Your experiences with saddle shape
notsozwift
Posts: 12
Evening all
I am looking for opinions from those of you who use flat saddles.
Flat across the width of the saddle as opposed to the length.
I currently run a selle italia slr superflow, of the huge cut out variety, and that is "ok". It's flat ish nose to tail but a bit less so across the width. Thats fine in this instance as the cut out relieves pressure.
The trouble I'm having with most saddles is that the curvature across the width seems designed only for finding its way up the kyber.
So to the point. . . .do any of you have experience of saddles where the centre channel is no higher than the wings of the saddle?
I am looking for opinions from those of you who use flat saddles.
Flat across the width of the saddle as opposed to the length.
I currently run a selle italia slr superflow, of the huge cut out variety, and that is "ok". It's flat ish nose to tail but a bit less so across the width. Thats fine in this instance as the cut out relieves pressure.
The trouble I'm having with most saddles is that the curvature across the width seems designed only for finding its way up the kyber.
So to the point. . . .do any of you have experience of saddles where the centre channel is no higher than the wings of the saddle?
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Comments
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Sorry to say that the only experiences which will be relevant to your question will be your own. Other people's experiences with saddle shapes will mean very little if you are the one sitting on it.0
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Thats true.
But in general, people have perineal issues with saddles or they dont.
What I'm after is hopefully to get some recommendations from people about different brands of flat saddles. Specifically as it relates to the need for a cut out or not.
I've already established that saddles that curve across the top dont suit me. Saddles with a shape like a fizik aliante for example, do not work for me at all.
I had a brief, 20 min, ride on a fizik arione and even though it was only a very short time i didnt experience any inklings of the horrors other people report. That particular saddle is relatively flat across the width. Which is why im looking for examples of other saddles of a similar profile.0 -
How far away from a decent LBS are you? Find a good one that has a range of loan saddles. Ring them up and speak on the phone to them. They can advise more than a forum full of strangers. Try one, two, three etc until you find one that suits you. Then buy it FROM THAT SHOP.
Job done.Sometimes. Maybe. Possibly.
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i use SLRs on all bikes and have never had a problem - flat, light, look good.Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honoursmithy21 wrote:
He's right you know.0 -
I tried a Fizik Arione and that was only good on short runs as it was a bit soft so I tried a Antares 143mm and that done the trick.
Alas we are all built a bit different..0 -
skooter wrote:I tried a Fizik ArIone and that was only good on short runs as it was a bit soft so I tried a Antares 143mm and that done the trick.
Alas we are all built a bit different..
Antares for me as well. Not sure if it's the saddle(s) that have shaped to me, or my undercarriage that has moulded to the saddle!
Either way, I'm after another for my new bike, as it's now the shape that suits me best. Plus using Fizik saddles has the advantage of having the clip system so that you can move saddlebags from one bike to another very easily (although not an issue if you have just one bike!)0 -
Fortunate enough to have no problems on any of my saddles.
Not sure if you're near a Trek store, but my local one will perform a measurement to help determine most appropriate size, then you have a 30 day returns policy if you don't get on with it. The Arvada and the Affinity might be worth looking at?
I think Specialized offer the same 30 days no quibble returns policy on saddles.0 -
I've got a SMP Lite 209 saddle on 3 bikes, which is quite curvy, and a much flatter one (a Fizik Antares may be) on the Wyndymilla. All are comfortable, the Fizik may be a bit less so for long rides but I don't have any big discomfort issues with either. Just goes to show that flat vs curvy doesn't necessarily make much if any difference to comfort, it comes down to the fit of an individual saddle to your posterior. Try before you can buy is all I can say.WyndyMilla Massive Attack | Rourke 953 | Condor Italia 531 Pro | Boardman CX Pro | DT Swiss RR440 Tubeless Wheels
Find me on Strava0 -
Notsozwift wrote:The trouble I'm having with most saddles is that the curvature across the width seems designed only for finding its way up the kyber.
Saddle too narrow perhaps? If its nestling in between your sit bones then it's only going to go one way.
My mtb came with an SLR and I couldn't get on with it. Swapped over to the 10mm wider Flite and all's been well since. Now have Flites (with the 'Flow' cutout) on all my bikes.0 -
Saddle could be too far back also, urging you on to the nose. Tipping the nose down slightly can also help some people.
Personally I don't think the Airone would be considered a flat saddle side to side. Quite the opposite. I have an old one and it is torture compared to my Spec Toupe.0 -
If you want a flattish saddle have a look at the Giant Contact Comfort saddles. I tired one for 6 miles and hated it as it was too flat for me. It also has a good dent/cutout bit in the middle
Sometimes. Maybe. Possibly.
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An interesting point for those raising the size issue. . .
Couple of years back i had a sit on one of those measuring devices at a spesh concept store. They suggested i could choose between either the 143 or the 155 or whatever it was, i was looking at a romin evo at the time. . .
Much trial and error since strongly suggests this method is flawed as im very definitely more comfortable on narrow saddles.0 -
Someone posted a link to an article by a knowledgeable bike fitter who from experience had found the correlation between sit bones and front of the pelvis is correct about 75% of the time. Of the other 25% they may be better with a wider or narrower saddle regardless of a sit bone test.
Like you a saddle fit suggested a saddle width of ~143mm but opposite to you this proved too narrow for me at the front so chose a wider saddle that better supports my pelvis.0 -
Agree that the sit bone test is not very good. According to sit bones I should have a 155cm saddle, but in a proper position I'm using 138mm as my comfortable saddle.0
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Have a look at the Giant Contact saddles, they're available in three shapes: Forward, Neutral and Upright.
The Forward saddle is quite curvaceous, so I imagine the Neutral or Upright saddle might work for you. You can often find them unused and cheap on ebay as people just remove them from their new bike. The SL model has Ti rails and the SLR model has carbon rails.
Another couple of things to consider is that your saddle is too high and/or you bars are too low.0 -
I was recommend a Kontact https://kontactbike.com/ saddle by a bike fitter and found it to be great for keeping pressure off the soft bits. Used it for a good year or so. The only criticism is that there's not much scope for moving around the saddle - very comfy if you're sitting in exactly the right spot.0
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I have tried a number of saddles. Now riding pro griffon which is flat top to bottom but slightly rounded side to side and with a small channel down middle but no cut out.
LBS did trials so I tried the whole range til I was happy.
Paid full price but didn't waste money on 2 saddles.
Do some research on line as many brands have saddle selectors but use an LBS with demo saddle range.0 -
I used Ariones for over a decade, and have only recently decided to switch over to something new, after starting to get unwanted pressure on the perineum.
Bought an SLR Superflow with the cavernous hole, which on-the-whole was ok. Numbness was reduced/ eliminated, but....there was something I couldn't quite get on with position wise, despite much tinkering. I seemd to be constantly re-adjusting my position.
So, decided to try a PRO Stealth saddle happy in the knowledge I can return within 30 days if need be. Have to say, the Stealth seems the better saddle for me. No discomfort, and I seem to stay planted more on this. Shame, coz the SLR looks lovely.
Might be worth trying one of the Pro saddles on their 30 day return deal?0 -
Cyclopathic1 wrote:
Not really. Lots of opinion, very little science.0 -
Cyclopathic1 wrote:
i quote:
"flat saddles are flat"
"full saddles are full"
"moderatly waved saddles are not completely flat"
top stuff.Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honoursmithy21 wrote:
He's right you know.0 -
Brooks do a saddle with a cut out - the B17 imperial. Its worked for me with my wonky hips etc.
2 drawbacks - it doesn't look great of a CF roadbike
It might not work for you.
The big+ for Brooks is that it moulds to the shape of your backside - for me though it was never uncomfortable - If you don't won't to shell out about £70 on a hunch - Spa cycles do clones at about 50% of the cost.0 -
I've discovered by painful trial and error that I like saddles which are flat, wide, and with a cutout. Currently on a Spesh Power 155, and I can sit on that all day. Quite a few people dabble with them so look out for a used bargain if you want to try one. Specialized don't do demo saddles...0
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whereas I tried a toupe/power/ romin evo and romin.
toupe and power felt like I was sitting on the bike, romin was great in one position, evo seems to be the best all rounder for me.
I had Arione's and they were awful for me.0