bobonker

I rode on my new Selle Italia Flite Gel flow today. Put about 30 miles of easy riding on it. This saddle is very different looking than any of the previous that I'd ridden (Bontrager Race Light, Forte Classic, Specialized Alias) and felt dramatically different. It's narrower and because it rounds off in the back (looking down at it) vs all of the previous saddles (which are more square in the back), gone is the chafing that I had with the 143mm Alias saddle that was previously on the bike. However, there is A LOT more sit bone pressure with this saddle. Will the saddle break in at all or will my sit bones have to HTFU? I'm recovering from a back injury and am riding with only about 1.5" of bar drop.

Thanks,
Bob

NealH

Your sit bones will take the heat. There is a Max model of this saddle that offers a bit more padding, and is just a bit wider in the rear. The Fizik Aliante will solve the sit bone issue - but at the risk of creating perineal numbing issues. Its also certainly a saddle worth trying though. You never know with saddles, the one that looks the worst might suit you the best. Or vice versa.

bobonker

I'll give it a few more rides and hope for the best. Worst case, I'll be taking it back and trying an SLR instead.

Bob

Mr. Beanz

I had an older version a few years back. At 220 lbs, I put over 1000 miles on it and it felt like a brick that just wouldn't give at all. I ended up giving it away to another rider after it sat in the closet for a couple of years. I'll never waste my money on a Selle Italia again, that's how bad it was,.... in my experience.

bobonker

What'd you switch to, Beanz? I'm about 160 lbs with a 29" waist. I think the Flite (130mm wide) is geared towards lighter guys like me and the Max Flite (150mm wide) is made for bigger guys. You don't sound like you want to give it another shot though.

Bob

wrr1020

I've tried the flite gel flow and wasn't for me. Right now riding a selle italia slk and its going pretty well so far. I've put over 1000 miles on it and its been pretty comfortable so far.

vsopking

The Aliante did indeed cause perineal issues - think that a flat saddle is best and keep the tip "a tad" low. The Max Gel flow I had crushed my balls. -

Mr. Beanz

I started riding a WTB saddle Rocket V. It was much more comfy but after a couple years I tried a Terry Fly on my second roadie, even better. I still ride both saddles. But keep in mind, I'm not a race set up type guy, I'm more of a organized/century rec rider looking for comfort.

Farby

This.
I have tried an arione, hated it. Tried the Max and hated it, it was firm and crushed my balls. Right now i am on a bontrager that has a channel. I don't like it much, but it's not as bad as the other two. I think i am gonna go for an SMP model next because of the huge cutout and dropped nose.

roundabout

As someone who recently picked up a Max Flite gel flow, I find it to be significantly more comfortable than anything I've previously tried. Perineal pressure is gone, and I haven't noticed my balls being crushed... 165lb 6'2", 32 waist. Got a Selle Italia SLR XP saddle to try out with the new bike, so we'll see what happens there, but I'm pretty much set on the Max Flite. Yes, I do notice a lot more sit bone pressure, but compared to the unbearable pain I previously had after 40 miles, I'll take it any day.

colin930

I'd be interested to hear how the Selle Italias are breaking in for you guys. I got the SLC not too long ago and have put about 300 miles on it so far. No perineal pressure but my sit bones are definitely feeling it. I'm 140lb, 5'8" FWIW.

rschleicher

I'm a 50+ Clyde (6'4", 240 lbs), and have a different SI model, the Prolink Gel model. It's basically in between the Flite and Max Flite, in terms of width (144 mm, versus 130 or 150-something), and seems to be adequately wide for my sit-bones width. It has a small amount of gel, and a cut-out, similar to the Flite models, but with a bit different rear shape. It seems fairly comfortable to me, and doesn't cause any numbness, like the 130mm-wide original saddle did, that came with my bike (a Scott).

BillyD

I have a Selle Italia Flite Gel from 6 years ago. It wasn't that bad.

Now I keep it as a backup because the San Marco Regal is numero uno.

Oh, I'm 6'5", 215.

popeye

Gel? What do you expect after 30 min?

bobonker

Rode for 2 hrs straight today not counting a few one leg down stops for traffic lights. Strangely, it felt a whole lot better today. Still very firm, but I think I was sitting a little further forward on it today. I'm used to having to sit way back on the Alias to keep the crotch pressure in check. Overall, there's less crotch pressure than the Alias, more sit bone pressure, and no chafing. This could be promising.

Bob

outerlimits

I've been using a relatively recent version of this saddle for a couple years now with about 4500 kms on it, and I'm fairly light (~145 pounds). I feel like it does have more "give" now than when I first got it, but I don't remember how long it took before it developed this characteristic. It does have one small issue that drives me somewhat batty: there's a perpetual squeaking every time I go over bumps/oscillate up and down on the saddle that comes from a contact point somewhere at the front where the rails make contact with the plastic shell. The attempts I've made at reducing the squeaking by trying various lubricants/grease, haven't been too successful. I put up with it because it somewhat masks the as-yet- unresolved ticking I get from my bottom bracket

I also think that the kind of padding that you have in your shorts is an important part of the comfort equation. I have two pairs of bib shorts: the one with less padding I tend to use for shorter rides (2-3 hours), the other is more comfortable (in terms of my sit bones) for longer rides (4+ hours) but a bit tighter than I like in the nether regions.