Touring Saddle - John O'Groats to Land's End. Comfiest?

gazrolo

We're doing JOGLE over 10 days at Easter and my current Bontrager saddle (standard kit on my 2010 Trek 2.3) aint comfortable!

Any one got any recommendations? I thought a Brooks would be the ultimate but heard mixed reports. Any help much appreciated.

Thanks
Gaz

cougie

It's very personal - what's good for one may not be good for others - but I'd look at the charge spoon or Fizik Arione.

Hoopdriver

I've toured all over the world (and including LEJOG), and many thousands of miles, on Brooks saddles - the B-17. I love them, and wouldn't consider anything else. That's me. You're you. Saddle preferences, as has been often noted, are very personal - asking a forum, or anybody, really, is really just idle chatter. Nobody can really say - it's something you have to work out for yourself.

orbeaorca

Hoopdriver wrote:

I've toured all over the world (and including LEJOG), and many thousands of miles, on Brooks saddles - the B-17. I love them, and wouldn't consider anything else. That's me. You're you. Saddle preferences, as has been often noted, are very personal - asking a forum, or anybody, really, is really just idle chatter. Nobody can really say - it's something you have to work out for yourself.

+1 .. should be the response to all ' what saddle posts '

derosa

Wouldn't ride a Brooks under any circumstances - implements of torture.
San Marco Rolls titanium for me. Have never found a more comfortable perch, although I must have tried hundreds of saddles in the past 20 years or so.

topdude

A well run in Brooks must be the first choice so fit one now and break it in

scruffyduncan

San Marco Rolls, undoubtedly the comfiest saddle I have ever used.

Some swear by brooks, but I believe you have to break them in before they are comfy, so if you go for one make sure it's comfy before you set off on a long tour like LEJOG

aberdeen_lune

I was worried about which saddle to use for my JOGLE last year. My winter and commuting bike has a B17 which I find to be really comfortable. My race bike and TT bikes have Fizik Ariones fitted. I ended up doing the JOGLE on my race bike with the Arione and had no problems with it. As previously said it's down to personal preference. Get a saddle your comfy with and break it in before the event. Make sure you take a full tub of chamois cream with you that is a must have.

gazrolo

Some solid advice guys, thanks very much. Still not sure what I'll go for but will check back in after the ride and update on what I went for and how I got on.

Seems to be a lot of love for the Brooks and the San Marco Rolls, though as many have said, I guess it's always going to come down to personal fit and preference.

Great advice on the chamois cream too -after suffering with an abscess last year (requiring an operation, 3 weeks off work and about 6 weeks off the bike!!) I never, ever ride without it these days :oops:

For anyone who's interested by the way, training is ok so far and I can comfortably handle the distance we'll have to do for one day (100 miles)...it's getting in the saddle and doing in for ten days straight that's the next challenge! Hence this post on comfy saddles!

Thanks again for the advice.

Gaz

vorsprung

The most critical measurement on the saddle seems to be the width at the sit bones..at the back of the saddle

In terms of Brooks these are available in different widths. There are several models of saddle with different widths. The standard width B17 is a tad wider than the average drop bar racing bike saddle and the Brooks Swift is about the same

Specialized have a measuring process for finding out this width and matching it to their vast range of saddles

graham_g

Too personal for advice - I did two weeks touring on a Rolls saddle and it literally made my arse bleed. Brooks all get too much of a ridge down the middle and put too much pressure on my taint in anything other than a bolt upright position. I get on well with Specialized in a 143mm width but am waiting to pick one of these up from a friend to try out on longer audax rides....
http://www.selleanatomica.com/

mattsccm

Try a Charge Spoon. Cheap but tough and gets good reviews. I am off to buy another this weekend. You can always sell one if it doesn't work

gazrolo

Just to update - I've taken all the advice on board and decided to go for an SDG Bel Air, reason being that I've had them on my MTB's for years and know that they suit me *personally*.

I've put a post on my blog about the subject incorporating all the good advice here.

http://bit.ly/ezMKbQ

Again, thanks for the advice.

Gaz

Wheelie Bin

Charge Spoon.

Get one cheap on eBay and at least try it.


:oops: Just read your last post... mind you, for £25.00 I'd still try the Spoon - I have both the Spoon and SDG and think the Spoon is much comfier.