Selle An-Atomica saddle. Opinions please?
 

At first glance it looks like a butchered brooks with that long channel down the centre.

It supposedly takes the pressure off your 'bits' (men and women). I've only seen one guy with one and he swears by them.

if you have'nt seen one go to;
http://www.selleanatomica.com/


Anyone else have one or has some idea about what they are like and if they are worth it?

There have been a few threads on this saddle. A search should turn up the info that you are looking for.

cheers,

found this great site on saddles with info on a whole range of weird saddles

http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bicycleseats.html

IMO, the Anatomica really is only needed if you already have a swollen prostate from normal age related enlargement. Then it's pretty effective. If you have a normal prostate, the issue is null. The cycling/prostate connection is greatly overstated. A good properly fitting, properly adjusted Brooks or equivalent will do ya well!

This is my Brooks Flyer after I sent it in to get the slot cut into it:

http://users.techline.com/tomn/brookssaddle.jpg

I thought that the Flyer was the most comfortable saddle I had ever ridden. I think that this feels better. I had a problem with numb dick before. It hasn't occurred yet, but I haven't ridden more than 35 miles at a time on this saddle. I don't like the looks of An-Atomica's saddles, but sending in a Brooks doesn't cost a lot.

Tom

Making it yourself costs even less...

+1

I have been looking at these too but at $130 it is probably something that I would do next year. Most reviews that I have read on this forum have been from people who recently purchased it and have limited riding time in it. I would like to hear from someone who has been using it for awhile and has sat in it for 6+ hours for multiple days.

Rob,
I've had mine for four years and a zillion miles. I love it. It doesn't develop the dimples like the ones on my Swift. Mine is the old style cut up B67 with some added stiffeners underneath for the additional weight of my (say Clydesdale) butt!:eek:
It works very well on my Trek 520 tourer. I have ridden it a lot and it never seems to "remind" me its there, unlike my old Flite did.
I asked about a weeks worth of questions before I took the "buy it" plunge. They never seemed to mind my calls or emails with questions. Good company.
Hope this helps, John

I've been riding with a Selle AnAtomica for about 1500 miles now. It is the most comfortable saddle I've ever used. I tried a Brooks B17 for a few thousand miles, and it never worked out for me. With more supple leather and the cutout, the SA just fits much better to my body.

I have one on my mountain and road bike. I don't even know it's there when I'm riding. I use my mountain bike for touring so I am sitting for hours at a time.

saddle
 

Anyone have the "waterproof" one?

Both of mine are. Don't have to oil it. I do cover it at night to avoid wet shorts first thing in the morning.

No Sorry I Can Help To

Thanks for the info John. That's the kind of report I was looking for. I’m intrigued but it may take me awhile to ante up.

I like mine. Because of the way it is made, I think the waterproof version is
the only way to go. If it got wet, the seatpost would start pounding on your tenderest
bits (remember that the back of the saddle is hard).

Ouch.

I have one, it's a good saddle. No break-in required, feels good right off the bat. Rivendell sells them even though they are listed on thier web site. The firmness is easy to adjust with a hex wrench. I also ride Brooks saddles, the selle saddle feels to me about the same as a well broken in Brooks. If you don't have the patience to break in a brooks, the selle might be the way to go.

I have the waterproof version, the Titanica, though I've only had it for a few weeks. I've put about 100 miles on it and I don't think I'm going to keep it. I like the slot very much, no problem there. The saddle just feels too wide for me, I get chafing along my inner thighs due to the shape of the saddle. The way it flares out slightly when I sit on it causes my knees to track a little wider than they normally do. I think it is working as it was designed to, like a sling, it just doesn't fit my body very well. The rear frame is the same width as a B17, but it doesn't narrow as much as a B17 does. If there were a narrower version that might work for me.

For a point of reference, I have a broken in B17 that I like ok, though it's developing a ridge that caused me to look at the slotted saddle. Breaking in the B17 was not fun, I wonder now if maybe it's a little too wide for me. I also have a B67 which I don't care for very much due to the greater width. It's ok on a very upright bike for short rides, but on longer rides the extra width interferes with my pedaling. I'm going to try a Team Pro next.

Those of you who have cut slots in your Brooks yourself, how is the saddle holding up? Has the slot caused the leather to sag? If I'm not mistaken, when Selle Anatomica cuts a slot in a Brooks they also add a laminate underneath to help support the remaining leather. I'm wondering how important this is.

Hi,
this will seem odd, but try sliding the saddle forward. It could be wrong for you,
but I have that problem if I don't get the position right.

"I have one, it's a good saddle. No break-in required"


you say the selle breaks in quicker than a brooks, does this then imply that the selle has a shorter life span (if both are cared for the same).?

I have the waterproof version for the last three weeks and so far its been great, some simple adjusting after the first couple of rides and its been great since. I agree with the comments about a very friendly company, I was afraid about taking the plunge for that kind of money but after countless emails I felt confident if I didn't like it I would have no problem sending it back. I have about 150 miles on it now and I don't think I ever buy anything else.

I have one, and it's all I will ride now. But while it's a more sophisticated design,
the simplicity of the Brooks is also the key to it's durability. I doubt my saddle will
last as long. But then, I just turned 56, and I don't really care if my saddle has 50 years in it, I don't have 50 years in me.

not that impressed with my an-atomica. i felt that the attention to detail was poor and the adjusting bolt, at least on mine, is prone to slipping from its collar. also felt customer service wasnt so hot - not terrible but not great either.

Just rode 170 miles in 3 days on my SA this weekend. It felt the same from mile 10 to mile 170. Never thought about the saddle once on the trip. Compared to my Selle Italia Prolink gel it's a huge improvement for me.

I would echo the positive comments above.
- feels good right out of the box
- feels same at the end of a century as it does at the beginning

The fit, feel and adjustment are all somewhat different than a Brooks; so don't think of it as a Brooks with a slot in it. Even tightening the leather is different (with a Brooks you don't tighten it very much: with an SA you might turn the bolt several entire revolutions to get it right).

Also, be advised that the seat rails are different from a Brooks. I was using a Carradice Bagman quick release bag hoop with my Brooks saddle but when I switched to a Selle I found it wouldn't work. So if you're attached to a particular seat bag or other device, be aware that you might have compatibility issues.