Saddles...
 

What kind of saddle do you use? Are you happy with it? I'm looking at getting a new saddle. I'm kinda bummed because I just bought a new saddle not but (hehe) 3 months ago and I'm not really happy with it. I dropped $74 on it too! Steamed me. I would take it back but it is clearly used. I should have just taken it back the moment I realized I didn't like it instead of trying to "get used to it". It's a women's specific saddle, and I can't tell a difference. So...what's your pleasure?

The profile of the Selle Italia Flites seem to fit me perfectly. I use them on both my RB and my MTB.

I've been using the flite staddle for what must be over ten years and its a great saddle. I tryied the SLR saddle, but it was a little too hard or did not agree with my sit bones...I've talked to some people that have the Fizik Arione and they say its the most comfortable saddle they ever used. But these are guys, women that I have spoken with love the terry saddles.

I think comfort is the most important thing about a saddle, but its cool if it could be under 250 grams. :D

Use search the forums for more saddle info then you want but no matter where you go,you'll get the same answers,what works for somebody else's butt.

I've used an Avocet Air02 and liked it, but for some reason, Avocet stuff had sort of dissapeared from most outlet sources. I currently use a Sella Italia Pro Link. This has carbon rails and elastomers between the rails and saddle shell which is nice for calming road buzz from chip seal surfaces. It has the love channel cut out that Sella Italia called the Trans Am for some reason.

I heard that some bike shops were moving towards a saddle library where you deposit $5 for a one week try out of the slightly used saddles in their "library." If you choose to buy it, the $5 goes towards that purchase. This is a good idea. If you are not obsessed with weight, you can always pull on one of those Quintana Roo Mr. Flite neoprene covers that adds some padding. I agree with post that says that the SLR was sort of hard on the butt. I used a Fizike Poggio and it was hard on the pelvic bones and left me a little sore. Colorado Cyclist has had a table of width and length for the saddles that they sell which is useful information.

Exactly. Not all saddles are created equal and just because it's labelled a "women's specific saddle" doesn't necessarily guarantee it will work out. A woman I know hated the Terry saddle she had on her Bianchi hybrid but simply loved the saddle that came with her Specialized Dolce. I've also known some women to be more comfortable on "men's" saddles than "women's" saddles... and vice versa.

Fizik Arione on all my bikes (all four). I was a Selle Italia Flite fan since it's introduction but last year my LBS talked me into trying the Arione. It's by far the most comfortable saddle I've ever ridden. It takes several rides for it to break in but after that it's simply the best. The Fizik Aliante is also very comfortable but a little too soft for my liking, the Aliante was Bicycle Mags best saddle for two years running.

My Fizik Pave is good to about 80 miles and then kicks my ***. I literally can't stand being on the bike after the 80 mile mark. Next stop, Arione or Aliante.

-mark

koobi.com nothing else needs to be said. Good luck

cyclePrincess - which one was it that you ended up not liking?

i know two girls who are curious about saddles in general - both just starting out as roadies.

thx.

we keep seeing threads here for Brooks saddles. Thier glowing recommendation across the board makes me wanna try it the next time I buy.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I'd like to try it. I wonder if it's expensive? I was also looking at a Terry saddle...pink of course. But then pink with my red bike would so not go together. :rolleyes:

check the "Found THE saddle" thread.

The solid winner among the high mileage women I know was the Selle Italia Trans Am women's (Lady) model, now out of production for about two years. I'm looking for one for the back of a tandem. Selle Italia did replace it with a new model (Gelflow?), but I haven't seen anybody using it so I can't comment on it. I believe both the new one and the old one are built on a shell with a wider and shorter profile designed especially for women. All the women I know who use the old one say it is the best saddle they have ever had, this in spite of heights between 5'2" and 5'11", which you would think would have had some effect on preferences.

I'll be out by Cleburne this Saturday morning with a group, 0700 start, doing laps past Cleburne State Park and the lime kiln, on Park Road 21 (?). I'm bringing my pepper spray in case I have to hose the dogs on FM 1434, but likely they still remember getting too close to the nice woman cyclist last week, and they won't come out for anybody, even (doggie) value-menu-sized guys.....

I know four women road riders that have switched to and LOVE their Terry Butterfly saddles.

Pick up and read "Zinn's Cycling Primer" by Zinn Part I Block 2. Your seat might be fine (and your saddle too...in Groucho Marx voice) but the seat might need to move forward or aft to get the ischial tuberosities (the sit bones) to the proper spot on the saddle.

Cheers

Bill's got an unconditional return policy on Brooks saddles, in case it doesn't work out for you...

http://www.wallbike.com/

oh, I already know I'm buying one from them, but my current saddle is just fine and has more padding than my wallet.

I have had a Selle Italia Trans Am for about a month and a half and I just can't seem to get used to it. I am seriously looking for something else. Maybe a Brooks.

The wife rides on a Brooks Finesse.

Too funny, all this talk of Brooks saddles has me shopping around for one too. Let me know if you find a good online store as most of the websites I have found thus far that sell Brooks either don't carry the Swift, which I want, or they are crackerjack websites.

EDIT: wallbike.com does not have the Swift in black, which is disappointing since they seem to be the best online Brooks dealer I have found thus far.

Hey hun, try the Brooks, you will never look back. I didn't believe the all posts but it's no hype. I don't think it's what the "industry" wants us to do; but they are the hype, Brooks isn't. This place, http://www.permaco.com/ has no 6 month trial deal but they are the cheapest.

selle italia flite titanium... 15$ off ebay and works

OK...I'm pretty convinced of the Brooks. I like the Finesse saddle, and I think the British Racing Green color would look SWEET on my red Volpe...like Christmas!! But with the $170 pricetag, I might end up going with the B-17 Standard. At $65 it's more up my ally price wise. I'll have to think about it, and see if I can swing the Finesse. I'm certain if I get the Finesse I will have to pass on the new pedals (which would mean new shoes). Too bad I'm not rich. Oh well, I guess it wouldn't be fair to be rich AND pretty. ;)

I use the Brooks Swift saddle, a lot more expensive then most, BUT then again I tried over a dozen saddles in the last 15 years trying to find a comfortable one to no avail. All the money I spent on modern brick saddles I could have bought one Brooks and had several hundred dollars left over!

Answer this question for me: Would you wear plastic or carbon fiber shoes? Why not? Because your feet would rebel in pain. That goes the same with your butt; your asking your butt to do something that you wouldn't ask your feet to do, so of course your going to be in pain. As with shoes, your saddle needs to be able to break into your but, and like shoes, that's going to mean going to solid leather.

http://www.supergo.com/profile.cfm?L...604&referpage=

Here's the seat I use. It is comfy with a capital "C". Not cheap, but it's worth every penny of the 114.00. I'd rather sit on it than a living room sofa. It looks like a regular bike seat in real life. The photo on Supergo's site is deceiving. 60 mile rides are effortless on this seat. I greatly recommend it. 5 *****'s !