New Saddle

[Mikey32shaw]

Well only had my new bike 1 day and I realise the saddle that came with the Carrera TDF is like sitting on a brick :-/. So do any of you more experienced riders have any suggestions for a replacement. Looking at spending about £50-£75 new or less second hand. Many thanks in advance
Mike

 

[clockhammer]

I just fitted a charge spoon after seeing many a recomendation on this forum. Really happy with it and it only cost £22.

 

[Mo1959]

Hope you have better luck than me. Wasted a fortune trying different ones and still getting bother. Just finished rubbing sudocreme on just now after my ride this morning. It is such a personal thing though so someone recommending one that they like won't necessarily suit you.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Personally I would give the saddle some time before you change it, but if you do want to change it I would recommend getting to a Specialized dealer and sitting on their arse meter and getting your sit bones measured.

 

[Deleted member 20519]

I just fitted a charge spoon after seeing many a recomendation on this forum. Really happy with it and it only cost £22.

I had a Spoon a while back, it was great but I ended up selling it. Decided to get another one a few days ago, the texture is different and it's more slippy - not sure that it's as comfortable either, maybe it just needs time to bed in.

 

[SquareDaff]

I believe there's a "saddle library" available through this forum if you're unsure what to get. It's worth giving that a go before splurging out lots of money on a seat that might not suit you. As others have said, a saddle is a very personal thing but as one of the 3 contact points between you and the bike it's worth getting right.

 

[Mikey32shaw]

Well thanks for all the quick responses. I will take them on board and have little think then before rushing off with the wallet :-)

 

[simmi]

I bought my carbon cannondale second hand and it came with a £200 fizik kurve bull sadle at the time I thought how can a saddle be worth £200, but trust me I now know it can!
Keep an eye out on ebay might find one going cheep.

 

[cyberknight]

I used to love the saddles on boardmans/ carreras as they were fizik clones untill i lost a load of weight and could feel my sit bones even after a few miles so i have just changed to a spoon as well.got mine for £18.49 from an ebay shop and after 2 rides they feel ok.
kept the old saddles just in case...

 

[Shortmember]

If you're new to cycling it won't matter what saddle you have because you will suffer from soreness of the butt, as every cycling novice does, until you've done a few dozen miles on the bike.After a few hundred miles you'll have skin so leathery and tough that you'll probably be able to ride naked on a splintery plank and not feel uncomfortable

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Give it a little bit of time unless it is really uncomfortable.

Go to a Spesh or Trek dealer and get your sit bones measured and by a saddle from them as per their rec'.

I had mine measured (Trek dealership) and bought a Bontrager Affinity R - I went from agony to bliss in one ride.

Good luck!

 

[Alexvs]

I was having comfort issues with my stock Specialized Riva saddle that came with my Secteur Comp and to be fair just never gave it a sufficient amount of time. I read lots of personal recommendations about the Charge Spoon and then went and bought one from Cycle Surgery, their black and red one when it was £17.50 or something like that and have had no improvement whatsoever and possibly it was worse. I continued in the hope that it would improve but after 9 or more months I think it's definitely not for me. I decided to go with a Fizik Arione recently as had an Evans voucher and my monthly cycle kit budget was topped up and already there's an improvement after my first 34 mile ride Monday on it. Before buying I got the Evans guy to measure my sit bones and I was on the edge of being a medium which the Arione matched up with so it shows getting one that's right for your rear is key.

The measuring equipment is basic in that you sit on a stool which has some weird liquid/gel under a plastic sheet and they mark out the center of your sit bones and then stick a board with colours under it. This gives them an idea on the what will fit you. The guy brought the board over and put the Arione against it just to be sure as didn't want to spend £90 to get it completely wrong. It was this or a Specialized Romin Evo Expert for me but as they had the Arione there I went for it as I'm not the most patient person. I would 100% say get measured up before you buy! I'm hoping after a few more rides my recovery will be quicker as previously on the spoon my rear would continue being uncomfortable all week and then I'd be back in the saddle again to top it up.

Good luck