Suggestions for a good seat?
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Suggestions for a good seat? (SOLVED)
I've been pretty happy with the seat that came with my old bike, but since I've invested a lot on pretty much every other component on my new bike I want to round things out and get me a seat to tie a ribbon on the whole thing.
I like the look of Selle Italia seats, Fizik and Specialised get a lot of play on review sites.. but I'd rather get my opinion from real people than paid reviewers,!
I'm looking for something firm but padded, with an aggressive camber, if that's even a thing. I'd like it to make a subtle statement, two tone might be a bit too much but as I've said I like the branding on Selle Italia seats.
Maybe there's a seat that was extremely hot sh*t 5 or 7 years ago, TDF standard, that I could get cheaper now?
Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions! <3
Edit: saddle* saddles*
I like the look of Selle Italia seats, Fizik and Specialised get a lot of play on review sites.. but I'd rather get my opinion from real people than paid reviewers,!
I'm looking for something firm but padded, with an aggressive camber, if that's even a thing. I'd like it to make a subtle statement, two tone might be a bit too much but as I've said I like the branding on Selle Italia seats.
Maybe there's a seat that was extremely hot sh*t 5 or 7 years ago, TDF standard, that I could get cheaper now?
Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions! <3
Edit: saddle* saddles*
Last edited by tajimirich; 06-15-22 at 09:58 PM.
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Oddly price does not equate to comfort. It appears that the fanciest seats are those used in professional competition... But really... Those guys don't sit much... Ha
The search for the good looking comfortable seat goes on. Kinda like the Holly Grail...
Somehow I keep thinking Brooks. Even if it doesn't look super modern anyone who really rides will note... Its a Brooks...
C15?
The search for the good looking comfortable seat goes on. Kinda like the Holly Grail...
Somehow I keep thinking Brooks. Even if it doesn't look super modern anyone who really rides will note... Its a Brooks...
C15?
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Last edited by zandoval; 06-15-22 at 09:52 AM.
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For real though, my current seat feels quite firm and thin, so I feel that I'll be able to handle these ingeniously uncomfortable boards loll
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So are you just wanting to see us argue what has been argued over and over here?
Ride whatever saddle your butt gets along with.
Ride whatever saddle your butt gets along with.
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Even better, call around to shops and see if any have demo saddles. You can try narrow down what they offer and then try a few on long rides. Buy the one that you like most.
What people suggest here is of little value. There are like 3,284 saddles on the market right now and many come in varying widths or curves. What works for someone may be terrible for you, or viceversa.
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Go to a couple local shops and ask if they have a saddle fitting board. Sit on it and then look at any that fit your body.
Even better, call around to shops and see if any have demo saddles. You can try narrow down what they offer and then try a few on long rides. Buy the one that you like most.
What people suggest here is of little value. There are like 3,284 saddles on the market right now and many come in varying widths or curves. What works for someone may be terrible for you, or viceversa.
Even better, call around to shops and see if any have demo saddles. You can try narrow down what they offer and then try a few on long rides. Buy the one that you like most.
What people suggest here is of little value. There are like 3,284 saddles on the market right now and many come in varying widths or curves. What works for someone may be terrible for you, or viceversa.
I'll think about that. There is such a store, though they're a bianchi-aligned chain who refused to look at my old GIANT bike so I'm not too hot on them lol.. can still use them like the tools they are muhaha...
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https://www.probikekit.com/bicycle-s.../13222618.html
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The problem with suggesting a saddle is I know nothing about you, or your riding. I can only tell you what works for me, and that is useless to you unless you're similar to me.
SO - I am pretty much inflexible - can't reach beyond mid-calf when trying to touch my toes. This means that I roll my pelvis forward, and keep a straight back, rather than bending at the waist and curving my back. This means I benefit from a "Wave" saddle, that's lower in the middle than at the ends.
I also run a saddle-to-bar drop of 7.5-11 cm, depending on the bike, and I like to use the drops a fair amount because my usual route sometimes means 6 miles riding into a stiff headwind. This means I need a saddle with a 'relief channel', AND one that's flat across the back, rather than curved, because that curve puts pressure where I don't want it.
I also have Thunder Thighs, but I do best with low Q-factor, meaning my legs don't splay around the saddle. This means I need a saddle with a narrow nose.
For me, the best saddle I've found is the Avocet O2 Air 40R. Unfortunately, these have been out of production for 20 years. Fortunately, I bought a stash. Unfortunately, that stash is depleted. SO I tried some other saddles, based on the above parameters, and found the Fizik Aliante VSX. Not as comfy as my beloved Avocet, but still good for > 50 miles with no pain, chafing, or numbness. Unfortunately, I found out it, too, is out of production.
So, that's my recommendation, if you're like me - two saddles nobody makes anymore. You have to get them NOS or used off of Ebay or similar. But if you're not like me, then you don't want either of them.
There, I imagine this has been perfectly useless.
SO - I am pretty much inflexible - can't reach beyond mid-calf when trying to touch my toes. This means that I roll my pelvis forward, and keep a straight back, rather than bending at the waist and curving my back. This means I benefit from a "Wave" saddle, that's lower in the middle than at the ends.
I also run a saddle-to-bar drop of 7.5-11 cm, depending on the bike, and I like to use the drops a fair amount because my usual route sometimes means 6 miles riding into a stiff headwind. This means I need a saddle with a 'relief channel', AND one that's flat across the back, rather than curved, because that curve puts pressure where I don't want it.
I also have Thunder Thighs, but I do best with low Q-factor, meaning my legs don't splay around the saddle. This means I need a saddle with a narrow nose.
For me, the best saddle I've found is the Avocet O2 Air 40R. Unfortunately, these have been out of production for 20 years. Fortunately, I bought a stash. Unfortunately, that stash is depleted. SO I tried some other saddles, based on the above parameters, and found the Fizik Aliante VSX. Not as comfy as my beloved Avocet, but still good for > 50 miles with no pain, chafing, or numbness. Unfortunately, I found out it, too, is out of production.
So, that's my recommendation, if you're like me - two saddles nobody makes anymore. You have to get them NOS or used off of Ebay or similar. But if you're not like me, then you don't want either of them.
There, I imagine this has been perfectly useless.
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That's insane.
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Now I have this vision of the wrenches at the bike shop averting their eyes....
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#14
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Figure out what width seat works for you, and decide on shape from there. See if there are any shops that will loan you seats for a ride or a weekend.
I've decided that 132mm is far too narrow for my butt, 142-145mm is just about perfect, and 147 is workable (though bordering on wide).
I've decided that 132mm is far too narrow for my butt, 142-145mm is just about perfect, and 147 is workable (though bordering on wide).
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The forward tilt is to save your junk, your penis can get numb if pressure is put in the wrong areas. Its not good. I like my fizik saddle, but as long as youre relatively comfortable on your current saddle im tempted to say if it aint broke don't fix it. Or atleast get a saddle similar to one that you currently have
Last edited by LarrySellerz; 06-15-22 at 05:35 PM.
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The forward tilt is to save your junk, your penis can get dumb if pressure is put in the wrong areas. Its not good. I like my fizik saddle, but as long as youre relatively comfortable on your current saddle im tempted to say if it aint broke don't fix it. Or atleast get a saddle similar to one that you currently have
BUT, if you have to tilt your saddle forward to save your junk, you may have a poor bike fit, a lousy saddle, or both.
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Things change. When I was younger, I could ride just about anything, and always went for a "racy" saddle.
Nowadays, at 50+, I am much more picky on the shape. The Selle Italia Flite of yesteryear is now not "flat" enough, and is akin to sitting on a canoe paddle edge up!
Anyway, you can find plenty of racy saddles that will work.
Nowadays, at 50+, I am much more picky on the shape. The Selle Italia Flite of yesteryear is now not "flat" enough, and is akin to sitting on a canoe paddle edge up!
Anyway, you can find plenty of racy saddles that will work.
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Things change. When I was younger, I could ride just about anything, and always went for a "racy" saddle.
Nowadays, at 50+, I am much more picky on the shape. The Selle Italia Flite of yesteryear is now not "flat" enough, and is akin to sitting on a canoe paddle edge up!
Anyway, you can find plenty of racy saddles that will work.
Nowadays, at 50+, I am much more picky on the shape. The Selle Italia Flite of yesteryear is now not "flat" enough, and is akin to sitting on a canoe paddle edge up!
Anyway, you can find plenty of racy saddles that will work.
did a number of centuries (metric and regular) - and to the surprise and dismay of some (lol) never had an issue ... never had a sore rear or numbness or any other issues
(and that was on aluminum, steel, and carbon bikes fitted with 20 and 23 mm tires pumped 100+ psi)
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I've been pretty happy with the seat that came with my old bike, but since I've invested a lot on pretty much every other component on my new bike I want to round things out and get me a seat to tie a ribbon on the whole thing.
I like the look of Selle Italia seats, Fizik and Specialised get a lot of play on review sites.. but I'd rather get my opinion from real people than paid reviewers,!
I'm looking for something firm but padded, with an aggressive camber, if that's even a thing. I'd like it to make a subtle statement, two tone might be a bit too much but as I've said I like the branding on Selle Italia seats.
Maybe there's a seat that was extremely hot sh*t 5 or 7 years ago, TDF standard, that I could get cheaper now?
Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions! <3
Edit: saddle* saddles*
I like the look of Selle Italia seats, Fizik and Specialised get a lot of play on review sites.. but I'd rather get my opinion from real people than paid reviewers,!
I'm looking for something firm but padded, with an aggressive camber, if that's even a thing. I'd like it to make a subtle statement, two tone might be a bit too much but as I've said I like the branding on Selle Italia seats.
Maybe there's a seat that was extremely hot sh*t 5 or 7 years ago, TDF standard, that I could get cheaper now?
Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions! <3
Edit: saddle* saddles*
Charge Knife
Charge Spoon
Fabric Scoop
Fizik Aliante
WTB Silverado
WTB Volt
.
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We have the wider version - Air 50R - (in black) on one of my wife's bikes and she liked it (and I did also when I rode her bike)
.
#21
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The forward tilt is to save your junk, your penis can get numb if pressure is put in the wrong areas. Its not good. I like my fizik saddle, but as long as youre relatively comfortable on your current saddle im tempted to say if it aint broke don't fix it. Or atleast get a saddle similar to one that you currently have
My current saddle. Came included with a Giant Contend about a year and a half ago. It was very comfortable on that contend but in the new (slightly longer) bike it can be a bit of a prostate crusher if I am down "in the drops", which gives me the *****, e'heh.. But in general it's a pretty slimline offering with a pretty huge cutout, and I think it's a perfectly comfortable seat so I'm keen to stay with this .. genre
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... Once, on the kerb outside their shop. Long enough to say "yeah, definitely something wrong there, but we can't help you" lol... The chain is "Y's Road" a very big one here in Japan
To be fair, there's a fair chance Bianchi run campagnolo groupsets or something, which might explain their inability to service my Shimano bike... THAT SAID they had plenty of Shimano componentry on their shelves so maybe not.
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The problem with suggesting a saddle is I know nothing about you, or your riding. I can only tell you what works for me, and that is useless to you unless you're similar to me.
SO - I am pretty much inflexible - can't reach beyond mid-calf when trying to touch my toes. This means that I roll my pelvis forward, and keep a straight back, rather than bending at the waist and curving my back. This means I benefit from a "Wave" saddle, that's lower in the middle than at the ends.
I also run a saddle-to-bar drop of 7.5-11 cm, depending on the bike, and I like to use the drops a fair amount because my usual route sometimes means 6 miles riding into a stiff headwind. This means I need a saddle with a 'relief channel', AND one that's flat across the back, rather than curved, because that curve puts pressure where I don't want it.
I also have Thunder Thighs, but I do best with low Q-factor, meaning my legs don't splay around the saddle. This means I need a saddle with a narrow nose.
For me, the best saddle I've found is the Avocet O2 Air 40R. Unfortunately, these have been out of production for 20 years. Fortunately, I bought a stash. Unfortunately, that stash is depleted. SO I tried some other saddles, based on the above parameters, and found the Fizik Aliante VSX. Not as comfy as my beloved Avocet, but still good for > 50 miles with no pain, chafing, or numbness. Unfortunately, I found out it, too, is out of production.
So, that's my recommendation, if you're like me - two saddles nobody makes anymore. You have to get them NOS or used off of Ebay or similar. But if you're not like me, then you don't want either of them.
There, I imagine this has been perfectly useless.
SO - I am pretty much inflexible - can't reach beyond mid-calf when trying to touch my toes. This means that I roll my pelvis forward, and keep a straight back, rather than bending at the waist and curving my back. This means I benefit from a "Wave" saddle, that's lower in the middle than at the ends.
I also run a saddle-to-bar drop of 7.5-11 cm, depending on the bike, and I like to use the drops a fair amount because my usual route sometimes means 6 miles riding into a stiff headwind. This means I need a saddle with a 'relief channel', AND one that's flat across the back, rather than curved, because that curve puts pressure where I don't want it.
I also have Thunder Thighs, but I do best with low Q-factor, meaning my legs don't splay around the saddle. This means I need a saddle with a narrow nose.
For me, the best saddle I've found is the Avocet O2 Air 40R. Unfortunately, these have been out of production for 20 years. Fortunately, I bought a stash. Unfortunately, that stash is depleted. SO I tried some other saddles, based on the above parameters, and found the Fizik Aliante VSX. Not as comfy as my beloved Avocet, but still good for > 50 miles with no pain, chafing, or numbness. Unfortunately, I found out it, too, is out of production.
So, that's my recommendation, if you're like me - two saddles nobody makes anymore. You have to get them NOS or used off of Ebay or similar. But if you're not like me, then you don't want either of them.
There, I imagine this has been perfectly useless.
I'll look up that Fizik, there's a pretty robust second hand market for parts here
Thanks!
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Nothing on a bike is more personal than the saddle. It doesn't matter how much it costs if your body doesn't like it. People rant about Brooks saddles but I hate them and others I know hate them, too.
I like a Selle Italia wide with a cut-out but I also loved those old Avocets and once had a $25 Performance saddle that I liked until it fell apart.
I like a Selle Italia wide with a cut-out but I also loved those old Avocets and once had a $25 Performance saddle that I liked until it fell apart.