Saddle Quest

campagsarge

I have spent well over £200 on finding a saddle that suits my backside and I am getting tired at throwing my hard earned brass away! I know that one person's saddle is someone else's razor blade but I would appreciate any thoughts/comments on saddles. Sadly, my local LBS do not stock the saddles I am interested in, so I cannot try before I buy.

My budget is under £50 and am looking at these two saddles. The Concor is old skool but why change a winning perch and the Spoon looks a bit like an original Flite. I would like something under 250gr as well so a Brooks is out.

San Marco Concor Lite.

Charge Spoon.

I currently ride a Spec Alias. Ouch.

pneumatic

Have you tried the Specialized BG range? I have an Alias and an Avatar. I bought the former by mistake, thinking I was buying another of the latter. The difference between them is not the design but what they are made of (carbon and titanium as opposed to plastic and cromo). They have three widths to choose from and the dealer will have been issued with a foam pad thingumybob to measure which one is best for you (first time I have ever had my 8rse measured in a shop!)

Their stuff is usually really well designed and these are no exception. Good kit.

giant_man

I expect to spend my entire cycling life looking for the right saddle for my arse. Everyone is built differently and so what one person finds comfortable the next person won't.

I will be trying a Charge Spoon myself after going through several myself. The Fizik Aliante is very good and the Selle Italia SLR not very good. And so it goes on ...... good luck with your search.

pedylan

I'm still searching too. I'm developing 100 mile legs for the Etape but so far my backside is lagging behind at the 80 mile mark.

The original Selle I got with my Bianchi was terrible for numb nuts (aka missing knob syndrome). Replaced it with spesh BG Alias "made to measure". Banished the numbness but it is so hard on sit bones.

Bought a Selle Signo Gel flow couple of weeks ago - it's no better than the BG. I'm going to try taking tyre pressue down but I feel more expenditure coming on.......

So what do we recommend?

campagsarge

Yeah, I am the same as you Pedylen with the Alias. Rock hard. It is either going to be a Spoon or a Concor Light. I like the Concor Light because it just looks comfy and has been tried and tested by the pro's.

The Spoon looks comfy too and is cheap which also appeals! You bought one yet Giant mancp?

pedylan

The Fizik Pave HP could well be my next choice. Chain reaction have it at £40.

Looks like ebay will be the salvation of the failed experiments.

Slow Downcp

Fizik Arione works well for me, having switched from SLR XP. Merlin have the '08 model for £50 at the moment (I ordered one myself from there - arrived next day).

BillR1

The Spesh Toupe gel is the ultimate, I have had 2 and would not hesitate in recommending this saddle. Light weight and looks good but when you look at it you think "no way is this going to be comfy" how wrong you will be. Go to a Specialized dealer and get your sit bones measured, which is extremely important to get the correct fit.

Rutland cycles have an offer on the web site at £39.99 and they normally retail for £69.99 for no gel and £79.99 for gel. I have both and the one with the gel, 2mm thick, is actually better !!! believe it or not.

Hope this helps.

Rgds, Bill

wolvesandy

+1 Specialized Toupe Gel, as above!

yakk

Hi, been convincing myself over the last 3 years that Specialized were the way to go for me, but experiencing some problems.
Just tried a Genetic comp (the last 3 weekend training rides, including an 80 miler)recently reviewed in C+. Immediate relief and wondered why I didn't do it ages ago. I'll be getting more of them!
The normal one (the one I got) is £25 and weights just under 200g, and the Ti railed one weighs 160g and costs £45. I got mine from Billys in Cambridge and thought really that £25 isn't much to lose for a trial.
Good luck.
Yak

Doom

campagsarge wrote:

I have spent well over £200 on finding a saddle that suits my backside and I am getting tired at throwing my hard earned brass away!

This sadly is a very common story. I currently ride a Fizik Arione which was comfortable enough when I first got it circa October but I now find it digs into my glut's where my butt meets my hamstrings when climbing seated which is what I thought the wingflex was supposed to avoid.

With the Marmotte looming I might revert to an old Bontrager which treated me well as I dont fancy dropping money on something that may not be suitable...