Pressure relieving saddle...

jackmcd

Hi Folks,

Splashed out a fair bit of cash on the Selle Italia Max Flite Gel Flow today - fed up with numb bits after long rides... Took it for a little test ride earlier this evening and while the 'pressure relieving channel' was a god send, I seemed to feel more pressure on my bony bits than before. I am not sure how this can be possible with all the gel padding etc. though - whats others experience..?

cubicboy

If you read the numerous threads on the is subject, and there are lots, you will find a common set of answers to this question:

1. Everyone has a different bottom
2. Saddles are immeasurably personal things
3. You will probably have to try about five different ones before you get the right one for you
4. Cycling on a thin sliver of plastic is always going to hurt your a**e after riding 40+ miles

Don't listen to people who say '100 miles no problem... like an armchair... blah'

jackmcd

Thanks for the comments Cubic boy, if I have to take back I wont feel too bad then (bought on a 30 day cash back deal).

Re: searching threads - I do that sometimes, but I like the dialogue part of using a forum.

cougie

Not sure how a saddle can relieve pressure. Maybe spread it differently but never relieve it. How high are your bars ? Too high and your arms won't be supporting the weight as much as they could.

Yep everyones bum is different. I like the Arione - expensive but v comfy for me. Similar to that is the Charge Spoon. Not quite as comfy but only about £20.

jackmcd

Suppose you are right - they dont really relieve pressure just take pressure away from particular points compared to others... which probably means more pressure on the bones to make up for the lack of pressure where the hole is.

Bars are reasonably high - as a newbie I was getting aching shoulders and flipped my stem to ease that. Worked! But you may be right tht that lead to the increase in other areas too...

colsoop

Your feeling more pressure on your sit bones as they are doing all of the work now whereas the soft bits of your undercarriage were taking some of the strain before.

I have an smp saddle with the cut out and it took some getting used to as i was not used to using the sit bones fully.

Stick with it and see if it gets better.

waterford123

I agree with colsoop, for years I was on a fizik and my perineum was sore as you like, this would happen after about 16 miles, but I lived with it.

I had a proper bike fit and found out due to my big bum that I needed a 155 width saddle to get on my sit bones. I got a Specialized Romin elite and it hurt for a while as my sit bones were not used to it. I was thinking that this bloke got it wrong my ars* is still hurting.

Now though after about 2 months sticking with it, it's much better. Can do a lot more miles without the pain. Which is nice.

ADIHEAD

I'm having the same problem. I used to be fine with my Arione but doing more miles now plus lost weight, increased muscle etc and it just seems to rub the inside of my thighs. Tried the VS with the centre channel but it totally killed so it's on 'the bay' now. Briefly rode an Antares the other night so borrowing a demo model as it seemed promising. Might try a Romin also but want to stick with Fizik as really like the ICS system. Also, don't want to put a Spesh Saddle on a Cannondale...........

federalski

As has been said, saddles are very personal things, but... the Charge Spoon saddle is excellent and at 15 quid or so off ebay you cannot go wrong, if it;'s no good for you just flog it on.
I bought one on a whim after reading all the good reviews, and have stuck with it ever since, though I was initially going to spend 3 or 4 times what the Spoon cost on something or other else...

northpole

I have a Selle Italia SLR with cut out - it came with a bike I bought at the start of the year. Looks great but no good for me over any distance. I have switched to a Spesh Romin which whislt it feels as hard as a rock, with decent padded shorts I find it great over longer rides.

Peter

jackmcd

Good to hear others have found the same - loads of gel and a channel isnt for everyone.

Think I'll try a fizik next as had one one my old MTB for years - though tempted by some prologo saddles and the above reviews of the charge spoon are interesting. I looked at the charge knife but didnt consider the spoon so will re-look.

In_the_big_ring

I personally like the Specialized Body Geometry saddles (I also use the Romin model). They have different sizes depending on the distance between your seat bones. I haven't gone for the thin and light pro version, but the gel option as I'd take extra comfort over a slightly lighter saddle any day.

derbygrimpeur

I had a Selle Italia Max Flite Gel and struggled with it but recently switched to a narrower saddle (Selle Italia C2) which is fine. Easily manage 100 miles now. Still aches a bit that long in the saddle, but not painful. Can do 70+ miles with no discomfort at all.

antonyfromoz

I have the Charge spoon and really rate it too - and for that money it is definitely worth trying out. I now sometimes fit some clip on aero bars on to my bike for triathlons though and this means that I move forward onto the nose of the saddle for a better body position - and the spoon does not have a very padded nose so I might have to consider other options but I would still want the comfort of the Spoon for normal riding.

Nuggs

I have a Flite Gel Flow, which I bought to replace an Arione. The numb nuts issue was cured but like you, to begin with I felt quite sore on my sitbones. I've been using it for a couple of months now and it feels like an armchair.

I suggest you stick with it for the 30 day trial period and see how you get on. Don't write it off too quickly.

mfin

jackmcd wrote:

Good to hear others have found the same - loads of gel and a channel isnt for everyone.

Think I'll try a fizik next as had one one my old MTB for years - though tempted by some prologo saddles and the above reviews of the charge spoon are interesting. I looked at the charge knife but didnt consider the spoon so will re-look.

I had a Flite Gel whatever its called with a channel. Same thing, felt like rock to me. Seeing as you mentioned Prologo, I changed to a Prologo Scratch Pro Nack, and its been great immediately for me. They do a Ti and a TS version of that which arent so expensive, dont have the carbon rails of the Nack version etc.

StageWinner

cougie wrote:

Not sure how a saddle can relieve pressure.

It's just a common term used when talking about relieving pressure in one specific area - namely the perineum.


It's not some form of black magic that makes you levitate completely on top of the saddle.

jackmcd

Found the perfect solution - LBS have a selection of trial saddles which I had never noticed before. For £30 deposit I can borrow and try most of the fizik, prologo and specialized range Starting with a prologo zero.

markybhoy67

I have a Brooks B17 wide saddle, I tried a few road bike saddles but just couldn't get comfortable with any, so I took the Brooks of my hybrid and I haven't looked back.

Going to do a 107 mile ride on Saturday with this saddle on my Cannondale Synapse. You definetly need a saddle that suits if you want to do long mileage.