Saddles again!! - Toupe or Toupe Gel or other?

Ed McC

In the last few years I have tried and not found what I have been looking for with the following saddles:
- Selle Italia Trimatic 2
- Fizik Arione
- Spec Avatar (143 measured)
- Fizik Aliante Sport

I will shortly be riding 500 miles in 4 days so a comfortable saddle will be important.

I have read positive comments about the Spec Toupe and thought it might be the answer. Should I go for Toupe or Toupe Gel?

I have also considered a Selle Italia Flite Gelflow or Thoork Gel Flow if anyone has any experience of these. I believe some shops do a money back guarantee on 2007 Selle Italia Gel Flow Saddles which, given my current saddle stock, makes these more interesting. (Does anyone know which online shops do this?)

Or should I stick with the Spec?

Ed

Unknown

the flite gelflow is a really nice saddle

although saddles can be a tricky thing to choose, because only you can find out which is comftable for you.

the specialized system of measuring your sit bones does make this a bit easier, so perhaps the toupe would be a good bet.

personnally id go for the non gel version, its pimpier but also gel doesnt necersarily make a saddle more comftable, and can get annoying.

hope this helps

Unknown

As you have ripped through a few saddles, may i suggest that you try the cheapest of the two you suggest - the toupe is nearly œ70 but it is comfortable. As it's very thin and thus able to flex, it works for me! but maybe not you. your choice I'm afraid.

BTW have you looked at your bike set up? Saddle height too low, too high or too far forward/back?



http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o312 ... siCK5A.jpg
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Monowai

I'd suggest a trip to your LBS and try some out there before buying, or this could get expensive!! But, you will need to buy from your LBS - just trying them out will be taking the wee!

"Extensive medical studies now show that training is bad for you. Eat cake and rejoice!"

John C.

Some hate the specialised BG I love it, I've ridden 150 miles + in a day on it and been fine, it's also a lot cheaper than the ones you've mentioned

http://www.ripon-loiterers.org.uk/index.asp


He who spins lasts longest

method

I couldn't get on with any of the specialized saddles including the Toupe, it does look nice though.

giant_man

Every saddle is different, and I'm sure these ones you have mentioned are too. I wouldn't personally go for any saddle which is gel cos IMO gel can and does harden after a while. That's why i go for normal foam everytime.

---

SIZE IS EVERYTHING! or at least that's what my LBS tells me.

Ed McC

BTW have you looked at your bike set up? Saddle height too low, too high or too far forward/back?

[/quote]

Re bike set up. Yes. I have been measured on bikefitting machine and saddle height is to mm as recommended by the printout. I have also shifted the saddle forward and back, finding back more comfortable but still not good after several hours. Also find Assos cream a good help, but again after several hours I get uncomfortable.

Ed

El Tel

Toupe Gel is good. With Assos Mille bibshorts and Sudocreme, 100-mile plus no problem at all.

El Tel
Ribble Nero Corsa
Lemond Zurich
Kona Paddy Wagon

Aeneas

I find the Toupe is OK, but still prefer the Alias for long distance comfort. Pity it's over 100g heavier though.

<i><font size="2"><font color="limegreen">"Every time I see an adult on a bicycle I no longer despair for the human race." HG Wells</font id="limegreen"></font id="size2"></i>

n.welshy

Aha, someone else with an odd shaped arse.

I too have tried numerous saddles and have found the quest for a comfortable one to be something of a challenge.

Pantani Flite - No
Fizik Pave - No
Fizik Aliante - Maybe
Brooks Team Pro - Definitely (but way too heavy for a 'good' bike)
Toupe 143 - Nearly (& best looking)

Have just done 475m in 5 days on the Toupe on my new Addict and even with Assos F1 Mille and Assos Chamois Cream I still felt a bit sore and 'grazed'!

Embrace the fact that bike shops will love you and keep swapping them round. You could swap them daily to ease the pain?

In summary I sit back smugly in the knowledge that I don't think I've helped at all

Neil

stevechambers34

tried loads of saddles - wtb speed V, Fizik Arione,Selle Italia (various) rolls classic not too bad, best by far is a nicely broken in Brookes B 5 N (no longer available) but something like a titanium railed B17 or Swift would be cool, I can't understand the weight thing as most modern bikes are so light an extra 100 or so grammes is nothing,I foresee a time when riders in the tdf use a Brookes again then everyone will want one, they are without doubt the most comfortable saddle when broken in (about 300 miles or so-pre softened great from go)

being a reformed stuntdrinker allows pontification

Ed McC

just bought the toupe gel.

well let you know how it goes.

ed

Ed McC

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Ed McC</i>

just bought the toupe gel.

well let you know how it goes.

ed
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Fitted the Toupe Gel and cycled the length of Ireland 504 miles in four days which was a good test of comfort. I think it is probably the best saddle I have used, but is definitely no arm chair. I generally got on ok with comfort on the big mileage, but followed advice of wearing two pairs of padded bib shorts for the 3rd and 4th days which helped, as did Assos Chamois Cream.

In summary, I think the Toupe Gel is as good as it gets for me at the moment, until something new and better pops up in the next few years. I don't think cycling is ever going to be really comfortable, but it's nothing I can't put up with.

jhop

I did the Chiltern 100m Sportive with my new Toupe saddle on Sunday and was very impressed with it indeed. At 6h 30 m this was the longest I had ridden with it and it gave me no problems at all. I hope the additional three hours or more I will need to be on it for in the Etape prove equally comfortable come July 16th!

hevipedal

The Toupe works for me; the worst thing I've found though is that what worked last year when I was up at 100kg didn't work when I got down below 90 - hence having to buy the Toupe.
When I was heavier the Spec Avatar gel worked best.

<b><font color="red"> Hevipedal </font id="red"></b>
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51yrs old and Proud of it - Made it to 87kg 2 more to go for the target.
Pedal to Paris Sept 2007