Saddle

Headhuunter

I know this has been done before and I did a little search and have come up with a few thoughts but I got my 1st bout of "numb nuts" on a 100 mile sportive yesterday... It was a bit of a shock! I know that saddles are very subjective but has anyone else experienced this and which seats have they ended up using? I don't want some great sofa stuck on my seatpost, from what I can see, something like a Specialized BG or a Fizik Arione seem good... Anyone got any thoughts?

EKE_38BPM

Everyone will say their saddle is the best.
I love my Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow.

gtvlusso

This is what I have:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... e-10-39346

Seems to get a good review, allot of Pro's use the Selle Italia Turbomatic according to the Selle website. I find it comfy, even on my boneshaker of a commute, I was going to get one for the MTB too.

http://www.selleitalia.com/se_it3/prodo ... urbomatic/

However, bum comfort is very subjective......

bails87

Spesh Romin, big hole down the middle?

I used to get numb bits using a 'non-holed' saddle, and this has solved it. It's not super comfortable at first, but a few hours later it still feels the same.

asprilla

I've got an Arione and I love it. Have still suffered numb nuts on long rides before though.

I'm thinking about getting an Adamo Road saddle just to see what it's like.

il_principe

I relegated my Arione to the commuter as it gave me numbness on long rides. Been using a Spesh Toupe since 08, and bough another for the new bike. The 'hole in the middle' concept seems to work for me.

daviesee

Try angling your current saddle down at the nose. Just a touch.
Or moving it forward. Just a touch.

notsoblue

EKE_38BPM wrote:

Everyone will say their saddle is the best.

Yep. Because who sticks with a bad saddle right?

SteppenHerring

Asprilla wrote:

I've got an Arione and I love it. Have still suffered numb nuts on long rides before though.

I'm thinking about getting an Adamo Road saddle just to see what it's like.

I've got an Adamo Road which I put on the new TT bike. I haven't got the position quite right yet though- it was too low at the nose and I was sliding forwards all the time onto the prongs in a 50 just over a week ago. That was quite uncomfortable by the end. It does stop numb parts though.

mudcow007

i thought the groove in the middle of a saddle was to stop the numbness?

isnt there a bit nerve that runs under your under carriage an thats what gets irritated/ pressured causing the numbness?

BigLights

Spesh Romin for me too - I find it incredibly comfortable.

Headhuunter....good to see you on here...not the same in the office without you.

EKE_38BPM

notsoblue wrote:

EKE_38BPM wrote:

Everyone will say their saddle is the best.

Yep. Because who sticks with a bad saddle right?

Bails?

bails87 wrote:

...It's not super comfortable at first, but a few hours later it still feels the same.

mudcow007 wrote:

i thought the groove in the middle of a saddle was to stop the numbness?

isnt there a bit nerve that runs under your under carriage an thats what gets irritated/ pressured causing the numbness?

Yep. The cut out is known as a perineum cut out and is designed to take pressure off the perineal nerves.

Anatomical diagram of the, ahem, area in question.

bails87

What I meant by that is that you don't sit on it and think "ooo, this is so comfortable, I wish my sofa felt like this". You/I sit down and think "meh, it's a bit firm, but it's fine" and then three hours later I'm still thinking "meh, this is fine". Which is better than sitting on something squishy that feels comfortable, but after half an hour it's cut off the blood to the meat and two veg and is rubbing your backside raw.

EKE_38BPM

Only joshing.

I love my saddle, but I wouldn't get rid of my sofa to sit on it to watch a film. We're in agreement.

bails87

EKE_38BPM wrote:

Only joshing.

I love my saddle, but I wouldn't get rid of my sofa to sit on it to watch a film. We're in agreement.

Don't worry, was just making myself clear.

Unfortunately saddles are very personal, so it's impossible to make a safe recommendation.

rick_chasey

Never found a saddle I'm happy with.

jonginge

Selle-italia work well for me.

The Scott came with a C2 and that's been superb, never had any problems.

I put an SLR on the cervelo. I did wonder how I'd feel after long rides (it's 4mm narrower than the C2) but again all is good.

The fizik-clone I got with my planet-x is the least comfortable. Commute is fine but for long sportives I'm not so sure...

notsoblue

JonGinge wrote:

The fizik-clone I got with my planet-x is the least comfortable. Commute is fine but for long sportives I'm not so sure...

This one? http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/SAP ... eam_saddle

Its the most uncomfortable saddle I've ever used!

jonginge

Yeah, that's the chap

welkman

Having gone through three others I am happy with my new Romin, I seem to have massive sitbone width which leads to normal saddles splitting me like an axe :shock:

EKE_38BPM

welkman wrote:

Having gone through three others I am happy with my new Romin, I seem to have massive sitbone width which leads to normal saddles splitting me like an axe :shock:

Maybe your pelvis is getting ready for childbirth?

sadlybiggins

I've currently got a Fizik Arione and it does give me numbness on longer rides. I'm probably going to try a Specialized Toupe next, although Fizik now produce an Arione Versus which has a perineal cut-out. Will see what else the LBS has to offer later this week.

Headhuunter

Thanks all, I've gone for a Romin Expert... Currently I've got a Selle Italia Thoork which I could tweak a bit as mentioned. It hasn't caused any problems in the past but my rides are usually 50 miles at a go, sometimes up to 70 if I do a long club ride but I don't want that numbness again, I think I need something that I can ride for 5-6 hours if doing a century ride...

Headhuunter

BigLights wrote:

Spesh Romin for me too - I find it incredibly comfortable.

Headhuunter....good to see you on here...not the same in the office without you.

Hmmm... I think I can guess who this is! So you've finally ventured onto the forum... Welcome! How's it going back in the office?

tailwindhome

Headhuunter wrote:

I know this has been done before and I did a little search and have come up with a few thoughts but I got my 1st bout of "numb nuts" on a 100 mile sportive yesterday... It was a bit of a shock! I know that saddles are very subjective but has anyone else experienced this and which seats have they ended up using? I don't want some great sofa stuck on my seatpost, from what I can see, something like a Specialized BG or a Fizik Arione seem good... Anyone got any thoughts?

This thread may be of interest to you....

viewtopic.php?f=40049&t=12715506

Yukirin

I have the romin, too. Not got anything but stock saddles to compare is to though. Safe to say I'll be getting another when this one is through, however.

EKE_38BPM

TailWindHome wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

I know this has been done before and I did a little search and have come up with a few thoughts but I got my 1st bout of "numb nuts" on a 100 mile sportive yesterday... It was a bit of a shock! I know that saddles are very subjective but has anyone else experienced this and which seats have they ended up using? I don't want some great sofa stuck on my seatpost, from what I can see, something like a Specialized BG or a Fizik Arione seem good... Anyone got any thoughts?

This thread may be of interest to you....

viewtopic.php?f=40049&t=12715506

I had a feeling that link would have been this. I chuckled, clicked the link and was then disappointed.

jzed

notsoblue wrote:

JonGinge wrote:

The fizik-clone I got with my planet-x is the least comfortable. Commute is fine but for long sportives I'm not so sure...

This one? http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/SAP ... eam_saddle

Its the most uncomfortable saddle I've ever used!

Have ridden 10,000 miles on one of those and never been uncomfortable.

kelsen

JZed wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

JonGinge wrote:

The fizik-clone I got with my planet-x is the least comfortable. Commute is fine but for long sportives I'm not so sure...

This one? http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/SAP ... eam_saddle

Its the most uncomfortable saddle I've ever used!

Have ridden 10,000 miles on one of those and never been uncomfortable.

I have both the Fizik Arione and the Planet X Superlight. The PX was agony on rides over 2hrs, the Fizik slightly better up to 4hrs. I found a Charge Knife more comfortable than both. Just ordered a Selle Italia Flite Gel so will be interesting to see how it compares. Just proves that saddle fit is a very personal thing.

EKE_38BPM

kelsen wrote:

JZed wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

JonGinge wrote:

The fizik-clone I got with my planet-x is the least comfortable. Commute is fine but for long sportives I'm not so sure...

This one? http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/SAP ... eam_saddle

Its the most uncomfortable saddle I've ever used!

Have ridden 10,000 miles on one of those and never been uncomfortable.

I have both the Fizik Arione and the Planet X Superlight. The PX was agony on rides over 2hrs, the Fizik slightly better up to 4hrs. I found a Charge Knife more comfortable than both. Just ordered a Selle Italia Flite Gel so will be interesting to see how it compares. Just proves that saddle fit is a very personal thing.

Good call on the Selle Italia. IMHO of course.

Initialised

Numb nuts? I lost sensation in my bell end the other day.

So also in the market for a new saddle.

How does one go about measuring ones posterior dimensions?