Do any shops let you try out saddles?

[MajorMantra]

From reading a US forum I believe it's not uncommon for the better shops there to let you try out a saddle on a proper ride or two. Does anyone know if any UK shops do this?

I could be convinced to spend real money on a saddle (so far I've bought mostly cheap used stuff) if I could be confident it would work for me. So far my saddle experiments have left me chafed and/or numb in various interesting and painful combinations.

Matthew

 

[bonj2]

http://www.selleitalia.com/eng/index.html click on 'test center' at the right

 

[MajorMantra]

http://www.selleitalia.com/eng/index.html click on 'test center' at the right

Neat, I didn't know about that. Doesn't look like there's one near me unfortunately.

EDIT: Anyone know of a shop that operates the program by mail order?

Matthew

 

[bonj2]

i've got a specialized toupe 155 you can try if you want, send it me back if you don't like it, pay me for it if you do

 

[MajorMantra]

i've got a specialized toupe 155 you can try if you want, send it me back if you don't like it, pay me for it if you do

Thanks for the offer. I've actually already got a Toupe 143 and am currently nursing a hurty bit doon thar (technical term) because of it, so I think I'll politely decline. If anything it's possible that the narrower Toupe might work.

One saddle I'm particularly interested in trying is the new style Selle Italia Flite but it's a bit pricy to try 'blind' as it were.

Cheers,
Matthew

 

[yenrod]

Funny thing about the saddle I ride (smp hybrid) it takes a ml. or 2 to get into it but once 'in' then - no worries

Though I will say when your really pressing HARD on the saddle it really gives and the ideaology works.

 

[HLaB]

From reading a US forum I believe it's not uncommon for the better shops there to let you try out a saddle on a proper ride or two. Does anyone know if any UK shops do this?


Matthew

My mate tried out a saddle from velo ecosse (Edinburgh), I think it was a selle italia one.

 

[ACS]

I would love to try a Toupe 143 if anyone can oblige, will happily pay postage both ways. I just simply cannot justify £80 on the off chance that it ‘may’ be suitable.

It is worth building up a rapport with their LBS, I went in the other day and was looking a saddles and remarked at the cost of some of them. He said I could have look I his second hand box and see if there interested in there. Managed to get a Bonty Race Lite in first class condition for a fraction of the RRP.

 

[MajorMantra]

I would love to try a Toupe 143 if anyone can oblige, will happily pay postage both ways. I just simply cannot justify £80 on the off chance that it ‘may’ be suitable.

It is worth building up a rapport with their LBS, I went in the other day and was looking a saddles and remarked at the cost of some of them. He said I could have look I his second hand box and see if there interested in there. Managed to get a Bonty Race Lite in first class condition for a fraction of the RRP.

I'm going to keep my Toupé for the moment since it's better than most of the alternatives I've got but if I find something better in the near future I'll let you know and you can try it.

Maybe we should start a CC saddle exchange? I've got a few I could lend out.

Matthew

 

[MajorMantra]

My mate tried out a saddle from velo ecosse (Edinburgh), I think it was a selle italia one.

Cheers HLaB. I'll ask there.

Matthew

 

[bonj2]

I would love to try a Toupe 143 if anyone can oblige, will happily pay postage both ways. I just simply cannot justify £80 on the off chance that it ‘may’ be suitable.

got a 155 if that's any good?

 

[ACS]

got a 155 if that's any good?

Thank you for your kind offer and if I thought for one iota that a 155 would be suitable I would snap your hand off, but I did the 'sit on this' test and the LBS stated that the 143 would be the best fit.

So not wishing to waste your time nor take advantage of your generosity I will say just thank you for your consideration and trust.

 

[Soltydog]

got a 155 if that's any good?

I didn't realise they did a toupe 155 wide. Are you looking to sell it, or just loaning it out, either way I could be interested

 

[4F]

Thank you for your kind offer and if I thought for one iota that a 155 would be suitable I would snap your hand off, but I did the 'sit on this test' and the LBS stated that the 143 would be the best fit.

So not wishing to waste your time nor take advantage of your generosity I will say just thank you for your consideration and trust.

If you want to try a 143 toupe out and willing to pay the postage both ways you could borrow one of mine for a couple of weeks to see how you get on with it.

 

[ACS]

If you want to try a 143 toupe out and willing to pay the postage both ways you could borrow one of mine for a couple of weeks to see how you get on with it.

4F you have a PM