My girlfriend who has sit bones approx. 110mm thinks the SSM Turbomatica is the bomb.
My girlfriend who has sit bones approx. 110mm thinks the SSM Turbomatica is the bomb.
I'd totally believe it! I wish my sit bones were narrower. It really is a nice saddle. I have high hopes for the SSM Glamour Arrowhead, since they are so similar in footprint, but the Glamour isn't domed.Quote:
Originally Posted by SarahMN
I had a 155 Jett. I'd demoed a 143 and it really did not work for me. The 155 Jett was close - I put almost 4500 miles on it - but the TGF is better.
My old 155 Lithia is on my commuter and does just fine in the more upright position. I'm between 125 and 130 and the TGF is great, but I can tell if it were even a little narrower, it would be a problem.
My DH is on his 3rd day of riding the SI Turbomatic Gel Flow, and he is liking it more and more each ride. I can't even hazard a guess as to how wide his sit bones are...but prior to the Turbo, he was riding a 143 Toupe, and prior to that he was on a cheap Performance 130mm saddle. So apparently, he is one of those odd specimens that can ride ANY width saddle and be totally fine.
Hmmm...that leads me to suspect that his sit bones must be 120 or less. Which makes my theory hold water--I think if I had narrower sit bones that the Turbomatic would have been perfect. I'm jealous of your hubby!Quote:
Originally Posted by nscrbug
I wish my sitbones were 5-10mm narrower. It would make life so much easier.
I'm on a Jett 143. I could use a little more space for my sitbones, but I'm getting spots on the backs of my thighs that could easily turn into chafing on longer rides (though I was sort-of okay for 44 without having shaved). Width-wise, the 155 Spec saddles may be better, but I don't think my thighs would be happy about that. Hm.
Since the Turbomatic is so domed, does it place a lot of pressure on the soft tissue?
Yeah, that's the issue I have with it. It's very odd, since my thighs get a break from rubbing against the transition area from nose-to-rear, but my crotch ends up pretty annoyed.Quote:
Originally Posted by bluebug32
Yup, I think that was my issue with it as well. It felt great to have the freedom of movement with my legs, but my girly parts were definitely NOT happy on this saddle...which surprised me due to the generous cut-out. But my hubby is finding happiness riding it now, so it all worked out for us.Quote:
Originally Posted by bluebug32
Ahh, the same issue I had with the Specialized Romin and the Fizik Aliante. I'm back on my Toupe, but it's still a little too hard and my thighs are rubbing the edges a bit. Anyone have any suggestions for what saddle to try next?Quote:
Originally Posted by zoom-zoom
I have the opposite experience. My sit-bones perch on top of the domes and the rest of the saddle slopes away from me. Big happy. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by bluebug32
My SSM Glamour Arrowhead is here! Can't wait to test it tomorrow. I have high hopes! It seems to have the best qualities of the Turbomatic and Ruby. My only concern might be the relatively small/narrow cut-out, but that may not be an issue at all. Because I've never had a saddle really fit me well through the sit-bones AND thighs I've always ended up having issues with not being centered properly over cut-outs. So I may find that I don't really need an overly generous cut-out.
Good luck! Look forward to your report.Quote:
Originally Posted by zoom-zoom
Do tell!Quote:
Originally Posted by zoom-zoom
Anxiously awaiting your thoughts on the Aspide Arrowhead.
I really can't wait until tomorrow night's ride. I just hope that all this anticipation doesn't turn to let-down. I don't even have another saddle in line that I'd want to try.
I hope it works for you, I rode one for a long time and I love the flexibility of it.
It makes up for the smaller size cutout.
Has anyone ever heard of or seen the San Marco Ischia Glamour Arrowhead? I was doing some research on bikes (might be in the market for a new one soon), and found that this particular saddle is used as the stock saddle on the BH Cristal and the Jamis Xenith Elite Femme. Anyone have any experience with it? I tried looking it up online, and found very little info/pics on it. Apparently, much like the Aspide...there are various versions of it - the Glamour, and the Glamour Arrowhead. From what I was able to dig up, the Glamour does not have a cutout and is 155mm, and the Arrowhead does have a cutout, but is only 140mm. If anyone else can find some better specs on it, please let me know.
Linda
It's interesting how flexible it is. I really noticed that when comparing it to the Ruby. The ruby has some flex, but the Glamour is MUCH more flexible. I'll be interested to see how that feels.Quote:
Originally Posted by kermit
I was talking to my Specialized dealer today because they have been helping me with my saddle issues. I mentioned how I used to love my Toupe, but how uncomfortable it's been lately. Apparently, these saddles are meant to be replaced every year or so because they will literally start to buckle inward. Interesting thought. Maybe all I need is a new Toupe! Will give their demo a try after my century Sat.
Huh...now that is interesting. I would have never thought to replace my Ruby after just 1 year, though. That could get expensive...especially at over $100 a pop. Now I wonder what my Specialized dealer would say if I inquired about that. I'll have to make a point to stop there this weekend and bring that up.Quote:
Originally Posted by bluebug32
Rode 27 miles on my Glamour Arrowhead and really think I may have finally won the saddle lottery...ding ding ding! I did have some up-front pressure issues, but I am pretty sure it has more to do with having it a hair too high in the front (I was suspicious that it might be before even riding it, but it's really hard to level these "hammocked" saddles). Other than that I was very happy...sit bones were good, I never felt like I had to push myself back, inner thighs were good (though not as good as on the Turbomatic...if that thing were less domed and/or wider it would be the PERFECT saddle).
Hubby angled the nose up just a hair and moved it forward on the rails about a quarter inch (I always know my saddles are back a hair too much when the insides of my legs brush the tops of my water bottles). I'll do a short ride tomorrow night just to make sure that everything is dialed-in right before my big ride across the state on Sat. :)
Yay!
How's the firmness of the GA Arrowhead compared to the Ruby? I really did love my GA for shorter rides. Maybe the Arrowhead is worth a look, if my sit bones can handle it...
Oops, again I posted after my bedtime and made no sense. :o Hubby tilted my nose DOWN a bit, not up. :p
It's firmer than the ruby. But, really, even though the Ruby is firmer than the Jett I didn't notice a huge difference while riding, even as far as a century. I think maybe because my Jett was too narrow and I was out on the firmer edges, anyhow.Quote:
Originally Posted by Becky
If it is THE one, I think there ought to be some kind of ceremony to celebrate. I want to see pictures of you and your beloved. Mazel tov!
That's a great idea! I will have to get DH to get a photo of me "hugging" my saddle. :D
Yay!
Rode a few miles tonite, with stops back home to have DH tweak things. I think last night that my saddle was about a quarter-inch too high. Lowering it made a difference, as did moving it a hair forward and tilting the nose down a skoosh. Tomorrow will be the true test. I'm kinda nervous, but I think the initial feel of this saddle is the best I've tried. I love the way it gives when I hit bumps and I don't feel like I'm being forced forward or mashing my inner thighs and backs of my cheeks into the transition area.
It is firm, though. I have a feeling that those last 50 miles of my ride across the state are gonna be noticeably sore. I can HTFU and deal with it, though. :D
Kirsten...have you had an opportunity to ride in the drops on the Arrowhead? With it being so firm, did you feel any pressure on the girly parts while in the drops? That is usually one of my problem areas...especially on my Ruby. I have a Ruby with that stupid silver plastic tip at the nose, and as you know, there isn't much padding on the nose of the Ruby to begin with...so when I get in my drops it's "ouch" city for me. Literally feels like my bits are being smooshed...I can only stay in the drops for about a minute or so.Quote:
Originally Posted by zoom-zoom
I really haven't. I rode in the drops a bit last night, but the saddle was too high, too far back, and too nosed-up, so the little I did wasn't as comfy as I expect it to be, now.
So I completed my ride across MI, yesterday...and the verdict is, I think the SSM Aspide Glamour Arrowhead and I are at the start of a long-term relationship. :cool:
I had issues in the first 80+ miles of the ride that I started suspecting were a shorts issue, not a saddle issue. Fortunately my DH was driving support and had a spare pair of shorts in the car for me. Rest of the ride was MUCH better and by the end I was very happy on my saddle (I mean, as happy as a person could be after 147 miles, after chafing for 80 of them).
No numbness, no feeling like I had to constantly push myself back, un-emcumbered thigh movement. Just great!
Awesome! And looking at the pictures of the saddle (I know it's not the same one, but it's close), it might just work...
...on the next bike.
Nice! I think we need a pic. of you perched atop the Arrowhead, popping a bottle of champagne! Congrats on finding "the one." May you have a long and happy ride together :p
No champagne, but I did have a beer just minutes after this was taken:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...0_764109_n.jpg
Sweet!!!!!
Zoom-zoom, I just thought I'd mention that I have that same jersey. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by zoom-zoom
zoom-zoom....Great pic and congrats on finally finding "the one". :D
Cool! I got it from Primal Wear's outlet. It's one of my very favorite jerseys. I picked that one because it has the largest/deepest pockets of any of my jerseys. And it's so comfy. It was a good pick, yesterday, since it's also very visible on a dreary day.Quote:
Originally Posted by Owlie
The 155. I tried the mid-sie (143?) and it was a little too narrow for my sitbones. I loved the shape of the Aspide, but I need a cutout for comfort. I'm about to purchase an Aspide Glamour Arrowhead. Hopefully, it will be "the one" for me as I'm really sick of saddle shopping (this will be my 5th or 6th saddle).Quote:
Originally Posted by bluebug32