Which saddle?

robbie7

i am now starting to push my riding further with longer rides, but the problem is the saddle on my trek is as hard as a rock. i am looking for a comfortable but still slim line sleek saddle which will leave me able to walk away without looking like it s*** my self. hopefully someone can help. my budget will stretch to about £75.

giant_man

My best advice is to choose one or two you like the look of and try them. You may find you will spend literally years getting the right saddle for your arse.

People may recommend a certain saddle to you, but it really may not suit you at all.

Doom

I have found that saddles that have suited me previously no longer provide the same level of comfort as before do to shnages in my body shape or weight...

Its not impossible but its not easy

unclemalc

Trouble is, you can spend lots and still fail to get comfy. I have tried B17s, Spoons and a variety of other things and the Spoon has been the best. Use it with decent padded shorts and it gives you a few positions to try if one particular spot gets painful.
I am about 190lbs so I appreciate getting it right.....

whyamihere

I'd recommend getting fitted for a Specialized Body Geometry saddle. Even if you don't buy one, it will tell you what widths you should be looking at to help you narrow down the selection. Past that, it's just trial and error. Pick a couple of cheap saddles, like the Charge Spoon mentioned, and try them out. Once you find a comfortable one, you can either stick with it of find a better, lighter, sleeker saddle the same shape.

dennisn

I have often wondered why bike shops that sell saddles don't have a bike on a stand that
you can use to try a out a saddle. If only to just sit on it(even in street clothes) and at least
get some small idea of how it might fit you. Saddles are really getting up in price lately and
it would be nice to at least sit before you buy. A bike shop in my area has a pretty good
idea in that they give you a 90 day trial and if you don't like it they will trade it for another
brand or style. I'm in the states so most of you are sort of out of luck on that one.

Dennis Noward

alfablue

I have just ordered a Selle An-Atomica Titanico LD - Second Skin Watershed Leather saddle



It has great reviews and seems to tick a lot of boxes in terms of the design. They offer a 30 day returns policy - (though they are in the US)

broachboy

Pro-Link Light, Pro-Link Light, Pro-Link Light, Pro-Link Light, Pro-Link Light

Love the damn things :oops: super comfy, got one on all my bikes, road or off road...

http://www.totalcycling.com/index.php/product/SD_SELLE_ITALIA_PROLINK_LIGHT.html?action=currency&id=GBP

dennisn

broachboy wrote:

Pro-Link Light, Pro-Link Light, Pro-Link Light, Pro-Link Light, Pro-Link Light

Love the damn things :oops: super comfy, got one on all my bikes, road or off road...

http://www.totalcycling.com/index.php/product/SD_SELLE_ITALIA_PROLINK_LIGHT.html?action=currency&id=GBP

What was that name again. I didn't catch it.

Dennis Noward

broachboy

Morning Dennis, Sorry it must have been the way I typed it , just incase you missed it.......

Selle Italia Pro-Link Light :shock: and before you ask I do not work for Selle Italia, I just love that saddle....

dennisn

broachboy wrote:

Morning Dennis, Sorry it must have been the way I typed it , just incase you missed it.......

Selle Italia Pro-Link Light :shock: and before you ask I do not work for Selle Italia, I just love that saddle....

I'm using a Sella Italia Flite gel. Good stuff. Not perfect but then again what is? Was kind
of experimenting with a so called "sit bone" type for a while and they seemed to suit me
too. In a perfect world you get to try them all for 6 months and then decide. Maybe when I
win the Lottery :roll: :roll: I'll do that.

Dennis Noward

johnbirkby46213

robbie7 wrote:

i am now starting to push my riding further with longer rides, but the problem is the saddle on my trek is as hard as a rock. i am looking for a comfortable but still slim line sleek saddle which will leave me able to walk away without looking like it s*** my self. hopefully someone can help. my budget will stretch to about £75.

Some shops have a "hire before you buy" scheme. I've used that to try to improve on the vile Spech Toupe (which the whole world loves) and i do think its a gorgeous looking saddle. Just pants for my backside.
Ring around the shops. Its a trek and a half for me to the shop I used but certainly worth it.

JB

alfablue

alfablue wrote:

I have just ordered a Selle An-Atomica Titanico LD - Second Skin Watershed Leather saddle



It has great reviews and seems to tick a lot of boxes in terms of the design. They offer a 30 day returns policy - (though they are in the US)

Just to report back, I received this within the week, no customs to pay (low stated value on package), great personal service from the company owner. I have now thoroughly tested it, it is a revelation! Instant and enduring comfort. Just needs a bit of tweaking with the tension screw to get it just right. I will be buying another for my audax bike.

ride_whenever

My lbs will let you return a saddle if it doesn't work for you...

alfablue

Bontrager saddles have a "comfort guarantee" so you can return them, not sure they are the comfiest though my GF has one and finds it perfect for her.

"At Bontrager, we stand behind our saddles. The Bontrager Unconditional Comfort Guarantee states that if for any reason you are not satisfied with the saddle you purchase, you can return it within 90 days to the place of purchase for an exchange or a refund."

il_principe

Well I love my Specialized Toupe. Tried a Fizik Arione before that which was ok for short rides. I can spend all day on the Toupe without discomfort. Remember though that all these saddles will be hard. Invest in decent bibshorts and some chamois cream for long rides - that combo can make the world of difference.

As usual Sheldon has an excellent article: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html

When a cyclist finds a saddle uncomfortable, the first impulse is often to look for a soft one. This is often a mistake. Just as the softest mattress is not necessarily the most comfortable to sleep on, the softest saddle is not the most comfortable to cycle on.

Sheldon Brown

giant_man

dennisn wrote:

I have often wondered why bike shops that sell saddles don't have a bike on a stand that
you can use to try a out a saddle. If only to just sit on it(even in street clothes) and at least
get some small idea of how it might fit you. Saddles are really getting up in price lately and
it would be nice to at least sit before you buy. A bike shop in my area has a pretty good
idea in that they give you a 90 day trial and if you don't like it they will trade it for another
brand or style. I'm in the states so most of you are sort of out of luck on that one.

Dennis Noward

I don't think much can be gained by just sitting on a particular saddle on a stationary bike myself Dennis. The proof is in the pudding so to speak, and you only get an idea of what a saddle feels like by riding on the thing. These 'try before you buy' schemes are great, and more shops should do it I reckon.

johnbirkby46213

alfablue wrote:

alfablue wrote:

I have just ordered a Selle An-Atomica Titanico LD - Second Skin Watershed Leather saddle



It has great reviews and seems to tick a lot of boxes in terms of the design. They offer a 30 day returns policy - (though they are in the US)

Just to report back, I received this within the week, no customs to pay (low stated value on package), great personal service from the company owner. I have now thoroughly tested it, it is a revelation! Instant and enduring comfort. Just needs a bit of tweaking with the tension screw to get it just right. I will be buying another for my audax bike.

What is the weight of the saddle?

johnbirkby46213

I think Blonde (on this forum) has one of those saddles. Least way, I'm sure she mentioned something to me once about a saddle that from her description looks like your fotos.

buckhurst

Where in the Ipswich UK area do I find a bike shop that let's you try before buying? I've tried everything to make my saddle more comfortable, including nappies, and at 69 that makes me feel a trifle odd. My bum just ain't what it used to be. It seems elementary that one should be able to try - is this just a way of making more money? I'd really like a sprung saddle like back in the fifties, but they no longer make them. Any ideas?

Randall.

NorwegianBlue

Got to say I was staggered by the Spoon. It's just spot on for me. It's amazing quite how many riders of so many different types rave about a twenty saddle. Now I'm not saying that this means the Spoon will be perfect for everybody and every type of riding. However I think it does give the lie to the idea that more expensive saddles are better.

I think the spoon demonstrates that what really matters about a saddle is that it fits you, it's well made and well designed. Making it from exotic materials means not a thing if those first three aren't met.

giant_man

buckhurst wrote:

Where in the Ipswich UK area do I find a bike shop that let's you try before buying? I've tried everything to make my saddle more comfortable, including nappies, and at 69 that makes me feel a trifle odd. My bum just ain't what it used to be. It seems elementary that one should be able to try - is this just a way of making more money? I'd really like a sprung saddle like back in the fifties, but they no longer make them. Any ideas?

Randall.

Sounds like you need a Brooks sir!!

http://www.brookssaddles.com/

alfablue

johnbirkby46213 wrote:

alfablue wrote:

alfablue wrote:

I have just ordered a Selle An-Atomica Titanico LD - Second Skin Watershed Leather saddle



It has great reviews and seems to tick a lot of boxes in terms of the design. They offer a 30 day returns policy - (though they are in the US)

Just to report back, I received this within the week, no customs to pay (low stated value on package), great personal service from the company owner. I have now thoroughly tested it, it is a revelation! Instant and enduring comfort. Just needs a bit of tweaking with the tension screw to get it just right. I will be buying another for my audax bike.

What is the weight of the saddle?

It is 450g, 100g more than my Specialised, worth every gram!

alfablue

giant mancp wrote:

buckhurst wrote:

Where in the Ipswich UK area do I find a bike shop that let's you try before buying? I've tried everything to make my saddle more comfortable, including nappies, and at 69 that makes me feel a trifle odd. My bum just ain't what it used to be. It seems elementary that one should be able to try - is this just a way of making more money? I'd really like a sprung saddle like back in the fifties, but they no longer make them. Any ideas?

Randall.

Sounds like you need a Brooks sir!!

http://www.brookssaddles.com/

Or a Selle An-atomica sir (no springs but each side flexes independently as you pedal).

unclemalc

NorwegianBlue wrote:

I think the spoon demonstrates that what really matters about a saddle is that it fits you, it's well made and well designed. Making it from exotic materials means not a thing if those first three aren't met.

Spoons rule (once you can track them down...).
I have one on both road bikes now and life is sweet.. .
Definitely worth 20quid just to see if it works for your bum.

NorwegianBlue

I have a spoon each on my trail bike and my road bike. Quite impressive that the same saddle works for two completely different riding styles and riding positions.

Scrumple

What is a spoon?

In the saddle sense??

NorwegianBlue

Scrumple wrote:

What is a spoon?

In the saddle sense??

http://www.chargebikes.com/products/parts/spoon.php#