Lets talk about saddles

[AshleyF]

Hey Everyone!
I am relatively new to riding, this is my second real season. This year I bought a Cannondale Synapse which I love, but I don't so much love the saddle. What saddle do like? I ride about 100 miles a week and am doing a 50 miles charity ride in June, and am also going to try to do a 100 mile race in August. I would like something that offers good support for longer rides without the soreness and bruise type feeling. Any input is helpful. :)

[amnesiac]

I have a Terry Butterfly on both my road & MTB.

[Owlie]

I am going to send you to this thread: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=39475

It's rather long, and there are lots of links in there, so grab a drink and a snack. :)


That said, I've had good luck with the Specialized saddles. Selle Italia makes some nice saddles too.

[AshleyF]

I am going to send you to this thread: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=39475

It's rather long, and there are lots of links in there, so grab a drink and a snack. :)


That said, I've had good luck with the Specialized saddles. Selle Italia makes some nice saddles too.


Thanks for the link! I will take a look. My lbs let me try a Selle Italia Diva (I think) and it is ok, but not my favorite I am defiantly sore from yesterdays ride. I did just adjust it before I hit the roads today, i tilted the nose down a little, so maybe that will help?? I have a Specialized hybrid bike, and I really like the seat on that, but I am wondering if it would feel different on my road bike? Ah!! I just don't know!?! :confused: I will start by reading your link for sure!

[CyborgQueen]

Thanks for the link! I will take a look. My lbs let me try a Selle Italia Diva (I think) and it is ok, but not my favorite I am defiantly sore from yesterdays ride. I did just adjust it before I hit the roads today, i tilted the nose down a little, so maybe that will help?? I have a Specialized hybrid bike, and I really like the seat on that, but I am wondering if it would feel different on my road bike? Ah!! I just don't know!?! :confused: I will start by reading your link for sure!

Try putting it on your Road bike. If you really really like it, then I don't see why not. I've heard people buy the cheapest saddle ($15 saddle), and they LOVE it. Others shell out hundreds and they love it too.

After trying on so many different saddles (Including Selle Italia Diva - it turns out that it was just a little too hard for me after very long rides), I found my dream saddle - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow. It's just so comfortable for me, and even with a little shifting here and there for long rides, I'm not SORE at the end of 95-100 miles. My muscles are a little more sore than my butt. Proves that I got the perfect sadde for ME. :-)

Even tiny adjustments (tilting nose downwards or upward, or more fore/aft) makes all the difference.

[kris7047th]

Thanks for the link! I will take a look. My lbs let me try a Selle Italia Diva (I think) and it is ok, but not my favorite I am defiantly sore from yesterdays ride. I did just adjust it before I hit the roads today, i tilted the nose down a little, so maybe that will help?? I have a Specialized hybrid bike, and I really like the seat on that, but I am wondering if it would feel different on my road bike? Ah!! I just don't know!?! :confused: I will start by reading your link for sure!

Are you wearing bike specific padded shorts/pants? If not, I highly recommend you buy a pair (no underwear to be worn)

[AshleyF]

Are you wearing bike specific padded shorts/pants? If not, I highly recommend you buy a pair (no underwear to be worn)

I did, I have a couple of pairs, I have now tried 3 specialized a Selle Italia and ProLogo, What do you think about Terry and Brooks? I went back to my LBS and they measured and fit me to a seat and I think I am finally in the right size but still havn't found the one. Most of them make the lady situation and my behind go numb, I even got a saddle sore from one!! I am starting to get frustrated that I will never find "the one" :(

[AshleyF]

Try putting it on your Road bike. If you really really like it, then I don't see why not. I've heard people buy the cheapest saddle ($15 saddle), and they LOVE it. Others shell out hundreds and they love it too.

After trying on so many different saddles (Including Selle Italia Diva - it turns out that it was just a little too hard for me after very long rides), I found my dream saddle - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow. It's just so comfortable for me, and even with a little shifting here and there for long rides, I'm not SORE at the end of 95-100 miles. My muscles are a little more sore than my butt. Proves that I got the perfect sadde for ME. :-)

Even tiny adjustments (tilting nose downwards or upward, or more fore/aft) makes all the difference.

I think I might try that one, I know everyone is different, but I am sick of it hurting and being numb. I did just get a bike fit and the guy who did it said that everything was fitting perfectly, I just needed to find "the one". My Hubby just got a Brooks and said about the same thing you did, that he can't feel any preasure points and he dosn't get sore. I was also thinking of trying a Terry.

[emily_in_nc]

Like CyborgQueen, I love the Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow. I also got very lucky with the one that came on the Trek Pilot I bought on ebay. I never thought I'd like a Bontrager saddle (they used to be instruments of torture!) but I am loving this one (see my signature as I can't ever remember the name).

Good luck; it's a very individual thing.

[thekarens]

Ditto on the Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow, but saddles are an individual thing. Also for what it's worth my white one is turning yellow. The guy at the lbs showed me some brand new white ones that had yellowing. From now on it's black only for me.

[AshleyF]

Ditto on the Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow, but saddles are an individual thing. Also for what it's worth my white one is turning yellow. The guy at the lbs showed me some brand new white ones that had yellowing. From now on it's black only for me.

That is Good to know! I will steer clear of white! I have also heard that the Terry Butterfly is very similar to the Ldy gel flow? Have you seen/noticed that?

[AshleyF]

So do you feel one is better than the other? Do they feel the same? If I like one will I like the other? Also has anyone tried Selle SMP Women's TRK saddle? it is has the drop nose? Is that good? What about Brooks? I was looking at the Colt, but it is so hard to commit as I have to order all of these online to try out. Also, I have noticed that while I do sit on my sit bones I do also sit slightly on my pelvic bone. Do I need to change how I sit or find a saddle that feels great while sitting that way. I think that may be why I am numb?

[ny biker]

With the caveat that you really should read all the info Muirenn is linking to -- your problems sound similar to mine, and I think we might sit the same way. I have been happiest with the Bontrager Affinity RXL. This has the least padding, compared to the Affinity RL and Affinity R. I tried both of those and had problems with numbness and pressure up front. I personally go with the medium width, which is 144 mm I think. Any LBS that sells Trek bikes will also sell Bontrager products, and will have a saddle measurement tool that you sit on to determine the correct width for you. Or you can do the measuring yourself and order from Bontrager online. Either way, they offer a 30-day comfort guarantee.

http://www.bontrager.com/model/09729

Note that you may need a different saddle clamp to work with the rails on the RXL. The folks at the LBS where I bought my saddle helped me with that. It was not expensive, and since it was from Bontrager it also had a 30-day guarantee.

[lgibster]

I ride a Specialized Ruby saddle and I love it. I do have to nose it down more than the other saddles since there is a slight rise in front of the channel. Saddles are a personal thing and don't be afraid to try a "mens" saddle either. A good LBS should let you test ride the saddles until you find "the one" that is good for you. Good Luck.

[Trek420]

Edit: pay particular attention to Knot and Wahine.

Yes. Knott is very wise :cool:

[gocard]

I rode on the stock saddle (Prologo Kappa Dea) from my Synapse for several hundred miles but I just replaced it with a Specialized Ruby saddle around 2 weeks ago. My sit bones were slightly tender the first weekend I rode on it (55 miles over 2 days) but I just finished a 50 mile charity ride last weekend and I had no discomfort in my sit bones or tissues at all. My saddle is pretty level but I had to play with the seat height a few times since it is thinner than the stock saddle. Hopefully you'll find a seat that works for you soon!

[mariacycle]

I've had good luck with the Specialized saddles.

I've also had a good experience with my Specialized saddle, but I highly recommend sitting on the seat where they measure your sit bones to determine what saddle size you are.

[brigada]

I too am in the process of looking for a new saddle, unfortunately my budget is a bit tight since I'm still recovering from the costs of buying parts and assembling my bike.

I went to get my sitbones measured at a Specialized concept store nearby and apparently my sitbone width is 128mm. They suggested something between 150 and 155mm. No Specialized saddles in that size were available at the store then so I started looking online, but I could sure use some guidance.

I heard some good things about Charge Ladle, which is fine at $40 incl. shipping. If you have any other suggestions, preferably within the $60 range, my sore butt will surely appreciate it :)

[TigerMom]

I too am in the process of looking for a new saddle, unfortunately my budget is a bit tight since I'm still recovering from the costs of buying parts and assembling my bike.

I went to get my sitbones measured at a Specialized concept store nearby and apparently my sitbone width is 128mm. They suggested something between 150 and 155mm. No Specialized saddles in that size were available at the store then so I started looking online, but I could sure use some guidance.

I heard some good things about Charge Ladle, which is fine at $40 incl. shipping. If you have any other suggestions, preferably within the $60 range, my sore butt will surely appreciate it :)

Are there are bike shops in your area that let you demo saddles?

[brigada]

I just bought this one for my cyclocross bike. I know it says 'mens', but I've used both mens and women's Specialized saddles in size 155 (also right for me), and I don't see a difference outside of marketing.

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/ftb/saddles/equipsaddlesspecials/toupepluscomp

It's just like the one I use on my regular road bike, but a little heavier, and the padding is slightly thicker (still minimal, which is good), hence the lower price. It's $75.00, not cheap, but not outrageous, either.

I've used the Specialized Toupe on my road bike for the last 3 years, now. For me, it's perfect and pain-free. (But read the above links and info before you buy anything, but skip the huge Summary of Saddle Info thread for now).

Thank you for the tip! I will have to see how much this saddle would cost at the Spec concept store, or perhaps look online. I have a feeling that they might bump up the price by $20ish, but I might be wrong.


Are there are bike shops in your area that let you demo saddles?
I don't think so, but I'll ask around just in case. I get the impression that most LBSs here consider saddles an afterthought and only stock the bare minimum.

[brigada]

Oh, I was browsing via my phone, I didn't even realize I could buy it! Unfortunately, they only ship to the US and I'm from Croatia :(

The saddle I have now is a disaster, I think the rails might even be bent because I feel like I'm slightly tilted to the side of the saddle while riding and the saddle makes a clicking noise when I shift my weight forward or backward. :/

[brigada]

Hi Muirenn, sorry I didn't reply to you earlier, I was busy with uni exams over the past week or so.

First of all, thank you for being so helpful! I checked the position of the saddle I have right now and my friend that works at a LBS checked the seatpost, everything seems fine. The saddle I'm using right now is a Selle Royal Mach. My brother used it before me and he agreed that it's the worst saddle ever. The creaking noise the saddle makes no matter how tight I screw the seatpost bolts makes me believe that the rails are indeed bent.

I would like to try my luck with your Vesta if you're willing to sell it to me. If so, please send me a message so we can arrange everything :)

Thank you once again for the thorough reply, this saddle is keeping me away from the bike I spent 6 months building up so I'm getting a bit antsy to treat my butt with a nicer one :D

[kris7047th]

I did, I have a couple of pairs, I have now tried 3 specialized a Selle Italia and ProLogo, What do you think about Terry and Brooks? I went back to my LBS and they measured and fit me to a seat and I think I am finally in the right size but still havn't found the one. Most of them make the lady situation and my behind go numb, I even got a saddle sore from one!! I am starting to get frustrated that I will never find "the one" :(
Sorry for taking sooo long to reply. I can't say about Terry, but I do like Pearl Izumi over some other brands.