Deltarebel

Couple of months ago I bought a road bike . (rode mountain bike for years) Giant Defy 2. And overall I am happy with the bike. Except for the saddle. It sucks. Did not feel right when I bought bike, but I wanted to ride bike awhile and see if I could adapt to it. Not going to happen. After about an hour, it becomes very uncomfortable.
Young man at bike shop in Little Rock reccomended a Specialized Romin saddle. I had test rode a Specialized bike when I bought my Giant and I do remember the saddle being superior to the saddle on the Giant. So, anyway, can I get some saddle suggestions from my fellow 50+ crowd?

NOS88

You've just opened a can of worms with this request. Saddle threads can get VERY opinionated. Having lived through more than a few on this forum, here's what I can tell you.
1. There is no universal agreement on which is the "best", "most comfortable", etc. Each has their own opinion.
2. Sometimes it's an issue of adjustment of the saddle and not the saddle itself. Just a few millimeters in tilt, for example, can make a very big difference in comfort.
3. Sometimes the correct saddle has a lot to do with your overall body position. For example, sitting up in a more upright position will put more of your weight on the saddle.
4. If you can get a good LBS to loan you a saddle to try for a few days and return if not satisfied, that's always a plus.
5. Someone will tell you or state that riding a recumbent will eliminate the issue entirely.
6. Someone will tell you that Brooks is the only saddle you ever need to buy.
Realistically, it is a trial and error process. I currently ride four different saddles. The only things they have in common are: a relatively flat profile on the top of the saddle; they are all fairly firm; they all or at least 150mm wide on the back section of the saddle. Good luck with your search.

Attached are my saddles: Selle Italia SLK - Specialized Toupe - Selle Anantomica - Koobi Xenon

Bikey Mikey

I have the Giant Defy 1. I gave the saddle nearly 10 days of riding with a several adjustments at the LBS and it still wasn't working for me. I test road a Specialized Avatar Gel for 5 days of riding. I tried a Fizik and ended up with the Avatar. You need to test the saddle for several days and some good distances as well. Also, your butt is going to have to get used to the new position. Test out some saddles but you need to be able to test them for several days of rides. Nos88 has great advice.

baj32161

Both of the above are, pretty much, spot on. I have been riding road for years and have, finally, found the saddle for me. That saddle is the Specialized Romin Comp and mine is the 155mm wide version. I tried 5 different saddles before I got to that one and it felt better almost immediately. I have had it for 2 months now and love it.

Of course that eed to try out a has NOTHING with whether it will work for you. You will need to try out a few sadles for yourself and see what you discover. I have yet to ride a bike where the stock saddle did not have to be changed.

stapfam

Not one particular make but The type that springs to mind is the Flight Titanium. I first got onto these about 15 years ago and tried a couple of Flights and nothing special. Then I got the Ti version and what a difference. It is only the rails but comfort in a big way (FOR ME). Prostate problems and I tried all sorts of saddles and it was only when I went road that it was eased somewhat. The thin OM saddle on the Giant OCR was not that good but better than any saddle on the MTB's. Next bike had a Fizic and that was good but only for 6 months. looked around and I needed a thin saddle- like the Flight- have a cutaway which the Flight Ti did not have and I would prefer just a bit of padding. Flight Max gel seemed to fit the bill and it does. Very similar if not identical shape to the Ti and used it on one bike ever since. The other bike has a San Marco Aero fitted and same shape- same cutout and the padding is hard foam. The two ride identical. The Uno has an OM saddle fitted that I was certain was going to be changed but is settling down gradually. Same shape as the other two but instead of a cutout there is a shallow depression.

Last week I found my original Flight Ti so may give it a try again. Reason it came off the bikes was due to the prostate and MTB upright sitting stance. Might work well on the road bike now.

billydonn

NOS88 pretty much has it covered but fwiw here's a few saddles that are very popular:

Specialised Avatar
Fizik Aliante
Brooks B-17 or 17n

Others may have additions to offer.

fietsbob

I have A couple bikes with Fizik Vitesse saddles..
2 0f them came thru the Palo Alto Brompton dealer..
was a special order batch made with a different rails bend
for that companies superlight folders..

QBP has Vitesse in the light weight metal rail, bend version now,
my 1st vitesse was the standard rail, I had to get a different seat post
with a low profile clamp, so I got a Race Face seat post, next..
now that saddle migrated to the top of the Thud-buster LT on my Bike friday.

I was OK with Brooks pro's for decades, took a few long Cyclo-camping tours on them
but I don't worry about the leatherless saddles, getting soaked.

leather covered San Marco Rolls and Selle Italia Turbos are OK, too.
racy bikes stay on the peg for the most part. no mudguards.

Racer Ex 

Saddles are like wives. They fit or they don't. And sometimes if things change, they don't fit anymore.

Tom Bombadil

I walked past a bike rack today with 7 road bikes in it, 4 of them had Brooks saddles.

moppeddler

I love my Ellipse Royalgel. I've never found a stock saddle to be comfortable but have never bothered to try to break them in either

NOS88

Sorry, Tom. I just can't resist this. Are you saying that 4 out of 7 bikes not being ridden have a Brooks on them?

Seve

The never ending quest for the comfortable saddle ...

Like a lot of you folks, I've been riding bike for over 50 years.

Up front, --- this is entirely anecdotal.

I've ridden horses bareback, binders and tractors with steel seats, to rolls and everything in between.

I have yet to find a material that is better suited for me and my butt on a bicycle than leather.

teachme

This is the saddle I ride, it is comfortable for me...

avmech

Had a Specialized Avatar Comp Gel 155mm for a year, just switched to an Avatar Expert 155mm. The gel is now on my back up bike. Like the Expert better than the gel, even though both are really comfortable to me. The foam gives me better support on long rides, the gel is fine to 30 miles or so.

John_V 

I must be an exception to the rule on saddles. Both of my road bikes still have the OEM saddles on them and between the two I have over 5,500 miles on them. No real problems with either of them.

With that out of the way, one saddle that I am seeing on a lot of road bikes is the ISM Adamo. I am still thinking of getting one after hearing all the praises from the owners. Several riders in my club have them and say it's the last saddle they will ever use. I still haven't tried one yet, but I intend to look into them soon. The only thing I see as a drawback is the price; the Road and Prolog models are both $170.00 with their cheapest model being $130.00 (MSRP).

qcpmsame 

My experience is with Brooks Pros and B-17 until my N+1 this year (Prologo Kappa on it) and it is back to 1978. They break-in nicely and fit you like a glove. My wife loved her B-17 and my son is riding my old one on the R500 I gave him.. When the stock seat on my CAAD 10 is shot, in a few years probably, I'll get another Brooks Professional. Just like them alot.

Bill

Grand Bois

All nine of my bikes have Brooks saddles.

gtragitt

I have replaced 2 Specialized Avatar saddles that came with new bicycle purchases. The issue may have been their width. I preferred the Specialized Toupe Expert and a Selle Italia SLR Fibra. The only complaint with the Fibra was the leather cover. I now have a Selle Italia SLR Monolink Flow. It is so awesome!! It has a Lorica cover and a very narrow nose that noticeably reduced friction vs the Fibra.

Terex

Go to this site : https://www.wekeepyoucycling.com/en/p...ring-tool.aspx

Order the measuring tool. Measure your sit bones. Buy a saddle that's the appropriate width for your bottom. That's how to start. And the size of your butt has little to do with the width of your sit bones.

Nightshade

All 100% true.

That said, I lean towards Brooks simply because they are old school still works design & materials.