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Saddle Recommendations

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Old 04-18-12 | 04:24 PM
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Saddle Recommendations

So I just came back from my first professional fitting, and one of the things my fitter recommended was a wider saddle. Currently I have the stock Selle Italia XR that came with the bike.I'm a pretty broad guy and stand at 6' 2" and 195 lbs and was also experiencing some numbness in my 'junk'

Just wondering if there were any similar sized guys that really enjoy their saddles, or have had numbness issues before.

Thanks for the help.
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Old 04-18-12 | 04:25 PM
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Find a local bike shop with a demo saddle program. Borrow one for a few days, and see what you think of it, then rinse and repeat.
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Old 04-18-12 | 04:36 PM
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The shop has one. I'm just looking for a place to start so I don't waste time and miles on saddles that most guys my size haven't had luck with.
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Old 04-18-12 | 04:47 PM
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I just mounted an Adamo to my bike(it's a demo) I haven't ridden it yet. Has anybody tried them yet?
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Old 04-18-12 | 04:50 PM
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Originally Posted by RedC
I just mounted an Adamo to my bike(it's a demo) I haven't ridden it yet. Has anybody tried them yet?
I tried one before I bought my SMP. The Adamo was a goog saddle some people I ride with swear by them but for me the SMP was better but more expensive.
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Old 04-18-12 | 05:04 PM
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waste of time

I think the real waste of time would be to listen to anyone about their experiences. It's crazy how individual saddle preferences are. With bikes you can learn that this bike or that bike is stiff or has a long top tube or whatever but with saddles...one person absolutely loves this saddle and the next guy hates it. A year ago I needed a saddle with a fair bit of padding. My friend who is a stronger rider than I am rides with a saddle using a heavy, thick gel padding over it like some old woman and my current saddle is a Romin that would have made my butt scream for mercy last year. Your best bet in a saddle today may be totally different than next year. A few months ago I tried three saddles from a shop that are all considered quite popular and I loathed two of them. My wife will ride anything you put between her legs. Wait...that's not exactly how I should put that... but my point is that I think you can't waste any time trying saddles with the exception of beach cruiser type saddles.
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Old 04-18-12 | 06:32 PM
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Try one of the sit bone measuring devices (Specialized stores have them, so do some others) and then start with a saddle that matches your width.
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Old 04-18-12 | 07:03 PM
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I ride an arione tri2 on my road bike. not exactly traditional, but I love it. has essentially the same shape as the arione which I also ride. The shape worked for me because it has a flat top and allows for many different positions while riding. Has a good top to allow your body to move forward or back to find that spot for your sit bones to rest on.
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Old 04-18-12 | 07:32 PM
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My Selle Italia C2 Gel Flow gets the best compliment I can give it, I forget it's there, I don't think about it at all.

I'm also 6'2" but a good bit heavier and I was getting some numbness, but with its cutout this saddle got rid of that right away. It has a genuine leather covering with just a bit of gel for comfort. It's not terribly wide at 136mm, but it works great for me.

A quick check shows them at about $95 on Amazon.

The C2 at the Selle Italia web site:
https://www.selleitalia.com/se_it3/pr...oad/pagina_c2/
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Old 04-18-12 | 07:53 PM
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My current Selle Italia has the cut out, but I'm still getting the numbness. It sort of has me afraid to ride, god only knows what the long term effects will be from your junk going numb for 60 miles in a shot.
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Old 04-18-12 | 08:05 PM
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I'm about your size and have been trying various saddles for a while. The most comfortable I've been so far is a Williams saddle that I tried on a whim. I've had happy with their wheels for years, so I thought I'd take a chance on the AXIOM SLC.

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Old 04-19-12 | 11:47 AM
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I switched to Selle SMP a month ago. What a great feeling with zero discomfort now. SMP for life, for me.
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Old 04-19-12 | 11:51 AM
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Old 04-19-12 | 11:54 AM
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What's the width of your current saddle? Start out 10 mm wider and if that's not enough go wider and if it's too much go narrower. A demo program is key.
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Old 04-19-12 | 02:37 PM
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I've settled on Charge Spoon Ti saddles. Common in the UK; you can get them in the USA but you have to order. They are wide, light, full leather and very comfy on a road bike. Wore out the first one at about 10,000 miles.

I also like the arione CX. My uncle (same size as me -- 6'3, 210) swears by them. Charge spoon on my Ira Ryan in photo below.
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Old 04-19-12 | 02:41 PM
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Originally Posted by RobertL
Selle Italia web site[/URL]
I just peeked as I broke my saddle Sunday.

"Lady-Man"?
https://www.selleitalia.com/se_it3/pr...gina_lady-man/
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Old 04-19-12 | 02:54 PM
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I'm looking for a replacement for the San Marco Strada Titanio 2000, that's about all I know. Width is 144, and someone called it "flat".
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Old 04-19-12 | 02:56 PM
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Since nobody mentioned the Macintosh of the bicycle world yet, I'll do the honors: Get a Brooks.

I'll go away now...
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Old 04-19-12 | 03:59 PM
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Selle San Marco Regale Racing.

Just added one to my new bike and I love it. I have wider sit bones and it's super comfy to ride. It's not as comfy as my Brooks B17, but it weighs half as much.
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Old 04-19-12 | 06:49 PM
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Originally Posted by carpediemracing
..."Lady-Man"?...
I rode the Lady version about 90 miles recently. I doubt anyone could find it painful.

Sorry DStarr I'm not your size, but the least pressure on my boys has come from Specialized Avatar and Romin Evo Expert models, 155 width. A caveat though, two Avatars broke in less than a year.
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Old 04-20-12 | 04:04 AM
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I'm your height and weight, but your sit bones are what determine what saddle you need, and yours could be closer together or farther apart than mine.

Having said that, I need a wider saddle. I've got three that work for me - Specialized Avatar in 155mm, Selle Italia Turbomatic Gel Flow, and Selle San Marco Regal w/steel rails. The Regal is the narrowest at 150 mm. I've done centuries on the first two with no problems; the Bianchi that's wearing the Regal is next in line for a century (I've already done a metric with it).

I'll add my recommendation for getting measured on the Specialized butt-o-meter before buying - it'll narrow your choices to what fits.
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Old 04-21-12 | 04:45 PM
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When one measures a saddle as well as the sit bone width, where are you taking the measurements at?
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Old 04-21-12 | 05:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Yo Spiff
When one measures a saddle as well as the sit bone width, where are you taking the measurements at?
Saddle width is usually measured from the widest part of the saddle. I'm pretty sure the sitbones are measured from the deepest part of the indentation...but I'm not at all certain.
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Old 04-21-12 | 07:18 PM
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Originally Posted by ericm979
Try one of the sit bone measuring devices (Specialized stores have them, so do some others) and then start with a saddle that matches your width.
I did this with Specialized....and am now enjoying a Romin Pro in 143CM. The saddle is rock hard, but as it fits my butt, it works great thus far.
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Old 04-21-12 | 10:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Carbon Unit
I tried one before I bought my SMP. The Adamo was a goog saddle some people I ride with swear by them but for me the SMP was better but more expensive.
+1. My Adamo Road was good, my SMP Forma is great. Also a bigish guy, 6'0" and over 200 pounds.
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