Would you ride on a printed saddle?
 

I've had a lot of saddle pain for the 10 or so years I've been riding.
Tried lots of different saddles.
I've been overweight and very thin - no difference.
I had a pressure mapping, and they were surprised at the amount of pressure I put on the saddle - this was as part of a full fitting, so I was positioned correctly. They said it was the highest value they had seen.

If you had the money (I currently don't) would you buy one?

I would, though it seems no one makes them narrow enough for me (132mm is about as wide as I can go; 128 to 130 is optimal). They're all 143mm or larger. The technology is pretty neat, and all the folks I've seen that have actually bought them tend to rave about them. Sounds like it'd be worth the shot given your situation.

Not only would but did. I have the Fizik Antares Versus EVO R1 Adaptive. It works as advertised. Mine is the 139mm version.

I originally wanted to go the Specialized Power route, but the rails don't play well with my Trek bike.

If I had the money would I buy one? Sure... if only to try it out.

It's about time for us to get really into printing our saddles. We could take a 3D scan of our buttox in addition to a pressure point identification device then us an AI program to calculate a suitable seat that could be printed out right there in the shop.

Yes.

So these aren't actually custom printed to your dimensions, but are off the shelf?

Not quite the same, but some similarities with overall type of construction -- I had a few years ago an interest in the Tioga Spyder designs. Think of them as a poor man's version of these printed versions. I may still want to try these out some day. https://www.tiogausa.com/saddles-main.html

Sure would! 😎

Yup, I’m fact I’ve tried and still technically own both. Thread below…
the Fizik is with a friend in case he wants to buy it, the Specialized has worked out incredibly well.

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...ime-again.html

Correct

Not likely to happen in your lifetime.

i have both of the specialized ones, on two different bikes. the right fit/size/position/shape is still more important, but once you get that right, it's pretty awesome. manages to be supportive where needed and soft where needed at the same time. the shape of the "power mirror" chafes me a bit where leg meets not-leg... but the romin EVO with mirror, that one is perfection.

That's right. It's just an alternative kind of multi-density "padding"

I am too much of a cheapskate to spend that much money,

However, one of my club-mates rides one and he really likes it.

My guess is that this wouldn't solve your issue. Perpetual saddle swappers never seem to find their nirvana. For you to record the highest saddle pressure ever means that either you were very heavy and/or have a very small contact point (Pressure = Force/Area). If you've already tried loads of saddles and lost a load of weight, then this will likely just be another saddle. The shape of it will still dominate the way it feels, although to be fair I've never tried one personally.

I have the money and No, I wouldn't waste my time.

Have you tried a full leather saddle like a Brooks or Berthoud? If so, did you give it time to break in? Such a saddle will conform to your shape. Add good bibs and lube, and you should be GTG. Is your pain pressure or chafing? Or both?

I haven't tried one.

I tried a couple pair of high end Assos, and usually use chamois creme.

Pressure

If the pressure is on your sit bones, you might consider trying a Brooks or Berthoud saddle. The leather will eventually conform to your unique shape and therefore disperse the pressure over a much wider area than other saddles, sort of like having a custom printed saddle except your butt is the printer.

Leather tensioned saddles are overrated in my experience. I tossed one in the bin after 12000km and went to Specialized saddles (Power on road and gravel, Sitero on TT bike). All day comfort, even riding in an aggressive position in the drops (cutout ftw) and light to boot.

Imo, if the problem is pressure and it won't go away and you need a narrow saddle on top, lower the saddle.

And I tossed every Spesh saddle I have bought.

If leather saddles are so overrated, why are they so common amongst long distance riders. (?)

OP should also verify that saddle height isn't too high

Fashion, to a degree. They undoubtedly work for some, but for me personally they are no more comfortable.

The local randonneur community is pretty big on Infinity saddles (I got one for my wife, too), and I know lots of long distance riders who rock conventional saddles and have no issues with them.
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Absolutely. Especially if combined with a professional fitting!

This may all just reflect self-selection, in other words people who never find saddle comfort no matter the saddle will never be cross-country or long distance riders.

I likely will as I got a cheap Chinese nock off of the design on a nice frame and was very surprised by the reasonably comfortable miles spent getting the bike built up and tuned. It is silly to claim this or that saddle is over rated, every body is different. With nearly 70 years on bikes, maybe 20 or more saddles in the shop and maybe 100 bicycles coming and going over the years I am a suspension Selle Anatomica guy as they always work for me, with the exception of their rubber version.

And here I am on the opposite side- I use C17 saddles that measure out to 164mm wide and last I checked, no 3d off the shelf saddles were that width or shape. The 135-150mm width was the sweetspot for stock 3d printed saddles when I read about them.

I'm a skinny assed dude. My printed saddle is a 139.