Saddle Question?

[Boon 51]

I'm in the process of buy a saddle for my road bike and perhaps the mtb as well.
So do the saddle's with the hole in make saddle better saddles.. as I need a race type saddle for the road bike but a comfortable one and reviews seem to say that this type of saddle is very good in the comfort area.

What do you reckon?

 

[cyberknight]

Everyones different , a cut out or channelled saddle is designed to relieve pressure on the perineum but if possible its best to try a few .I went through a phase where i tried lots of styles and once i had found one i liked i have found its more minor tweaks on angle, height and set back that make the difference.
My lbs has a saddle library where you can borrow different sorts .

 

[smokeysmoo]

Argh! An impossible question

I've tried loads of saddles over the years, and I'm finally happy with the Specialized BG Romin, (with cutout) on my C'dale. I don't know if the cut out helps, but I guess it must do something as I've found it better* than any other I've tried.

*By better I mean more comfortable IME.

 

[Biker Joe]

Oh dear, saddle advice wanted.
Everybody's backside is different. What saddle suits one person won't suit another.
I've tried so many saddles over the years and the only one that made me really happy was the Brooks B17.
I use it on my hybrid and on the road bike. It looks a little strange on the road bike but not that out of place.But boy, is it comfortable.
Anyway, I've now had it years and I would not use anything else.

 

[Boon 51]

The two saddle with cut out's that I had in mind was the Specialized Romin and the Selle Italia Max flight... both about the same price.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I use the specialized carbon troupe with cut out, its feel is similar to the romin but its lighter, both are great saddles imho

 

[Lien Sdrawde]

Bought one - tried it, sold it

repeat over and over again.

If you can, use a saddle library as cybernight says. It will at least give you more of an idea what 'feel' you will get from a saddle.

Or just buy a Brooks. (why oh why didn't I listen to the sage like wisdom of those that told me to do just that)

Kind regards, Neil (aka Mr Comfy)

 

[smokeysmoo]

There is a saddle library on CC that's organised by Baggy, see HERE.

Note: CycleChat has nothing to do with this venture.

It doesn't seem to get many posts though, and as a result I'm not sure how successful it is, but even if you just have an idea what you fancy give a shout and someone may have one lying around you can borrow.

I've got a loaned San Marco Rolls on my old Dawes at the moment compliments of deptfordmarmoset of this parish

 

[Boon 51]

I should add that I'm a bit boney in the bum area..

 

[biggs682]

Boon 51 see thread i started a few weeks ago re smp Saddles , they will let you try one on a 2 week period before buying , i have a lite 209 on trial and so far its the one for me , have tried charge spoons , brooks , Rolls and many more but this does feel niec and well thought out . if you need Smp uk details just ask

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/any-selle-smp-users.121113/

 

[Mo1959]

Boon 51 see thread i started a few weeks ago re smp Saddles , they will let you try one on a 2 week period before buying , i have a lite 209 on trial and so far its the one for me , have tried charge spoons , brooks , Rolls and many more but this does feel niec and well thought out . if you need Smp uk details just ask

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/any-selle-smp-users.121113/

Second the Selle SMP saddles. I could only afford the basic SMP TRK at the moment but I really like it. May well get one of their more expensive models when I have some spare cash.

 

[Boon 51]

Hi Biggs..
So what is the difference between the Extra and the Hybrid, as the cheaper one @ chainreaction has more stars..
PS.. If my answer is delayed than I've had to go out for lunch.
Cheers

 

[biggs682]

cant comment on the 2 models you mention as not tried them , but when i was looking the other models in the range they all looked a bit big and cumbersome , and for some unsure reason the lite 209 just looked the part apart from the price ! the bike it is attached to cost an awful lot less than the saddle i know that for sure .

a lot of the range seem to mention mtb'ing rather than just general cycling and touring . if the lite 209 proves itself then i will look at getting another one for the tandem , which does greater distances on rides .

 

[Boon 51]

Someting else I've just thought about..
Would a skinny bum like mine be better with a 130, 140 or 150 size saddle or is it a bit of trial an error still.

 

[lulubel]

It's the width of your sit bones that determines the width of saddle you need.

Cut a piece of tin foil big enough to sit on, fold up a towel and put in on the stairs with the tin foil on top of it. Sit on it, and make sure your sit bones dig in nicely (you'll probably need to lift you feet up a bit as if you were pedaling). Then measure the gap centre to centre between the two dips your sit bones have left in the tin foil.

That gives you your sit bone measurement.

Then look at the little chart at the bottom of this page to get an idea of the saddle width you need.

When I did this, I found the reason I'd never found a comfortable saddle was because most women's saddles are too wide for me. I bought a narrower one, and haven't looked back. (I now have the same saddle on both my bikes because it's so comfortable.)