Anyone tried a Sella SMP ladies saddle?

[dub-no-bass]

So, I have a new bike, and all-new saddle woes. It's a Trek 1.5 WSD, and the riding position is far more comfortable than the men's bikes I have ridden in the past. The saddle that comes on it (a Bontrager R1 WSD) is perfectly comfortable for my 11-mile-each-way commute, but it doesn't do so well on longer non-commuting rides where there are fewer breaks for lights, junctions etc. My usual commute is very much stop-start the whole way. However, after a long period of unbroken cycling, the front of the saddle squashes/chafes my front soft bits quite a lot and means that after an hour of riding I'm too sore to go any further.

I could make a point of cycling out of the saddle for a few seconds every few minutes, but I would rather have a saddle that will let me stay comfortably seated while I carry on pedalling.

The Sella SMP series have a nose which curves down quite dramatically, as well as cut-out bits in the centre of the saddle:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Brands.aspx?BrandID=734

Has anyone (or anyone's missus) who has had problems with crushed front bits tried one of the ladies models with any success? I would probably try the Strike TRK £29 model before one of the far more expensive (£160) ladies models, but would be interested to read any reports of what any of these saddles are like.

 

[ttcycle]

Hi dub

Having troubles trying to get the right saddle myself- have opted for the Selle Italia SLR lady gel flow saddle for the racing bike which has yet to arrive but am still trying to find a comfortable one for the commuter and the fixed I've got my eye on - I have used Specialized Jett saddle - 153 width - not very comfortable at all- having the same problems as you but managed to do 60 odd miles on it. The one I'm trying at the moment is Selle Italia Donna as it was what I could find in the shop at the time but I'm not sure it's doing the trick yet- might give it some time to break in.

Tedious and expensive isn't it -this whole trial and error approach to saddles - I suspect I will sell the comfort rejects at some point!

 

[dub-no-bass]

Yeah, I've got the Specialised Jett 153 on my mountainbike and used to have one on my old hybrid. It was the best of a bunch that I tried, but still get quite sore with it (which is why I'm looking for something else for my road bike). It seems that pretty much all the saddles I have tried have too much bulk at the front (even if unpadded), which chafes. The Sella SMPs don't seem to have this problem as much which is why I fancy giving them a go!

 

[ttcycle]

Good luck- let me know how it goes- the other option is to play around with tilt though to be frank saddles should be set up straight really - unless you could try moving it forward a mm or 2?

I remember Blonde posting on here about saddles that she swears by- I have completely forgotten which brand they were now!

I think if it's not chafing at the front it's also along the sides as well.
Have you tried any chamois cream with the shorts?

 

[wafflycat]

Have a look at Terry saddles. My nether regions adore them. Both my tourer and road bike have Terry Liberator saddles

http://www.terrybicycles.com/saddles/womens

 

[rich p]

Have a look at Terry saddles. My nether regions adore them. Both my tourer and road bike have Terry Liberator saddles

http://www.terrybicycles.com/saddles/womens

My wife's nether regions love them too/

 

[Baggy]

My nethers also love Terry! I use the Terry Tri-Gel on both my bikes and haven't had any problems even after 13 hours in the saddle.

I'm pondering starting a Cycle Chat saddle library...

If I recall, Blonde uses a Brooks on one bike.

 

[Crackle]

If I recall, Blonde uses a Brooks on one bike.

Thought that was a selle an-atomica

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Have a look at Terry saddles. My nether regions adore them. Both my tourer and road bike have Terry Liberator saddles

http://www.terrybicycles.com/saddles/womens

Where did you purchase yours Waffly? Mrs A is suffering badly on her Brooks and is looking to change. A Google search brings up American suppliers.

 

[Baggy]

Minx sell some varieties:
http://www.minx-girl.com/products.cfm?cfid=5194429&cftoken=20712162&catID=143

JD Cycles also have some:
http://www.jdcycles.co.uk/components/saddles/terry-butterfly-crmo-saddle

I managed to find one on eBay as well.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

I'd not heard of that site. I'll get Mrs A to peruse it ASAP. Many thanks for the lead Baggy.

 

[wafflycat]

Where did you purchase yours Waffly? Mrs A is suffering badly on her Brooks and is looking to change. A Google search brings up American suppliers.

Mine are several years old (Terry Liberator & Terry RaceLite) and purchased online from a retailer that, sadly, no longer exists: Deeside Cycles

But put it this way - if I needed another saddle - I'd be getting one from the States if that's what it took.

 

[dub-no-bass]

I thought this was worth updating, since I went ahead and bought the SMP Pro Ladyline saddle last week:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=33641
I'd read that the budget version was padded and wide, which are not appealing features for me. There aren't that many models for women, so I got the Ladyline Pro in white (to match my bike) since this is meant to be a suitable width for most women (and I'm fairly chunkily built).

It's pretty hard - probably the hardest saddle I have ever had (not necessarily a bad thing). I tried it out for the first time this morning. I initially set it up according to the instructions (seatpost attached exactly halfway along the rails and top of the saddle perfectly horizontal). This didn't feel quite right, so I adjusted it after a mile or so to move it foward by half an inch and drop the nose a touch - much better.

It feels very odd, in that my weight is finally properly on my sitbones for most of the time. I've felt this very occasionally (i.e. for a few seconds) with other saddles, but not all of the time that I pedal. Importantly (for me), it has removed all the problems I was having - there's just none of the usual pressure at the nose of the saddle. The bits of the saddle that would normally press too much at the front aren't there, so it's much more comfortable in that respect.

I just need to get used to having my weight on the sitbones now! I suspect I'll a bit tender for a few weeks while I get used to it.
I need to give it a much longer trial to see if it's really right for me, but this does seem to be a good option for women who have problems with the saddle nose.

 

[bicyclerubber]

#13 You are right about the TRK - it is very padded and pretty wide. Its definitely the budget end of the range in quality as well as price too.

Mrs bicyclerubber has an SMP4Bike Hybrid - its 'unisex' but suits her well enough and she didn't want to fork out the money for the Pro (I have the Evolution, its mint).

Once you are used to them (and it really doesn't take long) they are very comfortable.

 

[Fnaar]

My nethers also love Terry!