Specialized Toupe

attica

I've been looking at getting the Spesh Taupe saddle, but last night spoke to a chap in my LBS.

He said that after a while something changes in the gel and they become unbearably uncomfortable. I put my money back in my wallet and took a raincheck.

Anybody else had any issues with this saddle?

Cheers

N0bodyOfTheGoat

There are at least two variations of Toupes, on with and one without gel

attica

Just done a bit more surfing now that I know the correct spelling D'Oh!

Guess I might have to plump for the non-gel version, especiallly if it's about 25% lighter too

Ramanujan

I rode a gel version for a year and found it very very comfortable.
However, the Arione fitted my but just that bit better

Lagavulin

I've been using a Toupe Gel for around a gear or so. Doesn't appear to be getting less comfortable, in fact, if anthing it's the reverse for me. I have started wearing Castelli kiss pad bibs and using Assos chamois cream.

When the 2009 Toupe Team become available (can't really justify the £99 from Bike24) i'm going to get one of those to try the non-Gel.

DuncSF

I've used Toupe non gel on 2 bikes and can honestly say they are the best saddles I've
ever used and worth the investment. Just get the correct width and you'll be fine.

Jez mon

I think the slightly more padded spesh saddle (Avatar?) is slightly more comfortable, IMHO, but I still have the toupe on my training and racing bike, so long as I'm not on it for over 4 hours I'm fine, and TBH if I'm on the bike for more than 4hrs, my legs will be causing me more pain than my arse!

attica

Thanks All

Hopefull crisis averted

wilwil

Attica wrote:

I've been looking at getting the Spesh Taupe saddle, but last night spoke to a chap in my LBS.

He said that after a while something changes in the gel and they become unbearably uncomfortable. I put my money back in my wallet and took a raincheck.

Anybody else had any issues with this saddle?

Cheers

They say that your butt bones push the gel away from the contact point so that you bottom out on the hard material underneath. I have a gel version but its not very old so can't comment. I also have a black non gel version which has hardly been used but got slightly damaged in a crash. If you are interested in buying it I can send you some photos.

So far the Toupe is the only saddle I have tried that doesn't cause numbness.