New saddle: Terry Zero X

[Batbike]

like all of us, looking for that GREAT saddle! :D

After measuring my sit bones (which are much wider than I thought), I ordered a Terry Zero X and put on bike yesterday -- did a quick 17 mile ride and noticed the FIRMNESS immediately. I felt like I was sitting on top of saddle and not getting squished down into it -- I feel the firmness helped me keep my pedal stroke/cadence going properly (could all be in my mind). Also felt like I was sitting more on saddle (could be width or firmness or combo of both).

However, the jury is still out if it is THE SADDLE ... obviously it needs to be broken in more by riding more and riding it on longer rides. I bought it here at TE so I will have 90 days to see if it is a keeper or not ... I like that! :cool:

If anyone has tried this saddle, I would love to hear your results. :confused: :eek: :) THANKS!

[maillotpois]

My review's here as well as some others:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=4975

[Batbike]

My review's here as well as some others:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=4975

THANKS! I did a search and couldn't find anything ... I must have done something wrong .... hmmmmmm :confused:

[merryn ferguson]

I am new to this site so Hi to everyone .I have tried just about every saddle there is I think. Have ridden some form of specialized for the past 10 years and have ridden more seriuosly in the past 3 years was riding a specialized Dolce and it was to bulky so then the Jett I love the cut out on the jett love it but after 40 miles I want to take the jett and throw it away I have suffered thru 130 mile bike rides with it because have not come across anything better tried several different "Terry" did not like them and yesterday tried the selle SMP PRO really like it it gave me a comfort that I didnt quiet get with the jett but this is the pro and find it a little too narrow in the sit bone area it slopes down sharply right where I need it not to I believe the SMP strike plus doesnt slope down as severely but am not sure does any one know or has anyone seen these 2 different saddles because they truly are quiet elusive thanks

[Thorn]

Welcome Merryn...there are several reviews on the selle smp on this site as well as the specialized and a plethora of saddles. The search function at the top should find you lots of interesting info. However, also search for things like 'sit bones' and measuring sit bones. The perfect saddle is a personal issue, but the most important is making sure that sit bones are situated correctly on the saddle.

For some people, that is easy. Their hips are of "average" width and they can then focus on soft vs. hard, cutout vs. no cutout, etc. For others, we discover that we have a wide measurement and the number of saddle options decreases. While I happen to love my Selle SMP Lady Strike for width and cutout, others find it way too wide. And, quite frankly, I still think my perfect saddle is still out there--firmer, narrower nose, but just as wide in the back.

Alas, I babble....start by searching, measure your width and see if that helps you narrow down your search.

[merryn ferguson]

Welcome Merryn...there are several reviews on the selle smp on this site as well as the specialized and a plethora of saddles. The search function at the top should find you lots of interesting info. However, also search for things like 'sit bones' and measuring sit bones. The perfect saddle is a personal issue, but the most important is making sure that sit bones are situated correctly on the saddle.

For some people, that is easy. Their hips are of "average" width and they can then focus on soft vs. hard, cutout vs. no cutout, etc. For others, we discover that we have a wide measurement and the number of saddle options decreases. While I happen to love my Selle SMP Lady Strike for width and cutout, others find it way too wide. And, quite frankly, I still think my perfect saddle is still out there--firmer, narrower nose, but just as wide in the back.

Alas, I babble....start by searching, measure your width and see if that helps you narrow down your search. I have had my sit bones measured and on the jett I ride the 155 even though I measured for the size below it, the first time I rode it oh it was beautiful but as soon as I get to 40 to 60 mile mark I just want to throw it away, I do understand there is no saddle out there that is going to comfortably carry me thru a double century but surely in this day and age I can get close???????

[Batbike]

have ridden saddle for a few 100 miles now and cannot complain -- MUCH better than previous saddle -- seems to fit my sitbones well, firm, not too wide in nose, and with a cut-out. I think I will keep it!

For all looking for a saddle: please remember that TE has a 90-day return policy on Terry saddles (maybe others too, don't know) that includes free return shipping -- this is a bargain!! Three months to ride a saddle and still get to return if not satisfied ... personally, I am very impressed with this guarantee/policy. :D

[KnottedYet]

And, quite frankly, I still think my perfect saddle is still out there--firmer, narrower nose, but just as wide in the back.


Whispers: come to the Brooks side... come to the Brooks side....:p

Brooks B68.

http://www.wallbike.com/b68.html

resistance is futile.... join us... :rolleyes:

[Andrea]

Glad you like it. I had one for a while and enjoyed it until the padding started to break in (after the return period, of course). The same is happening with my Falcon X. I loved it at first (after getting over the initial butt-bone soreness), but now that the padding is breaking in, it's squishing into the hole and out to my groin.

[flash]

I tried this saddle for a couple of rides & was grateful for Terry's generous "trial period" because I had to send it back. (They accepted the return, hassle free & gave a full refund.)

I thought the saddle was of good quality, well-made & had the potential to be very comfortable .... for someone with wider hips. I have boy-narrow hips & this saddle was far too wide for me. After 2 hours riding this saddle on my indoor trainer, a new pair of cycling shorts had visible wear & I was pretty uncomfortable! My outdoor ride produced similar results:(

So....the saddle IS exactly what it's supposed to be: a very nice, light, performance saddle, customized for women. But in my experience, it won't work so well for those of us who are less curvy.

After figuring out that I don't need the extra saddle width, I ended up buying a bare-bones, lightweight men's cutout saddle & it's working very well for me!

[thewump]

I bought this saddle about a year ago to replace the stock Bontrager saddle on my Pilot. I've found this saddle to be comfortable on long rides (in combination with a good pair of shorts). I used it to complete my first double century, the STP. I love the flat platform that it provides both in front and in back. The nose is a little wider than in other saddles, but I think it makes it more versatile for shifting positions, fore and aft, to relieve pressure when you're in the saddle for a long time.

[Skierchickie]

Hi,

I'm new to the forum (as in, about 5 minutes ago). I have been lurking for a couple of weeks, though.

I was wondering if anyone has any new input on the Zero X? After hunting this forum and Slowtwitch.com for a couple of weeks, I ended up ordering one from TE a couple of evenings ago. I've been riding a butterfly for a couple of years, but it just isn't quite working for me. I recently raised my bars slightly, and leveled the Butterfly (it was only off about 1/8", max), which may have helped slightly, but not enough. It's the girly bit issue. I haven't ridden much the past couple of years (I was concentrating on marathon training - how silly of me), so maybe I never really got used to it, and it is a lot better than the old Avocet O2 I rode for maybe 8-10 years (I looked at it last night - kind of a piece of plastic with a slit, with vinyl over it - maybe they improved it over the years). I tried a Damselfly for a month about 3 years ago, which was wonderful on my first ride, but progressively less comfortable each ride. I really wanted to love it - I think, looking back, that my sit bones were straddling it. Anyway, at the time I exchanged it for the butterfly. All in all, the b'fly is okay, but I still get chafed and raw, and I noticed I keep having to scoot myself back, like I work my way gradually forward as I pedal. I'm wondering if the wide rear (the saddle's) with the t-shape, combined with my heftier-than-they-used-to-be thighs combine to cause this. That was why I went for the Zero X - the shape, along with TE's 90 day return policy (yee-haaa - I can really try this thing out!), and the light and firm nature of the saddle. I think my sit bones are kinda wide-ish (not much luck with the paper test yet). I saw almost exclusively positive remarks here about it, so I'm going to try it. Since I do the occasional tri (so far just short ones, usually a 15-25 mile bike segment), I need something I can use with my aero bars (whew - that can get pretty uncomfy). I don't really have the option of going to the LBS and trying out a ton - small community, and much smaller selection of saddles.

The really weird thing is that, when I got my Trek 5200, it came with a men's Selle San Marco Aspide Luxe, which was fine for the first 600 miles. I rode 1500 miles that summer (actually a lot for me, as I also run, swim, live in a climate where road biking is miserable until May, work full time, am lazy, ...). Anyway, I'd ridden about 750 miles that season before I got the bike, was amazed that the stock saddle was so comfortable, and then by the end of the season it was hurting gradually more with each ride. Also seemingly odd, my new Trek Fuel EX 9 that I got late last summer came with some Bontrager men's saddle - absolutely fine until one day last week, and then my girly bits were in pain for two days (odd, since I'm upright enough on that bike that I didn't think they were even in contact). I was wearing a really old, really worn out pair of Nashbar shorts as an inner short (also didn't grease up as much as usual).

Okay, I digress - any Zero X factoids for someone who is anxiously awaiting her new metallic pearl (hope it looks fab with the blue & silver USPS paint job!) one? I tend to research like mad, order, and want to continue researching (must be the engineer in me).

Thanks!

[Skierchickie]

Okay, so I now have 110 miles on my new Zero X - 14 Tuesday, 21 Wednesday, 30 Friday, and 45 today (Monday). Still not sure. On the first ride, I was very aware of my sit bones for the first 2 minutes or so - then it faded away, and the soft tissue area became noticeable (not necessarily painful, but the thing did not just "disappear"). On ride #2, the sit bones hurt for the first few minutes (less than a mile, I'd say), and the discomfort seemed to shift between front & back - still never too bad. Ride 3 was pretty much the same. Very aware of my weight being on the sit bones (which is good, I guess). After running for two days, today's ride started out better - no sit bone pain at all (actually, never really felt them at all today). Gradually more soft tissue discomfort, though. I stopped and lowered it about 1/8", thinking I seemed to be rocking ever so slightly. Still had growing discomfort over the course of the ride, but much better that my last couple of saddles. Also greased up my chamois with a sample we had of Chamois Butt'r (results didn't seem much different from some Udderly Smooth samples I've used this week). When I got home I raised my handlebars ~1/4", and tipped the nose down slightly, thinking my weight is still too much on the front. We'll see. I really want this to work, so I'll continue tweaking.

I did some rough measurements, and my 3 year old Butterfly TI measures about 6.5" wide, not the 6.1" that the current Terry catalog specifies (maybe they've changed it since then?), and the Zero X is about 5.75", not 6.0". All in all, a 3/4" width difference, rather than the 0.1" I anticipated! I do like this shape better (not constantly having to push myself back on the saddle). Not so sure the metallic pearl color was a good choice - already discolored on the sides, and saddle soap isn't taking it off.