KasbeKZ

i'm sure there have been plenty of saddle reviews on here already, but i post to ask if anyone has any suggestions on a saddle more suited for a larger rider. i'm about 6', 180 in my active seasons and peaking around 190 some parts of the year. yeah, not the best body for a cyclist, but i like to do it any way. so the saddle is important for me cause i've got a lot of weight on it (even if i do have the proper 3-3-3 distribution). i've read some reviews and like the e3 form gel saddle so far. i'm thinking of ordering it. mostly cause of cost, and some very good reviews that i've read. any other suggestions that are better suited for a larger rider?

MONGO!

Avoid anything with gel in it.

Fizik Arione is good for me, may not be good for you.

KasbeKZ

no gel? for the long levity factor?

MONGO!

Gel has a tendency to "bunch up"

Gel and cutouts are both marketing bs

rmwun54

https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=5210

I like this saddle for my road bike. After 30 years of cycling and more than 15 saddles I have found this one to be quite comfortable for the long haul. One thing though you have to fill in the molded shock absorbing holes with epoxy glue, this makes the seat not flex so much and is more comfortable if done this way. I ride around 35 to 50 miles one day a week on the road.

KasbeKZ

thanks a lot for the suggestions. i'll try to stay away from the gel then. that looks like a pretty good one. thanks for the link. i'll see if i can find it locally

MrBear

Sorry for the hi-jack, but, can anyone provide some first hand feed back on the Selle Italia SLR? Newer model the better.

Thanks.

End hi-jack.

slimvela

Not everything works for everyone. Gel, well manufactured/assembled, will not bunch up. Cut outs do relieve pressure from the affected area when sized properly.

The fact that some do not get/need this type of relief from the cut out does not mean it does not work.

I for one feel a deffinite difference in comfort from saddles with and without cutout and/or gel.

Personally, I reccomend trying out as many as you can. I used the saddle demo program from competitivecyclist.com and went with the Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow. Prior to that I used the Alias from Specialized. I tried other saddles such as the Flite, Arione, Toupe, Avatar, just to name a few. However, I did try out the Selle Italia SLK Gel Flow the other day; pretty nifty.

Sampling is the key whenever possible. Your tush will love you for it.

Just my .02

KasbeKZ

thank you all for the advise. i guess the majority of saddles don't have any problem accommodating someone my size.

JBBOOKS

I'm 225 and ride on a Brooks Team Pro. While not perfect, it's darn close for my oversized rear.

musbike

If your willing to pony up the money, consider the koobi prs century. Very comfortable with removable shock absorbers(customized for your weight). I been using this saddle for long rides and rough roads for the past few months-very happy with this saddle.

pharding

Fizik Aliante works great for the bigger rider.

Falchoon

I've got the 07 Selle Italia SLR on my bike and find it good.
This one - https://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=S0023

My new bike has a Specialized Toupe which also seems quite comfortable (probably more than SLR) but I I've only ridden about 10km so can't compare fairly yet.

slushlover2

I have the SLR on my Litespeed and my Colnago. One is a 2004 model and the other is a 2008. The only difference I see is the graphics. I love the feel of these seats. They are very stiff with minimal padding and aren't for everyone.

14max

Long levity? It'll tell you jokes throughout the ride?

alancw3

+1 for me. i am 6'4' and 220 and have found the arione to be as comfortable a saddle as i have ever used and so far with 7500 miles on it has held up great. now as to looks it's kind of ugly imho.

FlashBazbo

I'm about your size and I'll put in another vote for the Brooks Team Pro. I have ridden a Fizik Arionne for several years (after having tried several others over the years), but the Team Pro recently beat it out for all my bikes.

Incidentally -- different Brooks models are different widths. The narrower Brooks (Swift and Swallow) were torture for me.

damocles1

O RLY? The Flite Ti gel saddles (on four different bikes) I've been riding for the past 4 years are just fine and keep my doo-dads from getting numb...

To the OP, you and I are about the same size and the Flite Ti gel fits me perfectly. I tried an Arione and the nose was a bit too long. SLRs didn't have enough padding...

Second Mouse

I've got a Brooks B17 for longer rides and an E3 Form (non-gel) saddle for crits. The E3 is $60 right now at Performance, but they have it on sale pretty regularly for $40 or so. I'm 6'5", 205#.

sstorkel

Check out the Selle SMP saddles or the Specialized Toupe. I bought the cheap-o SMP Strike Extra from Performance for about $80 and have been pretty impressed with it. So far, it's the only saddle I've found that didn't become uncomfortable at the end of a 40-50 mile ride. That said, the other day I test-rode a bike with a Toupe. It was a short ride, but at the end I realized I hadn't noticed the saddle at all and I've never been able to say that about any saddle...

Tequila Joe

Pfffft!

Maybe if you are buying gel saddles from WallMart.

I have 3 Selle Italia SLR Gel Flow saddles on varirous bikes and they are very comforatble. The gel hasn't bunched up over the last 4 years on any of them. I get absolutly no "taint" pressure due to the cutout.

I have an Arione on my Vortex. Its mushy in comparison to the SLR GEl Flow and gives "taint" pressure which isn't bothersome but you know it is there.

grolby

Not necessarily; the right cutout can make a huge difference. I've finally found a saddle that works, a Specialized Avatar (lowest in their saddle lineup). It's got a cutout, and it's the only road saddle I've found that doesn't leave me numb after 30 miles. I'm sold on Specialized saddles; if I can afford it in the future, I'll be looking further up their line to the Toupe to see if it's as good, or better.

prendrefeu

Toupe, 130mm.

With any saddle: YMMV - it comes down to you, your ass, your "sit bones", your taint, your patience, and your wallet.

yogi13

5'10", 185. Specialized Toupe, though I'm contemplating trying a fizik aliante. YMMV, any saddle you get might or might not work for you.

KasbeKZ

oops. didn't mean what i thought it did. i had to look up the definition. i'll replace that phrase with long lastingness. even though that might not be a word