Saddle help

Quadbypass
Quadbypass Posts: 20
edited March 2010 in Road beginners
At the moment, I have a Specialized BG Alias 143. The actual fit seems OK, but it is quite a firm saddle. On longer rides, after a couple of hours or more, it feels very hard. After 3 or 4 hours, I don't really want to sit on it at all. I could do with a saddle of about the same size, but with a bit more cushioning. It's difficult to choose a new one just looking on the internet, any suggestion will be greatly appreciated.

Comments

  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Pick a random one
    I like bikes...

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  • CiB
    CiB Posts: 6,098
    Saddles are too personal, literally. Try looking in an LBS to find one with cushioning and a slot down the middle. That style works well for me. (Others may well take a different view tho.)
  • Pretre
    Pretre Posts: 355
    As CiB said, saddles are so personal that you can't really take someone else's advice as to what they like but saying that I had an Alias on my Roubaix, had the same issues, changed it to a Toupe Gel & I'm fine...
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    Also look at the BG Phenom. It's the offroad version of the Toupe, so has a little more padding.
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!
  • skyd0g
    skyd0g Posts: 2,540
    Are you wearing padded shorts currently? (preferably bib-shorts)

    As your current saddle seems okay for a couple of hours, maybe some/better padded shorts would help? This may save you from the expense of trying out several different saddles.

    Also, if you've not been riding for too long, you'll probably find that 'that area' toughens-up a bit after a few months. :wink:
    Cycling weakly
  • MrTapir
    MrTapir Posts: 1,206
    skyd0g wrote:
    Are you wearing padded shorts currently? (preferably bib-shorts)

    As your current saddle seems okay for a couple of hours, maybe some/better padded shorts would help? This may save you from the expense of trying out several different saddles.

    Also, if you've not been riding for too long, you'll probably find that 'that area' toughens-up a bit after a few months. :wink:

    out of interest, why did you say 'preferably bib shorts'? Im assume you mean rather than normal shorts without the straps...

    Not being gittish or anything just wondering :D
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    Too personal. But (counter-intuitively) why not try a saddle with less padding and a really quality pair of padded shorts? I can ride for hours on my Specialized Toupe with no discomfort at all.

    Also have you been riding road for long? If not it can take a while for your a$$ to get used to things...
  • skyd0g
    skyd0g Posts: 2,540
    'bib-shorts' tend to be much comfier than 'normal waist' shorts.

    With 'normal' shorts, you tend to either get the waist cutting in to your stomach if they're tight, or the back slipping down if they're even slightly loose (so often the pad moves out of place). In either case, they're not that comfy to wear.

    Bib shorts hold everything in place, don't slip down and have no waist to cut-in. Much better. 8)

    'Normal' shorts also tend to be at the budget end - so often don't have very good quality pads. Okay for an hour or two 'leisure' riding, but they show their limitations very quickly thereafter.
    Cycling weakly
  • ilikecycling
    ilikecycling Posts: 50
    I'd recommend having a look at the Specialized Avatar

    Most Specialized dealers can give a free fitting, which involved sitting on a pad for a couple of minutes to records where your sit bones are located, and from that they calculate the correct size you need

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