Specialized Toupe
 

Does anyone here ride this saddle? I've heard really great reviews about it, and was wondering if it was really "all that". I have wide sit bones, and this comes in different widths, so the ability to order one in a 155 width is awesome! I really only need 150 width, but the next one down is too narrow.

So who rides this and do you like it?

RD

Finding the right saddle is a personal decision. It might work for everyone else, but not for you.

Having said that, i've had good luck with the Toupe. I would get fitted at your local shop, as they can measure your sit bones, you may not need the 155, and if the saddle is too wide, there's a good chance your legs will rub while pedaling.

Also keep in mind that as you get accustomed to riding in a more aero/hunched over position, your sit bones narrow, so a narrower width may work better than a wider one. If your riding position is more upright, then you may need a slightly wider width.

^What he said.

My ass didn't agree with the Toupe. It loved the Arione though.

Based on what I've read on this forum, most people's asses will love the Toupe or the Arione, but not both.

David,

I use the 143 toupe.

I have an extra I can mail you if you wanted to try it out. I know it's a bit smaller than you need.

Just let me know

I personally do not like the Toupe, it does not agree with my sit bones. The Phenom however is my saddle of choice and is the same shape as the toupe with a little more padding and I love it.

I like the toupe but love the aliante.

I love mine.

I have a Toupe 143, came from a Fizik Arione which was an ass hatchet for me. It's been great so far. Gonna give it 2k miles before I move on the something else. I know they say if it ain't broke don't fix it, but I can't help thinking that there is a better saddle for me out there.

On my to try list:
Selle SMP Glider
Specialized Romin 143
Fizik Aliante
Brooks Swallow

It's fun to experiment with saddles!

Wide hipped guy trying the 155 Toupe this spring. Weather has been too rainy to ride however so don't have enough miles to say its a keeper or not. So far its excellent. I would say the vast majority that ride a Toupe like it more than they don't. Specialized is onto the right theme with hard but flexible saddle shells, width sizing and perineal cutouts.

I rode the Toupe for two years and noticed a slowly increasing pain in my right sit bone. I got a new fit and switch my saddle to the Romin. I am loving the new saddle so far, but have only logged 200 miles at this point.

I think your comments by and large are on the money. Specialized has released their 155mm model for wide hipped guys so there is are those that clearly need a wider saddle. To me, there is a correlation between those that like the 155mm Specialized saddles and the Brooks B.17. Many find relief on the B.17 because compared to narrower saddles which are the vast majority for road bikes, with the B.17, their sitbones are at long last properly supported. Specialized is now answering the bell for wider guys with their wider saddles and hats off to them. I rode a B.17 for years and the Toupe's center relief channel is a dramatic improvement for riding more aero with pelvis rotated forward promoting a flat back.

My sit bones measured slightly wider than 155mm, and I've been riding the Toupe for a couple of months. So far, so good, although it has felt slightly less comfortable since my pro bike fit. I think this is due to more weight being back on my sit bones; there isn't much padding on the saddle. More seat time should make that go away eventually.

You may want to check out the Romin as well. It comes in the same widths as the Toupe but rides slightly narrower according to my shop.

Liked the Toupe, love the Romin

Love my 143 Toupe. Best saddle my bum has found, and it only gets more comfortable the longer you are on it. Short rides can sometimes hurt a bit because the carbon fiber hasn't flexed back to where your bum sits on it.

The 130mm Toupe is the best saddle I have found. I bought a second one for the #2 bike just so I'd have one around in case the one on my good bike breaks.

The Toupe is a lightweight saddle (around 150 grams) and is fairly comfortable and inexpensive for being so light. I have it on two of my bikes, and it is comfortable enough.

The Aliante is at least 216 grams, and is the most reliably comfortable saddle, as evidenced by Competitive Cyclist using it as the default choice on the bikes they sell online. It must get the fewest returns. I loved mine, until I wore it out.

I don't quite understand this. A pro bike fit normally means a more aggressive position on the bike which translates to less sitbone pressure.
Can you explain how your position changed since your fitting?
Also, the Toupe will break in a bit as well your butt toughen up with some miles.

I have both and love them; The Toupe Team (2009 model) in 143, and the Phenom SLs on my MTBs in 143. Fantastic seats for ME. Everyone's rear is different, so make sure you get a saddle from a shop that has a saddle program that allows you to return it within reason. The Fizik Pave CX I had was murderous. Pushed me from Fizik completely... Glad I found the Toupe though. :)

something must be wrong with me. I like both the toupe and the arione.

The fit was by a pro, but it wasn't intended to be a race fit. My fitter's philosophy is to go slightly more upright so that the sit bones support more of the body weight. This, in his view, creates a more stable pedaling platform. It's definitely not aero, but it is comfortable. I won't be racing anytime soon anyway, at least not on this bike.

I've tried about a dozen saddles and the Toupe is my go to. Super light, good bloodflow, has some flex which allows for quite a bit of bump absorption, multiple sizes, and looks great. But like everyone's already said, saddles are a personal thing. I find the Toupe to be a fairly flat saddle. Some people don't like that. Some people love it.

I concur. I own both and find they're both fairly flat saddles. Toupe is my go to saddle, however.

Looking at the two from the back would reveal that they have an inversed shape respective to one and other. The Toupe has relatively flat sides and no center, while the Arione has a center higher than the sides and is more rounded.

I am in the Toupe camp. The Arione that came with my Cannondale was like sitting on a knife's edge.

Also in the Toupe camp, 130mm version. Very nice.
Also if you like it, San Marco Aspide Arrowhead suites me quite well.