Same saddles, different feel?

luv2ride
luv2ride Posts: 2,367
edited February 2011 in Road buying advice
Thought I'd finally cracked the ongoing conundrum of finding the perfect saddle when i bought a San Marco SKN with titanox rails. When I finally upgraded the bike I swapped this saddle to the new bike & it continues to be really comfy, in a "forget it's there" kind a way... :D

It seemed an obvious choice to get another one for the old Boardman. Trouble is, the new SKN seems no where near as comfy, and is starting to be quite uncomfortable after an hours riding. Although the design (& colourway) is identical, the padding does seem to be slightly different on the new saddle (the groove seems very slightly less deep before the seat splits). :cry:

I know finding the ideal saddle can be a long-winded process, but thought once you'd found the saddle type that worked for you it was sorted - or does each saddle differ slightly from one to another??? :?
Titus Silk Road Ti rigid 29er - Scott Solace 10 disc - Kinesis Crosslight Pro6 disc - Scott CR1 SL - Pinnacle Arkose X 650b - Pinnacle Arkose singlespeed - Specialized Singlecross...& an Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray 4 string...

Comments

  • Elio
    Elio Posts: 63
    Errr, i'd say try swapping the two saddles and find out which one's more comfortable. That way you should be able to tell whether it's the saddle or the bike that makes the difference....
  • luv2ride
    luv2ride Posts: 2,367
    Yes, think I'll try that...Just a bit of a faff once you've finally got the fore/aft setting sorted :roll:
    Can't see it's the bike though as I've been using the new saddle on the turbo quite a bit. Is it possible it still needs bedding in? The "old" SKN probably has 800 odd miles on it...and was out on the Roubaix the other and the saddle was as comfy as you like
    Titus Silk Road Ti rigid 29er - Scott Solace 10 disc - Kinesis Crosslight Pro6 disc - Scott CR1 SL - Pinnacle Arkose X 650b - Pinnacle Arkose singlespeed - Specialized Singlecross...& an Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray 4 string...
  • Elio
    Elio Posts: 63
    Yeah, i guess it's possible that the saddle needs bedding in. I've had something similar with Selle Italia SLR Gel Flow saddles, but it seems they changed the padding material and the shape slightly from one model year to the other. Could that be the problem in your case too? Or are they exactly the same spec?

    By the way, how is the Ernie Ball Music Man? I only know their strings, back in the day when I had a Status headless bass, theirs were the only strings that I liked to use with it :)
  • luv2ride
    luv2ride Posts: 2,367
    Cheers Elio. Yeah the saddles are identical in spec, so perhaps the newer one still needs bedding in. It was a "fleabay" bargain so no return possible unfortunately so I'll persevere for a while longer and change if necessary. Went for the striking white & black model but, given it's going to be used on the bike relegated to winter training, perhaps I should have gone black anyway!

    As for the Musicman I love it :D . Did consider flogging it to part-fund the new bike as I don't really play much anymore but couldn't do it! Hangs on the wall looking lovely, reminding me of glory days, and occasionally used to play along with something on iTunes when the mood takes me...:oops:
    Titus Silk Road Ti rigid 29er - Scott Solace 10 disc - Kinesis Crosslight Pro6 disc - Scott CR1 SL - Pinnacle Arkose X 650b - Pinnacle Arkose singlespeed - Specialized Singlecross...& an Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray 4 string...
  • paulbox
    paulbox Posts: 1,203
    I'd say that it just need to be broken in, give it a few hundred miles.
    XC: Giant Anthem X
    Fun: Yeti SB66
    Road: Litespeed C1, Cannondale Supersix Evo, Cervelo R5
    Trainer: Bianchi via Nirone
    Hack: GT hardtail with Schwalbe City Jets
  • Elio
    Elio Posts: 63
    Same here! Haven't played in years, but just can't get myself to sell it. Feels wrong somehow... Anyway, good luck with your saddles, let's hope it gets better after you've put more miles in.

    Cheers,
    Elio