Can't believe the perfect saddle for me after all these years was this...
#51
Blast from the Past
A couple helpful hints. Have an extra seat post to set up trial seats (leaves your current setup intact) and keep an eye on eBay.
Last edited by Voodoo76; 07-25-16 at 05:15 PM.
#52
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What you need to do is find an old pair of wool shorts with a leather chamois. Wash the shorts and dry them out in the sun. The chamois will be like a crisp taco shell. Mount a brand new Brooks Pro on your bike and go riding. Brutal! You should get lots of chafing and some bloody sores. But just keep riding daily. Wash the shorts every 3 or 4 rides. Blood stains on the chamois will show you are doing it right. After a few thousand miles it won't matter what saddle you are riding. You have toughened up your backside and any saddle feels just right.
Also nothing like wool jerseys. The secret is washing every three or four wears. Wool doesn't small and frequent Washingt break down the fabric
Ah, the good old days!
#53
Senior Member
What width is it?
Wife and I loved the Toupe for many years, and we have four. Then found this in the same width at Ribble.
Selle Italia Flite Team Edition Flow Saddle | Chain Reaction Cycles
I think they had an error in pricing. 35 dollars. Got 4 of them :-)
They are now our favourite saddles. Now we need some more bikes.
Wife and I loved the Toupe for many years, and we have four. Then found this in the same width at Ribble.
Selle Italia Flite Team Edition Flow Saddle | Chain Reaction Cycles
I think they had an error in pricing. 35 dollars. Got 4 of them :-)
They are now our favourite saddles. Now we need some more bikes.
Last edited by deepakvrao; 07-25-16 at 08:58 AM.
#54
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What width is it?
Wife and I loved the Toupe for many years, and we have four. Then found this in the same width at Ribble.
Selle Italia Flite Team Edition Flow Saddle | Chain Reaction Cycles
I think they had an error in pricing. 35 dollars. Got 4 of them :-)
They are now our favourite saddles. Now we need some more bikes.
Wife and I loved the Toupe for many years, and we have four. Then found this in the same width at Ribble.
Selle Italia Flite Team Edition Flow Saddle | Chain Reaction Cycles
I think they had an error in pricing. 35 dollars. Got 4 of them :-)
They are now our favourite saddles. Now we need some more bikes.
#55
Senior Member
#57
Senior Member
OK, confused now. The Ribble order history says:
Selle Italia Flite Team Edition Flow
So, which is it? Whatever, it's till date the best saddle that I have had. Better than my Toupes and better than even my Brooks.
#61
Senior Member
Off all of the saddles I've ever owned, the cheap Terry Fly ripoff made by Velo that came on my BD singlespeed is one of the best. As Velo likely makes the Terry Fly, this might just be a Terry Fly without the label.
Plastic saddles are almost all made by Velo:
Inside: Velo saddle factory - BikeRadar USA
To me, there's little reason to pay for brand unless you can't get the design anywhere else.
BTW, the absolute best saddle I've ever owned: Selle San Marco Regal.
Plastic saddles are almost all made by Velo:
Inside: Velo saddle factory - BikeRadar USA
To me, there's little reason to pay for brand unless you can't get the design anywhere else.
BTW, the absolute best saddle I've ever owned: Selle San Marco Regal.
#62
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I've had loads of saddles ....
most saddles are comfy for distances up to 60-70km
further than that, you will know if it suits you
my best saddle is a Gilles Berthout Aravis with titanium rails .... this is on my Surly Long Haul trucker .... sadly it's leather and not waterproof but I only ride my Surly on special occasions and when it's dry .... I could ride on this saddle for longer that 8 hrs a day with no problems
My latest saddle is a Brooks Cambium Carved, C17 fitted to my Giant TCR .... rode 140km on the weekend with no problems what so ever
My son has a Charge spoon (costs approx £20 new) fitted to his specialised hard rock mountain bike .... looks good and is very comfy aswell
I also owned a Brooks B15 Champion Narrow saddle that was well worn and very comfy .... fitted to my daily commuter, but got tired of covering it everytime it rained (I live in the UK and it rains lots)
I am customising a Bridgestone MB2 mountain bike with drop bars and bar end shifters and will most probably buy another Brooks Cambium C17 Carved (comes with a 10 year guarantee when you register it online)
most saddles are comfy for distances up to 60-70km
further than that, you will know if it suits you
my best saddle is a Gilles Berthout Aravis with titanium rails .... this is on my Surly Long Haul trucker .... sadly it's leather and not waterproof but I only ride my Surly on special occasions and when it's dry .... I could ride on this saddle for longer that 8 hrs a day with no problems
My latest saddle is a Brooks Cambium Carved, C17 fitted to my Giant TCR .... rode 140km on the weekend with no problems what so ever
My son has a Charge spoon (costs approx £20 new) fitted to his specialised hard rock mountain bike .... looks good and is very comfy aswell
I also owned a Brooks B15 Champion Narrow saddle that was well worn and very comfy .... fitted to my daily commuter, but got tired of covering it everytime it rained (I live in the UK and it rains lots)
I am customising a Bridgestone MB2 mountain bike with drop bars and bar end shifters and will most probably buy another Brooks Cambium C17 Carved (comes with a 10 year guarantee when you register it online)
#63
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Do you think there is a way to find out if Velo makes the Forte Pro SL saddle and if they sell it? I took the Forte Sweep Gel Fit for 75 miles and felt like I got my @ss kicked by a mule and had bruises on my sit bones.
Last edited by BikingGrad80; 07-25-16 at 02:54 PM.
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Hmm, those Nashbar saddles look interesting. One not mentioned here is the CFR1. No reviews on the site as well. Looks to be an in-between for the R1 and the FR1. Less padding but not minimalist. Weight is in the middle too. Anyone try that one? Heck I may just buy one to try it out... At about $35 it's worth a shot.
#67
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I'm riding a Forté Pro Sl - bought around beginning of year. Yep it's marked Velo on the underside.
A really good chance Nashbar's house brand saddles are also made by Velo, but can't personally confirm.
Other saddles I like and have on other bikes - Nashbar's Selle Italia SL Kit Carbonio Flow SE Saddle which is pretty close in dimension to the Forté SL; and a Fabric Scoop Shallow Race.
The Forté SL is reserved for my bike that spends most of its time on the trainer, where I prefer a little more cushion and a cutout.
A really good chance Nashbar's house brand saddles are also made by Velo, but can't personally confirm.
Other saddles I like and have on other bikes - Nashbar's Selle Italia SL Kit Carbonio Flow SE Saddle which is pretty close in dimension to the Forté SL; and a Fabric Scoop Shallow Race.
The Forté SL is reserved for my bike that spends most of its time on the trainer, where I prefer a little more cushion and a cutout.
#68
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I think I found it. I think it is the same as the Velo Senso 3206.
#69
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I contacted Velo and they confirmed that the VL-3206 is the same saddle as the Forte Pro SL. I ordered one off Ebay.
Dear Mr. BikingGrad80,
Thank you so much for the email.
It's glad to hear that you finally found a saddle that works for you. Besides, it's more happy to know that it's our product.
About the request saddle, the equivalent model number is VL-3206.
I assumed that you are in America, and if so, please kindly contact our distributor BTI for this model. If not, please kindly let me know your location.
BTI BTI | Contact Us
Sincerely appreciate your great support in Velo's saddle. May you have a good day.
Best regards,
Stella Yu/j.k.
Dear Mr. BikingGrad80,
Thank you so much for the email.
It's glad to hear that you finally found a saddle that works for you. Besides, it's more happy to know that it's our product.
About the request saddle, the equivalent model number is VL-3206.
I assumed that you are in America, and if so, please kindly contact our distributor BTI for this model. If not, please kindly let me know your location.
BTI BTI | Contact Us
Sincerely appreciate your great support in Velo's saddle. May you have a good day.
Best regards,
Stella Yu/j.k.
#70
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Yep. OP's is also my favorite saddle. I have 3. Wish I'd bought a couple more. Great quality and design. Unfortunately, as usual the idiots in the Performance marketing department decided to discontinue this saddle. No longer available. Their new Forte Sweep is similar but not as good.
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Yep. OP's is also my favorite saddle. I have 3. Wish I'd bought a couple more. Great quality and design. Unfortunately, as usual the idiots in the Performance marketing department decided to discontinue this saddle. No longer available. Their new Forte Sweep is similar but not as good.
#72
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Woo-hoo! Thanks so much. Assuming you are correct, I just ordered one. It looks like Performance now has other models of their saddles.
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#73
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I know I tried the Forte Sweep Gel Fit and it felt like the worst kick in the @ss I ever had. It actually left black and blue on my rear end on the skin over my sit bones. I returned it.
#74
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Edit: Just pulled the trigger on the blue and black Velo Senso VL-3206. The saddles on both bikes are getting old. So if I like this one, then will get another.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?&_fro...enso%20VL-3206
Last edited by ptempel; 07-26-16 at 10:53 AM.
#75
Senior Member
anyone have a side picture of that velo saddle mount on a bike, the nose would look broken
Last edited by bleui; 07-26-16 at 06:32 PM.