SeaBee

I think it was umd that coined the saying "I don't pray at the church of the toupe". I'll quote him on that.

My Arione gave me bad soft tissue soreness, starting and persisting during last season. Then reading that if Arione does not agree with you, Toupe most likely will, I got measured and got one. Ride no 1 was sheer agony, but hey it's a new saddle and the sitbones are what's sore, not the taint. Plus it was gone the moment I stepped off the bike. Good sign, will just get used to it. That was July... I spend my whole off-season training and this weekend that enough is enough. It's so painful I can't even ride hard after a while. Like my sitbone has arthritis or something. Grinding, grinding, grinding and hurting with every movement.

I've given it 3 1/2 months now, it feels like day one. Painful. And trust me, I've tried every angle possible.
And the first guy that says "not riding enough" can take their own saddle and... I think I've given it a fair chance, and hoped very hard that it works.

I have no idea where to start next - and don't worry, not asking either! I know the answer - every butt is different. But the hunt for the next saddle has definitely begun. I, too, no longer pray at the church of toupe.

urbanknight

I bought and sold used saddles off ebay until I found one I liked. you'll lose out on shipping costs, but that's a small price to pay for the sake of your ass (don't forget, umd said you can can "ass"), and you can buy a new one when you figure out which one you like, instead of sinking a fortune in saddles you'll just get rid of.

rollin

Similar path.

I went Arione ---> Toupe ---> Selle San Marco Mantra (works a charm for me)

ebay is a good idea, don't Competitive cyclist have a saddle test program?

Hope you find your match.

unterhausen

go to a bike shop that has a test saddle program. The only problem I've found is that I can sit on almost any saddle for 80 miles. After that is when the differences show up.

freddie

150lbs, toupe Ti 143; hate it. i am convinced these saddles are for fat people.

carrera65

Started with am Arione. Tried a Toupe and seemed okay at first but then became really painful. Went back to the Arione and have been pain free for almost 6000 miles.

rumatt

I have a Toupe 143 and I love it... for the first 30 miles. After that my sit bones start screaming in pain. I've used it on about 7 rides now so I'm starting to think it's not going to change.

Arione and/or Aliante are next on my list, but I haven't completely given up on the Toupe.

Basil Moss

You could just get a Rolls and stop worrying about which trendy new saddle might "suit" you. Everyone likes a Rolls.

ridethecliche

They said that about the regal too and I couldn't stand it.

Selle SMP for me.

jbpence

I have a toupe 143 on all my road bikes. have done centuries back to back on a weekend. clearly, one rider's heaven is another rider's hades. and so it goes

SeaBee

rumatt, I tell you now - it's not gonna change! I thought after a month that daaaamn, it's taking it's time to settle. And it's still the same. Initially fine, into the ride, the screaming begins.

Problem is, over here (in sunny SA) there's not much in the line of demo programs. The fact that I stay out of the major cities does not help on that front! Does make the rides much more scenic, though! I can get some Selle Italias on demo's, but that's about it...

First try is to go back to Arione - maybe a different perspective may be good, but I doubt whether it'll help much! At least tie me over till I get something else.

Incidently saw no less than two of LA's San Marco's in the LBS - and you'd think they were unobtainable. But it looks darn weird. With the USPS branding and all. Not all that expensive, either.

TassR700

I went from a Toupe to an Alliante. I had the same sit bone issues after 30-40 miles with the Toupe. The alliante has taken care of the sit bone issues but I have to get the tilt just right to avoid numbness. It has been a good switch for me.

ripperj 

I tried many top of the line saddles, starting with the Toupe.
Ended up with a Selle Anatomica- its a heavy-clunky looking thing, but very comforatble.
I agree with the Ebay approach, even buying new on the high end saddles, I lost very little money- its amazing how few people research the item's "New" price, many of the saddle i sold were very close to MSRP.

lechat

Also used ebay as a demo program. Tried them all until settling on the Toupe as the least of all evils. Very 'taint friendly but a bit hard on the butt after hr. #2. Recently snagged a Phenom on ebay. Perfect. Well worth the extra bit of weight. The Toupe gel was no better than the regular. The phenom has a smoother transition from seat to nose and seems to have a bit more downward curve on its flanks. If you've settled on the Toupe but aren't 100% satisfied. Give it a try.

RichinPeoria

+1 on the Rolls

RichinPeoria

Also do the "Butt-O-Meter" thing at a Specialized store

SeaBee

I did, shows what it helped.... Putting this one down to incompatibility.

Got a San Marco to ride with option to buy. Let's see. Turns out the LBS is San Marco dealers, but simply don't carry much stock. Can get anything, though...

Let's see.

DScott

Saddles, argggh!

Like many, my saddle journey looks like this: Bontrager butt-hammer, Alias > Toupe > Prologo Scratch > Antares > new Toupe > and now a Regal.

Funny thing is, I used the Toupe the most, wore it out, and about that time it hurt like you described (intense sit-bone pain). Tried a bunch of others, even a new toupe, but am having the most luck (e.g., the least pain) on the Regal.

I'm convinced some have an iron butt, or are just lucky in finding what works. Remember, it's not only the saddle itself, but how you set it up, what bibs/chamois you're using, use of chamois cream, types of riding, fitness, phases of the moon, whatever...

Keep looking, there's bound to be the perfect saddle for you.

Tsuru

Aliante!

urbanknight

I'm 150 lb with a toupe ti 130 and love it. It does take the right chamois to get me more than a couple of hours on it in comfort, but with my LG bibs I can ride all day. Every butt is different.

superdex

huh. This guy rides a Toupe 143 and it's bliss.

DScott

But you'll notice he's not sitting down...

wheelsets

I've got a Toupe gel 143 and it's painful after 2 hours. Just 2 hard points in my sit bones. It doesn't last long after the ride is over and I can still get it up that night if needed, but I'm looking around at options. I'm 185, so I don't think the Toupe 143 is necessarily designed for fat people either. Maybe just people on shorter rides.

NickDavid

173lbs on a Toupe. No problems.

ericm979

Sit bone width doesn't correlate 1:1 with body weight. Some thin people have wide sit bones and some fatties have narrow sit bones. Hence the butt-o-meter.

For me the combination of a narrow Toupe and shorts with dense padding works better than anything else I have tried....it's fine up to 8 hours or so. The butt-o-meter isn't perfect- it said I was a 143 but the 143 I tried was too wide. 130 is much better.