Saddles

domdom1980

I'm currently looking at a new saddle, not really asking what to buy, as I know this is very much individual choice, but I just wondered if anyone had any experience of the following and what style or riding they have used them for (aggressive/race, endurance/distance etc)

Prologo dimension

Prologo Scratch 2

Specialized power (Pro or expert)

SQ labs 612

Any information much appreciated!

keef66

I took a punt on a Spesh Power when a fellow forumite was selling one. It's 155mm wide and I'd already worked out I needed something with a cutout, and flatter and wider than most bikes come with. First ride was a 60 mile charity event and I didn't notice any sit-bone discomfort at all, and no perineal numbness afterwards. Been that way ever since.

Only later did I out of curiosity sit on the Spesh @rse-ometer in the bike shop, and the bloke told me I'd need a 155 width saddle!

zeee

I, as above, get on better with the flat/wide/Stubby profile of the spesh power saddle. Been through quite a few and have got on with this from day one. I have done long endurance rides and time trials on this and not had any discomfort.

mugensi

I have Prologo Dimension saddles on all three of my road bikes (even considered getting one for my MTB but haven't done yet)

I had been using the Kappa PAS/Space saddles on my bikes previously but after 4 or 5 years of relative comfort started to get numb nuts on longer rides with them. I don't know if that was because the padding in the saddle was becoming worn/compacted or physical changes with my body (although I haven't noticed any) and so rather than buying another Kappa and finding it the same I decided to try another saddle. I had read reviews on the Dimension and so decided to give it a go. I was instantly comfortable on it and had zero issues on longer rides (3hrs+) and so after 4 or 5 months use, I bought two more for my other bikes.

I have the nack version on my good bike and the Tirox rail version on the other two bikes and notice zero difference between them so if weight isn't and issue then the tirox rail saddle is all you need. There is a T.4 steel rail Dimension available too, I haven't tried it and i'd say its no different to any of the rest of them.

If you are a weight weeny then the Tirox saddle weighs 180g and the Nack rail saddle is 157g. I think the steel rail version is 230g,

domdom1980

Thanks for the replies so far, I have a Fizik saddle currently, which is OK, but after an hour and a half I get pretty numb downstairs and a few aches coming on, so thought I'd look at the above saddles. Going short nose was appealing as reviews are good, but I wasn't sure how they were for longer less aggressive rides (which is mostly what I do)

lettingthedaysgoby

Another very happy Specialised Power owner here. It’s got that “just right” feel for me,

Midnight

I know one of my sons had similar saddles, tried a few and was only really happy when he got this

https://www.brooksengland.com/en_uk/sad ... m-c17.html

No one talks about Brooks ?

shortfall

Had loads of saddles in my time but the one I've found to be the most comfortable by far is a Fabric and only cost me about 50 quid. YMMV.

joey54321

Having tried 4 different ones I'm not convinced short nosed saddles are anything other than marketing. There is still a nose there, so when you lean forward there will be the same pressure as with any other saddle. I think they were introduced as a way for pros to get around the 5cm saddle setback rule and the public have just sort of followed.

I'm not saying the short nose is bad, just that if a short nose works for you, it's likely because the rest of the saddle is the right shape, rather than anything to do with the saddle as a whole being short.

gweeds

After years of struggling to find a saddle that worked I tried the SQ Labs 612 this year.

Absolute game changer for me. It’s a little fussy on positioning in terms of tilt and fore/aft but once done is so damn good.

YMMV and the lack of easy availability in the UK it’s not usually added to ‘try these’ lists.

pippi_langsamer-2

Having gone from Fizik Ariones on all 4 bikes for as long as I can remember, I started getting numbness so looked to try something else.

I've now got a mismatch of various saddles I'm still trying out LOL. PRO Stealth and Selle Italia SLR Superflow. I like them both. Both save the numbness issue, but both different. Selle looks cooler, and is more like the Fizik in that it allows me to move around the saddle easier (ie it's fairly flat). Stealth keeps me more in one place.

As good as the Stealth is, I think it's quite cheaply made and overpriced. Rails in particular flake even on installation (unless you buy the £££ carbon railed).

Plenty of choice and plenty do 30 day trials/ returns.

I'm also thinking of trying a Brand X for the turbo...

whyamihere

joey54321 wrote:

Having tried 4 different ones I'm not convinced short nosed saddles are anything other than marketing. There is still a nose there, so when you lean forward there will be the same pressure as with any other saddle. I think they were introduced as a way for pros to get around the 5cm saddle setback rule and the public have just sort of followed.

I'm not saying the short nose is bad, just that if a short nose works for you, it's likely because the rest of the saddle is the right shape, rather than anything to do with the saddle as a whole being short.

I'm not so sure about that. I've got Powers on all of my drop bar bikes, and when I fitted the first one, it just felt right. I also have a Romin. Same width, the shape at the back seems to be the same just eyeing it up, the only difference seems to be that the Romin has a nose, and compared to the Power, I hated it. It lasted about 2 short turbo trainer rides before I took it off the bike and it has sat gathering dust since. This is of course an n=1 sample size, and there's the possibility that I didn't get the setup right, but for me, the short saddles seem to work.

I actually prefer the relatively unpadded Pro and S-Works models of the Power. When the shape is right, you don't need much padding.

ibr17xvii

Pippi Langsamer wrote:

Having gone from Fizik Ariones on all 4 bikes for as long as I can remember, I started getting numbness so looked to try something else.

I've now got a mismatch of various saddles I'm still trying out LOL. PRO Stealth and Selle Italia SLR Superflow. I like them both. Both save the numbness issue, but both different. Selle looks cooler, and is more like the Fizik in that it allows me to move around the saddle easier (ie it's fairly flat). Stealth keeps me more in one place.

As good as the Stealth is, I think it's quite cheaply made and overpriced. Rails in particular flake even on installation (unless you buy the £££ carbon railed).

Plenty of choice and plenty do 30 day trials/ returns.

I'm also thinking of trying a Brand X for the turbo...

Very similar to me.

I used a Fizik Antares VS for a good few years which I found fine on short rides but murder on longer stuff.

Tried a Selle Italia Flite L2 with the smaller cutout which was better & am currently trying the SLR Superflow L3 & I don't really notice much difference between the 2 although I've only done a couple of rides on the SLR.

I quite fancy trying a larger width so was looking at the 152mm Pro Stealth but Wiggle told me flat out that they wouldn't honour the 30 day trial period Pro offered (even though Pro said they should) once it was fitted so currently hunting for someone who will.

Slightly OT but for me at least getting the right shorts with the right pad is just as important as getting the right saddle.

I get more uncomfortable in my cheaper shorts with a cheaper pad than in my more expensive shorts with a better pad.

pippi_langsamer-2

If Wiggle are refusing to honour the trial period, I'd be speaking to Madison about that. How are you supposed to trial a saddle without installing it? Having said that, they might not like the fact the the black paint on the standard models rails falls off so easily...

ibr17xvii

Pippi Langsamer wrote:

If Wiggle are refusing to honour the trial period, I'd be speaking to Madison about that. How are you supposed to trial a saddle without installing it? Having said that, they might not like the fact the the black paint on the standard models rails falls off so easily...

Been back & forth with Wiggle a couple of times & they just won't have it which don't get me wrong I understand why but if Pro offer the 30 day trial then to my mind they should honour it.

Not spoke to Madison yet but I'm gonna give the SLR Superflow a few more rides yet before I decide on the Pro Stealth.

Wayne Plunger

Another happy Spesh saddle person.

joey54321

Further evidence of Wiggle going seriously downhill recently. Poor form from them.

keef66

Midnight wrote:

I know one of my sons had similar saddles, tried a few and was only really happy when he got this

https://www.brooksengland.com/en_uk/sad ... m-c17.html

No one talks about Brooks ?

I do. I have a proper leather B17 special on my winter bike. That too has been armchair comfy from the off. Wouldn't be any good for a more aggressive position if perineal pressure is an issue, but for a more upright fit it meets my requirement for wide and flat. 10 years on and it's just starting to show a couple of dimples where my sitbones come to rest

ibr17xvii

joey54321 wrote:

Further evidence of Wiggle going seriously downhill recently. Poor form from them.

Honestly never had even the remotest of issue with them up til this point.

As I said I get it just don't agree with it.

Leaa

About the trial period. I was wondering: why the saddle manufactors don't use any test-products and supply them to their selling points for example Wiggle, Chainreaction or Velo-04? This can save a lot of trouble, right?

edward.s

Boring I know, but a saddle that fits.

I have Charge spoons on all my bikes 'cause they fit me well, with the added bonus they they are £20 a go. I did treat the TitaniumDreamMachine(tm) to a titanium rail version of the same saddle but that was just vanity. No pain even after 12h perched on the thing during C2C-in-a-day this year.

But the point of all this is my experience won't be yours. Get your bum measured and then try lots. Personally unless you are totally weight obsessed I'd start with the cheapest decent saddle that you think fits and work up in price if you need to. No point in having a 70g lighter saddle if it makes your perinaeum the colour of the midnight sky and you have to spend days walking like John Wayne