TT/tri bike saddles

[bluedress]

I know this would more appropriately belong in the "gear" section, but this is where owners of TT or tri bikes are going to hang out. (Plus I read a lot of the threads over there and did not find what I was looking for.)

Last week I went in for my road bike fitting (I had it done by a physical therapist). We put on aerobars and adjusted things similar to a timetrial/tri bike position. So I took it out for a spin yesterday—just 25 miles. I had no problems with the positioning of the bike other than the saddle—which had me wincing in pain by the halfway point. The short of it is—with the forward positioning of everything—the saddle that is on my bike is NOT, NOT, NOT going to work. Does anyone have a saddle on their TT/tri (or similarly positioned) bike that they love?

I see Bontrager makes the seat that TREK puts on their TT bikes, Race FIT TT: http://www.bontrager.com/Road/Components/Saddles/21274.php. Specialized has a saddle called the Jett Women's Saddle—but I am not sure if it is suited to a TT bike or not: http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=13530. Are there any others?

[Running Mommy]

On my new QR Seduza I have a saddelco from Performance. It's a mesh saddle with a hard plastic edge. I love the mesh for my bits, but the hard plastic edge tends to bite into my leg where the crotch meets the inner thigh. To conteract this I added a neoprene cover. I'm also going to try to put some moleskin or foam w/ adhesive on it on the rails to see if it helps. But w/ the neoprene it's tolerable- even for 100 miles.

I just put the selle smp trk ladies version on my road bike. I was on that for 5.5 hours on the trainer on saturday and that saddle worked well. I tried to stay down in the aerobars as much as possible to simulate my upcoming race. I had no girl bit problems at all w/ this saddle.

[Nanci]

I'm going to try out the selle smp soon, too. I have been using a Fizik Vitesse, which I am very happy with, (it's been on three bikes since 2000) but am curious about the selle. Anything to take pressure off that area, without having an adverse reaction on the sit-bones, would be nice. I am worried about it being too cushy or too wide back there, though...

I haven't heard of any of the saddles that have gel in the nose actually feeling good or better than those which don't.

Nanci

[Running Mommy]

Hey nanci if you are used to the fizik you may not like the SMP. It is wide like a cadillac. I was concerned when I got it in the mail, but it works great for my frontal bits. It is really cushy, and the back is pretty wide compared to the fizik I had and the saddelco. I did find that it didn't work well when I was sitting upright, but was great down in the aerobars.
I'm also not one for super cushy saddles, as they always seem better than they turn out to be?? Go figure/!:confused:

[Nanci]

Well, if I hate it, I am sure I can find it a new home!

Nanci

[Running Mommy]

well it is comfy, I'll say that. I was worried when I first looked at it. But my bits love it. Hopefully your do too! :)

[bluedress]

So do you think it would work to put the selle smp strike lady on my road bike in the forward position with aerobars? It does look like a sweet saddle!

[Running Mommy]

yeah Marca I do. It is wierd in that it almost dumps you forward in a way. I guess it's the way it's shaped. I think it's very condusive to the aero position. Like I said, I was on it- on the trainer- mostly in the aerobars for 5.5 hours on Saturday and it was fine. Lets just say I was pleasantly surprised. :p

[bluedress]

Groovy, Denise, thanks. After my ride yesterday--during which I was “unpleasantly shocked”:eek: --I will take “pleasantly surprised”:p. Where did you order yours from?
--Marca

[Nanci]

Look under the thread A Very Happy Tushie down in favorite saddles or something. I got mine from some guy in England, on eBay. Whatever the price is, listed in that thread, is what I paid. $50-something including shipping, which was more than the saddle.

Nanci

[bluedress]

BTW, I joined the ranks of selle smp strike lady saddle owners! I placed the order today and it has already shipped—comfort is comin’ my way.

[RoadRaven]

I have my new TT bike (thanks again to my man) and I bought the same saddle as I use on my raod bike.

I think the make of the saddle isn't so importantant as the position of it.

Because a TT position will put your bars lower in relation to your seat height, then check the position of your seat - it is likely that all you should need to do is tilt the nose down a tad, rather than change the whole saddle.

Good luck

[bluedress]

I tried my new selle smp strike lady saddle out this weekend on a 25 mile bike ride and I LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT! :D ~Marca

[Nanci]

Mine's on its way to a new home...I like a saddle that's very narrow and flat and firm. Like the exact opposite. I bet one of their men's saddles might be good, but I'm afraid to experiment for over $200...I guess I could get it and give it to BF if I hate it...

Nanci