I better not regret this...
 

My LBS is having a Mega Sale. Took a plunge and bought me a Specialized Romin Evo Expert. Didn't sit on one, just read reviews, and sat on the "ass-o-meter" to get the proper width. 155 coming on Thursday for pick up. Any of you who owns/owned one, or any other saddle, who ended up regretting it after pretty much of what I just did? Or are you guys pretty much satisfied with the results?

That's pretty much exactly how I ended up with my Romin saddle. It's not the Evo... just the original Romin. Anyhow, I was already riding an Avatar when I saw ads for this new model with a wider and longer cutout which seemed like a good idea plus I thought it would just look awesome on the new bike I was purchasing, so I just had the shop order one for me based on my Ass-O-Meter measurement.

At first the saddle and I did not get on too well and I switched back to my Avatar. @ 100 or so pounds lighter, I now love the saddle. It will be time for a new one soon and I will probably try the Evo then.

I'm currently using the exact same saddle and size on my road bike and really like it. I measured closer to a 143 on the Ass-O-Meter but read several posts from owners suggesting to size up on this saddle so I went with the 155.

Currently using the Romin Evo Comp in 155 on the tandem since I thought the little extra padding might be good. Really like that one also.

I had a Romin (not the evo) - hated it.

The upward kick on the tail encouraged not only for me to sit forward on the narrow portion of the seat, but also forces your pelvis to tilt ever so slightly - putting even more pressure on that sensitive spot.

I switched to a Fizik Antares - much much happier. That said, everyone is different - I just prefer a flatter saddle where I can actually sit on my sit bones on the wider, rearward portion of the saddle, especially when climbing.

+1 this was almost exactly my same experience with these two saddles...I tried the Romin after using the Toupe for a bit. Antares 00 was great for a long time, but I just switched to a Prologo Scratch Nack and it is near perfect for me so far (500 miles only)

gundom - I didn't regret it. Bought the Romin Evo Expert 155 middle of last season and after 2 minor adjustments it was the perfect saddle for me. Loved it so much I ordered one for the Cervelo S2 when I got it 2 months ago, and had it dialed in after the first 20 mile ride. Speaking strictly for myself, of course, it just disappears when I'm on it. I will buy another one and just keep it for reserve....the way my life works Specialized will discontinue the model and every one currently in stock and in use will evaporate...

Absolutely love it, seriously. Have it on the above mentioned S2 and on my Wilier Gran Turismo. Different geometry obviously, but once I get it set it's THE ONE.

:)

Hope it works similar for you!

The downsides to this saddle are, the covering is too grippy, and the nose too wide. The covering will abrade the inner thigh & crotch of lycra and inner pads, and it prevents smooth movements in & out of the saddle, plus adjusting position while seated requires lifting the bottom to place elsewhere. The limited radius on the edge of the saddle nose exacerbates material wear of shorts. I have better luck with chamois pads that are only stitched on the pad's perimeter when riding on this saddle. This allows the two material layers to move independently, and it also helps to lube the nose edge with chamois cream before riding to prevent abrasion. When Specialized narrowed the EVO nose compared to previous Romin saddles, they didn't go far enough rearward. Having owned other Specialized saddles and read the reviews saying the EVO model runs narrow, I also went one size larger to 155. It was ok at first, but several hundred miles later I would prefer to have my original sizing. The Romin EVO Expert is now relegated to the part-time flatland bike.

I tried the Romin Expert (not EVO) 130 when all of a sudden I started getting saddle sores from the saddle I had been using for several years (four of them over those years). It was supposed to be the first of a series on saddles I would try to see if I could find one that worked for me. Long story short, the first one was great! Very comfortable. You need to position the low point of the saddle (which is where you will end up) at the height you want. My previous saddle was flat, so it was easier to position.

While most associated with this site will attempt to assist you, none can assert assurances as to the fit to your....butt, and you are certainly free to spend your assets any way you see fit, I assure you that few will assent to assuming that you won't have assorted issues with your purchase. I think buying a saddle without trying it first is asinine (damn, that almost worked)...

We'll find out when I pick up the saddle tomorrow and take it on a 35 mile ride on Saturday. I will be positioning the saddle where both high points are level creating a cradle in the middle. That way I'm fixed in the middle, not too much relying on the narrow part of the nose, but still have enough support on my ass. It's gonna take some time for me to get whatever sweet spot I'm looking for and all I want is to get rid of that pinch so my toes won't get numb after 10 or so miles. The only problem is that this LBS doesn't have a "guaranteed return policy" like in Bontrager products from Trek. The guy goes, "If you feel that the saddle is going to be too wide at 155, then I didn't do a great of a job at all. So if you are going to return it in whatever possible excuse, make sure that you tape up the rails so there won't be any scratch marks from the clamp."

Asking other people's opinion on any specific saddle is a fool's errand... you need to try it yourself, and by trying it, I mean going on a 2+ hour ride at the minimum.

It does not, however, prevent me from giving you my opinion :)

I LOVE the Romin EVO after many saddles through trial and error, from Fizik to SMP to Selle Italia to you-name-it. I was comfortable on the Toupe, and more comfortable on the Romin, and never looked back after getting the Romin EVO. All my bikes now have the same saddle.

Finally got my saddle and before I replaced the stock Bontrager, I rode it one last time up and down my street with my regular shorts. Then I went to my garage and replaced it. The instruction says to have the middle 3rd level for a perfect fit. I said, "let's experiment and have the nose slightly up so I can have that cradle effect." I sat on it and it felt good. I rode it up and down my street and started saying , "O dam!!!" I thought back a few minutes ago when I was on the old saddle and the difference is like night and day! The old saddle was like a brick and this Romin Evo seem to disappear from beneath me and I didn't have any padded shorts! The real test is next weekend. Will this rid of the dreaded toe numbness? If my theory is correct, I'm hoping it will because the pressure/pinch point weren't there at all. Wish me luck on this, and I'll update after next weekend.

i bought 3 saddles online untested. One ass hatchet, 2 really comfy. Fizik arione and pro-lite cles.

I'm guessing your LBS is Mike's Bikes?

I bought a Romin Expert in 155 width for $80 used and like it. It's a lot stiffer than the Toupe which I might try out just out of curiosity sometime.

I tried the Fizik Arione and Prologo Kappa but didn't like how flat they were.