View Poll Results: Rate your saddle experience, describe why below.
1/10- like sitting on the TT of a steel bike
0
0%
2/10- 5 miles is the limit
1
0.82%
3/10
2
1.64%
4/10
8
6.56%
5/10- 30 miles is noticeable
12
9.84%
6/10
6
4.92%
7/10
11
9.02%
8/10
9
7.38%
9/10- 70 miles is noticeable
23
18.85%
10/10- centuries without a problem
50
40.98%
Voters: 122. You may not vote on this poll
Do you like your saddle?
#51
Senior Member
I ride ISM split saddles on my daily pavement rider and also my rigid 29 plus bike for off road. I put a Cane Creek Thudbuster on my rigid 29 plus bike, and I am happy. There is equilibrium in the Force once again. The saddle is one component of the whole.
Btw, I don't regularly ride with padding or padded shorts. Mostly it's compression shorts and fast dry underwear. Padding is not a requirement.
Btw, I don't regularly ride with padding or padded shorts. Mostly it's compression shorts and fast dry underwear. Padding is not a requirement.
Last edited by DeadGrandpa; 11-25-19 at 08:50 PM.
#52
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Ok, I'm not going to impress anyone, so... I had a problem with hemorrhoids, tried saddles that looked like they'd be good, butt(OH!) only delayed the problem. I built my own design and have been riding without problems on my home-built "saddle" for 2 years. I'm happy with that, even though I have never come close to a century in distance. I ride as fast as I can for 30 minutes most mornings, and I probably will be found dead alongside the road laying next to my bike.
#53
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imho it's more about rider conditioning vs a particular saddle. are there a few saddles that are uncomfortable at any distance.?..maybe.
the undercarriage is gonna suffer if it's a mountain century vs a flat(tish) one, regardless of the setup/saddle/fit. freddie mercury sang it
best saying get on your bikes and ride.
the undercarriage is gonna suffer if it's a mountain century vs a flat(tish) one, regardless of the setup/saddle/fit. freddie mercury sang it
best saying get on your bikes and ride.
#54
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It's only my experience.....I've had a long and enduring relationship with a Brooks B17.......When you go Brooks you never go back....
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#55
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I'm new to cycling this year, I couldn't stand the saddle that came with the CL bike I bought no matter what (even had a pro fit). I now understand how folks can have a wall of them hanging on nails. I bought an old Selle Italia and love it. Only one Century, but 45 mi consistently and numerous up to 60ish, a few further. Only got a little chaff from the left seat edge on the Century. Just two days ago I put on a used Selle Anatomica X2, a 35 & 45 so far, I think I have it adjusted now. If it's better than the Italia as a friend insists, then I'd be voting 10 instead of 9. I think the Italia is a good one for me though so it will either become a spare or I'll resell the X2 if it isn't right for me and go back to the Italia. My regular path includes a cobblestone bridge shoulder and a wood planked bridge over 4 lanes of roadway. The X2 certainly takes the transmitted surface rumble way down. Feels good enough that I've told myself I like it so far.
Last edited by robbiesd; 11-26-19 at 09:20 AM.
#56
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That's me, and why I answered a 4/10 on my road saddle, a Scoop Shallow 135mm. Shoulda gone with the flat instead of shallow and the 142mm wide version instead? Doesn't seem to sit on the sit bones right. Seems like plusher chamois make it worse. Did a 140 miler with it but oof not very good, chamois butter helped. I want to do 300k, 200mile stuff but haven't found the right saddle yet.
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#57
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I've ridden long rides on several different saddles. I'm now wearing jeans mostly for local rides, and frequently choose cycling shorts for > 50 miles.
I've tried a couple of carbon fiber saddles. They're like riding on concrete. Cycling shorts are nice for longer rides.
I have a couple of saddles that have a bit of plush padding. Bontrager? And, the padding doesn't seem to make them comfortable.
I've tried a couple of carbon fiber saddles. They're like riding on concrete. Cycling shorts are nice for longer rides.
I have a couple of saddles that have a bit of plush padding. Bontrager? And, the padding doesn't seem to make them comfortable.
#58
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But my final ride was about 2017 on a fly. The price is just too darn high now.
But I did several centuries on it with a smile. 23 centuries back in 2005 on the Fly.
#59
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Here's some useless information. I'm proof that "the right saddle" is very personal, unique for each of us. My preferred is the old Vetta TriShock saddles. Good news is they work real well for me and nobody wants them. I have 8 of them now and paid $5 for one, the rest we're free. I've recovered 6 of them. The 7th this winter. I have 2 on mtn bikes, the rest on classic road bikes. All day, long miles saddles for me. Granted, I'm a bit of a skinny old cuss so I make few demands on a saddle. I'm also particular about where I sit - I keep my sit bones well back on the saddle, never slide forward. Just a good habit. I'm quite happy on 70 to 80 mile days.
#60
Senior Member
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Been riding an ISM PL1.1 (used to be called the Prologue) since 2012 and around 70,000 miles. It's on both my road bikes and unless someone comes up with something better, it's the last saddle I'll ever get. And yes! I went through several different saddles before finding the ISM, which was the last saddle that I thought I would like.
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HCFR Cycling Team
Ride Safe ... Ride Hard ... Ride Daily
2017 Colnago C-RS
2012 Colnago Ace
2010 Giant Cypress
HCFR Cycling Team
Ride Safe ... Ride Hard ... Ride Daily
2017 Colnago C-RS
2012 Colnago Ace
2010 Giant Cypress
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#62
Senior Member
I've been comfortable on the Specialized Power Expert, Power Arc Pro, and the Romin Evo Pro. However, inside riding with Zwift is always a painful experience. I've been through 15 saddles in the last four years.
On indoor training...Yes, I've tried standing every 5 minutes, I've had a bike fit, and I'm using a Wahoo Kickr Snap with a front-wheel block to level out the bike.
I'm trying the Prologo Dimension, but I'm done buying saddles just to be comfortable indoors. I'm going to try and suffer through this winter on my existing saddles and worry about my outdoor saddle in the Spring.
Does anyone know a saddle that is comfortable for indoor training?
On indoor training...Yes, I've tried standing every 5 minutes, I've had a bike fit, and I'm using a Wahoo Kickr Snap with a front-wheel block to level out the bike.
I'm trying the Prologo Dimension, but I'm done buying saddles just to be comfortable indoors. I'm going to try and suffer through this winter on my existing saddles and worry about my outdoor saddle in the Spring.
Does anyone know a saddle that is comfortable for indoor training?
#63
52psi
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A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
#64
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All my gals have Brooks. Worth every cent once you break 'em in. My "Criterion of Saddle Virtue" [?], if I get beck from a spin and can't remember aching there below...that is, the saddle "disappears" from my roster of concerns. Brooks does this.
#65
In the wind
Specialized and brooks here. I only did a few centuries this year but my butt had no complaints.
#67
Newbie
About 2 years ago I had a bike spill and hurt my sciatic nerve. Since then, I've been sensitive to saddles (a bony behind doesn't help) and some have aggravated the nerve. I tried a huge number of saddles from Brooks, Selle Anatomica, WTB, Specialized and Bontrager, etc. The better ones were Fabric and Giant, but both weren't great. My favorite saddle is the SQ Labs saddle that I've ridden on for months. It's very sensitive to adjustments, but when you nail it, the saddle is incredibly comfortable and has never irritated my sciatic.
#69
Senior Member
The day 6 seat is the most comfy thing I have sat on. Doesn't mess with my back at all, and soft to sit on. The back rest is removable.
#70
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Koobi AU Enduro has been my go-to for years for road riding. If there is a limit to how far I am comfortable riding it, I have not reached it. loads of other things start to hurt before my rear end does.
#71
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11/10 - double centuries are comfortable
#73
I never finish anyth
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I'm a fan of the Selle Anatomica saddles. They're now on 4 bikes and will be on 5 bikes when my Pinarello project is finished. Centuries are no problem, I don't even think about the saddle any longer.
I've also tried Fabric saddles too, and they're pretty good. For poor weather riding, the Fabrics are a better choice than the leather SA saddles.
I've also tried Fabric saddles too, and they're pretty good. For poor weather riding, the Fabrics are a better choice than the leather SA saddles.
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Dale, NL4T
Dale, NL4T
#74
Senior Member
I've tried others, but a suspended leather saddle is my fave - ONCE we break in to each other. That break-in takes time. After the first 500-miles of any cycling season, I don't notice my hard leather saddles. I've tried plastic-backed foam/vinyl, and all-plastic but they aren't for me. I've ridden my '75 Fuji's original hard leather Brooks-clone Fujita Belt for close to 60,000 miles with many Centuries, double Centuries, and even an extended 11-riding-day ~1000-mile 'tour'. We've become one with each other - once that 'agreement' is reached at the start of each riding season. My two '84 Univegas are also now equipped classic hard leather saddles. Are they the best for everyone? I can't speak for others, I can only offer my own personal experiences.
#75
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You will get a plethora of answers, because everyone is different. But generally speaking, comfort is all about shape, not padding. This is why traditional leather saddles, which have no padding, are widely lauded by users. The drawbacks are cost, weight, a break-in period, and care. For regular saddles, there is no way to know what will work for you. Some shops have test saddles that you can try; some have generous return policies.