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?
#26
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I must have an easy going arse because I’ve only had to change out a saddle once—and that was on a vintage Centurion. I replaced it with the stock saddle that came on a $500 Specialized mountain bike. Problem solved.
#28
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Do you like your saddle?
I like all my saddles.
I like all my saddles.
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#31
Member
I’ve had two Brooks Pros on my road bikes. They just disappear. 10/10. I really like the Fizik Vitesse on my commuter, but for some reason the Fizik Arione is noticeable on a 20 mile ride. I’ve replaced the Arione with a Brooks Swallow. The jury is still out, but if it breaks in like the Pro I’m set.
#32
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I like the saddles I have. To be honest, if I did not like a saddle I'd soon get rid of it. I have three WRIGHTS leather saddles on different bicycles and I love those saddles. On other bikes I have non-leather saddles.
Finding a saddle that you like can be difficult if you can't try them or it can be expensive if you can't take an uncomfortable saddle back for an exchange. Unfortunately what works for one bicyclist may not work for another bicyclist.
Cheers
Finding a saddle that you like can be difficult if you can't try them or it can be expensive if you can't take an uncomfortable saddle back for an exchange. Unfortunately what works for one bicyclist may not work for another bicyclist.
Cheers
#33
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All my saddles are road style, and WTB is definitely my preference as I mentioned in above. I've done several rides of 140 miles or more on them this year, and they satisfy my test for a good saddle. During the ride, I never thought about my saddle.
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#34
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I can't say what is best. I have liked my Fizik as well as a Sella Italia saddle. But, not beyond experimenting some.
Some of the older saddles are a bit more barrel shaped, and don't fit my fanny well. So, I do like moderately flat wings on the saddles.
The more miles one puts in the more accustomed one gets to the saddles. As the miles rack up, I do find myself wiggling a bit, or sitting a bit crooked on the saddle, but the saddle itself isn't a limiting factor on my rides.
#35
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I’ve been riding the same old Selle Italia Max Flite for the past ~20 years, but it’s pretty much at the end (disturbing amount of duct tape). Finding a replacement will be an adventure
#36
Senior Member
The saddles I ride (mostly Brooks B-17,) are comfortable otherwise I wouldn't ride on them. If someone doesn't like the saddle on his or her bike, change it .
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#39
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I like the saddles on all of my bikes, including the stock saddle on my new Marin mtn bike. I chose 9/10 on the poll for my road saddle only because my brain tells me it's bored with riding after 60+ miles, so it's never seen a century.
#40
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Never a problem...
#41
Senior Member
Four out of the six centuries I've done have been on my Selle Anatomica, and I didn't even think about my saddle.
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#42
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All of the "modern" RB saddles I've had have been at worse OK to good but my current Bontrager Ajna is the most comfortable saddle I've ever had. It is sometimes marketed as a woman's saddle but this is one man plus some others I know that swear by it.
#43
Clark W. Griswold
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My preferred saddle is the Brooks Cambium C17 Carved. However a big part of saddle comfort is fit, some people ride too narrow or too wide saddles in poor positions. Once you have a good position, then a good pair of bib shorts will help as well. Though the fit is first and foremost because maybe the saddle you have is right for you but is just not in the right position and maybe you aren't in the right position either.
I did put 9 out of 10 because I haven't ridden long distance since my fit and typically don't ride more than 60 miles in day being realistic. Also there might be a better saddle out there for my bum, I don't know because I haven't tried every saddle but I have tried quite a few and the Cambium is one I really like. My fitter also said stick with that one as it seems to be right for my sit bones.
I did put 9 out of 10 because I haven't ridden long distance since my fit and typically don't ride more than 60 miles in day being realistic. Also there might be a better saddle out there for my bum, I don't know because I haven't tried every saddle but I have tried quite a few and the Cambium is one I really like. My fitter also said stick with that one as it seems to be right for my sit bones.
#44
Senior Member
Try SMP saddles. Many widths and padding levels are available, so read the sizing info at the SMP website. I need the narrow width and prefer standard padding Stratos. Best saddle I've ever owned.
Saddle angle is critical. A 2-bolt rocker style clamp allows the finest adjustment. I use a digital level to measure the angle. 2-3 degrees nose down works for me.
Saddle angle is critical. A 2-bolt rocker style clamp allows the finest adjustment. I use a digital level to measure the angle. 2-3 degrees nose down works for me.
Last edited by DaveSSS; 11-25-19 at 09:05 AM.
#45
Rouleur
I'll second this. I have the zero padding Composit on my racing bike and the minimal padding Evolution on my rainy day training bike. By far the best saddles I've ever ridden on.
#46
Senior Member
The best part about my day 6 bike is the seat. If my butt does start bothering me it simply means I need to move my position. It has many ways to be in a comfy position. But it has spoiled me for any other bike seat. I did end up taking the back rest off as I found it didn't help much and added a lot of weight. It is not a light bike, but it means I have more of a workout getting around in comfort. With arthritis everywhere you have to do adjust.
#47
Senior Member
The split saddles are worth it. I've ridden for 40+ years. My PSA score was getting up there, in the 7 range. I got a SMP saddle and in 6 months the PSA score was below 4.
#48
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If you've had a bike fit and you're a regular rider, there's no reason in the world you shouldn't be at 10 unless you have the wrong saddle.
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#49
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Specialized Phenom FTW! I have a Phenom on three different bikes. Specialized Power is pretty good too, but I only had one for a short time before selling the bike it was on.
I finally picked up a bike with a laidback seat tube and I mounted a B17 on it with a setback seatpost. I can see how guys could love the Brooks. The leather is comfy and handles sweat really well.
If I could only have one saddle for the rest of my life it’d be a Phenom.
-Kedosto
I finally picked up a bike with a laidback seat tube and I mounted a B17 on it with a setback seatpost. I can see how guys could love the Brooks. The leather is comfy and handles sweat really well.
If I could only have one saddle for the rest of my life it’d be a Phenom.
-Kedosto
#50
52psi
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I've been holding out before answering this poll because while I do love my San Marco Regals, I couldn't legitimately go 10/10 until I rode my first century. Did that Saturday and the saddle was great start-to-finish.
Sunday? Yeah, a little less so.
Sunday? Yeah, a little less so.
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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