Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow

mrc1
mrc1 Posts: 852
edited June 2009 in Commuting chat
I'm trying to find a saddle for my new build and am keen on one of these, but having only sat on one for a few minutes I wondered if anybody on here has had one and whether they found it comfy on longer rides?


http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Selle_Italia_Flite_Gel_Flow_Saddle/5360031333/
http://www.ledomestiquetours.co.uk

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Comments

  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Not me, sorry. Being 80kg+ most of the time, I opted for a beefier saddle in the form of a BG Alias 165. I previously used the Selle Italia SLR and I often rode with gritted teeth, particularly come the end of the week. Never again.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • mrc1
    mrc1 Posts: 852
    edited May 2009
    Haha I have a 143 Alias on the Touche which I do actually get along with but I had heard good things about the Flite.

    Admitting to an element of tartyness I think some of the motivation behind the Flite is not wanting to put a generic specialized saddle on my new Italian toy...... :lol:


    (edit)...................Widening the search slightly in the quest for a comfy minimalist saddle.......If anybody has a Specialized Toupe normal/gel then is it still comfy on long rides? I like the Alias so I am a fan of the BG fit idea but I am a little concerned that the Toupe may be a bit too minimalist.....

    Sorry for the rambling...........
    http://www.ledomestiquetours.co.uk

    Le Domestique Tours - Bespoke cycling experiences with unrivalled supported riding, knowledge and expertise.

    Ciocc Extro - FCN 1
  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    Saddle width is all important, that Flite is a lot narrower than the BG. Pretty much the entire range Selle Italia range is aimed at euro-sized racing snakes. I like 'em 8)

    Edit: The Prolink is about the same width as the BG: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Selle ... 360031329/
    FCN 2-4 "Shut up legs", Jens Voigt
    Planet-x Scott
    Rides
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Not used the Toupe either. I've got two Alias 165s. I don't like change, me. :)
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    cjcp wrote:
    Not used the Toupe either. I've got two Alias 165s. I don't like change, me. :)
    Me neither. Which may explain the 20 year old selle italia turbo on my hack bike ;) (It's slowly falling to pieces, bless it)
    FCN 2-4 "Shut up legs", Jens Voigt
    Planet-x Scott
    Rides
  • mrc1
    mrc1 Posts: 852
    I think I may just stick to the Alias in that case as I know that I get along with it and the Flite is a lot of £££

    Next question is white or black 8)
    http://www.ledomestiquetours.co.uk

    Le Domestique Tours - Bespoke cycling experiences with unrivalled supported riding, knowledge and expertise.

    Ciocc Extro - FCN 1
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,052
    I have two, one black one white and whilst they are hard I can ride any day with no discomfort unlike the bonty broken glass and barbed wire instrument of pain that comes as standard with Treks.

    My most comfortable saddle is a old/used spesh plastic bargain box thing i've looked everywhere to find another alas I think it might have been discontinued a long time ago.
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
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  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Colour of saddle depends heavily upon the colour of the bar tape. I was pulled up by those more learned than I on colour co-ordination, JG included :P , for having white bar tape with a black saddle. Actually, "pulled up" is understating it; "savaged" is more like it. :P
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,052
    cjcp wrote:
    Colour of saddle depends heavily upon the colour of the bar tape. I was pulled up by those more learned than I on colour co-ordination, JG included :P , for having white bar tape with a black saddle. Actually, "pulled up" is understating it; "savaged" is more like it. :P

    White bar tape and black saddle!?! what were you thinking!?!

    I'm swapping my white bar tape from the Trek and as a result I will be changing the £80 saddle, see how that works :roll:

    I'm also V close to buying another SSFG frame :wink:
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • stevedb55
    stevedb55 Posts: 52
    Just got hold of a Brooks B17 standard saddle, and its great! Also love the retro look of it, its a real quality piece of kit.

    Steve
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    I used one of these for years, with the cut out but not the gel.

    I now use a Spec Toupe 143.

    They aren't particularly different in terms f width, but the curvature of the shell is much greater for the Flite. This means weight is distributed more evenly on the Flite as its shape is more like your shape => less hot spot in your hot spots, whereas the Toupe relieves pressure on the nad-artery a good deal better as your sit bones perch on the outside.

    The Flite isn't a saddle which flexes too much, so the gelmight be a good idea. The Toupe flexes a lot.

    I think that the Selle Italia SLR range are somewhat similar, but with a flatter shell, if you think that might be the way to go for you.
  • ive got one of these saddles its hanging up in the shed its got bent rails :(

    in fact always seem to have problems with sella italias :?

    on my commuter ive got a boardman branded saddle wich is the same as a FIZIK ARIONE saddle . and is very comfortable.

    so ive been looking a fizik saddles just yesterday
  • mrc1
    mrc1 Posts: 852
    itboffin wrote:
    cjcp wrote:
    Colour of saddle depends heavily upon the colour of the bar tape. I was pulled up by those more learned than I on colour co-ordination, JG included :P , for having white bar tape with a black saddle. Actually, "pulled up" is understating it; "savaged" is more like it. :P

    White bar tape and black saddle!?! what were you thinking!?!

    I'm swapping my white bar tape from the Trek and as a result I will be changing the £80 saddle, see how that works

    Yeah I made sure that the shop are using white bar tape when they put it together. White bar tape, white saddle and white shoes :lol:
    http://www.ledomestiquetours.co.uk

    Le Domestique Tours - Bespoke cycling experiences with unrivalled supported riding, knowledge and expertise.

    Ciocc Extro - FCN 1
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    ive got one of these saddles its hanging up in the shed its got bent rails :(

    in fact always seem to have problems with sella italias :?

    on my commuter ive got a boardman branded saddle wich is the same as a FIZIK ARIONE saddle . and is very comfortable.

    so ive been looking a fizik saddles just yesterday
    I think saddles are one of those parts that are a bit like forks, in that a number of brands are made at the same factory. (I recall, for example, that Selle San Marco and Selle Italia are made in the same factory). This means that the rails will likely be the same specification for many brands.

    There's really nothing wrong with Selle Italia's longevity. Mine's about 10 years old.
  • ALWAYS TYRED WROTE
    I think saddles are one of those parts that are a bit like forks, in that a number of brands are made at the same factory. (I recall, for example, that Selle San Marco and Selle Italia are made in the same factory). This means that the rails will likely be the same specification for many brands.

    There's really nothing wrong with Selle Italia's longevity. Mine's about 10 years old.[/quote]


    mmm sella san marco/sella italia are made in the same factory
    but fizik is a competitor :? ????

    my thinking was i was going to upgrade to carbon rails {no chance of bent rails}

    i do have an old flite in the shed in french team colours /tit rails but it would clash with my bike .
  • Aidy
    Aidy Posts: 2,015
    I've got a Flite Gel Flow, and I quite like it.

    Saddle choices tend to be pretty individual, though :)
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Aidy wrote:
    I've got a Flite Gel Flow, and I quite like it.

    Saddle choices tend to be pretty individual, though :)

    +1
  • biondino
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    The pink Planet X Arione rip-off is now on my fixie and I've only done 23 miles on it and possibly not quite got the angle right, but the increased amount of padding over my Toupé does mean it wins on comfort, over short rides at least. I need to do a longer ride with it to get a better idea - I know that over 65 miles the Toupé is alright, though it's all a bit tender (though not chafed) by the end.
  • Cubic
    Cubic Posts: 594
    Selle Italia do a 30day trial on their saddles. I was able to buy a Gel flite flow and an SLR from Wiggle, try them out on a few rides and, as I didn't get on with either, return them for a refund.
    In the end I got a Fizik Arione, which suits me much more.

    I checked in a few shops (Evans, Prologue and Up and Running) and they all do the 30 day trial on Selle Italia saddles too.

    As the only way to know if a saddle will suit you is to ride on it, this is a really handy service from the company.
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134

    i do have an old flite in the shed in french team colours /tit rails but it would clash with my bike .

    Is it going spare? Might be interested in making you an offer for that.

    I have a Flite (non gel version) on my road bike, its not exactly comfortable but it does the job. Think the titanium rails help a lot. Comfiest saddle I have is my old Turbo on my commuter - don't even need padded shorts for short rides on that!
  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    MatHammond wrote:

    i do have an old flite in the shed in french team colours /tit rails but it would clash with my bike .

    Is it going spare? Might be interested in making you an offer for that.

    I have a Flite (non gel version) on my road bike, its not exactly comfortable but it does the job. Think the titanium rails help a lot. Comfiest saddle I have is my old Turbo on my commuter - don't even need padded shorts for short rides on that!
    Turbos are great. See a few others on the commute from time to time. Still got a 20yr old one on my commuter but it's slowly dying :(
    Luckily I have a boxed one sitting in the cupboard at home :)
    FCN 2-4 "Shut up legs", Jens Voigt
    Planet-x Scott
    Rides
  • MatHammond wrote:

    i do have an old flite in the shed in french team colours /tit rails but it would clash with my bike .

    Is it going spare? Might be interested in making you an offer for that.

    I have a Flite (non gel version) on my road bike, its not exactly comfortable but it does the job. Think the titanium rails help a lot. Comfiest saddle I have is my old Turbo on my commuter - don't even need padded shorts for short rides on that!

    pm me mathammond and its yours :shock:
  • snooks
    snooks Posts: 1,521
    I've got a Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow on my road bike and Selle Italia Max Flite Gel Flow Saddle on my other two.

    The Max is broarder heavier and much more comfortable which is why they are on my MTB and my wide slick commuter.

    The Flite gel flow is narrower, and I can feel the difference as is hasn't got the shock absorbsion that the Max has. It's still comfy to ride around on but if I sit with all my weight on it and go over a bump with my tyres at 100psi it can feel quite harsh, as happened today as I was just coming to the end of the headwind frenzy that was my ride home.

    The hole for your more sensitive bits just works for me, with other saddles I could feel the pressure on that part of my body, and without the pressure riding became so much more comfortable.

    If you want a lot of comfort go for the Gel Flow Max, if you just want a little comfort go for the Flite Gel flow
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  • m0scs
    m0scs Posts: 196
    I have the gel Max Flight model that I bought to replace my standard spec saddle last year.

    Saddles are a nightmare. I tried to make sure that I got one that fitted my sit bone postion.

    I find it pretty good, but I am thinking about trying one of those SMP selle saddles with no nose that are meant to be very good even if they do look a bit weard.
    Specialised Epic MTB on slicks.
    SPD clipless pedals: FCN 7
  • mrc1
    mrc1 Posts: 852
    Thanks for the comments everyone. I stuck with what I know and ended up getting another Spesh Alias as it seems to tick the comfort after 80+ miles and light(ish) weight boxes.
    http://www.ledomestiquetours.co.uk

    Le Domestique Tours - Bespoke cycling experiences with unrivalled supported riding, knowledge and expertise.

    Ciocc Extro - FCN 1
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    I have a Selle Italia C2 Gel flow and I think its comfy.

    Though I have a Specialized BG Alias and I think that is as comfy, if not more so than the Selle Italia...
    Food Chain number = 4

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  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    The Toupe rules. Very comfy on long rides. I used to have an Arione (now used for commute) it was fine for short rides but I always got numb n*ts on 50+ milers.
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    Loathe as I am to admit this. As a wider bottom person, I think the Specialized BG Alias may be more comfy on than my Selle Italia gel flow....
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • mathammond you should get the french flite tit rails on sat
    posted this morning 8)