Pain in the ar*e

Giant Phil

Hello all

Have come to the realisation that the specialized toupe that I'm riding isn't all that great for the longer rides I've been getting into recently and want a change. However, after having made a series of frankly crap buys lately, am very anxious about getting something to find it just as uncomfortable as the last. Interested in the Selle Italia range, have read some good reviews, and although I fully appreciate everyones backsides are different, there always seems to be a review or two that void it as a viable choice. Any success stories with a saddle?

Thanks

Phil

Skiddypants

I liked the Flite Titanium I used to ride, Im using the stock saddle that came on my Bianchi and that isnt giving me any troubles at all, dont know what model is it but Im sure its a Selle Italia saddle.

Make sure you have decent padding in your shorts aswell.

topdude

The "what saddle" question always has the same answer :?
Half a dozen people swear by one particular saddle and half a dozen others say it is cr@p.
So my experience is,
If long and flat suits you get an Arione,
If curved suits you get a San Marco Rolls,
If you only want to spend £20 get a Charge Spoon / Knife.
My vote goes to the Arione

tlw1

got the flite xtr on mine & its the best I have had

redjeepǃ

I love the Toupe on my 'best' bike and want to change the Fizik Aliante on my winter bike for another Toupe.

If you fancy a swap let me know.

Sorry I can't make any other recommendations, but it all seems to be down to personal choice.

bobtbuilder

The Selle Italia SLC is by far the best saddle I have ever owned or ridden on.

It's not exactly cheap, but what is your comfort worth?

John.T

I used the Toupe for about 2 years and found it OK but on long rides with poor road surfaces my sit bone suffered. I think the shape was too flat for me so only had 2 small contact points. I now use Selle Italia Flite Gel-flo which while it is narrower has a more pronounced curved top. This finaly seem to be the end of my search. I did try the old Flite Genuine Gel before but this one is much better (for me).

rob0070

Please dont listen to all the advice on saddle makes and models.
You need to try them out in the shop. We are all different shapes weights and sizes.
Stop wasting your money and test them yourself.

kfinlay

rob0070 wrote:

Please dont listen to all the advice on saddle makes and models.
You need to try them out in the shop. We are all different shapes weights and sizes.
Stop wasting your money and test them yourself.

Don't see how you can test a saddle properly in a shop? Yeah you can sit on it and maybe have a quick test ride to get an initial idea of whether it may be right but if like the OP (and me) you suffer over longer rides then it can help to get others opinions - this has helped my realise that a flat saddle about 145 wide is best and just need to sort out one with suitable padding - A Toupe didn't have enough so I'm assessing a Prologo Nago Evo that my LBS lent me for a week or so - it has more padding but it's very firm.
So in the end we have to waste our money and time unless we have helpfull LBSs like mine - pity he does't have a Fizik Arione to try out

bigpikle

I recently switched to an Adamo to sort out comfort and numbness issues. Trybikes sent me one to try FOC and it has proved a great purchase since. It is a radical design and needs a little time to set up properly due to the different design to standard saddles, but its turned out to be one of my best buys this year.

Contact Trybikes to try one out. It was well worth the cost of return postage for me

FWIW I have a Selle SLR and it was the reason I changed in the first place...

paul.k

ride the selle italia genuine gel flow c2 about £50, comfy for about 3 hours then the numbness sets in still better than the bonty r1 that came with the bike .

dilemna

Specialised BG Sport saddle £24.99 for me with a suspension seat post £25. No more sores, aches or numbness. Get off after 100 miles just as fresh as when you get on at the start. Happy days.

strodey

I got through loads till i tried the selle italia trial thing till i found the SLR gel flow suited me so much i bought a SLR gel flow xc for my mtb! had them nearly 2 years and love em, as a rule i find the skinnier your arse the skinnier the saddle but its really a case of suck it and see!

kfinlay

Just wanted to check/confirm that when trying a saddle it's all about getting your bum bones supported and comfy - this is the only pain I get on the bike with rides over 2 hrs.

Thought I'd ride thru the pain last week and it did get a bit better but I'm suffering since with one bone rather swollen (probably over did it) - don't get numb nuts with the saddles I've tried recently so I've got a better idea of the shape of saddle that should suit me but finding one with the right amount of padding is more difficult. Needing something the width of a Charge Spoon, flat like a Toupe or Arione but better padding than the Charge Spoon. Looking at pictures on the net doesn't always help as I need something flatter width-ways and a lot of pics don't show this. Need to get out and about to more LBS I reckon.

topdude

Saddle padding is not as straight forward as it would seem.
Soft and squidgy feels good in the shop but can press on surrounding tissue as your sit bones sink in after some distance.
Deep but firm padding feels a bit hard in the shop but is more supportive as you don't sink into it as much.
Thin and firm just hurts :shock: