Has anyone tried Noseless saddles?
10-30-23, 01:24 PM
#1
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Has anyone tried Noseless saddles?
I'm curious what you think of them if you do, or have. At 68 my "area" isn't as padded as it used to be, and I'm curious if these types of seats would help. My research shows 2 or 3 different types. Which type have you tried, or still use?
10-30-23, 01:46 PM
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Exquisite timing. The thread just above is "Full face helmet for the road". Is the noseless saddle really just one that needed a face shield?
And after that fun - I have no opinion on noseless saddles other than I will probably never want one. I love the control of the bike using that nose, especially riding no-hands and sometimes with my upper thighs when out of the saddle. I am adamant about one thing. We all need saddles that work for us. And once we've sat on it, what it looks like doesn't matter.
And after that fun - I have no opinion on noseless saddles other than I will probably never want one. I love the control of the bike using that nose, especially riding no-hands and sometimes with my upper thighs when out of the saddle. I am adamant about one thing. We all need saddles that work for us. And once we've sat on it, what it looks like doesn't matter.
10-31-23, 07:22 AM
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I don't sit in one place on the saddle. So I don't have any motivation to try one.
The nose is a benefit for those of us that will roll our pelvis as we get more aero for the sections of the ride we are needing to be aero and put out power. The sit bones or ischial tuberosity narrow as they come toward the front of the body. So the narrowing nose of the saddle gives you something to rest on while staying clear of your legs pumping up and down. And it it helps for the side to side movement of the bike and saddle as you pedal hard and are resting lightly on the saddle so it doesn't fly out from beneath you.
The nose is a benefit for those of us that will roll our pelvis as we get more aero for the sections of the ride we are needing to be aero and put out power. The sit bones or ischial tuberosity narrow as they come toward the front of the body. So the narrowing nose of the saddle gives you something to rest on while staying clear of your legs pumping up and down. And it it helps for the side to side movement of the bike and saddle as you pedal hard and are resting lightly on the saddle so it doesn't fly out from beneath you.
10-31-23, 09:50 AM
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I've never had a noseless saddle but do have a couple snub nose saddles. They've become my favorite.
10-31-23, 12:12 PM
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"A saddle without a nose? How does it smell?" 
I've discovered that I use my saddle nose a lot more than I originally thought I did for stabilizing the bike while standing, transitioning, or turning my body to look behind me, discovering this when a saddle nose broke during a ride and I lost that capability for a short while.
That being said, a short-nose or nose-free saddle might work for you. At the co-op, we often get the Bell cruiser-type noseless saddles, and a few of our customers seem to like them (but they're not performance riders, even though they do put in a lot of miles as the bike is their primary transportation mode).
There's also the Easy Seat and its variants - my wife tried these briefly and decided she'd rather go back to a nosy saddle.
I've discovered that I use my saddle nose a lot more than I originally thought I did for stabilizing the bike while standing, transitioning, or turning my body to look behind me, discovering this when a saddle nose broke during a ride and I lost that capability for a short while.
That being said, a short-nose or nose-free saddle might work for you. At the co-op, we often get the Bell cruiser-type noseless saddles, and a few of our customers seem to like them (but they're not performance riders, even though they do put in a lot of miles as the bike is their primary transportation mode).
There's also the Easy Seat and its variants - my wife tried these briefly and decided she'd rather go back to a nosy saddle.
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10-31-23, 12:53 PM
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Good reply. I'm just into riding for fun, exercise, and the views. I even took the mph,time,distance device off my bike because I was paying more attention to it than I was the surroundings. I'm not sure if I'll go the noseless road but I'm interested in the experience of others.
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10-31-23, 01:52 PM
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I cant imagine trying it. Maybe on a flat paved road with no turns, but on something like single track? No way....
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11-01-23, 02:38 PM
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I bought one once when I started up with a pain downstairs. It was ghastly; I couldn't control anything sat on that; I found it dangerous. I binned it same day, it was't expensive (or I wouldn't have bought it)
But that was only my opinion.
But that was only my opinion.
11-01-23, 06:05 PM
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I'll be going noseless when I upgrade to Shimano Leprosy Di2.
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11-03-23, 01:05 AM
#10
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I bought a noseless seat once, used it once and never again. At least to me, it seemed unsafe.
Last edited by Alan K; 11-05-23 at 08:39 PM. Reason: Spelling correction
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11-03-23, 06:52 AM
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Must resist the obvious off color jokes that are there. 
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11-04-23, 08:37 AM
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11-04-23, 09:24 AM
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Noseless saddles have been around since at least 1895. Should catch on any day now.
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11-04-23, 09:26 AM
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11-04-23, 09:36 AM
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11-04-23, 10:24 AM
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I was not going to let Mr. Foley (catheter) stop me from riding following Prostate Biopsies or PCa (Prostate Cancer) treatment. I purchased an EasySeat-- https://hobsonseats.com/ and have used it when needed.
Riding on a noseless saddle is better than not riding.
Riding on a noseless saddle is better than not riding.
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11-04-23, 10:33 AM
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Thank you sir, for the link. I'm going to give that one serious consideration, if my back will quit hurting that is. I have a nerve in the lower back that gets pinched occasionally and I can't do a thing for several days.
11-04-23, 10:54 AM
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I can no longer just jump on a bike and ride. I don't think I could adjust to a nose-less saddle. I ride short up and down rides with a few tight turns and still have to have a nose for leverage when avoiding obstacles on my Ravel surfaces. I have finally settled on a short nose, wide, minimally padded, female saddle. Also new to me is the need for about a 2° downward tilt...
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11-04-23, 01:13 PM
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There's another modern version that looks more or less identical to the Rogers saddle: two pivoting rectangles with the front curving down. In the shop where I used to work, we'd sell one; it would be returned within a few days; we'd sell it again; returned again; etc.
The current saddle designs that have noses but also cutouts or troughs are effectively variations of the Christy saddle design. There's another design from the 1890's that looks like a toilet seat. Don't know whether anyone has brought that one back yet, but I wouldn't be surprised.
Mesinger saddle with cutout:
Last edited by Trakhak; 11-04-23 at 01:19 PM.
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11-04-23, 01:29 PM
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11-05-23, 03:30 PM
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I have zero interest in ever trying a noseless saddle, for the safety and control issues mentioned by others above. I'll keep my Brooks Pros, thank you.
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11-08-23, 03:11 PM
#24
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I do understand your comment about the price.
Several years ago when I had some back problems, it necessitated a more upright posture for bicycling. This is when I learned how important was the saddle, irrespective of the price (almost - I found one on Craigslist in new condition for $75 because the gentleman who bought it, didn’t like it). Before my back issues, I used to ride a nice old steel frame bike quite comfortably - it was a light road bike and in forward leaning position about half of my weight was supported on my legs. After I rearranged the posture, this $200 marvel became a necessity.
Now I can ride typical road bicycles but I have brought the handlebars of most of my bicycles 3-4 cm closer to me te reduce lean and it feels much better, if nothing else, the view is easier to enjoy.
I do understand your comment about the price.
Several years ago when I had some back problems, it necessitated a more upright posture for bicycling. This is when I learned how important was the saddle, irrespective of the price (almost - I found one on Craigslist in new condition for $75 because the gentleman who bought it, didn’t like it). Before my back issues, I used to ride a nice old steel frame bike quite comfortably - it was a light road bike and in forward leaning position about half of my weight was supported on my legs. After I rearranged the posture, this $200 marvel became a necessity.
Now I can ride typical road bicycles but I have brought the handlebars of most of my bicycles 3-4 cm closer to me te reduce lean and it feels much better, if nothing else, the view is easier to enjoy.
Last edited by Alan K; 11-08-23 at 10:28 PM.
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11-09-23, 09:20 PM
#25
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In my opinion noseless saddle suck.