shed

Just got a Domane SL5., and am loving it apart from the stock saddle which is leaving me sore. Engine could do with an upgrade too

About me, 50, 5,8, 220lbs, unfit (but trying to get better), big butt (but clearly not enough fat in the right places), casual rider, just wear regular shorts, mostly casual 15-35 mile range rides about twice a week on mostly paved (some badly), and occasionally a few miles of gravel (the SL5 does remarkably well on this imo).

fietsbob

# 1 ) I am not sitting on my bike with your Pelvis. what does " just wear regular shorts", mean ? not bicycle shorts just cut off levis?

# 2 ) this ranks right up there with 'best chainlube' in FAQ frequency competition.

On my 1 road bike , steel , I have a Brooks team pro I bought and have been riding on since the 70's.
the 80s Selle Italia 'Turbo' or San Marco 'Rolls' are another roadie classic @ 220# they better be steel rails..

Will that work for you? I Don't Know ,,

these end up being a popularity contest, at best.. so be It...







...

Bigbus

So many seats to choose from and everyone that likes their's is going to recommend it. Opinions are like a..holes, everyone's got one. My suggestion based on your dimensions would be something in the large and padded group. I just turned 70 this year and I have a bony butt from riding my bikes too much, or at least that's what the DW says. What most people recommend, I find very uncomfortable. Good luck, and whatever you do, persevere. There is a seat out there made just for you.

John E

For me, Brooks Team Pro, by far. With working from home, I have been putting 50-100 miles/week on my Team Pro, and I am consistently delighted with it.
For you, ???

Iride01 

Have you been riding frequently or just a hand full of rides a month? The less often you ride the more your butt will remind you it's there regardless of saddle you ride, IMO.

If you were doing short rides less than an hour, you might find a saddle with a little gel comfortable. But at the mileage you are doing, you'll be in the saddle for a while so I feel it's best to avoid any that feel cushy or have gel. Cushioning on saddles has always been my enemy on long rides. Around mile 40 they let you know that they aren't your friend. So if you are doing 30 mile rides, try some well made saddles with little to no cushioning.

I think the reasoning for me is that the firmer saddles leave less contact with my moving parts. A gel or cushioned saddle has a lot of contact with my moving parts and that means rub and constant pressure. I've done century rides with plain shorts and not chamois on hard saddles and it was not problem. However trying to find decent fitting shorts that don't rub you on long rides is a problem. Skin tight really helps.

Selle Italia saddles have always been a favorite. However the Specialized saddle I have with gel fits so comfortably for short rides, I might see if they have one without gel that might work better on long rides. However I don't think I can afford the 3D printed one they just came out with.

I used to want a Brooks and many swear by them, but I just couldn't get over the fact all my upper body sweat rolls down to my butt. My butts on my saddle and leather and moisture isn't supposed to be a great combination. Though I know there are leather saddle dressings for that, it is too much like cleaning my chain and even my bike after every ride. I'm just not gonna do it.

CyclingFool95 

If you aren't wearing bike shorts, no saddle is going to really feel comfortable. You need to figure out whether a rounded or flat saddle works better for you - flat turns out to be miserably uncomfortable for me. Then, figure out what width you need to support your sit bones properly - wide vs narrow. The best saddle I've ever sat on is an early 1990s Selle Italia Flite Titanium. A brand new one is about as comfortably as a 2x4 but once they break in (or you do), they're the greatest saddle ever. (for me).. YMMV.

BillinPA

Terry saddles has a 30 day trial , if you dont like it, full refund. I like my Terry Liberator.

Gundo

Selle Anatomica H2 on a Domane SL 5.

JGM411

bike shorts first. its cheaper than guessing what seat to buy

shed

Firstly thanks for all the responses.

Definitely know it's a personal thing, but it's not clear to me what I even need to ask for or if you can go and try and bunch of saddles.

Also on bike shorts, any suggestions for something comfy for someone like me.

freeranger

I don't ride with bike shorts, just padded Andiamo underwear (not heavily padded but enough for me), so can't help with bike shorts. But have you checked with any LBS to see if they have "trial" saddles (might be difficult right now). Some (pre-virus) had loaners you could try to see if you liked them. If your LBS isn't doing that, then look on the mfr's site of whichever saddle you think you might like to try and carefully check out their return policy. One thing I think most will agree on is an overly padded saddle might be comfortable for a very short ride, but is going to turn into a torture device on longer rides. If you try a Brooks leather saddle, be prepared for a break-in period while the leather is "molding" to you, it may not be comfortable right out of the box, but they are supposed to be very comfortable once broken in--this from some I know who ride on them, and really like them. If you search the forums, you'll find nearly as many recommendations as there are threads. Brands that come up frequently are: Brooks, Selle Anatomica, WTB, Terry, Serfas (not so much but thought I'd throw it in-have a Dorado on a road bike & like it). If someone thinks of a popular brand I've missed, maybe they'll add it. SO MANY to choose from!

shed

BTW - several of you have mentioned that padded saddles are not good for long runs. What happens?

CyclingFool95 

Essentially, you compress some areas more than others and get pressure points and numbness. A saddle with some flex in rails or shell is good in that it soaks up some bumps. A little thin/light padding is okay.

freeranger

As an example, take a piece of foam, or a pillow and your hands on the same side, with a little space between them. Push down--notice that now the middle, between your hands, is now higher than where your hands are. Think about where that middle section is pushing up when on a saddle--definitely not what you want!! The saddle should be firm enough so that doesn't happen, but not rock hard. The saddles my wife and I use all have cut-outs, which help also. Or a saddle with a recessed center can achieve some relief also.

Indyracer

I am 6'1" and 250lbs. i recently replaced my Selle Italia which I liked with an ISM. I will NEVER go back. Highly recommended

Fendertele

I ride an SL5 and tried the stock seat for two months and couldn’t live with it. Typically ride 15-30 miles.
I am using an EC90 which is supposedly a ko of the Spec power saddle. Available on Amazon for $25. Much better than the stock saddle and works for me at a low cost.

fietsbob

I like bike shorts that have a liner of absorbent material, now largely a synthetic replicating sheepskin/chamois ( a goat )..

But not 'Padded', Per Se..

here is a US company sewing is in LA Cal. https://www.kucharikclothing.com/index.php call , email your measurements & see what they say..

wear bike shorts like underwear, you can put cargo shorts over them if you wish .. Or warmer layers when needed.. ..

blakcloud

I never wear cycling shorts when I ride even on my Domane. Just ordinary shorts and I do just fine. Shorts can't hurt but they are not the be all and end all of comfort. The saddle that works for me is a flat saddle, Specialized Avatar Gel 155 mm. I have this saddle on three of my bikes and will be going on the fourth when it arrives. Brooks is a hit and miss. I tried twice with B17's and never could understand what people saw in them.

The saddle that came on my bike was the Bontrager Arvada Comp and at 138 mm it was just too narrow. Wider just works better for me. Good luck on your journey.

rando_couche

If it fits, it fits. If it doesn't it doesn't. I have a "Brooks butt", and the B17 is my "perfect" saddle, straight out of the box, no break-in, no messing around. C17 is a close second. No other saddle has ever come close, and over 40+ years, I've tried a few. And yeah, I can ride comfortably in "plain" shorts on a B17/C17 but generally don't.

CyFan4036

Bike shorts are a must! I get along with most saddles, 250lbs 5'11" but muscular, I just change my riding position a bit for each.

Paul Barnard

There are some very good deals on Cobb Randee saddles on Ebay. I have been searching for the ideal saddle for years, and I finally found it in the Randee.

saddlesniffer

Brooks C15 with cutout for me. Its done wonders.

shed

So have started to ride with padded bike shops and that's helped. Spoke to my LBS and they suggested a wider saddle given my larger size and big bum might help.thoughts?

gios

I definitely recommend saddles. Those seat posts lead to itching, and then infection.

pvillemasher

I went through a number of saddles until I happened to see a butt measurement device at my LBS. Basically memory foam that I sat on and then the guy measured the impression. From there I bought the appropriate size saddle.
Specialized Phenom saddle. That was years ago and I've been comfy down there ever since.
So I would say listen to the guy at the LBS