Saddle for new bike build

landdnl

I just ordered what I thought was my last component needed for my new bike build. I planned on using my Cinelli Ram Ltd. saddle, but after everything is almost complete, it just doesn't look exactly right. So after sifting through a lot of images, my preferred saddle is the Selle Italia SLR Team Edition saddle. It is basically the same weight as my Cinelli(136g), and looks better with my buildup. Fizik Arione CX saddle(black on white) was a close second but weighing in at 205g is a little much. I should state that I have 3 criteria for this build. I wanted it as light as possible, the components need to look like they belong together(aesthetically pleasing), and it has to be durable.
So, I'm open to other suggestions on road saddles that weigh less than 150g and would look good on this build. Comfort is not an issue. After all, I've got a full carbon Cinelli that I've used on 80km rides with no issues. I have 2 versions. One with Pro-Lite Bracciano A42 wheels, and the other with a custom wheel build: HED Belgium 2 rims, Tume Mig70/Mag170 hubs/CX-Ray spokes.

Here are a couple of pictures:





Sorry about the red eye effect on the Pro-Lite braking track. Apparently, I'm not a professional photographer.

theobrixton

Selle Italia SLR Tekno

landdnl

Wow! They don't give those away, do they? It's still tempting, except for the Italian flag on the front. I know, I'm being finicky. Clashes slightly with the black/white look. Another possibility I just seen yesterday is the AX Lightness Endurance Plus(85g). But it doesn't look as refined as the Selle Italia SLR or Tekno. After wasting 20 minutes trying to decide between the two Selle Italia's, I'm still leaning toward the SLR for two reasons. The Tekno is $200 US dollars more. Hard to justify spending $200 for a weight saving of 50g. You can save 50g going to a latex tube for 10 extra dollars. My benchmark for bike weight is 6.1kg. I'm just below my benchmark by 100g assuming the components I still need to put on that I haven't weighed yet are close to the calculated weights.(Brakes, bar tape, shift cables). My primary wheelset will be the Pro-Lite's, so the SLR will look better with those. The Tekno would look a little better on my custom wheelset, that I will use primarily for climbing.

dennisn

If you actually plan on putting some serious miles on this bike I would suggest that you buy a saddle that is comfortable for you and not base your choice on looks. Then again if this is strictly a showoff / bling bike that you'll rarely ride, then style / color / good looks is everything(except rideability of course).

trooperk

dennisn wrote:

If you actually plan on putting some serious miles on this bike I would suggest that you buy a saddle that is comfortable for you and not base your choice on looks. Then again if this is strictly a showoff / bling bike that you'll rarely ride, then style / color / good looks is everything(except rideability of course).

Like girls and high heel shoes, who give a sh1t how uncomfortable they are to walk in but it looks sooooo nice.

dennisn

trooperk wrote:

dennisn wrote:

If you actually plan on putting some serious miles on this bike I would suggest that you buy a saddle that is comfortable for you and not base your choice on looks. Then again if this is strictly a showoff / bling bike that you'll rarely ride, then style / color / good looks is everything(except rideability of course).

Like girls and high heel shoes, who give a sh1t how uncomfortable they are to walk in but it looks sooooo nice.

You make a good point(for girls). Guess I've always thought that men were a little smarter in
the respect that they see comfort as very desirable. As opposed to looks and style.

landdnl

If you actually plan on putting some serious miles on this bike I would suggest that you buy a saddle that is comfortable for you and not base your choice on looks. Then again if this is strictly a showoff / bling bike that you'll rarely ride, then style / color / good looks is everything(except rideability of course).

If you look at the reviews of the Selle Italia SLR team saddle, it is regarded as one of the most comfortable saddles in the lightweight class. I have my saddle high enough that I'm not putting much weight on the saddle. The only time I have full weight on it is coasting downhill. I put 500 km on this frame with the full carbon Cinelli saddle without any issues in the last week of December. I robbed the drive train and a couple other items from my other road bike just to see how much I wanted to invest in the frame. It handled perfectly, and much more aero than my other bike. Will I be using this for century rides. No. My other bike has a little more of a upright setup. Will I be using this for climbing and going fast in the flats? You bet. I'll use my other bike for commuting and riding in bad weather, and any rides over 100 km.

dennisn

landdnl wrote:

If you actually plan on putting some serious miles on this bike I would suggest that you buy a saddle that is comfortable for you and not base your choice on looks. Then again if this is strictly a showoff / bling bike that you'll rarely ride, then style / color / good looks is everything(except rideability of course).

If you look at the reviews of the Selle Italia SLR team saddle, it is regarded as one of the most comfortable saddles in the lightweight class. I have my saddle high enough that I'm not putting much weight on the saddle. The only time I have full weight on it is coasting downhill. I put 500 km on this frame with the full carbon Cinelli saddle without any issues in the last week of December. I robbed the drive train and a couple other items from my other road bike just to see how much I wanted to invest in the frame. It handled perfectly, and much more aero than my other bike. Will I be using this for century rides. No. My other bike has a little more of a upright setup. Will I be using this for climbing and going fast in the flats? You bet. I'll use my other bike for commuting and riding in bad weather, and any rides over 100 km.

Not sure what you're trying to say. :?
For me comfort on a bike is a major concern. Can't see any reason to sacrifice it for looks and or showoff / bling. It's about riding for me, not trying to pretend or look like something I'm not(a pro cyclist). I don't ride with the idea of "Hey, look at me".

landdnl

Can't see any reason to sacrifice it for looks and or showoff / bling. It's about riding for me, not trying to pretend or look like something I'm not(a pro cyclist). I don't ride with the idea of "Hey, look at me".

You mean like a lot of poseurs out there with their team kits on that you never see out if it's windy, over 90f, or below 50f? I don't see what's wrong with building up something that looks good. I started out with an extra saddle and Pro Stealth EVO seatpost. I did some web searching for a budget frame that would match these components. Hence the Pro-Lite Bella frame. I'll admit the Pro-Lite Bracciano A42s are a little over the top. I was seriously looking at the standard Braccianos when Wiggle had a sale on these for $505. So I know the build quality is very good and they roll forever. I've been interested in trying some aero wheels, but most just look tacky IMHO, especially when you get past 50mm on a bike. The only way they look good is a white on black frame. Then, the Enves & Zipp's look like they belong on a bike. Plus I wanted some that aren't so deep you have to worry about cross winds. Plus the frame shape isn't the most appealing, so I tried not to make that the focal point, so I tried blinging up the surrounding components, namely the wheels.

bikes`n`guns

Bontrager Paradigm rxxxl

dennisn

landdnl wrote:

Can't see any reason to sacrifice it for looks and or showoff / bling. It's about riding for me, not trying to pretend or look like something I'm not(a pro cyclist). I don't ride with the idea of "Hey, look at me".

You mean like a lot of poseurs out there with their team kits on that you never see out if it's windy, over 90f, or below 50f? I don't see what's wrong with building up something that looks good. I started out with an extra saddle and Pro Stealth EVO seatpost. I did some web searching for a budget frame that would match these components. Hence the Pro-Lite Bella frame. I'll admit the Pro-Lite Bracciano A42s are a little over the top. I was seriously looking at the standard Braccianos when Wiggle had a sale on these for $505. So I know the build quality is very good and they roll forever. I've been interested in trying some aero wheels, but most just look tacky IMHO, especially when you get past 50mm on a bike. The only way they look good is a white on black frame. Then, the Enves & Zipp's look like they belong on a bike. Plus I wanted some that aren't so deep you have to worry about cross winds. Plus the frame shape isn't the most appealing, so I tried not to make that the focal point, so I tried blinging up the surrounding components, namely the wheels.

Sounds great. I have no problems with people doing whatever to a bike, so long they actually ride it. Also I'm sort of the type of person who actually tries NOT to do or buy what you're supposed to have and do. I've got one bike(and one one a trainer) and use it for everything and everywhere. It's a steel Gios Compact Pro and suits me just fine. I build my own wheels and run either tubulars or tubular clinchers(25c). I have carbon bars, but not for the carbon, for the flats on top. Comfort again. As for the seat I guess I sort of cave into style a bit. Wouldn't want to be seen on some big, bloated, stuffed with foam monstrosity. Still, it's got a cutout and a bit of extra width(sit bones). Comfort again.

landdnl

Bontrager Paradigm rxxxl

Nice looking saddle. A little weighty though. I had a Bontrager RXL 2 years ago. It lasted less than 2 months due to operator stupidity. I built up and rode my first road bike ever. I planned on using it for utilitarian purposes only. I was using it for commuting and wearing jeans with padded shorts underneath(I wasn't going to be caught dead wearing lycra at that point). It was late June, and I was going to work with new jeans on with 85f temp and 90% humidity. After I got to work I was sweating and well, I pretty much dyed my great looking white saddle with black trim blue. Being the genius I am, I seen a full carbon Cinelli Ram Ltd. saddle on Craig's List for $100. I remember when shopping for parts for the bike build that it retails for over $325. So I bought it figuring there's no way I can stain that. Well then I figured out another way to destroy something. Even though I wore an ankle band, I still managed to ruin two pairs of jeans thanks to the chain. Then I had an epiphany. I asked myself, "Hey dumb ass, why don't you just wear shorts?" Problem solved! I used the Cinelli saddle for another 18 months. By then I was hooked on the whole 'road bike riding thing' and started to do centuries which was a major pain in the rear, pun intended. I was still overweight and made the mistake of using a couple of bike fit videos that popped up first on Google. Then I tried the Competitive Cyclist fit calculator and it worked perfectly for me, except for saddle height. But no calculators going to get that right. I just raised the saddle to the point where my knees were almost fully extended. Voila! Even though I had lightened the load(my butt on the saddle), after about 70 miles I started to feel uncomfortable and found myself rising above the saddle to ease pressure. I then got Selle Italia Gel Flow saddle and that helped a decent amount, although after a 100 miles my hind end difinitely felt like I was on a saddle for 100 miles! Anyways, I'm done rambling on.

dennisn

landdnl wrote:

..... although after a 100 miles my hind end difinitely felt like I was on a saddle for 100 miles!

I doubt that there is anyone out there who could honestly say that their butt didn't feel like it had just rode 100 miles. It's a long time to be in the saddle.
When that hundred mile mark rolls around my butt and myself are looking for a break. I believe that's a pretty common feeling among cyclist's.

bikes`n`guns

landdnl wrote:

Bontrager Paradigm rxxxl

Nice looking saddle. A little weighty though.

:?: 145 grammes ! how light do saddles get ???

landdnl

Bikes`n`guns wrote:

landdnl wrote:

Bontrager Paradigm rxxxl

Nice looking saddle. A little weighty though.

:?: 145 grammes ! how light do saddles get ???

Sorry! Apparently I looked at the wrong model when I googled it. Again, nice looking saddle. Not very weighty though.
Seriously, this saddle seems to be on par with the Selle SLR Team in the weight and comfort categories.

matt-h

I've just changed from a specialized Romin ti to the Selle Italia flow carbonio.
Weighs a lot less and is much more comfortable.

My Romin was pretty good for 100 miles, I'm hoping the SLR is better

Matt