Another saddle thread,looking for the holy grail of saddles.

[fossyant]

I've had maybe one saddle that I had to get rid of, still Selle Italia, but it had too much padding. I've also changed from an original San Marco Regal to a Charge Spoon after I refurbed the Ribble - just decided the old Regal wasn't as comfy as my newer saddles.

 

[vickster]

Charge Ladle / Madison Leia for me. Barring a few cosmetic doodads, they're essentially the same saddle.

Had a SMP on a bike I bought s/h from another forum member. Horrible thing. Too curved, too long and too padded, and was pinching me in all the wrong places.

I think the OP is a bloke

 

[postman]

Charge spoon on the Giant Rincon mountain bike,and B17 on the Spesh I bought that November 1987,it will soon be broken in.

 

[harlechjoe]

Always looking for the perfect saddle, have bought dozens of saddles over the years and watched lots of saddle fit videos, even a few times have thought i have the perfect saddle for me but never seem to find the holy grail am i the only one?

A few years ago i tried a Chromag saddle not the lightest on the market and thought i had the perfect saddle bought a few then on a long 150 mile club ramble was standing up most of the last few hours.

Then took a liking for vnt saddles just that bit better and much less expensive than chromag and almost perfect for me again bought a few until i tryied out an old specialised 2272 saddle that seems to be perfect and is even lighter than the vnts or chromages my only problem now is where to sorce this holy grail for my bikes?

Any one else spending lots of money on there search for saddle comfort and yes have had brooks saddles?

PS any one know if this specialised 2272 saddle is sold under another name or where they could be bought?

Always looking for the perfect saddle, have bought dozens of saddles over the years and watched lots of saddle fit videos, even a few times have thought i have the perfect saddle for me but never seem to find the holy grail am i the only one?

A few years ago i tried a Chromag saddle not the lightest on the market and thought i had the perfect saddle bought a few then on a long 150 mile club ramble was standing up most of the last few hours.

Then took a liking for vnt saddles just that bit better and much less expensive than chromag and almost perfect for me again bought a few until i tryied out an old specialised 2272 saddle that seems to be perfect and is even lighter than the vnts or chromages my only problem now is where to sorce this holy grail for my bikes?

Any one else spending lots of money on there search for saddle comfort and yes have had brooks saddles?

PS any one know if this specialised 2272 saddle is sold under another name or where they could be bought?

I ride on a Specialized Body Geometry Power Sport saddle - photo attached - with a relief channelled and find it comfortable on long rides.

 

[ColinJ]

I sometimes wonder how professionals manage. Let's say you were born with an incredible cardiovascular system, fantastic legs but the wrong shaped arse. You blow everyone away on the ergometers and stuff in the lab but 50k into a training ride you say "coach, can we stop now, my bum hurts"

One thing that would help them is being incredibly scrawny. Much less weight to be grinding down on the saddle, and much easier to get out of the saddle when relief is wanted.

When I was very overweight I used to get terrible saddle sores. Losing 30+ kg helped A LOT!

I still have some discomfort on long rides, but I still weigh 15-20 kg more than a pro of my height would.

 

[All uphill]

I sometimes think it would be easier just to get a new bum.

 

[gavroche]

After trying out different saddles and having some surplus ones hanging on my shed wall now, I have come to the conclusion that they nearly all have the same shape, look the same and that the major determinator is ............. your bottom.
That said bottom can get used to practically any saddle if you ride long enough and often enough on one.

 

[ColinJ]

I have come to the conclusion that...

they nearly all have the same shape

Not really!

look the same

No, they don't!

and that the major determinator is ............. your bottom

That IS true!

That said bottom can get used to practically any saddle if you ride long enough and often enough on one.

So, what you are saying is that if you are prepared to cry with pain, rip your bum to shreds, and do most of your rides standing up...

... after a few years of that, your bum will have built up enough scar tissue and/or nerve damage that you will no longer suffer!

 

[gavroche]

Not really!

No, they don't!

That IS true!


So, what you are saying is that if you are prepared to cry with pain, rip your bum to shreds, and do most of your rides standing up...

... after a few years of that, your bum will have built up enough scar tissue and/or nerve damage that you will no longer suffer!

That never happened to me.

 

[Jenkins]

Charge Ladle / Madison Leia for me. Barring a few cosmetic doodads, they're essentially the same saddle.

Had a SMP on a bike I bought s/h from another forum member. Horrible thing. Too curved, too long and too padded, and was pinching me in all the wrong places.

I think the OP is a bloke

You missed a chance to promote the one you have for sale @vickster

 

[ColinJ]

That never happened to me.

Well, you are obviously lucky and have managed to find saddles that suit you.

I have had saddles which caused blisters and drew blood.

One especially bad example was a San Marco Rolls...

I also have a San Marco Rolls on my Audax bike which is very comfortable over long distances.

There you go - a completely different experience. Mine was so bad that less than an hour of riding caused severe genital numbing which lasted for weeks!

Pro riders and saddle sores!

 

[Reynard]

I think the OP is a bloke

I know.

But one's bum is the ultimate arbiter, not one's gender

 

[Dogtrousers]

That said bottom can get used to practically any saddle if you ride long enough and often enough on one.

Disagree completely on that one. I rode Brooks for years, and thought that what I was experiencing was normal . It was generally fine for short rides, but things got bad over long distances. Eventually I realised Something Must Be Done. I soon got something less uncomfortable. And realised that what was limiting my distances was my saddle, not my legs.

 

[davidphilips]

Think All uphill nailed it, tbh finding the holy grail of saddles (for me any way) is a pain in the butt and it may be less trouble to have a bottom transplant.

Know theres some cyclists that have no trouble and can use almost any type or size of saddle, there are many ways of measuring for a saddle fit and countless type/designs of saddles but ( or should i say butt) for the unfortunate like myself it seems a mater of trail and error until a pain free saddle can be found?

Then to make matters worse even a saddle that seems great after a few long cycles becomes a pain, perhaps near enough is good enough with saddles and a used cheap saddle costing a few pounds if its comfortable is far better than an expensive saddle costing a weeks wages.

 

[yello]

welcome to the world of cycling @davidphilips !!

yep, finding the saddle that works for you can literally be a pain in the arse!

I wish there was a magic formula. Really I do.