Selle Anatomica Review -- not for me!

I bought a Selle Anatomica from a friend who decided she didn't like it.
It was a nice ride at first -- hit me in the right spots, and didn't chafe anywhere 'cause there's just nothing there to chafe!
Alas, that was 2000 miles ago (I know, 'cause my silly bike computer stopped resetting about then) ... and now it's basically lost its integrity. Unfortunatley, the effect is like sleeping on a very, very bad mattress -- my back *hurts.* I "tightened" it and moved it around -- but basically, there isn't enough to it to hold me up.

I'm really, really glad I didn't pay retail for it. Now, I'm on a hybrid, so my backside's prob'ly a bit more weight bearing than it would be on a road bike, and I ride a few more miles than the average bear, and yea, I tend to push down hard, so Your Mileage May Vary, but I'm shopping for a saddle...

I know a lot of people scoff at the Terry Cite X as lame or a beginners saddle, but for a hybrid I find it to be one of the most comfy saddles out there...your butt may or may not agree. :p

Oh no! That's too bad. DH is actually thinking of buying one. Our LBS lended one for him to try on his old bike while they're getting his new one set up. He LOVES the saddle! Now I wonder if he should get it. It's too bad. I rode on it for a bit too and it seems to be really comfy, a bit strange perhaps since it was almost too "bouncy".

Do you think you'll go with Brooks now?

That's pretty much what I've heard about them. Great at first but you can't tension them like a Brooks.

Not true for all. We have them on all our bikes and love them, although on 100+ mile rides, they start to hurt--but I haven't yet met the saddle that didn't at that stage. I find Selle As incredibly comfortable.

Hey Geonz,

If you want to get rid of your old Selle Anatomica, would you please PM me?

I would be interested in it.

Thanks,

Lynette

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Originally Posted by salsabike

Not true for all. We have them on all our bikes and love them, although on 100+ mile rides, they start to hurt--but I haven't yet met the saddle that didn't at that stage. I find Selle As incredibly comfortable.

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+1 re: SA saddle...I've tried plenty of others over the years and the SA is a keeper...for 4+ years now...
to each their own though...

I agree it's very much a personal preference. I have been struggling for a year with my Selle Anatomica and my last ride was just miserable. I'm starting to think it's too long for me. With my sitbones where they should be the inside of my legs always feel bruised when I'm done. Then again, maybe my legs are too fat:p

I don't know. I seriously wonder why I changed from the Specialized Dolce I used on this bike for a century that I had no problem with:confused: (I though I deserved an upgrade, lol).

It hits me in the right places -- and it was fine for those first 2000 miles. I think it's broken *down* instead of broken in, especially given the nature of the ouch... tho' I'm also thinking I should get an egg crate thingy for my mattress and do some core exercises...

All butts are not created equal -- that's why there's so many different types of saddles... for all the cycling butts out there :):):). My vote has and will always be for Selle San Marco Aspide Glamour. I have two of them.

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Originally Posted by Geonz

It hits me in the right places -- and it was fine for those first 2000 miles. I think it's broken *down* instead of broken in, especially given the nature of the ouch... tho' I'm also thinking I should get an egg crate thingy for my mattress and do some core exercises...

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Is yours the traditonal leather? On their website, it says the traditional leather model is "NOT the best saddle material choice for regular weekly use in hot or wet climates."

I have the watershed ones, and I've had them for 2 years, ride about 100 miles a week year round, and they definitely have thousands of miles of life left.

my husband has untold thousands of miles on his and it's going great. having said that,
my coworker has one of these saddles; he uses vasoline on his butt, which seems to have affected the leather, which stretched badly after just a few hundred miles~!

I love love love my Selle Anatomica Titanico and am of the opinion that those folks having issues with them are due to the saddle not being adjusted properly. Tom at Selle-Anatomica is very helpful and concise when offering suggestions if you email him and tell him exactly where it hurts and what kind of hurt - ie. bruising/chafing/etc.

Also according to the directions, to obtain a wider seating (sitbone) area, you must loosen the tension. Also try lowering your seat a little bit to get more weight onto your pedals and off your butt.

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