Rich Gibson 

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

sreten

Hi,

The TRK appears to more suitable than the Hybrid, for semi-upright.

rgds, sreten.

chaadster

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.

Rich Gibson 

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.

spare change

Give me some feedback Rich...I have the TRK Gel on it's way to me. I'm interested in your experience since you got it.

thanks

Rich Gibson 

As you can see it was a long time ago. It didn't work out; was uncomfortable for some reason. I finally found a Bontrager at a LBS. Unfortunately it's been discontinued but it's a winner. I now have over 3000 miles on my Trek and am riding with no discomfort.

Rich

fietsbob

the sit on it test is always more conclusive.

flan48

Hi Rich,
I understand that the Bontrager saddle you obtained is discontinued, but which model is it?
Thanks and best regards

Rich Gibson 

I found it; P/N 411752 https://trekstoremadison.com/product/...FWxp7AodsT0AEA Very highly rated. Only con is difficulty mounting bag...(not true).

Rich

flan48

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

flan48

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

chaadster

The rails are padded?? Can you clarify that, please?

flan48

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

flan48

Attached is a picture in the event my previous clarification was not clear.

Best regards