adlai

Recently went on a long ride with a Brooks Cambria saddle, the kind without a pressure cutout.

My crotch section was feeling a little numb after that ride. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, but I kind of was not expecting it to be that much of a problem.

This makes me wonder: why even bother making saddles that don't have the pressure cutout?

Troul 

idk the answer, but I will say that extra stowage space is a nice glovebox for the delicate region.

Koyote

Because some people have preferences that differ from yours.

squirtdad

because different saddles work for different people.

for me the classic selle Turbo works, Brooks b-17 works, Brooks swift works, selle italia flyte works (but dont ride it too heavy to be comfortable works, my all time favorite Berthoud works

but the B17N Imperial (with the cutouts ) was not at all comfortable and caused numbing

ymmv

msu2001la

I have an older cutout saddle on one bike, and a newer non-cutout on another. Both bikes are comfortable for me and I don't have issues with pressure or numbness on either.

I bought the cutout saddle to help relieve pressure/numbness (which it did do), but then later got a bike fit and now I seem to be able to use whatever saddle I want. I still find both saddles comfortable and can't really tell much of a difference - though I prefer the aesthetic of the non-cutout.

mstateglfr 

For the same reason bars are made with different drop, reach, and bend shapes.
For the same reason bikes have varying geometry.
For the same reason tires vary in features like rolling resistance and puncture resistance.
For the same reason helmets vary in shape, coverage, and retention system.



My main road bike has a C17 with cutout. My gravel bike has a C17 without cutout. Both can be really comfortable...for me.

icemilkcoffee 

you have inadvertently repeated the OP’s question: why on earth do they continue making saddles without cutouts when the ones with cutouts work for everyone- ie. people who do not need cutouts are fine with having the cutouts there. The reverse is not true- people who need cutouts are not fine with the cutouts not being there.

alcjphil

I only have one bike that has a saddle with a cutout. It replaced the saddle that came with the bike which I couldn't get used to. I traded with my son for the cutout saddle which he couldn't get used to. Works fine for me however along with all the other bikes I have whose saddles don't have cutouts.

georges1

Same for me too

freeranger

I'd rather ride on a center cut saddle than none. Riding without a saddle can't be good!

mstateglfr 

Did I?
Or did I only speak to a specific example where both styles happened to work?

I have also had saddles where there is a model with an optional cutout and its uncomfortable. So...

Trakhak

Many versions of bicycle saddles with cutouts, including a few that looked more or less like toilet seats, were available in the 1890s but gradually disappeared from the market as the first bike boom dwindled.

Most of the millions of people around the world who have ridden bikes for billions of miles, for primary transportation as well as for sport, have gotten along fine without cutout saddles for over 100 years.

Single datum point: of all the saddles I've ridden on since I was a kid, the only one I disliked was one that came with a bike I bought used---and it's my only saddle with a cutout.

phughes

If you are having perineum pain from the saddle, any saddle for that matter, it is generally caused by a bad fit, usually a too high seat height, for you, or too great of reach, or drop, or a combination. Usually it is seat height. Too many people simply buy a cutout saddle instead of fixing the cause.

If the seat is too far forward it can put you on your perineum as well.

Drop your seat height.

Sy Reene

Maybe for clarity on what I think is the intent of the question.. If the same shape/size/model saddle is offered either with or without a cutout, why would anyone ever opt for the non-cutout version?

One possibility.. stops wet road spray up from the tire into the nether regions.

delbiker1 

I pick the cut out of over none.

urbanknight

Are they? I find that many saddles without cutouts have more even weight distribution and cause less soreness. Now, some of those also make important parts go numb, so I guess there's a trade off to consider.

chaadster

Yeah, man, and when it’s cold, having a cutout really makes your junk a lot colder, too.

surak

Cutouts aren't a magic cure-all. Thus the Specialized saddles with Mimic.

https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear...e-seat-review/

Their Power saddles work for me and as a man, I've used every type they have: vanilla, Elaston, Mimic, and the 3-D printed Mirror. The last two without cutouts are by far more comfortable.

martianone

Yes, echo replies #5 and 13 - Bike fit is an important component of saddle comfort

veganbikes

Yes bike fit is extremely important. Your saddle cut out or lack there of might not be the issue but where that saddle is in relation to your body along with other factors on bike fit that can cause issues. I would say probably a good percentage of people who are complaining about their saddles have never had a proper bike fit and that saddle might just not be adjusted right for them and they wouldn't know. Having someone else watch you as you are pedaling and even with some 3d motion capture and then adjusting as you are riding is hard to do solo.

The general saddle I have used on many of my bikes is the Brooks Cambium Carved C17 but my mountain bike has a non cut-out Ergon as does my main commuter and that one also had a Selle Royal saddle that was stock on the bike (that got worn out over time and I just replaced it) and the two saddles aren't normally ones I would pick I have probably 5 C17s (or so) but having everything adjusted properly helped out a huge amount to where I loved a saddle I normally would have dumped quickly

Sy Reene

Yeah, I guess technically speaking, the Mimic being an example) there are ways to build in pressure relief depressions to a large enough degree that it does similar to a full cutout. Specialized seems like an good example though, in that they don't seemingly offer even 1 model of bike saddle that doesn't have center relief of some sort: SPESH ROAD SADDLES
ie.. no models of a 'traditional' nature, eg

msu2001la

I think you underestimate the number of people who would find a cutout saddle highly objectionable for reasons that have nothing to do with comfort and fit.

squirtdad

nope, at least not for me on the cutout saddle I tried.

saddles are too personal as to fit to make any sort of broad statement on fit. exampel: Some brooks work well for me, but not all brooks, so I can't say brooks saddles work for me as a broad statement

Sy Reene

What's left to object to if you take out comfort and fit -- aero, weight and aesthetics ?

msu2001la

My point is that they'll find a reason.