Vegan Turbo Saddle?
 

Long-time Selle Italia 1990 Flite user here. Unfortunately, the one I’m riding now is on its last legs & needs replacement soon. Apparently they have discontinued this model once again & instead of dead stock being discounted, their price keeps going up.

Maybe it is time for me to change...

I move around alot on my saddle so like it to be smooth, or even slick; but unfortunately been getting caught in the rain too often lately. Maybe that’s why my other Ti Flites didn't hold up very long, & I think is good reason to worry about my using a typical Turbo.

I just ran across a synthetic Turbo at a local shop & can’t help thinking that it could be the ideal solution for my particular saddle need?

Guess the tl;dr version of my question is…

Anybody have any real world experience with a “vegan” Turbo saddle that they care to describe here?

I do, but let me start by saying that I have a Specialized BG kind of butt.

My normal "test" loop is just shy of 13 miles for new stuff. I installed the vegan Turbo, made it to Randy's driveway--almost two miles, turned around and was glad to get home. Sold it on eBay.

A Turbo is one of my favorite saddles. However, I hated the synthetic version.

+1 the synthetic is an ass hatchet compared to the leather cover saddles.

Agree with hairnet and scrod. My girl has one and it's weird and slippery. Can't really find and stay in a comfy position.

As much as I do hate slippery saddles, it's not even just that. The padding is different than on the leather version and to me, it doesn't even feel like a Turbo.

Also, if you like a Flite you may not like the significantly wider/flatter Turbo at all.

Vegan Brooks
 

http://www.brooksengland.com/cambium/

http://www.brooksengland.com/cambium/images/pict_6.jpg

I have one and agree that it is weird and slippery. And I agree with Scrod is that it feels way too wide for my Flite-preferring buttocks. What I would recommend is taking your Flite and having it recovered with a high quality synthetic cover.

I intended to and probably should have stated that I have never rode a regular Turbo saddle. Several reliable posters have said that there is a difference between the leather and vegan versions.

I would go off of their input.

Haha it hasn't even been released yet.
Yeah, I really want to try it. Hopefully it's as comfortable as it is nice looking.

I believe you can get it from the Brooks site but they aren't out in stores yet, I think they said they are coming out with a more race oriented vegan saddle also.

Edit : Cambium Saddles are being shipped to our Dealers of Excellence and other leading retailers, available to buy from October. In the meantime, we still have a short supply of the Limited Edition Cambium in the online shop:

while i appreciate your appreciation of older style seats, they do look cool, modern a$$ ergonomics has come a long way. spend some dough and get a seat thats functional and comfy. enter the specialized romin. its a hammock seat, has a flatish profile and has a cut out. its got swoopy good looks, kind of a trans am spoiler vibe, and its "vegan", err faux leather or whatever bike companies are calling these days. and, its comfy as hell. don't let the thin profile scare you, its super comfy and with that swoopy trans am spoiler, it still gives you something to push off of like the great classic hammocky seats like the turbo, concor and flight.

patience is a virtue.
 

all good things to those who wait...

I don't think he's specifically looking for a vegan saddle, considering his Flite was covered with real leather. He's just looking for a slippery saddle that won't mind getting caught in the rain.

Yes, this sums up my situation exactly

Since the plastic Turbo was unanimously panned, I dropped that idea & spent today saddle shopping at all the LBS within riding distance. Found nothing that really appealed to me. I may just have to bite the bullet, pay up for a new Flite and take better care of it, or, caloso's idea of recovering mine does seem to make sense. Who would I get to do that kind of work, a shoe-maker?

You should be able to do it yourself. There have been several threads on re-covering saddles in the C&V subforum. Remember to use marine grade vinyl (available at large fabric chainstores), which comes in a nice variety of colors. I did one for an older Motobecane Jubile Sport (navy vinyl was the original), and it came out really nicely. You just have to be patient in manipulating the vinyl and stretching it properly around the shape before beginning to use any staples. A strong spray adhesive helps, although I was able to use Gorilla Glue carefully and thoughtfully. I think that the total cost (including the glue) was under $8.

It's inexpensive and worth a try. Good luck. PG

If you want something similar to a Flite (albeit a little pricey), the San Marco Zoncolan was designed to mimic the shape and has a synthetic cover.

i just got a original turbo and have a original flite. i havent put any kind of mileage on the turbo but am already missing my flite. but the flite did take some getting used to.