and I might be able to make that happen...but with only a single ride of demo, even that's a big committment for me.

-Jeremy

rick1

I've been using the SMP Stratos which has a little padding.... I'll never use another saddle, most of the time I don't even realize I'm sitting. Saddle comfort is the last thing on my mind, well worth the cost.

pathdoc

I'm completely sold on SMP saddles. Got one on each of my 4 bikes.

Just works for me.

Tunnelrat81

Well I appreciate the feedback. It really is good to hear from those who have had great luck with them. I'll probably end up chewing on the idea long enough and just grabbing one on ebay once enough time passes that I can somewhat justify the purchase. The great unknown will be which size to get, but I suppose I could just start with the Evolution and go up if necessary. I've never had sit bone problems up until now, so hopefully I could do equally as well on any of the narrow models. At least it broadens my market a bit while shopping.

-Jeremy

Surferbruce

find a shop that'll let you try one. i have an lbs with an SMP demo program and wish i'd used it.

mandovoodoo

I like. My ass likes. My nuts really like. My wiener works. Yaaahhh!

Tunnelrat81

Surfer, did you end up reverting back to another brand of saddle? Or did you eventually adapt?

I'll call around and see if anyone has a demo program around here. I've mentioned these saddles briefly to my own semi local shop (who's team I'm on) but haven't specifically asked if they'd be interested in stocking them or ordering one for me.

-Jeremy

Surferbruce

i got rid of the SMP as fast as i could. my initial impressions of it were good, but the Composit model has a very squared off design between the top of the saddle and the sides, and after a few weeks it was a huge no go.
i went back to my old stand by, the San Marco Regal and all is good again.

sstorkel

The Extra seems to have quite a bit of padding, but it still feels relatively firm. I've only had mine for a couple of rides, so we'll see whether it stays firm or if the foam breaks-in and starts to feel too mushy. I think it's more comfortable than my previous saddle, but only marginally so at this point. Worth the $80 I paid, but it's not so wonderful that I'm going to return it and pay $270 for the Evolution, Pro, or Glider...

mandovoodoo

I'm using the Extra. Mine happens to be quite comfortable. More important, my nuts problem vanished in a couple of rides.

I wouldn't pay $200 for one.