Specialized Toupe - breaking in period

sward29
sward29 Posts: 205
edited September 2007 in Workshop
Does anyone else find the Specialized Toupe uncomfortable?

I read loads of reviews before buying it, the vast majority of which suggested it was comfortable immediately. There were a few that said it took a couple of rides to break in fully but jesus...it's killing me.

I can now do 1 hour rides before it makes my sit bones sore but any longer than that and the bones ache until the next day.

Because of the rave reviews should I give it a bit more time or consign it to Ebay?

Surely I can be the only one who has had trouble?

Comments

  • primalcarl
    primalcarl Posts: 579
    Did you get the right size? Mine has been good since new
    www.csimages.info
  • sward29
    sward29 Posts: 205
    Yep. I got measured up at a Specialized dealer on the memory foam device.
  • BigG67
    BigG67 Posts: 582
    I found it was my a£$e that needed breaking in....

    I worked on using the sit bones not the muscle/flab and once I got that right it's been the best saddle I've had :D
  • gavintc
    gavintc Posts: 3,009
    sward29 wrote:
    Does anyone else find the Specialized Toupe uncomfortable?

    I read loads of reviews before buying it, the vast majority of which suggested it was comfortable immediately. There were a few that said it took a couple of rides to break in fully but jesus...it's killing me.

    I can now do 1 hour rides before it makes my sit bones sore but any longer than that and the bones ache until the next day.

    Because of the rave reviews should I give it a bit more time or consign it to Ebay?

    Surely I can be the only one who has had trouble?

    For me, it was instantly comfortable.But, I had used a narrow hard saddle for the previous year.
  • magliaceleste
    magliaceleste Posts: 748
    No you're not the only one. I have a love hate relationship with mine. This is the second year of having it and I've finally decided I need a change.

    The width is correct for me 130mm, the same as my WTB Rocket MTB saddles which are fine for 6 hours plus. But after 2-3 hours on the toupe I start getting problems down 'there' - even with Assos shorts.

    Don't get sore sit bones though.
  • proper_job
    proper_job Posts: 8
    I've had mine for a year as well. It is hard but comfortable, I have a spec alias on my winter bike and that is probably better for a very long ride.
  • bigdawg
    bigdawg Posts: 672
    daft question are you sitting on it correctly, or rather is the saddle in the correct position.

    When I was setting mine up I found it was uncomfortable if it was too high at the back or the front, once I had it dead level and I actually sat in the middle of the saddle I can ride for 100-150 miles at a time.

    I also found my seat needed lowering slightly too, and had to move it back to get the correct position.
    dont knock on death\'s door.....

    Ring the bell and leg it...that really pi**es him off....
  • sward29
    sward29 Posts: 205
    So how many hours did it take before it was comfortable?

    I like the cut out design and can see how it could be more comfortable than my Fizik Arione, but then the ache begins to set in.

    Has anyone tried the Gel version and found it more comfortable than the standard version?
  • sward29
    sward29 Posts: 205
    I've got it set level and at the right height in accordance with a fitting session I had at CycleFit.

    Even with Assos shorts it hurts after an hour. Maybe Ebay is the best option although I don't know which saddle to try next. I've got an Arione which is pretty good but the wedding vegetables definitely feel better with a cut out design.

    Anyone tried to Selle Italia Signo?
  • bigdawg
    bigdawg Posts: 672
    took 2-3 rides and it was only on the last one I realised I had to lower the saddle and move it back so I was sitting centrally on it...

    I do find it real flexy which I guess is what gives it the comfort factor, and dont be fooled by those plastic bits on the end they make the saddle look longer than it is which is one of the reasons I had it too far forward.
    dont knock on death\'s door.....

    Ring the bell and leg it...that really pi**es him off....
  • sward29
    sward29 Posts: 205
    Thanks for the tip. I set the saddle up based upon the distance between the actual nose of the saddle (not the plastic tip) and the BB. I'll try shifting it back a bit to see if that makes a difference, although there is less padding toward the front end of the saddle. I've never felt it flex but perhaps shifting it back may help.
  • bigdawg
    bigdawg Posts: 672
    when I first tried mine I had it too far forward and found I was pushing myself against the raised back part of the saddle (not sure what its called), after 10 minutes my cheeks ( :oops: ) felt like Id been sitting on a plank of wood covered in sandpaper (also had the back slightly too high.
    dont knock on death\'s door.....

    Ring the bell and leg it...that really pi**es him off....
  • munnser
    munnser Posts: 64
    i also have the toupe saddle, same problem, so i changed to the aliante also changed shorts to sugoi rs flex, no more problems! never been so comfy on a bike.
    its all about the bike!!
  • LangerDan
    LangerDan Posts: 6,132
    sward29 wrote:
    I've got it set level and at the right height in accordance with a fitting session I had at CycleFit.

    Even with Assos shorts it hurts after an hour. Maybe Ebay is the best option although I don't know which saddle to try next. I've got an Arione which is pretty good but the wedding vegetables definitely feel better with a cut out design.

    Anyone tried to Selle Italia Signo?[/quote]

    Yep - and it was like sitting on a paving slab. Its supposed to be a gel version but I think they used builders sand instead. It's now been replaced with a Fizik Arione - cheaper and comfier.
    'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'
  • amc
    amc Posts: 315
    I splashed out on a Toupe Gel and very nearly went down the ebay route.
    For first two weeks of my 15 mile commute it was pretty painful. If it wasn't so god-damn recommended and expensive it would have been dumped. It didn't get any better or worse on the odd longer rides, it was just a literall pain in the arse.
    But gradually my butt got used to it. I would reckon it took me about 200 miles but now I love it and its as comfortable as my v old and wide Selle Italia which split open in a crash.
    Stick with for a bit longer - you can alsways dump in another month or so.
    Good luck.
    amc
  • campagsarge
    campagsarge Posts: 434
    The guy in my local LBS said don't believe the reviews in CW as the companies that give the kit free to the reviewers then gets a good review. Thats a cycnical view anyway.

    I have Spec Alias on my two bikes and they are great. The comfiest saddle I ever had was a Rolls saddle.

    I have written in a previous forum about the saddles some of the pro's used. Armstrong had a Selle San Marco Concor saddle, Boonen uses what looks like a Rolls saddle:

    http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2007/ ... e_and_post

    Wiggins and some of the other BC track riders use Rolls saddles on their track bikes. You can just see his Rolls saddle in the below pic:

    http://www.londoncyclesport.com/news/im ... ates_1.jpg

    So lighter saddles are not always endorsed by the guys who spend their lives sitting on them.

Categories