Saddle Advice

mattrsa

Hi Guys and Girls

I am after some advice about a saddle.

I have been commuting on my trek1.2 for a good few months now and racked up over 200 miles but I find that if I commute two days in a row (its a 45 mile round trip) on the 2nd day I find the saddle to very uncomfortable. I'm using good padded shorts but it does not seem to make a difference.

Just had a quick look at brookes saddles and they seem to be pretty expensive. I only really use my road bike for a commuting and the odd evening ride. Is brookes the way to go?

Thanks
Matt

g00se

Saddles are personal things. Most often, the one supplied with the bike is no use to the buyer. The best thing to do is head off to a LBS and have your ar5e measured! This is not some undignified process, they have a piece of deformable plastic you sit on and it retains the two bumps your sit bone makes. They can then measure this so you can work out the correct width of saddle you require. They may have some trial saddles you can borrow to test.

I've only seen Specialized ar5e measurers, so maybe first try a Specialized dealer?

Sanderville

I just put a Brooks B17 on my commuter and had my first ride on it this morning. I was a bit worried about a painful breaking-in process but it is already way more comfortable than the normal gel-padded saddle that I've been using for three years. Can't imagine how it will feel when it's broken in.

The B17 only cost £60, which is close to what I paid for a Selle Italia on my road bike. You would definitely want a tin of Brooks Proofide to rub into the bottom of the saddle before you fit it, but the Brooks maintenance kit is overkill.

biondino

Have you tried adjusted the angle and the fore/aft position? I ask because when I got my fixie, it had a Selle Italia Regal which I found hard, uncomforable and entirely unsuited to my shape. I replaced it with a different saddle, then a second a few months later (for aesthetic reasons) but when that broke, I had to put the Regal back on as a stopgap. However, somehow I fitted it so that now it feels extremely comfortable and well-balanced and I'm going to keep it on there.

mattrsa

thanks for advice guys

might have a go at adjusting it and if i have no joy i will go to the LBS and see about a fitting for a new saddle

Wrath Rob

My commuters both have a Charge Spoon. Pretty cheap and very comfy.

The Sunday bike has a Selle saddle that's a little more testing but is way better than the one that the bike came with. I think that might be down to me spending 4 hours in the saddle on a Sunday rather than the 40 mins on the commute though

The Rookie

Spoon here as well.

Simon

shouldbeinbed

for me Brooks are great I have them on both main bikes and after a good few years use they still look good and are totally fitted to me, the difference wen borrowing another bike is immense. if my bike was on fire, I'd be in the flames with an allen key rescuing my brooks

fossyant

Got a Charge Knife here - lighter than the spoon - very comfy, nice and flat top, although mine has just snapped in half (almost) - warranty return though (16 months old 2 year warranty). Getting another deffo.

Tostaryman

Another Charge fan here - got spoons on mtb and commuter and knife on road bike. Both models felt perfect from the word go. Brilliant bits of kit and good value too

unixnerd

+1 for the Charge Spoon, I have one on my mtb. It's not perfect but it's getting there, can't go wrong for 20 quid.

I have a Fizik Pave on my road bike, it's better than any other road saddle I've tried.
This is worth a read:
http://reviews.roadbikereview.com/blog/ ... ro-review/

benpinnick

+1 Spoon. Or knife, if you want lightness.

twowheelthrill

+1 for Brooks!

ad213812

After watching my partner spend a small fortune trying to find a saddle that suited him, when it came time for me to buy a saddle I went straight for a Brooks B17. I love it and it loves me

Lmrt1

Many shops have a saddle-fit pad measuring thingy that you just sit on and the distance between the two big dips (the distance between the two bony prominences of your pelvis - the bit that takes the most weight when you sit) is measured. You can then buy a saddle that is closed to that distance. I know Specialized do different widths but I'm sure other makes must do too.
Stuart

mattrsa

Looks like a brookes saddle shall be on my xmas list then

Clarion

I wouldn't if I were you. They're expensive, and pretty uncomfortable. One I tried nearly put me off cycling entirely. Just not worth the agony.

I ride Specialized Indie XC on the tourer & tandem, Alias on the fast bike, and a Charge Spoon on the commuter. That last was just a punt on a cheap saddle, but it is surprisingly comfortable.

It's said that you either have a Brooks arse or a Specialized one, and it seems the Spoon falls into that latter camp.

I do not have a Brooks arse.