Saddle Life: How long will it last?

I just bought a Specialized Ariel saddle for my road bike from my LBS who fitted me :-) It is working out TONS better than the stock Bontrager saddle that came on my bike. I'm not a serious racer and my rides span between 10 and 25 miles so this one is a little bit cushy. I'm considering trying a Specialized Jett (I'm a 130) but have got to wait and see how the Ariel works out first.

Anyway, I am a student and my bike was a graduation gift so I don't really have the appropriate income to outfit my bike as I would like to (whenever I go to the bike store, I want to buy EVERYTHING....mostly new bikes...hehe).

Anyway, how long should I expect my saddle to last? How will I know it's dead?

Thanks!

I rode the saddle that came on my Dolce until it literally ripped apart at the seams and had foam hanging out (and it's still on that bike). Funny thing is, once I got my Selle an-atomica, I realized my old saddle wasn't even comfortable! Ignorance is bliss. I guess you can ride it 'til it either hurts or falls apart.

I did read somewhere that bike shorts have a 6 month lifespan, but i'm not sure if that's 6 months for George Hincapie, or 6 months for me. His six months would take me about a decade :rolleyes: kinda like dog years.

I have a brooks saddle that is about 30 years old. The leather is very soft and comfortable.

I rarely hear of a Bontrager saddle that someone likes. Everyone seems to get them on their bikes and then they replace them!

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Originally Posted by redrhodie

I did read somewhere that bike shorts have a 6 month lifespan, but i'm not sure if that's 6 months for George Hincapie, or 6 months for me. His six months would take me about a decade :rolleyes: kinda like dog years.

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Mmmmmm, six months in George Hincapie's shorts...... :D

:o :eek: :D :D :D :D :D

My last saddle (Fuji stock) went 2.5 years and over 4,500 miles before I sold the bike. It was still comfortable and good condition.

My Serfas saddle on my new bike needed to be replaced about 6 months after I got the bike due to cover wear. I have been too timid to try a new saddle, so I am still riding it. :o It is comfortable, just looks horrible!

It depends. I'm paraphrasing Susan at TE here, but as she explained it, saddle life depends on a handful of factors--how much foam it has, how fast/hard you ride, what kind of weather conditions you ride in, whether the saddle has a cutout. As a point of reference, my Terry Butterfly Tri Gel started to become less comfortable after about a year/4,000 miles. I'm about due for another saddle, but I'm waiting for actual discomfort to set in. Susan indicated that that was pretty standard for that particular saddle given the way generally I ride.

I'm nine years into a Brooks B-17 and I haven't noticed much change in the past six or seven years.

Brooks don't count in this thread.....they last longer than their owners. :cool:

Funny thing about my brooks. As much as I love my bike, I've realized that if my bike was ever stolen, I would lament the loss of my saddle more than anything else.

I would agree that it really varies by saddle. I was riding a Terry Fly on my last road bike. When I got a second bike, I put the old Fly on the second bike and bought a new one (same saddle) for the road bike. I was amazed at how different the new saddle felt. It was identical to the old one, but it felt WAY different (harder at first, but more supportive and more comfortable over long rides). The old one was 2 years old and had about 4,000 miles on it. I think it was already breaking down significantly and I didn't know it until I'd ridden a new one! I kept riding the older one until it got to the point where it would HURT on rides over 65 miles long. At that point, I had to replace it.

This is why I wish I could get a Terry Fly with slightly less padding. I have heard that saddles that are less padded tend to hold up better over time (hence the Brooks saddles left from the stone ages that are still in use! :p).

Not entirely sure how it is for women because I've never been a woman. But I realized one day into a three day tour that I hated the padded saddle I had at the time. I was sharing a campsite with a dude who had a B-17 and his exact words were "Brooks... accept no substitutes."

We'd been drinking a bit but the advice was well taken.

I LOVE my Brooks:) My Surly came with a B17S - was too short. I changed the saddle to a regular B17 the night before a 40 mile ride. Had to stop and make a couple of adjustments, but it's been great ever since:) I just put a flyer (B17 with springs) on the back of our new tandem - comfy from the start. So yeah - I'm in the brooks camp (and I probably won't replace my Butterfly saddles when they wear out - I'll just buy Brooks saddles for those bikes too!).

CA

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Originally Posted by CA_in_NC

I LOVE my Brooks:) I changed the saddle to a regular B17 the night before a 40 mile ride. Had to stop and make a couple of adjustments, but it's been great ever since:)

CA

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That is a bold move. The only time I've made that big of a change prior to a big ride is when I replace my 30 tooth inner chainring with a 28 the day before I left for a tour.

Rode my sella Itallia Flight saddle for about 7 years... I still have it but its on a trainer bike. Gotten too hard for road ride.

Have a spare Jett130 saddle but only rode on it for about 400 miles. practically new. the color don't match my new bike so it sits in my spare parts box.

My current saddle is Specialized toupe saddle white with red trim. I think it will last a long long time. Hope it last over 12,000 miles.

Oh, my flight was ridden for more than 30,000 miles?

Soo I wouldn't worry too much about breaking down anytime soon.

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seat is dead when your butt says ouie ouie... or your butt goes numb after a short ride. or the stiching frays. you'll know when you get there. Generally you get tired and just want a upgrade even before the saddle is officially dead.


Smilingcat

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Originally Posted by boy in a kilt

That is a bold move. The only time I've made that big of a change prior to a big ride is when I replace my 30 tooth inner chainring with a 28 the day before I left for a tour.

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I did think twice about it:) But the choice was to ride the "s," which I knew wasn't that comfy for me, or to go with what already felt good on my butt. :D

When I rode a terry butterfly I had to replace it annually (~4000 miles), whereas my Brooks Finesse saddles keep getting better and better as the years go on (but I do take good care of them, proofride and put on their 'raincoats' when its wet out). While the initial outlay for the Brooks was more, after a couple years its cheaper.