Ti versus Steel Rails
05-03-08, 07:43 PM
#1
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Ti versus Steel Rails
Besides the weight reduction (pretty minimal in most cases) are saddles with ti rails more comfortable than steel? Are they worth the greater price when compared to the same saddle with steel?
thx
thx
05-03-08, 07:59 PM
#2
46x15 actually...
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I currently ride Ti rails on all of my bikes, and just recently put the new saddle on my FG from an old cromo saddle.
and, unfortunately, when you go to Ti rails, most of the saddles are the lightweight, super thin saddles compared too your heavier cromo saddles. And with your thinner saddles, they're generally less comfortable anyways.
So, if you ask me, its kinda one thing leads to another
Hope that made sense
-46
and, unfortunately, when you go to Ti rails, most of the saddles are the lightweight, super thin saddles compared too your heavier cromo saddles. And with your thinner saddles, they're generally less comfortable anyways.
So, if you ask me, its kinda one thing leads to another
Hope that made sense
-46
05-03-08, 08:08 PM
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Well then perhaps I should state that I am interested in the San Marco Regal saddle. I found a site selling the the steel rail version for around $60 and I believe the ti is around $130+. Same saddle, different rails, double the price. Worth the extra cash?
Last edited by jhaber; 05-03-08 at 08:16 PM.
05-03-08, 08:12 PM
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The Ti model has a smooth leather cover, while the steel is textured and sueded.
05-03-08, 08:13 PM
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Can't tell one spec of a difference since your seatpost would make more of a difference. I think it's just marketing
05-03-08, 08:15 PM
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Steel - 369 grams
Ti - listed as 300 some places and 320 others
Resulting in weight difference of 70 grams or 0.154323584 pounds using the lower weight listed.
Ti - listed as 300 some places and 320 others
Resulting in weight difference of 70 grams or 0.154323584 pounds using the lower weight listed.
05-03-08, 09:45 PM
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Go for the steel version. You wont notice the difference. Plus, that texture leather/suede is pretty sweet and grippy, meaning you won't slip around on your saddle having it make funny noises.
05-03-08, 10:29 PM
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seatpost design is a much larger determinant of comfort. the miche supertype I have flexes substantially more at the clamp area than other posts I have and therefore is more comfortable. the amount of flex in a saddle rail (steel or titanium) is inconsequential. the shell of a saddle flexes way more than the rails, for reference.
05-03-08, 11:34 PM
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I can't say that I've ever noticed the tiniest difference in comfort that could be attributed to the rails themselves. What you get for your money is a weight reduction, sometimes a significant one (as far as saddles go, anyway), compared to the equivalent saddle with cro-mo rails.
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05-04-08, 01:01 AM
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I've broken 2 seats:
One SDG: TI rails
One Selle: Steel rails
No difference in ride.
TI:
Get it if you have the $ and are weight concerned
Steel:
Get if you wanna spend $ some place else and could stand to loose a few pounds.
One SDG: TI rails
One Selle: Steel rails
No difference in ride.
TI:
Get it if you have the $ and are weight concerned
Steel:
Get if you wanna spend $ some place else and could stand to loose a few pounds.
05-04-08, 06:17 AM
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i used to have a selle italia ti flight or whatever it was. probably one of my favourite saddles of all time. unfortunately, it's also the only seat on which i've ever broken a rail. i'm not saying that ti breaks easier, just saying the only seat rail i ever busted was made of titanium.
i don't think the rails have anything to do with the comfort of the seat. the actual shell, padding and covering will detemine that.
aside from that, you shouldn't really notice the weight difference unless you've got an ultra light ride and you're super weight conscious. it's like hubs: some people claim they can tell the difference between high end hubs and low end hubs by riding the bike. and some people claim they can tell the difference between a few hundred grams of weight.
if you want a ti railed saddle and you can afford it, go for it. it will make you feel good.
i don't think the rails have anything to do with the comfort of the seat. the actual shell, padding and covering will detemine that.
aside from that, you shouldn't really notice the weight difference unless you've got an ultra light ride and you're super weight conscious. it's like hubs: some people claim they can tell the difference between high end hubs and low end hubs by riding the bike. and some people claim they can tell the difference between a few hundred grams of weight.
if you want a ti railed saddle and you can afford it, go for it. it will make you feel good.
05-04-08, 10:15 AM
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i'm pretty sure it's weight only. unless you're a big fat dude, everything on your saddle is going to flex way before your rails do (meaning, comfort probably has little to do with it).
that said, i rock ti. it proves to others that i'm 1) not poor, 2) real serious.
that said, i rock ti. it proves to others that i'm 1) not poor, 2) real serious.
05-04-08, 11:26 AM
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I read an interesting article in popular science (NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERD) a while ago about how most things that are advertised as "titanium" are actually not. They bought a bunch of golf clubs and weird things and such and took them to a metal grinder to see what color the sparks were. I think only one of them was ACTUALLY titanium.
Standby.
Here's the article: https://www.popsci.com/diy/article/20...plain-ol-steel
So I would agree... Ti is lighter in the wallet. Isn't Ti supposed to be stiffer than steel to begin with?
Standby.
Here's the article: https://www.popsci.com/diy/article/20...plain-ol-steel
So I would agree... Ti is lighter in the wallet. Isn't Ti supposed to be stiffer than steel to begin with?
05-04-08, 11:32 AM
#17
aka mattio
Ti is more of a marketing tool and a thing for weight weenies - well, at least when it's used for saddle rails.
Comfort is going to come from the saddle itself, and your bicycle, not from the saddle rails.
On some saddles, the ti rails have been known to be somewhat fragile, and deform/bend (rendering the saddle pretty useless) more readily than steel rails would.
Comfort is going to come from the saddle itself, and your bicycle, not from the saddle rails.
On some saddles, the ti rails have been known to be somewhat fragile, and deform/bend (rendering the saddle pretty useless) more readily than steel rails would.
05-04-08, 12:28 PM
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A penny weighs 2.5 grams. Somebody posted the Ti saddle was 70 grams lighter than the steel one. That's equal to 28 pennies.
$60 worth 28 pennies?
More importantly, nobody can see those Ti rails. What is the point in spending massive amounts of money on bling that nobody can see(unless they are midgets)?
Save that money and buy some real beer. For the record, PBR is swill.
