Saddles

[Goggs]

It's OK, I'm not going to ask what's best. I was wondering if anyone here has used a Sportourer Zoo Gel Flow saddle & if so is it decent quality? I need a new saddle because I just can't get on with the one supplied with my new bike. I've given it a month in the hope I'd adapt to it but it's just not happening. It's too narrow at 140mm & I get way too hot. Everything goes numb.

So I can source the above saddle (which is 160mm wide & has one of those cut out slots that might provide some ventilation) at a decent price locally. It's worth a shot.

 

[lpretro1]

Have a read of this:
https://www.cervelo.com/en/engineering-field-notes/the-four-and-a-half-rules-of-road-saddles

 

[Goggs]

Have a read of this:
https://www.cervelo.com/en/engineering-field-notes/the-four-and-a-half-rules-of-road-saddles

Thanks very much for the link. I think that's the best explanation of this that I've ever seen. Wide & flat with a cut-out for me then.

 

[Goggs]

I'm looking at this saddle because it seems to meet the specs in the link above & it's relatively cheap. I'll have to see it in the flesh to find out if it's maybe too soft but it seems right in other respects, for me at least.

http://www.sportourer.com/index.php/work/flx-man-gel-flow-deluxe/?lang=en

By contrast here's what I'm on just now..

It feels like I'm on a razor blade. All the pressure is in the middle area. The saddle is adjusted properly fore-aft so there's nothing else but to change it.

 

[Goggs]

Have a read of this:
https://www.cervelo.com/en/engineering-field-notes/the-four-and-a-half-rules-of-road-saddles

The video below also seems to back up this theory. I like the look of SQLabs saddles and might take the plunge as soon as I get the problems with my wrists sorted. More of that to follow..


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woPooOui4T0

 

[Goggs]

I ended up buying this..

http://www.sportourer.com/index.php/work/flx-man-gel-flow-deluxe/?lang=en

Following the excellent link supplied by @lpretro1 above (kudos) I realized I want a relatively flat profile to the top of the saddle. I measured my old saddle & it came to roughly 14cm wide. The pain I've been suffering is in the sit bones (obviously as I'm relatively new to this) and in the middle (perineal?) area. I know from experience that the sit bone pain will likely reced with miles & time but the numbness in the middle was awful. I've never actually experienced that before. So from my own measurements of my arse - 13cm sit bone width - I deduced I need a saddle between 15-16cm wide. I erred on the wide side and just as well because although the above saddle is marketed as 16cm it's really not. 15.5cm maybe just. Anyway, I bought it from a local shop yesterday but by the time we got home it was too late to go out & try it. I did fit it though and sitting on the bike stationary I can't say I was very hopeful.

I got up early today to go out & test it and it was definitely better, particularly as regards numbness in the middle areas. It wasn't perfect though but I'd thought of that & made sure I took the appropriate Allen key with me on my jaunt (roughly 10km). I adjusted the saddle slightly back & slightly up at the nose and.. Voila!

It's nigh on perfect for me. The numbness is gone completely. Although 10km isn't far believe me the numbness would have kicked in way before that on my previous saddle. Also, this was without my padded shorts, so things can only get better.

Here's a pic of the old (on the right) & the new saddle side-by-side..

One more thing - the new saddle is shiny whereas the old one is a kinda fake suede affair. Because I wear outer MTB shorts over lycra undershorts (as many, many people here now know) I really like the shiny surface of the new saddle. It's much easier to adjust my position incrementally compared to the rough on rough of the old saddle.

None of the above is meant to be a how-to on getting a good saddle fit for you. It only really applies to me and my arse.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Just to add another link to this thread that has a few saddle links, here's another one.
https://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/bikefit/2011/09/all-about-smps/

This link is specifically about Selle SMP saddles, but the interesting bit is that he states that we do not sit on the ischial tuberosity, which many other sites say. Whether he's right or not, I have absolutely no idea but I thought I'd throw it in to the mix as I found it interesting.

As an aside, I'm riding Selle SMP Hybrid at the moment. Early feelings are that my arse likes it a lot more than my Brooks B17 for rides of over 6 hours. That's a shame from an aesthetic point of view because it's a horrible looking thing compared to a lovely B17.

 

[Goggs]

but the interesting bit is that he states that we do not sit on the ischial tuberosity, which many other sites say. Whether he's right or not, I have absolutely no idea but I thought I'd throw it in to the mix as I found it interesting.

He may well be right, as long as we are sitting correctly in the first place.

That's a shame from an aesthetic point of view because it's a horrible looking thing compared to a lovely B17.

I hear you. I hate the look of ergonomic saddles in general but the SMP ones are particularly ugly. Still, if they work who cares?

I'm taking a serious look at the SQlab saddles as well. German friends of mine swear by them.

I don't know anyone who uses one and the vast majority of online reviews are in German but they look like they'd work. Unfortunately they're too expensive for me at the moment. Maybe Christmas (says to wife hopefully).

I replaced the flat bar on my touring bike with an SQlab bar and it made a lot of difference to numbness.

Which one did you go for? I looked at them too but again they were just a bit too expensive for my pocket right now. I kinda wish I'd splurged though because the bar I did opt for (a Contec Baguette Magique) has ovalized bends near the middle which sadly precludes the fitment of my Topeak bar bag. Th up-side of this shape is that it allows a degree of flex in the bars which is noticeable.

 

[Goggs]

One more thing about my new saddle - it has a basic elastomer suspension at the back. I hadn't realized this on my first ride this morning but I'm just back from the shops and it's actually excellent at taking the edge of tarmac irregularities. No doubt less efficient and all that but very comfortable all the same.

 

[dim]

your arse is like a new cricket ball .... it needs to be softened

many people spend loads of money on a saddle and complain, then buy another more expensive saddle etc etc .... after a while, they put the first saddle back onto the bike and are amazed that the saddle is comfortable .... it's beacause their arse has got used to riding on a saddle

but if you want something that is comfy for long distances, look at the Brooks Cambium C17 Carved (the one with the slot on the top) ... not cheap, but 100% waterproof, and if you register it online on the Brooks site, it's guaranteed for 10 years

and if you want a decent saddle for cheap, look at the Charge Spoon (read the reviews on Wiggle) .... my son has one on his mountain bike and is well pleased

I have a Gilles Berthoud Aravis on my Surly Long Haul Trucker .... very comfy, but I have to use a cover in the wet as it's leather

 

[Goggs]

I have actually done a bit of research into my choice. A Cambium wouldn't work, nor would a Charge Spoon as they're too narrow & the top isn't flat enough. All input is appreciated though.

 

[dim]

I have actually done a bit of research into my choice. A Cambium wouldn't work, nor would a Charge Spoon as they're too narrow & the top isn't flat enough. All input is appreciated though.

if a Brooks Cambium C17 is too narrow for your posterior, maybe you should look at women's saddles?

 

[Goggs]

if a Brooks Cambium C17 is too narrow for your posterior, maybe you should look at women's saddles?

Is that a euphimism?

I have a new saddle. It's kinda the whole point of this thread.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

your arse is like a new cricket ball .... it needs to be softened

many people spend loads of money on a saddle and complain, then buy another more expensive saddle etc etc .... after a while, they put the first saddle back onto the bike and are amazed that the saddle is comfortable .... it's beacause their arse has got used to riding on a saddle

but if you want something that is comfy for long distances, look at the Brooks Cambium C17 Carved (the one with the slot on the top) ... not cheap, but 100% waterproof, and if you register it online on the Brooks site, it's guaranteed for 10 years

and if you want a decent saddle for cheap, look at the Charge Spoon (read the reviews on Wiggle) .... my son has one on his mountain bike and is well pleased

I have a Gilles Berthoud Aravis on my Surly Long Haul Trucker .... very comfy, but I have to use a cover in the wet as it's leather

I thought the charge spoon wasn't available any more? The one on my Fixed is old and knackered and needs replacing and I haven't been able to find one.

 

[dim]

I thought the charge spoon wasn't available any more? The one on my Fixed is old and knackered and needs replacing and I haven't been able to find one.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-spoon-saddle-with-cromo-rails/?lang=en&curr=GBP&dest=1&sku=5360793530&kpid=5360793530&utm_source=google&utm_term&utm_campaign=UK_PLA_Components&utm_medium=base&utm_content=mkwid|s782j0RTv_dc|pcrid|67090789382|pkw||pmt||prd|5360793530uk

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/charg...GBP&gclid=CJna4rP9wc8CFRa3GwodX2YIbQ#pid=1132