70sSanO

Not a popular choice but I’m running a WTB Pure V. Logic was simple, if it is comfortable on a hardtail, how bad can it be on the road?

YMMV.

John

tricky 

Gotcha, no leather saddles. Saddles are definitely very specific to the person. I love the Specialized Phenom but it’s not super cushy. It’s also something like $120 for a new entry level one so it’s not far off of a SA. I got lucky and found one for cheap at the Seattle Bike Swap. Maybe try a WTB Speed V? They are cushier and there are lots of them out there for a good price.

MassCommuter

Older Avocets are very comfortable and readily available. I prefer them to Brooks for long distance rides.

AlanO

No. When I find a saddle that fits me I buy more than one and keep them forever. I have 40 year old saddles.

Phil_gretz

You realize that you are asking an impossibly indefinite question, don't you?

This is like asking, "what's a good restaurant meal that isn't spaghetti?" Um, okay.

duck a l'orange

wait...

spicy black bean enchiladas

or

boeuf bourguignon

no, no, try Greek...

kreatopita

or...

PFH

Me and another road cycling buddy really like the Fizik Aliante VS. (We're in our 60's.) I rode on a Brooks Pro for decades, but now I appreciate the padding and the center channel on the Fizik. A lot lighter, too.

Ianohian

I just picked up a Kontact saddle. After moving it around a bit, I find it really comfortable. It seems to fit better more forward and a bit flatter than other saddles. I've also had really good luck with WTB saddles, but my all-time favorite was a gyro/fizik Dolomite.

noglider 

Ass-o-meters are hard to come by, so it's hard to predict what saddle you will like. If your friend recommends one in particular, the recommendation is valuable only if your asses have the same internal shape. Are you going to check?

The only way I know of to find a saddle that's good for you is to try many saddles. It's time consuming. It can be expensive but needn't be, because you can sell some of the saddles for an effectively low rental rate.

Ianohian

I agree noglider, everybody is a bit different down there, and trying a bunch of different saddles is the best way to go. What has been comfortable for me may or may not be comfortable for the OP, but I found myself in the same boat as them not that long ago and figured I'd share.
I don't know how useful it is, but you can measure the width of your 'sitz bones' with a bit of cardboard and a ruler, and I think I read about a little rig that does the same thing. By Specialized maybe?
But you're absolutely right, I 'rented' saddles from Kijiji until I found some that I liked.

tcs

Persons No. 77 Deluxe. $58. Bought one. Liked it, bought a second.

ShannonM

All derrières are different, but(t):

I think the WTB Rockets are worth trying. I've got a Rocket V on my bike, and it's a good 'un. Great shape, with a bit of a flare at the tail, (Not as much as a Concor, but noticeable,) and a bit of a beaky nose. Fairly thick padding, but it's very firm, and molds quite nicely. No squish. I'm a bit on the chunky side, especially in the torso, with a bony nobutt. They come in 130, 142, and 150 widths. Mines the 130, and is a bit too skinny. I'm thinking the 142 would be the business. (My two favorite non-Brooksian saddles are both 140s: the Rolls and, for MTBs, the Concor. I love that ducktail when I'm grinding up a hill.)

They're all-black now, but the previous generation came in some nice color combos, and aren't hard to find. Mine's black and silver, with tan stictching. Good lookin' seat.

--Shannon

LECHERO531

Have 19 bikes and all have gone the way of San Marco Concours.You can get them in a rainbow of colors and textures.
Am 65 and have been riding them since I was 13.

Chombi1 

Concors are fantastic, but you do have to break-in your butt to conform to them if you never rode on them before.
Thing is, you're either a Concor rider or a Turbo rider. Transition from one to the other, also takes a bit of rear end break-in time.
Sams goes for the Rolls, which is a bit widbitand flatter han the Turbo.
I think I owe my adaptability to different saddles to riding Concors, a lightly padded, narrow and stiff saddle, for many years, which kinda made getting used to other saddles easy-peasy...... including suspended leather saddles.