Difference between Selle SMP TRK and Hybrid
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Annandale, VA
Posts: 522
Bikes: Fuji Rubaix 1.0
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Difference between Selle SMP TRK and Hybrid
Getting my Trek FX 7.6 tuned in and want to settle on a seat. I've decided on either the Selle SMP TRK or Hybrid. My sit bones measure 120 which puts me in a 140-150 range. I'm 188# with a target weight of 180#. I expect to ride no more than 100 miles a week, just fitness, semi-upright. I'm seventy-one years old and in pretty good shape. I would like input on folks who have tried either Selle, or both; comparisons would be better. I appreciate suggestions of other seats, but I'm going to get one or the other Selle.
Thanks in advance.
Rich
Thanks in advance.
Rich
#3
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,447
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3145 Post(s)
Liked 1,710 Times
in
1,032 Posts
The shape of the TRK shows a more pronounced transition to the rear of the saddle, which may limit positioning, whereas the Hybrid has a more gradual transition from front to rear. The TRK looks wider for this reason, but I didn't look at the numbers.
I'd say the practical differences are impossible to suss out without actually riding them, but if I had to guess in your situation, I'd go with the more lightly padded, narrower Hybrid, because you're not going strictly for comfort, and will probably be wearing cycling shorts.
EDIT: I should add I'm a very happy 6', 230lb, SMP Dynamic user who has never measured sitz bone width. FWIW.
I'd say the practical differences are impossible to suss out without actually riding them, but if I had to guess in your situation, I'd go with the more lightly padded, narrower Hybrid, because you're not going strictly for comfort, and will probably be wearing cycling shorts.
EDIT: I should add I'm a very happy 6', 230lb, SMP Dynamic user who has never measured sitz bone width. FWIW.
Last edited by chaadster; 07-30-13 at 08:00 AM.
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Annandale, VA
Posts: 522
Bikes: Fuji Rubaix 1.0
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks for everyone's help. I ordered the TRK. Time will tell.
#5
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I just saw a very clever sits bone measuring technique. Put about a cup or two of flour in a gallon-sized zip loc bag, force out the air and sit on it. Measure the distance between the centers of the two depressions.
Thanks for everyone's help. I ordered the TRK. Time will tell.
Thanks for everyone's help. I ordered the TRK. Time will tell.
thanks
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Annandale, VA
Posts: 522
Bikes: Fuji Rubaix 1.0
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Rich
__________________
..life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes. ― Andy Rooney ...enjoy what's left!
..life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes. ― Andy Rooney ...enjoy what's left!
#8
Full Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Monroe Township,NJ
Posts: 431
Bikes: Cannondale Quick 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 27 Post(s)
Liked 32 Times
in
23 Posts
I understand that the Bontrager saddle you obtained is discontinued, but which model is it?
Thanks and best regards
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Annandale, VA
Posts: 522
Bikes: Fuji Rubaix 1.0
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Rich
__________________
..life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes. ― Andy Rooney ...enjoy what's left!
..life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes. ― Andy Rooney ...enjoy what's left!
#10
Full Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Monroe Township,NJ
Posts: 431
Bikes: Cannondale Quick 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 27 Post(s)
Liked 32 Times
in
23 Posts
I found it; P/N 411752 Bontrager inForm Nebula Plus Saddle - Trek Bicycle Store Madison, WI Very highly rated. Only con is difficulty mounting bag...(not true).
Rich
Rich
I believe the new version of the Nebula Plus will be more comfortable.
Anyway, for what it's worth, I have tried 4 additional saddles and settled on the SMP Hybrid. It did take a few adjustments, and the final adjustment, albeit counter intuitive, did the trick -I actually turned the nose down from a level position and wa la, I do not slide forward, and I only barely feel the rails.
Thanks for your response and best regards
#11
Full Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Monroe Township,NJ
Posts: 431
Bikes: Cannondale Quick 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 27 Post(s)
Liked 32 Times
in
23 Posts
Ah yes, the same saddle that came on my Trek 7.4FX. I found it to be like sitting on a hardened steel rod - just awful!
I believe the new version of the Nebula Plus will be more comfortable.
Anyway, for what it's worth, I have tried 4 additional saddles and settled on the SMP Hybrid. It did take a few adjustments, and the final adjustment, albeit counter intuitive, did the trick -I actually turned the nose down from a level position and wa la, I do not slide forward, and I only barely feel the rails.
Thanks for your response and best regards
I believe the new version of the Nebula Plus will be more comfortable.
Anyway, for what it's worth, I have tried 4 additional saddles and settled on the SMP Hybrid. It did take a few adjustments, and the final adjustment, albeit counter intuitive, did the trick -I actually turned the nose down from a level position and wa la, I do not slide forward, and I only barely feel the rails.
Thanks for your response and best regards
I ended up buying, from my local LBS, a Sunlite Cloud-9 Non-Suspension saddle. It has a central cutout, but the rails are nicely padded. As such I don't experience the discomfort on the front of my left sit bone as I did with the SMP saddle.
So I find that the $35 saddle is more comfortable, for me, than the $120 saddle!
Best regards
#12
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,447
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3145 Post(s)
Liked 1,710 Times
in
1,032 Posts
After 2 months of continuing to fiddle (50 miles each "fiddle") around with this, I finally decided it is not for me. Although I obviously lost money on the deal, I sold it on Ebay this past Monday.
I ended up buying, from my local LBS, a Sunlite Cloud-9 Non-Suspension saddle. It has a central cutout, but the rails are nicely padded. As such I don't experience the discomfort on the front of my left sit bone as I did with the SMP saddle.
So I find that the $35 saddle is more comfortable, for me, than the $120 saddle!
Best regards
I ended up buying, from my local LBS, a Sunlite Cloud-9 Non-Suspension saddle. It has a central cutout, but the rails are nicely padded. As such I don't experience the discomfort on the front of my left sit bone as I did with the SMP saddle.
So I find that the $35 saddle is more comfortable, for me, than the $120 saddle!
Best regards
#13
Full Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Monroe Township,NJ
Posts: 431
Bikes: Cannondale Quick 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 27 Post(s)
Liked 32 Times
in
23 Posts
Surely. I'm referring to the part of the saddle that is over the rails, ie on either side of the central cut out.On both the SMP and my new saddle, there is the central cut out.
While both saddles have imitation leather and some padding, on the SMP one can press on the rails with little pressure and feel the hardness of the actual rail.
Not so with my new saddle where pressing hard on the top of the rail still reveals cushioning/softness.
I trust this adds clarification .
Best regards
While both saddles have imitation leather and some padding, on the SMP one can press on the rails with little pressure and feel the hardness of the actual rail.
Not so with my new saddle where pressing hard on the top of the rail still reveals cushioning/softness.
I trust this adds clarification .
Best regards
Last edited by flan48; 06-11-14 at 08:03 PM. Reason: Misspelling
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Elysium32
Hybrid Bicycles
5
03-13-16 07:32 PM
AceH
Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg)
27
05-22-10 12:33 AM