Thin racing saddles
 

It seems like nothing finishes off a sweet fixed-gear conversion like a slick, slim, rails-exposed saddle like a Selle Italia or a Brooks Swift, but I know that people aren't really spending 3x the amount they spent on the rest of the bike. I've looked on Nashbar and other places, but I can't seem to find a decent-looking slim saddle for under $50. What am I missing?

comfort >> looks.

in any case if you want cheap, light and low profile then maybe you'd be interested in:

http://www.supergo.com/profile.cfm?L...605&referpage=

i'm riding the performance-brand forte slx pro right now. at first i thought it kind of sucked. Now I think it's pretty comfy. 35 bones (and it weighs 197g)

ps. i just looked to reference the weight and it's 60 bucks right now. I'm sure it'll go on sale again though.

I'm also riding the Performance Forte Pro SLX and I love it. Great deal, great saddle.

I've been riding the selle italia nitrox for 3 years. Dirt cheap. Everyone of my friends who has ever sat on it screams in agony...

i have a selle italia flite and i hate it, so i am also in the saddle market. i know saddles are a personal thing, but does anyone have some suggestions for either a saddle or saddle position that will help alleviate that awfull numbness that can affect the twig and berries? whenever i go into the drops for more than ten seconds or so the blood seems to stop flowing. i've moved it up, down, foward and back but so far to no avail. are there any fixie/track specific saddles for people who spend a lot of time in the drops? has anyone tried a cut out? i'm looking into the terry fly tri, any opinions?

I second the Nitrox being not so great. Great starter saddle, but I wouldn't recommend it for the long haul, specially for racing.

Sometimes I ride a selle italia flite. I realized a couple weeks ago that it sags quite a bit and I think that's what causes numbness for me. My sit bones sink in, allowing the saddle to press on the tissue, nerves, veins and whatever.

My take.

On my last couple long rides I've used an old, stiffer San Marco -- helped a little bit.

hey chicago dream, serfas has a sexy saddle for 55 bones, and it's real slim and goodlooking too.

Oop, looks like I'm eating my words about Nashbar--does anyone have any experience with this Vetta SL Ti? It's on sale for $25.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...u=14593&brand=

I ride on a Specialized Avatar Gel, I think it retails for 75$. It comes in three different widths, so you can get the right fit. I've ridden it on some pretty length rides and it's quiet lovely. In my opinion the most important money you spend on a bike goes into the saddle so don't scrimp just becaues the rest of your ride didn't cost anything. As the old saying goes, if it isn't comfortable, you aren't going to ride it.

i ride a skinny selle san marco "era luxe" and it is muy comfy--the narrowness makes it much better, esp. in the drops, than the slightly wider Terry Liberator I was riding before it. i got it from the bargain bin at a roadie-centrick LBS. I presume it (and all the other saddles in the bin) were taken off of new bikes when the owner exchanged it for something fancier. So find a roadie-centric LBS and see if they have such a bin, or a stash of discards in the back.

oh man its all about a hott saddle
im saving up for this italian beauty
http://www.bike24.net/images/products/p01555.jpg
im sure its plenty comfortable

I got a serfas saddle that looks like the slk for $65. there is also a brand called Velo that they sell thorugh nashbar that has some low profile saddles.

buy used. ive bought 3 selle italia flite (ti) for about 20$ each... classic looks and comfy.

the selle storika up there is a beauty.. i believe ive seen them for 50$ USD on some british site

On the off chance that you decide to spend more than 50 bucks, consider the Selle Italia SLR. Nashbar is selling it for $90 right now.

The advantage to going cheap is that it's no big deal if the saddle doesn't work out. But a good saddle that fits you is worth some extra money.

I'm seconding the Selle Italia SLR. I've had two now and they are the best saddle I have ever had. I've gone through quite a few - ranging from the classic Flite to Bontragers to Selle San Marcos and tried a Terry for a while. None fit me like the SLR does.

If you find you have a saddle that feels like you're sitting on a pole after a while (meaning the saddle has a raised middle right down the center) then you want a flatter saddle.

The SLR, contrary to what it looks like is great: it's flat, minimally padded (less chafe, etc.) and is remarkably comfortable. It flexes enough to support you and doesn't get in the way like other saddles do.

I do however, want to find myself one of those Storikas.

Please, please, please, try and remember which site! I would totally buy one for 50 bucks. The storika is my absolute dream saddle, but its MSRP is higher than the price of my frame and fork, sandblansted and powdercoated :-(

you can get a brown one here for 75
http://www.bikebuster.com/shop/nf_in...Selle%20Italia

still alot but so awesome

im riding the serfas dd pro it hurts,but not as much as the three other seats ive had

got one of these strapped to my Fixed as well. definitely not the most comfortable but definitely slim and aerodynamic. i think i paid $9 off ebay for the uncovered version. makes the bike look fast and super clean. takes some getting use to but i like mine. i'd put up some pics but my camera's on the fritz...anywho


Peace

Selle Italia Mythos

http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/medium/YS-MT.gif

$40 on Nashbar. I think they're very comfortable.

Looking through the site the sella image is from I found these:

http://www.bike24.net/1.php?content=...d98675448f0f1c

Elemental bikes, anyone?

yikes. just out of curriosity, does anyone know what type of saddles track racers use? is there anything about a saddle that would make it specifically for the track?

If you like the Selle Italia SLR then you will probably like this saddle. I own both and they feel great.

It's a shame that they didn't make this saddle in plain black instead of adding the red and gray stripes. But I may buy another at the price of $17.98