Selle Italia
markdavidhill
Posts: 279
In response to an email I sent to Selle regarding saddle comfort during my saddle panic period, since resolved, I received this excellent reply:
Unfortunately it’s always hard and frankly quite impossible to recommend or say which is the most comfortable saddle for you, even if you give us certain criterias as your weight, height or type of bike or specific problem that you suffer.
The reason we produce more than 20 different models is because we need to accomplish our products to the needs of all different types of cyclist and their way of riding a bike.
As you know some riders like to sit far way in the back of the saddle as well as slightly towards the front nose of it. The different riding position on the same saddles implies a “reaction” from it that is different from person to person.
In accordance to this we usually don’t recommend a particular model of saddle but we can advise which are the most used saddles by pro riders and the most sold to our consumers.
This will give you a clear idea of which are the most appreciated saddles by the performance pro rider and the comfort oriented consumer.
Considering that we sponsor more than 65 UCI teams (this includes road, women, triathlon and MTB) we can easily say that the most popular saddles used in the peloton are:
SLR
SLR GEL FLOW
FLITE GENUINE GEL
FLITE GEL FLOW
TURBOMATIC
SLR KIT CARBONIO
PROLINK GENUINE GEL
LADY GELFLOW (only for ladies)
SLK LADY GELFLOW (only for ladies)
For those riders more concern about comfort like you, specifically for a "specific problem", the following models are our most sold and appreciated saddles:
SLR GEL FLOW
FLITE GEL FLOW
PROLINK GEL FLOW
FLITE GENUINE GEL
MAX FLITE GEL FLOW
TURBOMATIC GEL FLOW
SLR
SLC GEL FLOW
PROLINK GENUINE GEL
LADY GEL FLOW (only for ladies)
SLK LADY GEL FLOW (only for ladies)
To make an easy comparison please use this "rule" when you choose a saddle. Saddles are like shoes. If you choose a soft shoe for walking, your bones will not find support so after 1 or 2 hours you will feel pain. They are OK for walking 15 or 30 minutes. Saddles are the same. If you ride for 30-50 minutes you can use any saddle (even very soft) but if you ride for more than 1,5 hours, your bones need support and they shouldn't sit on a soft padding. More you ride (or walk) and more stiffer the foam should be. For pro riders sometimes we need to add carbon into the shell and make very stiff foams, otherwise they have difficulties after the first 3-3.5 hours of riding. More stiffer the saddle is and more they like it.
Please also note that since the introduction of the “anatomical cutout” saddles (so-called Gel Flow) these have been always between 60-65% of sales because they are much more comfortable in the front tissue area. For ladies this number goes to 95% so an anatomical cutout saddle GELFLOW is much more appreciated for long distance or “competitive riders”.
Tradition and experience is also very important because the right shape and anatomy isn’t made by a computer program and just by the design. Selle Italia has been making professional high end saddles since 1897 so 112 years of experience counts a lot into the comfort of the saddle.
VERY IMPORTANT: it you try 3-4 different models and you don’t find anyone comfortable, you have a problem on the bike fit or frame size. IT’S NOT A SADDLE PROBLEM. !!!
Best Regards
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Unfortunately it’s always hard and frankly quite impossible to recommend or say which is the most comfortable saddle for you, even if you give us certain criterias as your weight, height or type of bike or specific problem that you suffer.
The reason we produce more than 20 different models is because we need to accomplish our products to the needs of all different types of cyclist and their way of riding a bike.
As you know some riders like to sit far way in the back of the saddle as well as slightly towards the front nose of it. The different riding position on the same saddles implies a “reaction” from it that is different from person to person.
In accordance to this we usually don’t recommend a particular model of saddle but we can advise which are the most used saddles by pro riders and the most sold to our consumers.
This will give you a clear idea of which are the most appreciated saddles by the performance pro rider and the comfort oriented consumer.
Considering that we sponsor more than 65 UCI teams (this includes road, women, triathlon and MTB) we can easily say that the most popular saddles used in the peloton are:
SLR
SLR GEL FLOW
FLITE GENUINE GEL
FLITE GEL FLOW
TURBOMATIC
SLR KIT CARBONIO
PROLINK GENUINE GEL
LADY GELFLOW (only for ladies)
SLK LADY GELFLOW (only for ladies)
For those riders more concern about comfort like you, specifically for a "specific problem", the following models are our most sold and appreciated saddles:
SLR GEL FLOW
FLITE GEL FLOW
PROLINK GEL FLOW
FLITE GENUINE GEL
MAX FLITE GEL FLOW
TURBOMATIC GEL FLOW
SLR
SLC GEL FLOW
PROLINK GENUINE GEL
LADY GEL FLOW (only for ladies)
SLK LADY GEL FLOW (only for ladies)
To make an easy comparison please use this "rule" when you choose a saddle. Saddles are like shoes. If you choose a soft shoe for walking, your bones will not find support so after 1 or 2 hours you will feel pain. They are OK for walking 15 or 30 minutes. Saddles are the same. If you ride for 30-50 minutes you can use any saddle (even very soft) but if you ride for more than 1,5 hours, your bones need support and they shouldn't sit on a soft padding. More you ride (or walk) and more stiffer the foam should be. For pro riders sometimes we need to add carbon into the shell and make very stiff foams, otherwise they have difficulties after the first 3-3.5 hours of riding. More stiffer the saddle is and more they like it.
Please also note that since the introduction of the “anatomical cutout” saddles (so-called Gel Flow) these have been always between 60-65% of sales because they are much more comfortable in the front tissue area. For ladies this number goes to 95% so an anatomical cutout saddle GELFLOW is much more appreciated for long distance or “competitive riders”.
Tradition and experience is also very important because the right shape and anatomy isn’t made by a computer program and just by the design. Selle Italia has been making professional high end saddles since 1897 so 112 years of experience counts a lot into the comfort of the saddle.
VERY IMPORTANT: it you try 3-4 different models and you don’t find anyone comfortable, you have a problem on the bike fit or frame size. IT’S NOT A SADDLE PROBLEM. !!!
Best Regards
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Team Madison Genesis Volare & Condor Super Acciaio
0
Comments
-
Which imo is absolutely right, there is some good advice there. Selle do have a lot of models but even then, not one might be the saddle for you.
It's trial and error I'm afraid, and sometimes problems with saddles don't show up until 1-2 months after purchase.
No manufacturer has nailed the 'saddle and if it's suitable for you' quandary, not Specialized with the 'body geometry' sit bones measuring nor Fizik with their 'spine concept' system. That's just complicating the issue.
It is ime just trial and error.0 -
Great, thanks for posting their answers.0
