Would a Turbomatic be less firm than the SSM Arrowhead?

[buffybike]

Here's my saddle history: SI Lady Gel Flow (not t shaped enough); Specialized Jett 143 (didn't support sit bones enough); Specialized Jett 155 (much better but had some chafing on inner thigh); SSM Glamour Aspide (too firm and squished girl parts); SSM Arrowhead (loved the shape, but cutout not enough to relieve pressure on girl parts and too firm). I feel the the princess and the pea. This is getting ridiculous and expensive.

I'm missing my Jett now--especially the cutout. Is the firmness and cutout of the Turbomatic comparable to the Jett? I'm thinking of trying the Turbomatic because I want a more T-shaped saddle.

[nscrbug]

It's definitely more T-shaped than my 155 Ruby...probably the most T-shaped saddle I've tried. My legs were free and clear of any part of the saddle when I had the Turbo on my bike. That is what I LOVED about this saddle...and the HUGE cut-out, too! Unfortunately, it felt a tad bit too narrow for my sit bones (probably because it is more "domed" on the seating surface...and I need a FLAT surface), so I passed it on to my DH who is quite happy with it. I am back to riding my Ruby for the moment.

[Becky]

I see that you've tried the Lady Gel Flow, but what about the SLR Lady Gel Flow? It's firmer than the regular Lady Gel Flow, but not as firm as the Glamour Aspide (which I loved except for its rock-hardness at 40+ miles). IMO, the shape is about the same between the Glamour Aspide and the SLR Lady Gel Flow.

I really want to try the Turbomatic, but I'm afraid that the dome would be a dealbreaker for me :(

[OakLeaf]

The Turbomatic is a good bit firmer than a Jett. The cut-out is effectively larger (because of the slope) and, for me, better placed. Never tried a Ruby or Arrowhead, so I can't compare.

If your problem on the 155 Jett was it was too wedge-shaped, then you're in the same place I was, and I'm loving my Turbomatic.

[buffybike]

[QUOTE=Becky;601626]I see that you've tried the Lady Gel Flow, but what about the SLR Lady Gel Flow?

I think that the SLR gel flow is the one i had. My sitbones were between the 143 and 155 on the Specialized scale. The 143 feels slightly too narrow and I found that I kept scooting back for more support. i love the "footprint" of the Aspide and Arrowhead, just not the firmness and pressure on the middle. Basically, i want the Jett 155 but slightly more t-shaped. Also, it's worth pointing out that I like to ride for distance, not necessarily speed. In the next 6 weeks i have 2 centuries and i just don't think I can do them on the Arrowhead...it's too firm and uncomfortable.

[OakLeaf]

To me it's the other way around.

Squishier saddles are tolerable for short rides.

It's when you've been squishing and moving around on the saddle for hours on end, that it gets really uncomfortable. I would much rather have a firmer saddle for a long ride.

[buffybike]

Ive done centuries on the Jett which i found to be about perfect (firm-wise). I was wrong about the Gel Flow, too...I had the Diva Gel Flow. Didnt work for me. Now i'm a little undecided between the SLR gel flow and the Turbomatic.

[ny biker]

I haven't seen the Turbomatic with the cutout, but I have seen the one without a cutout and it is definitely less padded than the Jett.

[OakLeaf]

Mine has the cut-out, and I think it's supposed to be squishier than the one without.

[zoom-zoom]

I found the Turbomatic (with cut-out) to have similar firmness to the SSM Glamour Arrowhead, but it was just way too domed, so it wasn't as wide as listed. My sit bone ended up straddling the saddle. It was ouchie. Too bad, since I think if the back end of that saddle were flattened that it would be the best. saddle. ever. I do really like the Glamour Arrowhead, though, but sort of wish the cut-out were a bit bigger. It is a hair firmer than I'd like, too, but my sit bones are adapting. Something with firmness midway between the Jett and Ruby or Jett and Glamour would be perfect.

[Becky]

I think that they've changed the SLR LGF. Mine is definitely 155mm wide.

I'm gonna cry if they're not making it that wide anymore :(

[Marquise]

Have you considered a Bontrager Affinity? I've only done a single 30-mile ride on my Affinity RL WSD but it's a 154 and feels more t-shaped to my inner thighs than a 143 Specialized Ruby or a Fizik Donna, even though I feel like there's a wide platform to support my sit bones. There's a 30-day return option, at least where I bought it, so I'm giving it a try even though I haven't ruled out the recently purchased Ruby.

[buffybike]

I notice you have a Brooks on one of your bikes. Do you like it? Does it have a cutout?

I like the Brooks for looks and for shortish rides. It's a lovely saddle but I wouldn't do a century on it at this point because it's too firm (although I DO like the shape). No cutout, though.

I live near an LBS that sells Bontrager saddles....I may check out the Affinity if they honor the 30 day return policy. If not, I may just go back to the Jett. Although it's definately not "the one", it's the best one I've had so far and I know I can ride a century on it. I'd put my old Jett back on, but somehow one of the rails got bent and now it's ruined! The Arrowhead is up for sale, BTW. PM me if interested.

[ny biker]

The 30-day guarantee is from Bontrager, so all LBSs should honor it.

The 154 mm Affinity WSD is nearly identical in size and shape to the SSM Aspide Glamour.

[zoom-zoom]

The 154 mm Affinity WSD is nearly identical in size and shape to the SSM Aspide Glamour.

Really?! How does it "feel" in comparison...?

[ny biker]

Depends on the model. The RXL is least padded and the R is most padded.

I found the Aspide Glamour excrutiating, but the Affinity R is quite comfortable for my sitbones. However there is a bit too much padding in the nose of the R for me. It's bearable but not great, especially for very long rides.

I found the Affinity RL (between the RXL and R in terms of padding) to be a bit too firm, though in retrospect I might have had residual soreness from trying the Aspide Glamour and Lithia immediately before it.

[kermit]

I just listed an RXL on ebay, I rode it twice, I really liked the dent area, but the seat is flat and does not flex at all to me. It really puts you into a position and supports very well in the seat, I just like to be able to move around a little more. It is very close to the SSM glamour when you compare the two. The RXL seemed a little more padded than the glamour. If it had a little more of that scooped seat that the glamour has I would have kept it forever.

[zoom-zoom]

I'd be tempted to try the RXL, except for those carbon rails. Those require a special seatpost clamp, right? DH is really leery of carbon rails, anyhow.

[kermit]

Nope my stock seatpost fit it just fine!

[OakLeaf]

Maybe the issue you're thinking of is that you probably have to pay better attention to the fore/aft limits on carbon rails? So that if you've been making do with a seatpost with the wrong setback, a saddle with carbon rails will mean a new seatpost?

[kermit]

The saddle I have has titanium rails.

[zoom-zoom]

The saddle I have has titanium rails.

Hmmm...maybe they just started doing carbon. I could have sworn that I saw that the RXL is currently something like $160 and has oversized carbon rails.

[kermit]

They do make a carbon rail edition for racers and weight weenies.

[zoom-zoom]

Here's my saddle history: SI Lady Gel Flow (not t shaped enough); Specialized Jett 143 (didn't support sit bones enough); Specialized Jett 155 (much better but had some chafing on inner thigh); SSM Glamour Aspide (too firm and squished girl parts); SSM Arrowhead (loved the shape, but cutout not enough to relieve pressure on girl parts and too firm). I feel the the princess and the pea. This is getting ridiculous and expensive.

I'm quoting you because I have had such similar experiences on many of the exact same saddles.

SI Lady Gel Flow -- too pear, too squishy
Jett 143 -- too narrow in the rear
Ruby 155 -- too pear (inner thigh rubbing, kept having to push myself back)
SSM Glamour Arrowhead -- cut-out is just not great for me. I think it's too narrow and too sharp-edged. Actual footprint and profile is otherwise perfect.

Turbomatic probably would have been the best. saddle. ever...except it was so domed that I ended up straddling it. It measures as a wider saddle than it really is.

I'm now thinking I need to give the Bontrager Affinity a try...as a last ditch effort to find a saddle that I can mostly forget about.

RL vs. RXL? I don't mind a firmer saddle. The Ruby was really about perfect. Would that be comparable to the RXL?

[zoom-zoom]

The 154 mm Affinity WSD is nearly identical in size and shape to the SSM Aspide Glamour.

Hmmm...I just got a loaner 154 Affinity and I don't think it's anywhere near as T-shaped as the Glamour. My hubby actually said the same, before I had even commented on it. It looks very similar to the Jett 155 to me (with a shorter nose, like the Ruby 155). So I'm sort of not holding my breath. Tomorrow I'm going to do a ride...hopefully it feels more t-shaped than it looks.

[ny biker]

Hmmm...I just got a loaner 154 Affinity and I don't think it's anywhere near as T-shaped as the Glamour. My hubby actually said the same, before I had even commented on it. It looks very similar to the Jett 155 to me (with a shorter nose, like the Ruby 155). So I'm sort of not holding my breath. Tomorrow I'm going to do a ride...hopefully it feels more t-shaped than it looks.

I put the Glamour upside-down on top of the Affinity and ran my hands around the edges to compare them. They were very close, except for the shorter nose on the Glamour.

Of course the topography is different.

[zoom-zoom]

I wonder if my Affinity is different, then, because when placing them so widest points are at the same spot, the Affinity definitely has the shorter nose of the 2. :confused:

[ny biker]

Right, that's what I meant to say. Affinity has shorter nose. Actually, the Glamour had the longest nose of any saddle I've tried.

[zoom-zoom]

Right, that's what I meant to say. Affinity has shorter nose. Actually, the Glamour had the longest nose of any saddle I've tried.

Heh, you didn't try the Turbomatic, I take it? I really liked the long nose on that. :D