Adagio Corse

I'm hearing comments by people who have to buy a new seat every 18 months - isn't that a bit expensive for $160 seats (or more if all carbon)?

What's everyone's experience on the lightweight offerings by Fizik and Selle Italia? Is it really less than 2 years? I've been riding Brooks (the last 8 years) and now Selle Anatomica (both of which are expected to last at least a decade), but before then I had a Turbo that I used for 4 years! So I was quite shocked to hear that current high bling seats have such a short lifespan.

Bob Ross

Depending on how much you ride, you should probably consider replacing your seat routinely regardless of whether it's some super-lightweight carbon plank or a huge, heavily-cushioned sprung/slung hammock. The shape of nearly any saddle is altered with constant use, and at some point it will become misshapen such that it is no longer comfortable nor optimally supportive. (And, potentially, no longer safe.)

Who told you the Brooks & the Selle Anatomica were "expected to last at least a decade"? Probably not someone who rides >3,000 miles/year.

I got about 6,000 miles out of my fizik Aliante before it started to get noticeably deformed.

Eatadonut

Talk to the touring forum about their brooks. Depending on the model, you're talking twice or three times the weight in supportive material. It wouldn't surprise me to have a Brooks last a damn long time. Also, you're talking leather vs. plastics. They respond differently to wear, much like comparing a 7lb steel frame to a <3lb CF.

waterrockets 

I ride the pretty lightweigth Performance Forte Pro SLX. It lasts me 18-24 months. I'm on my third one now. For $40, it really can't be beat. I've had high-end Selle Italias and San Marcos, but the SLX is the most comfy for me. After a fast MS-150, I had no discomfort at all.

Eventually, I wear out the leather on the side of the nose (happens with my name-brand saddles too).

chipcom 

Yeah, 20 years is more like it...at >5K per year.

DocRay

the problem with some Selle Italias is the leather is so thin it wears quickly.

however, with carbon shells and titanium rails,they actually last a very long time over the old plastic shells and steel rails.

Coyote2

I've got almost 15k miles on my Avocet O2-40R saddle. Still fine.

Cypress

Seat?

whitemax

I ride mine until the leather is completely worn off leaving just a carbon core thereby increasing it's value by at least $200.

jrennie

I dont keep a bike for 18 months

mihlbach

I've never understood why the saddle sits atop a thing called a seatpost.

chipcom 

Same reason why a saddle sits atop a thing called a horse, perhaps?

sixtystrat

If the leather wears out, try recovering it. I did mine by buying some goatskin at a local leather shop and attaching it with contact cement and a few staples. Better than new.
Joe

vpiuva

After long rides I sometimes wishes I could get me a new seat, but it usually feels better by the morning.

2Tired2Shift

Heck no; that's chump change in the high-dollar sport of road cycling. If you can't afford it, try something a little less expensive, like yacht racing.

mollusk

+1

Bob Ross

Oh yeah, what was I thinking? Nevermind.

Adagio Corse

My wife would be happy to hear that! She has an Aliante gamma Ti on hers, although soon to be replaced by a Selle Anatomica for comfort reasons. I'll keep it as a spare for CX races

domestique

You laugh but I was at a collegiate crit. (Boston 07) where a guy crashed, broke his seat off the seat post and continued riding for 5-9 (forget the official number) laps! until the confused officials decided it was best to pull the kid for safety reasons.

The guy was a crazy downhiller that also road raced.

krazyderek

A parody tale:

As things are designed to be ever more specialized in task's they perform, things these days can have very short life spans by virtue of their limited, all be it, specialized design.

Take for instance F1 racing cars. Capable of rediculous amounts of torque and hp, engines idle at speeds far faster then any consumer car engine can even reach. The majority of the car including the engine must be dismantled, serviced, and rebuilt, due to these high rpm speeds after almost every race. Tires are heated before use and only last one, or part of a race.

It's all about compromise, some old shoes were made out of wood, once you had your adult foot size, they would last you the rest of your life. Today you can buy ultra comfortable and lightweight running shoes, only to have them wear completely through the sole of the shoe in 2 or 3 years. The same analogy can be carried over to bike saddles, they could make a saddle out of a block of Alu, it wouldn't be very comfortable or light, but it would stay exactly the same shape for decades to come. On the other hand, they could make an ultra custom saddle out of perfectly proportioned and density foam in all the right places, but eventually the padding gets mushed down, and the pressure points of the saddle change, thus losing it's initial comfort, and designed support.

Pick your point on the compromise curve, and press the buy button as needed.

sogood

Gosh, that's way too durable already. Most school kids go through 2 pairs of them a year.

Pharmr

Surferbruce

man i have a san marco era thats about 10 years old. it's on my cross bikes and still is one of the most comfortable saddles ever.
i read somewhere that bonnen rides a san marco regal he's had for years too. he refuses to change it, it just gets recovered.

CrimsonKarter21