What Saddle?

[Graham 26]

I

I have a spoon on my mtb and it is ok....but creaks a lot which is bloody irritating. All my other bikes have Brooks B17 standard saddles (standard is wider than the racing version) I love the Brooks saddles and happily will sit for a 100 plus on a day. I wear a pair of cheap padded pants or tights...and have never needed creams or had saddle sores.....I am told that Spa Cycles of Harrogate do a very good range of leather saddles that are very competitively priced when compared with the Brooks range and of similar quality.....so worth exploring. Mind you, for ultimate bum comfort (due to shoulder issues) I now ride a recumbent bicycle with a big comfy seat.......

I will have a look, thanks. I just didn't really appreciate how many different ones there were and realise the importance in getting the right one, everyone's comments are very helpful. I do realise I may have to try a few out.

 

[MrGrumpy]

inherited a spoon saddle and I concur a tad wide. Dunno what the boardman bike saddles are based on they look same as a more expensive model by specialized IRC ?? Comfy tho!

 

[lulubel]

Earlier this year I bought a road bike and have started training for LEJOG next September. I would like some views / advise on the right type of saddle. I appreciate there are so many different saddles and I will get so many different views, but I haven't got a clue at the moment.

What do you not like about your current saddle? Presumably, it's uncomfortable, but what kind of saddle is it? Wide, narrow, hard, padded, etc? And where do you experience discomfort?

The answers to those questions should help narrow down your options a bit.

 

[gavgav]

I will second this. I have ended up with 2 Charge Spoons and I have exactly the same problem. Mine are okay up to about 30 miles, after lots of tinkering with settings, but not much further.

I've just about had enough of them now and I'm looking for alternatives.

Ditto for me, tried a Charge Spoon and didn't get on with it. I now have a "Specialized" saddle which is the most comfotable I have had so far, still not what I call perfect though!! Not sure there is a perfect saddle out there

 

[Graham 26]

What do you not like about your current saddle? Presumably, it's uncomfortable, but what kind of saddle is it? Wide, narrow, hard, padded, etc? And where do you experience discomfort?

The answers to those questions should help narrow down your options a bit.

The saddle is the one that came on the bike when I bought it. My intention being to upgrade parts as I go and my budget allows me. The bike is a Viking San Marino and the saddle is just their standard road saddle. It's been ok to be fair, but now I'm increasing my mileage, It gets uncomfortable after about 20 to 30 miles, I'm starting to get pains in my cheeks and some chaffing.
I've had the bike for about 7 months now and feel upgrading the saddle is my next thing to change to improve my rides.

 

[Noodley]

I have used many makes/models of saddles over the years. I don't think I would say there is a "best" but Ihave found that I prefer a saddle with a "cutaway".

But if you are not used to riding more that 20/30 mlies it might not be the saddle that is the problem, it might be your arse.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I've got a Charge Spoon that you're welcome to borrow to see if it fits. If you come up to London, drop me a PM and we can meet up and you can trial it. I found it was too wide for me and was never comfortable on it after 30 miles or so.

 

[Eribiste]

These bicycle chairs are so personal I think it difficult to make any sort of generalisation. I started off on a Pashley Roadster Sovereign fitted as standard with a Brooks B33. I never had a moment's discomfort from the saddle, but then when I started riding the Pash I thought anything over 4 miles was an epic voyage! I think it took me about a year to dare going more than 15 miles from home, so I suppose I gave myself a very gentle 'bedding in' period.
I've just bought a new Boardman Race, c/w Boardman saddle, and even with padded shorts I can't do more than 25 miles without a great deal of discomfort of the flesh just forward of the 'sit bones'. I bought a Charge Spoon on ebay, and I am finding that this is more comfortable. I still get aches, but no real pain just forward of the ischial tuberosities. I think the aches will go once I stop being an idle lard arse and do a bit more riding in the spring!
One suggestion worth trying is a Selle San Remo. These are inexpensive second hand on ebay, and they're a bit wider and have gel padding. I know some folks have an aversion to gel on saddles, but as I say, it's very much a personal fit thing.

 

[Rob3rt]

The one within your budget that fits your arse!

 

[zizou]

Personally i think the Specialized Toupe is comfortable and and the Romin Pro Evo is even more comfortable, but these things are so much about personal taste and fit so i would hesitate on recommending them as right for you.

Go along to a Specialized dealer that offers demo saddles - get your sitbones measured and then try a few over the course of a few weeks until you find one that suits.

 

[Albert]

Selle Italia SLR XP - I haven't found a more comfy saddle and I've tried a few. Fizik Arione is next best in my experience. I didn't like the Spoons that I have tried.

 

[ankaradan]

I suffered the own brand "gel" saddle, which came with my road bike for a couple of years, it gave me a numb and bruised behind after about an hour on the road. I considered, via the internet, various Selle saddles, but eventually went for a Charge Knife, which seems alot more comfortable, and a good price too.