Saddle Decision Help
 

I'm purchasing my first legit road bike and need to swap out the old saddle for a new one. Thing is, I have NO IDEA what to look for in saddles. I'm looking for multipurpose use (racing/sport/touring) in the $100 or lower price range.

Any recommendations?

Or advice and enlightenment on saddles altogether?

Hey Brian. We'll take a ride to a LBS or something and check some out. there are some great shops right around here.

If you have a performance shop near you, you might wanna check out the E3 form and ti saddles. These saddles have a very thin nose which gives your thighs a lot of pedaling clearance. I had the E3 ti and currently have the E3 form, but do not use either at the moment. I thought both saddles were pretty nice for the money, especially the E3 form gel, which had just a little bit extra padding than the E3 ti. I believe its on sale for about $30 at performance right now. Also, a lot of people on this forum usually say that you should have your sit bones measured to determine the right saddle width for you. For a cheap cutout saddle, you could also try the Forte Pro SLX saddle.

In case you were wondering, I just bought a fizik arione that I am VERY happy with. It's nice and long, with a relatively flat surface with no cutout. I like to move around on my saddle depending on my position on the bike so this saddle is perfect for me. It also has a lot of thigh clearance and will have even more once the "wing flex" starts to work its magic. Performance offers the Forte Pro RS1 saddle, which is very similar in shape to the Arione, but imo the Arione's carbon shell and flex is worth the extra money.

Edit: I decided to return the Arione, it felt great on the trainer but after a couple of rides with it there was just too much pressure on my love channel. I went and bought a Peformance E3 Form (non-gel) saddle today, which is supposed to have some of the same characteristics as the Toupe (weight on sitbones, etc.). Also, I will likely be buying a Specialized Toupe on ebay tomorrow, so I'll let you know how it goes when I get it.

you could also try the Forte Pro SLX saddle.

I agree. The Performance SLX has proven one of my all-time favorites. It's not a good saddle for anyone looking for any padding however.

I am a big fan of the Specialized saddle program. Your local Specialized dealer will have an ass-o-meter that measures your sit bones so then at least you will know what width saddle work best for you. After that it is all trial and error. There is no one "correct" saddle for everyone. It is a very personal choice that sometimes takes many tries to get the one you love. Also....saddle position is just as important as the saddle itself. Start with the saddle at 0 degrees of tilt. If needed do not be afraid to change the tilt a few degrees down in front or down in back if needed.

most GOOD bike shops should let you purchase a saddle with the opportunity to exchange it if it doesnt feel right for you within a week or so. also, most GOOD bike shops should be happy to take a quick fitment of you on the bike and help with initial saddle position if you purchase one from them.

recommend finding a good local shop to help you get started. good luck!

Unfortunately, saddles are a total crap shoot. What feels good to one person will feel horrible to the next. For the most part, a beginner will want to avoid ultra-light and thinly padded models like the Selle Italia SLR.

In the last 25 years, I've found a lot more saddles that were uncomfortable than comfortable.

I've been using a Fizik Gobi for about five years, but they redesigned it last year. The new Gobi XM is nothing like the old one. Totally ruined it for me. I've managed to find some NOS stock on E-bay, so I won't run out for several years now.

I actually bought an SLR just as an experiment. Although I don't get any sitbone discomfort, it feels like you're sitting on a board. Probably not going to be a keeper, even if it does weigh 145 grams (not the 135 marked on the saddle).

I'm missing something. I have no idea why you NEED to swap out a saddle if you have no experience with it. If you tell us what experience you have with it and WHY you need to change it out we may be able to offer some advise.

Without knowing anything else I will say that your first saddle with NOT be your last saddle. It just takes time for your ass to become accustomed to a bicycle saddle. When starting out a soft gel saddle is often desirable because a hard saddle is just too much for your sit bones. The trouble with soft gel saddles is that you sink into them after a while and this cuts off blood flow to your nether regions leaving you numb. Harder saddles don't let you sink into them which is why they are preferred by experienced riders but they can bruise you to start with.

Anthony

the reason
 

The reason I need to swap out saddles is because the bike im purchasing had a previous female owner. It's a women's saddle and in all honesty I don't understand the difference between those either. She seemed to imply that it was necessary to switch though.

Hi Brian!

The men's saddle that came with the bike was too narrow for me, that's why I swapped it to a terry butterfly woman's saddle.
Women have wider pelvic bones than men. Thus,usually a woman's saddle will be wider than a man's saddle.
that is my understanding of it.
The woman's saddle fitted me perfectly as a woman, so I just assumed it wouldnt fit you ( being a man and all!)

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product..._200321_200413
This is what I have. I love it. I tried many others, even the Terry Fly, this is way better!

My 2c.

[edit]

It's a women's saddle
Ah, I see! Well, FWIW, I have heard of guys riding these. I'd try it. If you don't tell anyone its a womans saddle, they wont know, and it might work ok! If not, then Brooks B17 would be a plan.

I like fizik, but saddles are a very personal decision. Try a few, and buy the one that makes your ass a happy ass. Remember though at first your bum is going to hurt till you get used to riding so dont be suprised if at first your behind hurts no matter what you choose.

Competitive Cyclist (a sponsor here) has a saddle demo program. For $75, they send you something like 11 saddles you can try out in a week. If you decide to purpose one within a month, you can take $35 off.

saddles are pretty personal...you just have to try some out. some bike shops and some online places have saddle demo programs so you can try them out.

i know for my...i think i have FINALLY come to the decision that the selle italia slr is my most comfortable saddle. the specialized alias and toupe are ok. the fizik arione is a bit uncomfortable. but you may find the opposite to be true!

good luck!

Go old school...Brooks, San Marco Rolls, San Marco Regal. They are cheap if you consider the years of use you will get from them.

I'm a guy thats perfectly happy riding on women's saddles and my road bike has a high performance woman's saddle on it at the moment although my utility bikes have regular saddles on them. You don't NEED to change it. Just ride it to start with and see how you feel about it. In all honesty it just MAY be the saddle you need to start with and as you develop you will change to a harder saddle. Until you have done at least several hundred miles on it don't change it.

Anthony

picture says it all

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y28...e/DSC_0394.jpg

Anthony,
I didnt know that! I had just assumed my saddle would not fit him!
I really had no clue, good news for him! as I am the one who had assumed he would need a new saddle! ( men's saddle)

thanks!
Brian, sorry I gave you the wrong info!

:]

a well worn saddle, with uncomfortable seams, that tend to abrade the inseam of bibs and shorts?

on top of that, if you ride regularly, the model that's sold to the public is far too soft.

yep, the picture says it all.

Eventually Brian may find that the saddle doesn't suit him and he should change but without some experience on ANY saddle he won't know what to change to. Woman's saddles are usually a little wider than mens saddles and sometimes a little shorter but its not like men cant use them.

Anthony

Racing/sport/touring sounds like you need 2 or 3 different saddles, not to mention 2 or 3 different bikes.

I like the look of the Arione, but they just don't work for me. They do work for a lot of other people. This is the one area where Performance does a pretty good job. Buy a saddle, ride it for a couple weeks. If it doesn't work, return, pick a new one, and repeat. I settled on a Selle Italia SLC. It probably won't work for the guy who likes the Arione, but it's super comfortable for me.

Long story short, there is not any one good answer, there is just a good answer for you. Your job is to figure that answer out.

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If you're low on bucks, try the Forte and E3 form. The E3 actually fits me well and I have one on a bike that I don't do big mileage on. It's fine for 50 miles at a time, though.

All that picture says is ***** hatchet.

Hey Brian. Just picked this up today from Saucan Valley Bike Shop for 35 bucks today. Marked down from 70, so that's a pretty good deal. Anyways, I think they have 3 more if you are interested.
http://alphabluetech.com/kjhanlon/of.../SerfasSRC.jpg