What's the best saddle?

Harry B
Harry B Posts: 1,239
edited April 2010 in The bottom bracket
I'm thinking about getting a Fizik Arrione and wondered if anyone had tried one. I currently have the Specialized Toupe. Will the Fizik be more comfortable??
www.justgiving.com/thetwodaves

Comments

  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    The answers below will be the following:

    Either a) "saddle choice is too personal. What works for someone won't work for someone else"

    and b) "I bought x saddle and it was great"
    _
  • Ben6899
    Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
    Harry B, you need to try em out and hopefully land on a good one to keep forever!

    I've been looking at the Specialized ones with the cut out section... think I'll pop into the Harrogate Concept Store for a fitting as I have no idea what width I require.
    Ben

    Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_h_ppcc/
    Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143173475@N05/
  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    The answers below will be the following:

    Either a) "saddle choice is too personal. What works for someone won't work for someone else"

    and b) "I bought x saddle and it was great"

    ditto

    you should also have added that point (b) relates directly back to point (a).. ;)
  • Harry B
    Harry B Posts: 1,239
    I've had the Specialized for quite a while now and its been pretty comfortable but its quite short and doesn't allow for much movement. Given that most of the pro peleton seem to be on Arrione's they must have something to offer?
    www.justgiving.com/thetwodaves
  • skyd0g
    skyd0g Posts: 2,540
    Harry B wrote:
    I've had the Specialized for quite a while now and its been pretty comfortable but its quite short and doesn't allow for much movement. Given that most of the pro peloton seem to be on Arrione's they must have something to offer?

    Yes, sponsorship. :wink:
    Cycling weakly
  • seemunkee
    seemunkee Posts: 206
    I had the Arrione but it's too narrow for my fat ass. My butt bones were sitting out where it starts to curve down and I ended up with groin numbness. Recently switched to a wider Cobb and have no problems.
    The guy I usually ride with has an Arrione and loves it.
  • Stuey01
    Stuey01 Posts: 1,273
    I got an arione and for the first few rides it felt like it was splitting me in half. I perservered and it is now comfy.
    Not climber, not sprinter, not rouleur
  • itchieritchie
    itchieritchie Posts: 332
    I've tried a number and now stick with the Arione. But I have the Tri 2, which is even more comfortable. The nose is more padded so when you're in a full on tuck, it gives your nethers just that little more support.

    It's true that saddle choice is entirely subjective. What is fact however, is that the Arione has a larger surface area. This means more positions and ability to shift about, which personally, makes me more comfortable over a longer period. IMO this is why the pros plump for the Arione. It's the range of movement. Also, a larger perch means a greater platform to generate power from. It works for me. Again, others will I'm sure disagree and say that the classic saddle 'dip' shape is the one to go for, since you stay fixed.

    They're also light, hardwearing (I use mine on my Genesis Flyer single speed!) and a great looking saddle to boot.

    Interesting to hear what seemunkee said. Maybe it also agrees with me because I have narrow sit bones, though I don't think it's particularly narrow even for those with wider ones.
  • snailracer
    snailracer Posts: 968
    The £10 ones from Tesco. I bought 2 :oops:
  • markyboy2005
    markyboy2005 Posts: 465
    snailracer wrote:
    The £10 ones from Tesco. I bought 2 :oops:

    you must have a huge a€€e if you need two!!!
  • GiantMike
    GiantMike Posts: 3,139
    I must have a strange @rse! I use 4 different saddles on 4 different bikes, riding 'cross, road and off-road and I never even notice the saddle's comfort.

    For 'cross I use a £5 saddle from BikeHut
    For the road I have the stock Giant saddle that came on the bike
    For off-road I use a 1992 Avocet Air 40R
    For single speed I use a damaged Bianchi saddle from a 2008 Via Nirone.

    My @rse can't tell the difference.
  • Ollieda
    Ollieda Posts: 1,010
    As quite often happens, Sheldon Brown has the answer to what is the best saddle; the real man saddle!

    http://sheldonbrown.com/real-man.html
  • Ben6899
    Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
    Out of interest, how do you go about choosing the correct saddle width without being measured? I'm a narrow hipped racing snake, but I am well aware it doesn't strictly follow that I have narrow sit bones... I would imagine buying a saddle is a waste of time if I go for the wrong width?
    Ben

    Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_h_ppcc/
    Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143173475@N05/
  • snailracer
    snailracer Posts: 968
    markyboy2005 wrote:
    snailracer wrote:
    The £10 ones from Tesco. I bought 2 :oops:

    you must have a huge a€€e if you need two!!!
    One for each cheek :lol:
  • markyboy2005
    markyboy2005 Posts: 465
    snailracer wrote:
    markyboy2005 wrote:
    snailracer wrote:
    The £10 ones from Tesco. I bought 2 :oops:

    you must have a huge a€€e if you need two!!!
    One for each cheek :lol:

    haha....now my engineering brain is trying to picture how that would work....
  • Nuggs
    Nuggs Posts: 1,804
    markyboy2005 wrote:
    snailracer wrote:
    markyboy2005 wrote:
    snailracer wrote:
    The £10 ones from Tesco. I bought 2 :oops:

    you must have a huge a€€e if you need two!!!
    One for each cheek :lol:

    haha....now my engineering brain is trying to picture how that would work....
    You're thinking about his arse?
  • markyboy2005
    markyboy2005 Posts: 465
    Nuggs wrote:
    markyboy2005 wrote:
    snailracer wrote:
    markyboy2005 wrote:
    snailracer wrote:
    The £10 ones from Tesco. I bought 2 :oops:

    you must have a huge a€€e if you need two!!!
    One for each cheek :lol:

    haha....now my engineering brain is trying to picture how that would work....
    You're thinking about his ars*?

    I was, but now I am thinking about yours.... :roll:
  • freehub
    freehub Posts: 4,257
    Ollieda wrote:
    As quite often happens, Sheldon Brown has the answer to what is the best saddle; the real man saddle!

    http://sheldonbrown.com/real-man.html

    Imagine doing the Paris Roubaix on it :lol: , you'd finish with the saddle inside your a$$ :lol:

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