recommend me a saddle - mine's cr@p - NOW GOT ONE

crackle

it came with the bike, 'orrible and soft and now beginning to die after having my modest posterior adorn it for only 500 miles.

Not willing to spend more than £40 and I am a recreational cyclist (I just do it for fun!) and occasional tourist, well i will be when I get around to the occasion.

Been thinking about one of these ones with a groove in that supposedly stop the numbness which occurs now and again, any good?

Could be an expensive month as I've finally decided to go clipless too after furtling about with disappeared buckles in the rain and standing on the straps 3 times today which tightend the whole clip up to ballerina size and then wondering why I couldn't get my foot in as I set off, which led to the furtling, that and just slipping about on the pedals in the rain. 'bugger it I thought, I'll get some clipless', followed by 'this saddle feels a bit weird today'

Fab Foodie

Brooks B17.
The buttocks friend. Do a search, it's an oft discussed and subjective subject!

crackle

ummm! I forgot to put I wasn't keen on Brooks. I tried one once but I guess it's a love hate thing. How long does it take to break one in?

TractionControl

The Charge Spoon got a nice write-up here (I felt one recently and it seemed fairly hard but with a little give to it) and it only costs £20 - I may buy one for my next bike.

crackle

It says X-country and trail riding. I haven't a clue how a saddle can be designed for one activity or another but if I was doing either of them then I would probably not have my butt in the saddle as often as road riding so I wonder if it would suit road use as well. I shall stick it in the 'possibles' category, Tah.

TractionControl

I mentioned it because you referred to recreational/tourist cycling, and anything designed for off-road comfort should be OK for non-competitive road use and the Charge urban/city bikes (see their website via the link) use the same saddle.

crackle

TractionControl wrote:

I mentioned it because you referred to recreational/tourist cycling, and anything designed for off-road comfort should be OK for non-competitive road use and the Charge urban/city bikes (see their website via the link) use the same saddle.

Ah! I understand. In that case I shall move it into the serious contenders category, which so far is a bit thin but I'm hopeful its ranks will swell - Thanks

MrHulot

Having had trouble with a Bodyfit Viper (came on the bike) biting my backside - well it felt like it after 40 odd miles - I was looking for a replacement. This coincided with me recently drawing up the spec for a fast tandem. Chose a Selle Italia C2 Gelflow - currently ~£35 from Ribble - excellent buy. Now I've bought a couple more for the racing and touring steeds - good performance for what I need (TT, Audax, Touring, club runs) without being too ££ and no more sore @r$e.

Tom Butcher

I got a selle italia concor light - mainly because it was reduced to about £15 and I wanted something cheap for a fixed - I've found it surprisingly good and since my super light carbon job snapped I've had it on my best bike. I think Lance Armstrong used a version of the same saddle for most of his career, but don't let that put you off, it's a fairly tough basic sort of saddle.

TractionControl

Haven't a clue what this one's like (has anyone tried it?), but this SWOBO Saddle looks rather nice for the money; it's apparently designed for casual leisure use.

Tom Butcher

For me casual leisure use means horrible padded brick. I'd always go for a cheap racing saddle over a leisure saddle - but that may just be what I'm used to. Something like a Rolls is designed for people to do a hundred miles day in day out - tough as anything - classic looks and under £20 if you look around.

crackle

All the most comfortable saddles I've had in the past, have been more minimilast than luxury. I put off changing the cheap saddle on the bike because my riding position has changed recently. I'm not so comfortable stretched out as I used to be and I sit more upright, so I did wonder if a more padded saddle would be better now but I don't think it will be if the current saddle is anything to go by. Yesterday I just couldn't get comfortable, it just felt squidgy and the only relief was to come out of the saddle for a few minutes, so at the moment I'm tending to a more race oriented saddle, like the Italia range.

JonEdwards

Saddles are a very personal thing - comfort is dependent on position on the bike, width of your sit bones, type of riding, yadayada.

I seem to get on with quite minimalist stuff - currently using Selle SLR's, but I've also used SDGs, Flites, Fizik stuff and am toying with a Spesh BG for my commuter. You might have to work through several different ones to find something that works well. £40 should get you something pretty good (On-one do some good deals) but don't be afraid to spend more to get the *right* one - it'll be cheaper in the long run

kenbaxter

A 40 quid saddle will feel like a 40 quid saddle. If you find one that fits then great but good luck! If you enjoy your cycling forget price and get one that you are comfortable with. Most of us have spent enough 40 quids to pay for the most expensive one you can buy! My favourite is a Fizik Aliante. 120 quid here, 85 from the states but to get to this point I've spent a lot more on other saddles on the fear of breaking the bank! Don't scrimp on this - get one that fits, quality DOES make a difference here.

il_principe

Specialized Toupe or Fizik Arione - I have both and both are excellent.

bigflangesmallsprocket

I've found that with Brooks the rails bring the saddle too far foward for most modern steeper frames. I thought it was jut me but theres a lot on this topic in various forums I've googled. I managed to find an old stock post with loads of setback but it was their last of stock.

When first trying my Brooks I found I was sitting on the back of the saddle, not a problem for most, but with the Brooks youre basically sitting on the frame support in this position, so getting no suspension that the leather gives, so I took the thing off. On finding a post with more setback comfort improved noticably. The leather is quite firm straight off but still an improvement on a lot of saddles I've used. You do see a lot of chat about breaking in being a pain, but theres a lot of comments about instant comfort too(check out the Wallbike shop, theres a LOT of posted customer feedback).

You get a pliable surface with pressure fairly evenly spread. Having said that, I've just bought a B17 to swap out for my Pro. The B17 standard width, as well as being slightly wider has a flatter rear, whch I hope will take lift my sitbones a tad more , to take more pressure off my undercarriage. Yet to fit it as I've been too lazy to Proofide, and am having problems with wrist pain, so not riding much anyway.

the Brooks is on my traditionally styled singlespeed, but on my OCR I have a Rido. I quite like this saddle though its characteristics take a bit of getting used to, and you take the fitting instructions re to saddle level with a pinch of salt. They have 2 versions and I've tried em both. Theres firm, which I found too firm for my backside (i'm quite light and I think this is more suitable for heavier riders), and a softer one, which I'm currently using and happy with. The main difference with these is the amount of flex under pressure, hence my reference about weight being an issue. By the way....I'm selling the first Rido, not a hint of course

I've seen comments on the Charge. If I was on the lookout for a new saddle I'd probably try one of these, every review I've seen has been very positive, including from roadies.

crackle

thanks for all the comments so far: KenBaxter, I hear what you're saying but I'd have to be very sure to pay 120 for a saddle and it is such a personal choice.

bfss thanks for that write up, I'd never heard of the Rido, I shall do some reading on it; it looks a bit weird though! A Brooks would fit my Audax I'm sure but it just doesn't appeal. The Charge is looking better all the time, especially with the purchase of clipless pedals and I'd forgotten about half-term holidays too, all to be paid for this month - Hey Hum!

mea00csf

Bontrager do an unconditional comfort guarantee on all their saddles. If you don't like them you take them back to the shop within 90 days and they dshould give you a refund. I bought a bontrager for that reason as a first saddle but as i found it comfortable i didn't need to take it back so didn't test out the guarantee, though i couldn't see how the shop would have been able to argue. Might be worth a shot?

keebo

These are good - I've had them on my 3 road bikes and they are very comfortable.
http://www.hollymillcycles.co.uk/produc ... b0s82p1461

rdaviesb

For £40, if you are touring, it's got to be a B17. They are made of relatively thin (for Brooks) leather, so should be comfortable straight out of the box, and will definitely be fantastic after just 100 miles. Coat with proofide regularly and you'll never need to buy another saddle again.

Gerry Attrick

Bit late on this thread, but here's my penn'orth.

I'm with kenbaxter on this. Restricting yourself to £40 is a recipe for short-term saving with long-term pain. I'm sure there are comfy saddles at that price, but check out higher end as well. I think when you have a budget in mind, it can pay to try deare stuff as you may well find that something a few bob extra gives many poundsworth in return.

I have a Fizik Aliante which I find suits me perfectly even though I have only fairly recently return to road biking from a hybrid, but all bums are different.

folderbiker

crackle wrote:

bfss thanks for that write up, I'd never heard of the Rido, I shall do some reading on it; it looks a bit weird though!

I bought a Rido second hand last week. Done about 60 miles on it so far, & it seems pretty good. I put it adjacent to the existing torture saddle & it seemed the same height so I fitted it.
Started riding, hmmm, too low! Raised seat tube & it was ok. A few days later I looked at it more closely & realised the whole saddle moves down into the rails with pressure (no gel) & also that the skeleton pattern is a more rigid area than the rest.

For the money I'd say it's worth a trial, & pass it on if it's uncomfortable. My wife thought it was ok, but would like a wider version.

HTH.

Lagavulin

I moved from whatever the Specialized BG saddle is that came with my '06 Allez Sport to a Spesh Toupe Gel on Saturday.

I've logged 108 miles on it over the weekend. Quite different to what I'd been used to but surprisingly comfy. I can definitely tell I'm sitting on bones rather than just the flesh*.

* This had become a bit of an issue for me. It was ok when I was riding a couple times a week for upto 3 hours (as on the other days I was on my MTB) but I've tried to get out whenever I can this month and so far have managed 17 days from 21.
Was starting to take its toll though.

crackle

I still haven't bought one - I looked at a few in my local LBS's but they had a rather poor selection so am waiting to when I get near a bigger shop.

I was out on Mtn bike over the weekend which has a much more minimalist saddle than on my Audax and that was far more comfortable but then again it was off road so I wasn't sitting as much.

The trouble is that saddle's don't normally trouble me :? This is the first that ever has, so I'm not sure I need to spend a lot of dosh, or look at something a bit different, I already thought £40 for a saddle was a lot actually. Still i do find it interesting to listen to others experiences at least it clues you up for what's about and how things compare.

Let you know when I've bought one - bet you I make a really boring choice and then regret it. :roll:

campagsarge

I use Specialized Alais which are pretty good. I am thinking about going back to a San Marco Rolls or Regal saddle. The Rolls was the most comfiest saddle I have been on in my 18 years of cycling.

carlstone

http://www.planet-x-bikes.com/road/inde ... SAPXSLSICR

A steal. I have the Ti version on both my bike. Lovely.

giant_man

I agree with Ken Baxter on this, £120 is worth it if you do a lot of riding and you want to be comfortable. You don't want to be uncomfortable on a long ride. You are gonna have to go through a few saddles i'm sure to get the right one or you might get lucky and find the next one you get is the saddle you stick with.

Everyone's arse is different!

crackle

Well in case you were all wondering, I was made a good offer by another forumer and have bought a 2007 Selle Italia Flite, within budget!

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... w%20Saddle

so far better than I was expecting to get if not quite in the £120 category.

Thanks for all your comments

dennisn

Don't know if they are available across the big duck pond but I found E3 Form Gel
saddles to my liking. They are more of a sit bone type without a cuttout. I have put in
more than a few miles on them and no numbness or other problems . For me the nose has to be tilted slighty up from the rear so I fully sit on it. Try www.performancebike.com

Dennis Noward
Toledo, Ohio USA

Rich Hcp

I'd recomend Spez saddles.

But like most things, different things suit different people

Mark Alexander

£40?
this is all well and good but only you can decide.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... m%20Saddle

or

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... l%20Saddle

if you can up that price a little though, fizik look uncomfortable but aren't at all. I got one and love them.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... ddle%20Bag