another saddle Q: Selle Italia SLK
I like my Specialized Jett for the most part. It's wide enough at the sit bones, and pretty comfy, but it's too wide in the middle, which in hot sweaty weather means lost of chafing on the "wing" area of the chamois. I'm doing some serious damage to my shorts, and it's not very comfy. It also makes my shorts ride up some which is also uncomfortable.
My teammate sent me his Selle Italia SLR Gel Flow to try. It's nice and narrow in the middle, and I like how firm and light it feels in the seat. But it's very narrow in the back (130mm), so I was putting waaay too much pressure on my lady parts, causing pain and numbness.
Looking around, I wanted to hear any reviews on the Lady SLK. Seems to be flexible like the Jett and just as wide in the back (mine is 155mm). I hope it tapers as fast as the SLR. I like that it's still the covered carbon fiber.
Anyone tried this saddle?
I too like my jett 143, but...
I like my specialized bg jett 143 as well and have riden and raced on it all summer...
The cutout is nice and wide, which in conjunction with the relatively flat rear platform of the saddle (as viewed from the rear) allows my perineum and labia to be completely suspended 'in air' between the contact points of my ischial tuberosities with the seat - zero pressure or burning. The rear of the seat is very firm but comfortable, with a slight flare up at the tail edge which gives the sensation of the seat pushing back when I am really driving the pedals hard and prevents the sensation of sliding off the back - a very powerful and energy efficient feel.
However, a few things don't quite 'sit well' with me about it...
The mid section of the saddle is a bit too boxy and flat before it tapers to the nose, which causes pressure at the origin of my hamstrings (ie. near the skin crease between each leg and buttock). The nose of the saddle is just too wide for my tastes, also. And I have found positioning the saddle very finicky - even the slightest mm's change in fore-aft, seatpost height, or tilt dramatically changes the overall feel from comfortable to very uncomfortable.
So, I just got the sella italia signo gel flow and took it out for a short spin/climb...
It has a rear width of 141mm - very close to the jett's 143mm, and it is only slightly longer nose-to-tail (<5mm longer). First, it has a cutout like the jett, but the opening is notable narrower. Second, the platform of the saddle is more curved than the jett (as viewed from the rear). Third, the rails of the saddle stay midline (instead of flairing to the back corners of the rear of the saddle like the jett) which gives the wings of the saddle notable flex on the pedal downstroke. These three things together brought my perineum and labia in closer contact with the saddle which definitely caused some midline pressure - however, my ride was not long enough to tell if that will generate pain or burning with longer rides. My first impression is that I don't like the wing flexiness, but again I need to give it more test time. The mid section curves more nicely to the nose, which was definitely more comfortable at the origin of my hamstrings, and I like the narrow nose. Finally, the gel is minimal so you still retain a comfortable firm feel.
In summary, the signo gel flow might be a good alternative for the jett 143. I'm interested to know others opinions of these two saddles. Also, what other cut-out saddles do you like (and dislike) if you like either the jett 143 or the signo gel flow?
Looked at the Ruby Gel today - Ooh, Baby!
I'm in Ann Arbor right now, 500 miles from home. We spent the day driving around to bike shops, and one had Specialized stuff (and I now have what ought to be an accurate sit bone measurement of 130mm (they recommended the 143mm saddle) - gee - I could have used a gel mouse pad! Or, as DH just said, a bowl of Jello. :rolleyes:
I saw the Ruby SL Gel saddle, and I'm in love. Unrequited love at this point, but my b-day is coming up in a couple of weeks, and DH almost never tells me no. :D
Hard to justify 145 smackers, though.:mad: If I buy it, it could show up here and/or Ebay. Anyway, it is just beeoooootiful! I love the white one, but after my brief experience with the silver Terry Zero X, I think it wouldn't be all that white for long (one breezy, dusty ride and the sides were brown). All I know is, I've been wishing the Vitesse HP were flatter than it is in the rear, and baby, this thing is pancake flat. And looks nice and narrow up front (although I forgot to measure it :rolleyes: ). Nice and long, nice and narrow, nice and flat, and nice front to rear profile. It has the cutout, which didn't seem that wonderful in my Terry experiences, but I don't think it was a problem. It looks like it would be nice and hard, too, but the WTB Silverado I tried looked that way, too, but the only thing that kept that one from being perfect was the front to rear profile (too gradual = chafed at the leg attachment points).
Well, I have to think about this. They didn't have the 143 in stock anyway, just the 155, so I guess I'd have to order it. I was going to get an Aspide Glamour on Ebay, hopefully for way cheaper, but this thing has just got my head spinning. I did see an Aspide Glamour Gel-around something or other ($135), which looked nice, but not as nice, and I'd just get the regular, non-cutout one.
Xrayted: Which 155mm SSM saddle did you get?
Regarding Toupe Sizing Question
Okay, I was in a shop today, and they had the Toupe and the Toupe Gel. The cardboard attachment shows check boxes with the available sizes in that model. For each model, they had a couple that showed 130 & 143, and a couple showing 130, 143, and 155. Hence the debate, I suppose. Maybe one set was from last year, and one set from this year, and they either added or eliminated the 155mm?
