Most comfortable saddle?

bartman100

Whilst I appreciate everyone is shaped different, I wonder what saddles are generally considered to be more forgiving for the gentleman who is looking to protect his assets? I bruised by perineum a short while back and have some prostate twinges now and again. I also suffer from numb arse and leg muscles following a long ride. I have tried (and discarded) the following:

- Fizik Arione
- Fizik Aliante
- Specialized toupe

I think a cut out is advisable, perhaps a Selle Italia Gel Flite? I'm even considering a Brooks such is my discomfort.

Thoughts?

jonomc4

though as you say every person is different - for me it has to be the Selle SMP - many different versions out there depending on you ass size and needs. Did a review on my blog - as far as I can see it would help you with your particular problem.

link to blog - http://ukmambo.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/s ... eview.html

Selle SMP site - http://www.sellesmp.com/smp4bike/en

marksteven

it may not be the saddle ,have you had a bike fit done as it could be your set up !

Bloz

I also tried those saddles having suffered with numb bits etc. On the cut-out theme I also tried the Selle Italia SLR Max Gelflow which has an enormous cut-out but found that whilst it took all the weight off my middle bits it put more pressure on a small area of my sit bones. Having tried loads I have found comfiest by far on my road bike to be a Specialized Romin - think it's the Evo one - honestly don't even know it's there. Fizik Gobi on my mtb is great too.

bartman100

Interesting - thanks. I will investigate those models mentioned.

Re: Cyclefit - that's a good point. But in my case, I'm sure I just haven't found a saddle that fits me. This is why I am tempted by a Brooks - although it would look incongruous on my bike, the fact that it moulds to your shape might mean it is the way to go.

greentea

Bloz wrote:

I also tried those saddles having suffered with numb bits etc. On the cut-out theme I also tried the Selle Italia SLR Max Gelflow which has an enormous cut-out but found that whilst it took all the weight off my middle bits it put more pressure on a small area of my sit bones. Having tried loads I have found comfiest by far on my road bike to be a Specialized Romin - think it's the Evo one - honestly don't even know it's there. Fizik Gobi on my mtb is great too.

Im not doubting you one bit, but whats the difference between the Romin and the SLR Max Gelflow, only they both have the middle cut out, so why did you find the Romin better in that respect? Just curious as im looking at both at the moment. Does the Romin not put pressure on the sit bones just like the Gel flow?

kamil1891

"Put a "razor" in the right place and it will be the most comfortable seat, put the most comfortable saddle in the wrong place and you will suffer" - A. Timmis 8)

rdt

This works for me:-

http://www.ismseat.com/saddle/adamo-breakaway
http://www.climbonbikes.co.uk/saddles/s ... away-black

Bordersroadie

bartman100 wrote:

I have tried (and discarded) the following:

- Specialized toupe

Is it for sale?

arlowood

Buy a Charge Spoon - only £15 from Wiggle.

I swear by them for comfort and many others do too. Just look at the Wiggle reviews.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-spoon-sa ... fAodry0Auw

It may not solve your problem but at £15 you won't feel the pain in your wallet so much

jonny_trousers

Having suffered from a nagging ball ache for several months, I recently moved over to a Selle Italia SLR SuperFlow in the hope that it might be the saddle's fault and that such a huge cut-out might sort things out and - touch wood - it has!

I'm one of those people who tend to take things to an extreme when trying to address an issue, which is why I looked to the saddle with the biggest cut-out, but I do wonder if it was more than the huge hole that sorted things for me. Prior to the SuperFlow I was on a Specialized Romin, but it was the slimmest one they do (130mm, I think) and it may be that with it being too thin for me, my sit bones could not do the supporting and more pressure was put on my more sensitive areas. With that in mind, perhaps a wider Romin would have worked just as well too, I don't know. Either way I'm very happy. The SLR SuperFlow has a bit of a reputation for being quite firm, and I would agree that it is, but it's nothing 5 seconds out the saddle doesn't sort when you're feeling a touch sore.

noisemonkey

specialized romin pro for me. Did have a selle smp before though which saw like riding around on a couch with 23mm tyres.

alistaird

Bloz wrote:

I also tried those saddles having suffered with numb bits etc. On the cut-out theme I also tried the Selle Italia SLR Max Gelflow which has an enormous cut-out but found that whilst it took all the weight off my middle bits it put more pressure on a small area of my sit bones. Having tried loads I have found comfiest by far on my road bike to be a Specialized Romin - think it's the Evo one - honestly don't even know it's there. Fizik Gobi on my mtb is great too.

+ 1 for the Specialized Romin.

A

kingrollo

have a charge spoon for sale £10 + postage if you want it ......

I have some issues 'down there' - the selle smp trk - makes things bearable for the very limited miles I do at the moment - costs around £30

MartinB2444

+1 for bike fit. I was really struggling to find a comfortable saddle and also piriformis syndrome. Went for a fit with Adrian Timmins who advised that the problems weren't down to any particular saddle but that I needed to drop the height by 1cm. Took me a little while to get used to the change in position but my rear end is now perfectly comfortable on long rides and my piriformis is finally settling down.

Bloz

To GreenTea I found that comparing the Selle and the Romin that whilst both are pressure free on perineum/nuts area that with the Romin my weight seems to be spread more evenly over a larger area whereas with the Selle I had 2 hotspots right under my sit bones suggesting more of my weight was more focussed on a smaller area. Actually the size of the cutout channel in the Romin is pretty big too but looks less dramatic than the hole in the Selle.

shane r

I've got a Romin. Had sit bones measured and pro bike fit.

I tried loads of saddles before coming to the Romin and it was an incredible relief on the first ride. In minutes I knew I could spend hours in this saddle. No 'break in' period like I had always endured before-perfect out of the box. I have already bought one exactly the same again as a spare, in case they ever change the model.

greentea

Bloz wrote:

To GreenTea I found that comparing the Selle and the Romin that whilst both are pressure free on perineum/nuts area that with the Romin my weight seems to be spread more evenly over a larger area whereas with the Selle I had 2 hotspots right under my sit bones suggesting more of my weight was more focussed on a smaller area. Actually the size of the cutout channel in the Romin is pretty big too but looks less dramatic than the hole in the Selle.

Thanks Bloz.

I'm starting to come to the same conclusion myself, as i borrowed a friends Selle gel saddle thinking it would be comfy, and it is for a while but at about the 20 mile mark i had 2 burning sit bone points like you have described and i was in agony, squirming about on the seat for the remaining 20 miles but it wasnt enjoyable. I gave it another go a few days ago and same thing so ive gone off buying that. Ive looked at the Romin and it seems similar in design but ive noticed its a bit more flat all over as opposed to the Selles slopping design. I dont think the cut out makes a huge difference to the numbness but the shape certainly does, even above padding im finding.
From what im reading about the Romin im going to check one out. I think i have made the mistake of actually buying too big a saddle, as although im a big guy (rugby size frame) my actual sit bone measurements arent wide so i think a 145mm saddle as opposed to a 150-55mm is more what i need.

thanks for the info.

greentea

Also, when people say 'Romin' on here, which one are you talking about? only i can see the following online:

Romin Evo Expert,
Romin Comp Gel
Romin Expert Road
Romin Pro Road
Romin Evo Pro

noisemonkey

mine is the Romin Pro Road

Bloz

I got the £80'ish Evo and think it's great. If you care about these things it also looks far better on the bike than the Max Gelflow. 143 mm but got measured.