The quest for the perfect bike saddle...................again.
12-04-22, 11:39 AM
#26
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Saddle selection used to be much simpler:
1. Everyone used Brooks
2. Women suffered
Then, technology evolved:
1. Old guys used Brooks
2. Young guys used Ariones
3. Middle-age guys used Toupes
4. Women suffered
1. Everyone used Brooks
2. Women suffered
Then, technology evolved:
1. Old guys used Brooks
2. Young guys used Ariones
3. Middle-age guys used Toupes
4. Women suffered
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12-04-22, 11:50 AM
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12-04-22, 12:01 PM
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You are seeking the unobtainable. The only thing close to excellent comfort will be found on a recumbent bike or trike.
If you are in the snow belt that first 25 mile ride in the spring leaves you butt hurting so bad, you cant ride for a week. Been there and done that. On my bent or trike, you can ride again the next day with no pain at all.
If you are in the snow belt that first 25 mile ride in the spring leaves you butt hurting so bad, you cant ride for a week. Been there and done that. On my bent or trike, you can ride again the next day with no pain at all.
12-04-22, 12:03 PM
#29
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Not trying to troll, but no one can suggest a saddle for another person. It's like running shoes, you go through a process to find something that works and you stick with that.
Also, I've never really understood being super picky about saddles. Maybe I'm strange, but ~90% of saddles seem to work just fine for me.
Also, I've never really understood being super picky about saddles. Maybe I'm strange, but ~90% of saddles seem to work just fine for me.
12-04-22, 12:36 PM
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12-04-22, 02:50 PM
#31
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12-04-22, 04:01 PM
#32
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Since starting on Strava I have 35k miles, with about 15k of those on a recumbent, which includes some very long rides. Pre Strava the mix was probably more heavily recumbent.
Now the recumbent is hanging while I work through fit and comfort issues on an upright. I managed to finish a 1200k brevet upright on a Sella Anatomica, but it was brutal. A sequence of saddle tests led me to a Terry Fly, which was decent up to 400k, rough at 600k, and contributed to a DNF 700k into a 1500k. Now I'm back to the SA, with the fit tweaked. Nose slightly up, saddle moved forward to put my sit bones further back. I've added aero bars to give me alternate hand positions (hand numbness being another challenge to tackle on the upright), and the modified fitted SA has been decent up to and including a 1000k. "Decent" being a high mark at that distance.
IMO the are a ton of saddles that will be fine for 40 miles, if adjusted to prevent rocking or sliding. As the miles go up, the need for something that aligns with your particular anatomy becomes more important.
The drama associated with bike format is unnecessary and unfortunate. When i occasionally get the bent out, it's like holy crap this thing is luxurious, fast on the flats, and downright scary fast descending. Climbing is hard frickin work. The upright is a more whole body experience, which includes the good with the bad.
Now the recumbent is hanging while I work through fit and comfort issues on an upright. I managed to finish a 1200k brevet upright on a Sella Anatomica, but it was brutal. A sequence of saddle tests led me to a Terry Fly, which was decent up to 400k, rough at 600k, and contributed to a DNF 700k into a 1500k. Now I'm back to the SA, with the fit tweaked. Nose slightly up, saddle moved forward to put my sit bones further back. I've added aero bars to give me alternate hand positions (hand numbness being another challenge to tackle on the upright), and the modified fitted SA has been decent up to and including a 1000k. "Decent" being a high mark at that distance.
IMO the are a ton of saddles that will be fine for 40 miles, if adjusted to prevent rocking or sliding. As the miles go up, the need for something that aligns with your particular anatomy becomes more important.
The drama associated with bike format is unnecessary and unfortunate. When i occasionally get the bent out, it's like holy crap this thing is luxurious, fast on the flats, and downright scary fast descending. Climbing is hard frickin work. The upright is a more whole body experience, which includes the good with the bad.
12-04-22, 06:01 PM
#33
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Since starting on Strava I have 35k miles, with about 15k of those on a recumbent, which includes some very long rides. Pre Strava the mix was probably more heavily recumbent.
Now the recumbent is hanging while I work through fit and comfort issues on an upright. I managed to finish a 1200k brevet upright on a Sella Anatomica, but it was brutal. A sequence of saddle tests led me to a Terry Fly, which was decent up to 400k, rough at 600k, and contributed to a DNF 700k into a 1500k. Now I'm back to the SA, with the fit tweaked. Nose slightly up, saddle moved forward to put my sit bones further back. I've added aero bars to give me alternate hand positions (hand numbness being another challenge to tackle on the upright), and the modified fitted SA has been decent up to and including a 1000k. "Decent" being a high mark at that distance.
IMO the are a ton of saddles that will be fine for 40 miles, if adjusted to prevent rocking or sliding. As the miles go up, the need for something that aligns with your particular anatomy becomes more important.
The drama associated with bike format is unnecessary and unfortunate. When i occasionally get the bent out, it's like holy crap this thing is luxurious, fast on the flats, and downright scary fast descending. Climbing is hard frickin work. The upright is a more whole body experience, which includes the good with the bad.
Now the recumbent is hanging while I work through fit and comfort issues on an upright. I managed to finish a 1200k brevet upright on a Sella Anatomica, but it was brutal. A sequence of saddle tests led me to a Terry Fly, which was decent up to 400k, rough at 600k, and contributed to a DNF 700k into a 1500k. Now I'm back to the SA, with the fit tweaked. Nose slightly up, saddle moved forward to put my sit bones further back. I've added aero bars to give me alternate hand positions (hand numbness being another challenge to tackle on the upright), and the modified fitted SA has been decent up to and including a 1000k. "Decent" being a high mark at that distance.
IMO the are a ton of saddles that will be fine for 40 miles, if adjusted to prevent rocking or sliding. As the miles go up, the need for something that aligns with your particular anatomy becomes more important.
The drama associated with bike format is unnecessary and unfortunate. When i occasionally get the bent out, it's like holy crap this thing is luxurious, fast on the flats, and downright scary fast descending. Climbing is hard frickin work. The upright is a more whole body experience, which includes the good with the bad.
Selle Anatomica saddle is designed to be set up nose up unlike most saddles which are usually best level. If I adjust the SA level, I will slide forward. And nose up does not cause perineal numbness on the SA which is the primary reason for not having the nose up.
12-04-22, 06:38 PM
#34
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Instead of a saddle, you need a completely ‘new’ bike that’s not a recumbent so you can hold your head up high!
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Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
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12-04-22, 06:50 PM
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How old is the saddle you are using now?
12-04-22, 07:02 PM
#36
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The Brooks Cambium C15 w/cutout has been great for every ride that I take. What it does to my clothing is another matter. The top surface of Cambium saddles is a layer of abrasive material that wears through most fabric. The only way to avoid it would be to wear kevlar trousers/shorts. I wish I could get the same saddle but with a smooth top surface (without going with a leather Brooks though).
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12-04-22, 08:17 PM
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The Brooks Cambium C15 w/cutout has been great for every ride that I take. What it does to my clothing is another matter. The top surface of Cambium saddles is a layer of abrasive material that wears through most fabric. The only way to avoid it would be to wear kevlar trousers/shorts. I wish I could get the same saddle but with a smooth top surface (without going with a leather Brooks though).
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12-04-22, 08:48 PM
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12-04-22, 09:03 PM
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That may be the differentiator. I have 5-6 pair of bibs that I cycle through. Though I have been riding that bike about 2,500 miles per year for the past 5+ years, so an average of over 2,500 miles (just on that bike, with more miles on other bikes) on each pair of bibshorts with no unusual wear.
I wonder if the cutout is responsible for your results?
I wonder if the cutout is responsible for your results?
12-04-22, 09:28 PM
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...I have a couple of their older model leather saddles, with no cut out. Like all suspension design leather saddles, they tend to stretch as they break in. Unfortunately, in my case this makes them less comfortable. I have laced this one to restore some stiffness, but honestly I think I'm not going to buy any more of these. I guess their current designs are different materials and construction. I have no advice, in this case, other than you could try punching and lacing before you throw them away.
...I have a couple of their older model leather saddles, with no cut out. Like all suspension design leather saddles, they tend to stretch as they break in. Unfortunately, in my case this makes them less comfortable. I have laced this one to restore some stiffness, but honestly I think I'm not going to buy any more of these. I guess their current designs are different materials and construction. I have no advice, in this case, other than you could try punching and lacing before you throw them away.
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12-04-22, 09:46 PM
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You are seeking the unobtainable. The only thing close to excellent comfort will be found on a recumbent bike or trike.
If you are in the snow belt that first 25 mile ride in the spring leaves you butt hurting so bad, you cant ride for a week. Been there and done that. On my bent or trike, you can ride again the next day with no pain at all.
If you are in the snow belt that first 25 mile ride in the spring leaves you butt hurting so bad, you cant ride for a week. Been there and done that. On my bent or trike, you can ride again the next day with no pain at all.
12-04-22, 10:03 PM
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That may be the differentiator. I have 5-6 pair of bibs that I cycle through. Though I have been riding that bike about 2,500 miles per year for the past 5+ years, so an average of over 2,500 miles (just on that bike, with more miles on other bikes) on each pair of bibshorts with no unusual wear.
I wonder if the cutout is responsible for your results?
I wonder if the cutout is responsible for your results?
Last edited by Nyah; 12-04-22 at 10:09 PM.
12-04-22, 10:18 PM
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The Selle Royal Gel Respiro moderate has worked well for me for couple of years now. I'm 71 and not riding long distances. For shorter rides this one has allowed me to continue to enjoy riding nearly every day. (Link) Selle Royal Gel Respiro Moderate
12-04-22, 10:23 PM
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I think mine are the older style. Both are 5+ years old.
Last edited by Koyote; 12-06-22 at 09:18 PM.
12-04-22, 10:34 PM
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The Brooks Cambium C15 w/cutout has been great for every ride that I take. What it does to my clothing is another matter. The top surface of Cambium saddles is a layer of abrasive material that wears through most fabric. The only way to avoid it would be to wear kevlar trousers/shorts. I wish I could get the same saddle but with a smooth top surface (without going with a leather Brooks though).
The 2 most used are both the newer weatherproof, while the others are the older soft cotton.
After maybe a couple hundred miles, the abrasiveness of the new style c17 was gone. They are quite smooth.
I own 0 Kevlar clothing. Just bib shorts touch the saddles and there is no wear that I have noticed.
I would be really annoyed if my bibs wore out quickly because they aren't inexpensive.
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12-05-22, 03:01 AM
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Hmmm. I don't have uneven leg lengths, but I do have a scoliosis. Had some back issues earlier this year. Went to chiropractor and things improved quite a bit at first. She gave me some stretching exercises (hamstring and Psoas stretches) to do at home which I have done daily ever since. I was delighted at first that this right sit bone pain went away for awhile. I few weeks later, it mysteriously came back and has been there ever since. Not sure what to make of this. The pain seems to radiate down the right hamstring.
I'm wondering if maybe I need to have my fit re-evaluated. I have dialed in my current fit over the years through trial and error and it has worked for quite some time............until now.
I'm wondering if maybe I need to have my fit re-evaluated. I have dialed in my current fit over the years through trial and error and it has worked for quite some time............until now.
Look at Steve Hogg's method of setting seat height.
https://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com...ard-can-it-be/
https://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com...d-can-it-be-2/
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12-05-22, 09:24 AM
#49
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I doesn't mean your legs are different lengths. Generally when a person has pain on one side, it is because the saddle is too high and you are dropping to one side to compensate. Saddle issues are rarely the saddle, but in stead poor fit, saddle too high, too much reach, too much drop, or a combination. In the case of saddle pain on one side though, it suggests saddle height being too high. You also lose efficiency with a saddle that is too high. I had the same issue. Dropping my seat height fixed the problem. Same seat, now it's comfortable.
Look at Steve Hogg's method of setting seat height.
https://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com...ard-can-it-be/
https://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com...d-can-it-be-2/
Look at Steve Hogg's method of setting seat height.
https://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com...ard-can-it-be/
https://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com...d-can-it-be-2/
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12-05-22, 09:48 AM
#50
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