What saddles can you think of that are either advertised to be used with, or known for being optimized for, riders that use a low, forward position?

I've noticed a lot of crit guys and people with larger saddle to bar drop using saddles like the Fizik Arione, Toupe, Italia SLR, and sometimes, San Marco Regal.

Also, what saddles do you know of that have longer rails/more clamping area, particularly with the rails more rearward so that the saddle can be placed further forward? For instance, my SLRs have the rails somewhat forward which makes it easier to use on a bike that you need more setback on.

Ideas?

Most tri specific saddles would probably work for you. They often have "snubbed" noses and larger cut outs.

I'm guessing you are already using a zero setback seat post.

If it is for TTs and you really want to get over the pedals then installing a set back seat post back to front works (Team ghetto TT )

ISM Adamo - it is meant for TTs but if you like to perch on the nose of the saddle in a really aggressive position, it should work.

Or check out the Cobb saddles.

I didn't think of tri specific saddles, hm.

Right now, I have one bike that feels real good. It has a 74 degree STA with a 10mm setback post. The saddle, (an SLR), falls smack in the middle on the rails. I also have one frame that has a more slack seat tube that defaults about 3 cm further back. With a non setback post that puts me at, you guessed it, 2cm further back on the rails. That puts the SLR I'm currently using within half a cm of the end of the rails. I have a new Arione that I haven't tried yet that I'm considering putting in it's place. I'm thinking that I might like the Arione, especially with it's longer nose. but we will see.

I think that someone is giving you and those other crit riders poor fitting advice. If a nonsetback post is used, that alone should put you too far forward with just about any saddle.

My 0 setback puts me about 1cm behind KOPS with the saddle about a cm back from center on the rails of a Fizik Antares. I can still use my glutes in this position. My diaphram is least restricted. I can pedal much more smoothly. I've fiddled around with everything from the saddle slammed back with a set back post, to a 0 set back forward of center, and I keep coming back to where i am now.

Second that. If you are talking about a non TT set up, any normal saddle/post set up should be fine.

Saddle set back is probably the most important setting on a bike behind saddle height. You want enough set back so that you have the least amount of weight on your arms. With your hands on the drops, you should be able to take both hands off the bars and not fall forward if you have the right set up. Its counterintuitive, but moving the saddle forward puts more weight on the arms, so if you are a road/crit rider, you are going in the wrong direction.

Umm, no. Depends on body type. I use a non-setback post and the saddle is in the middle, and I end up KoP neutral.

A more aggressive rider will be rotating forwards to open up the hip angle and will need the saddle further forwards/higher, compared to someone who rides more upright.

Well, you may have very short femurs. A lot of expert fitters pay no attention at all to KOP. The STA on your frame and the saddle height comes into play too. Larger frames with a slack STA and a tall saddle height can make a zero setback post workable. Do you know now far back the saddle tip is?

As an example, with my modest 73cm saddle height, I need 25-32mm of setback since most frames in my size have 74 or 74.5 degree STAs. I have the saddle tip 6-7cm behind the center of the BB. LOOK used to make all of their frames with a 72.5 degree STA. I could barely get by with a zero setback post, with the saddle all the way back and I used a long-railed saddle.

If I had a more average leg length for my height, with 3cm less saddle hieght, my saddle would be about 1cm further forward and I might need even more than 32mm of setback.

I'm one of short quads (and smaller feet) and therefore forward saddle position. I'm back on the Titanio (no longer made) after riding an Arione for a season or two. Previously I'd had Titanios since about 1992 (and yes, I have a stash that's about been depleted).

I rode an SLR for about half of a season - just too uncomfortable after an hour.

I'm going to try a TT saddle, I think it's one that Dave Z uses on his road bike. Name escapes me but I put it on my list of things to get. If necessary I'll go back to the Titanio. I may try the SLR for races just because my races will be shorter than an hour and the new team shorts have much more padding on them.

FYI Although a lot of people have criticized my position for forever, over and over everyone's been kind of surprised to see that "everything lines up". It's just that my body doesn't fit a regular bike. So with a 75.5 STA, zero setback post, I'm still slightly forward of center on the rails. I definitely slide forward of that when I'm going super hard and I also slide back a bit when slogging it out up a long climb or at the end of a long ride.

cdr

Selle SMP have very long rails, letting you get very forward if you want.

I have a John Cobb saddle on my TT bike. It's perfect for sliding way forward. way.

In my estimation, my Colnago has about a 72ish degree seat tube. At about a 77cm saddle height, I can only get my saddle to about 6.5cm back from the center of the BB. I do believe my quads are disproportionately short, which may be contributing to the issue. In any case, I can assure that my 'forward' position does not put excessive weight on my hands. I can let go of the bar and balance fine. Actually, on my most aggressively positioned bike, I can ride without hands pretty much all day if I wanted. The weight distribution is just forward enough that I can push down on the front to 'dig' into hard turns more, like when I'm descending.

I have a similar position and experience, but I don't know where my position is relative to KOPS. Could you post a picture of your bike?

Adamo Century