selle san marco vs. selle italia

I received a lot of helpful information regarding saddle issues/problems a few months ago and so I thought I would ask for advice again on this issue.

I purchased a specialized saddle and because of their saddle swap program tried out 6 or 7 saddles until I found one that worked "ok". What I mean by "ok" is that it wasn't as bad as the rest of them and I was so tired of the entire process of switching saddles that I basically settled on the one I have now which is the specialized lithia. It isn't painful, like some of the ones I tried, but I still believe there has to be something out there that is more comfortable. The uncomfortability is on my sit bones (it feels like they are bruising if that makes any sense). So, I have been riding the lithia for several months now and feel like I might have the energy to give this saddle buying process another shot because I'm not content on settling.

I have read ALL of the threads dealing with saddles (which were very helpful) and seem to be leaning towards either a san marco or selle italia saddle (as far as the brand goes). The demo program that selle italia has seems like it might be worth a shot to test out what their saddles are like. Anyway, does anyone have any feedback on these brands (or others, I am open to suggestions). I know everyone is different but maybe someone has more experience buying/riding different saddles and can offer some guidance. If not, it was worth putting it out there. By the way, the measurement I took on the specialized test indicated I am a 143 if that makes any difference.

Thanks,

Katharine

Katharine,

I'm all over the saddle threads, praising the Selle San Marco Aspide Glamour. That is definitely my saddle of choice, after much trial and error.

That being said, I don't personally have any experience with the Selle Italia. But there was one other woman on my Blue Ridge Parkway Tour and she rode the Selle Italia Lady. I asked her after a couple days of riding if she still liked her saddle and she said yeah, it was doing well for her. (And these were long days!) You might try that one first, over the Aspide Glamour, if you need a little more padding for your sit bones. The Glamour is pretty firm, and the Lady appeared to be more padded at the rear. Also, do you know if you prefer a cutout? The Glamour does not have one; the Lady does.

I hope that helps! There are just so many choices. But we were 5 days in the saddle and she and I were both still pretty comfortable. A lot of the men could not say the same!

Missy

Katharine - I am about to send back my demo saddles at the end of the week. It was a very cool thing to have the saddles at home and compare them to what I have already that I do and don't like.My current saddle is the Selle Italia "Lady Sport gel flow" which I have always liked except that it flares at the back too soon and hits my thigh under my butt when I pedal. I have have the Selle Italia "Lady gel flow" - I like it less, it is a bit wider than the Lady Sport. When I got them home, I saw that the Diva saddles(w and w/out cutout) were a bit wider than both Lady saddles, the SLK was too narrow and firm, and ahhhh- for me the Lady SLR gel flow was just right. A bit narrower than the other "lady" saddles, with a narrower nose and later flare. It is firmer too, but not as firm as the SLK. And it has good flex, which compensates a bit for the firmness. They didn't have it in white, which would match my bike though :(, but I'll live! It's covered by my butt most of the time anyway! good luck! Tokie

I've tried the SSM Glamour Aspide, and it ended up being too flexible, and the channel was not quite deep enough for sufficient soft tissue relief. I've got an SLR lady gelflow on the way to my house right now. I'll let you know how it works!

Thank you for the information you all have provided. It has been really helpful.

Tokie, so you had a good experience with the demo program through Pro Net Inc.? Do I just call that number you provided in an earlier posting? Did you think 10 days was long enough (10 days right?) to try out the saddles? I'm most likely going to do that because I think that will be the best way to get an idea of whether I will like selle italia saddles.

Thanks again for the information and Andrea, definitely let me know how the SLR lady gelflow works for you after you get a chance to try it out.

Katharine

Tokie, do you know what your sit bones measurement is (143, etc.?)

The SSM Glamour Aspide DOES have a cut-out version, it is the Arrowhead model for 150 mm or the Arrowhead K for 143 mm. I have gone through several saddles looking for the right one and this is the keeper for now. The saddle I was trying immediately before the SSM was the Jett, and I found it to be much too hard on my sit bones - bruising feeling indeed!

Sorry Katharine, I was asleep at the wheel! I think my sit bones are in between 145 and the next width up. The saddles I picked were both wider and narrower than what I have ridden before. I was really looking to find a saddle with a later "flare" and skinnier nose - so hard to visualize from pictures. I do think that 10 days is long enough to try out the saddles. some of them I just looked at and felt - and said, nope too much like what I already have had. Being able to feel the padding and compare the saddles directly to the shape of what I have used already was really useful.I was able to do a 3 hour endurance ride and a 1.5 hour climbing ride. That pretty much covers the necessary comfort duties of a saddle - longer duration and climbing - that can make or break my butt's happiness. My new saddle should be here tomorrow, and the demo selection I picked out is at a friend's tonight and tomorrow so she can try them out before I send them back. Yes, I called the phone #, but they also have a web site. http://pronetcycling.com/about.htm Curiously, their website does not clearly show their selection of women's saddles. I recommend calling them. the woman who answers the phone was very friendly and helpful. Tokie

Norsegoddess, really, you LIKE the Arrowhead version? I tried it and the Jett and they both felt like they were hacking up my bits while I pedaled. Truly miserable for me, but I love the Glamour - no cutout.

Are you having any issue with the graphics rubbing off? I had my Arrowhead for a week and, in that time, the colors were rubbing off and running together. I wasn't impressed at all. Especially at a price point of $169!

Misandal I DO really like the Arrowhead - I have no issues with the cut-out and soft tissue and my body absolutely needs a cut-out, I can't use a saddle without one. No two bodies are alike though. :)

No issues with the graphics and I got a great price online- paid about $90, from gottaridebikes.com. They have a 15% off deal for first time buyers.

Wow, that's a great deal! :) I'm glad I sent mine back because, clearly, I overpaid! :mad:

I'm glad it's working out so well for you. Funny how different we can be! Even between my sister and me, who are built very similarly, we prefer very different setups. I guess that's why there's no shortage of opinions!

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Originally Posted by Misandal

Norsegoddess, really, you LIKE the Arrowhead version? I tried it and the Jett and they both felt like they were hacking up my bits while I pedaled. Truly miserable for me, but I love the Glamour - no cutout.

Are you having any issue with the graphics rubbing off? I had my Arrowhead for a week and, in that time, the colors were rubbing off and running together. I wasn't impressed at all. Especially at a price point of $169!

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My SSM graphics wore off quickly, too. The white ones I've seen on others' bikes look kinda worn & grey in some areas, also.

Andrea, is that the Arrowhead or the Glamour? I'm thinking about getting the white 08 version (no patches or stitching) of the Glamour, but I won't if that's how it's going to look! I currently have the 07 version (with patches and stitching) in black.

I've seen the glamour ones looking worn. The only problem is the couple that I've noticed have been lining up at the start of races... for all I know, they're 5 years old!

Wouldn't it be great if you could just wave a magic cycling wand over the saddles you have ever tried and make them combine with the qualities you really liked about each one? :cool:

Oh, btw... hello, my name is Miranda, and I live in fantasy land, greetings!:p

I'm testing between these two brands of saddles currently, and have another one coming.

One thing I love about the Selle Italias I've tried is the covers. They are beautiful, and I "think" would wear well over time. However, I have not found one the right shape yet. The Diva was really close. Wonderful cut out. But, it hits the back of my hamstring-glutt crease on the down pedal stroke. My sitz bones feel supported, but maybe it's too wide. I have the Lady Gel Flow too. The cut out is funky on that one I think. The ordered SI is the SLK, narrower saddle. Just have to wait and see. The Diva is cushy. The Lady is firmer.

I have the SSM regular Glamour 235, and Glamour FX 225. Tho less center channel, the 225 is a touch more padded and felt better to me. Still pretty solid. Both same width. Good nose widths. I almost ordered the K and cut out version, but thought I'd wait on my SI narrow first. I threw a Fizik in with that order too. With the FX 225 I mainly had just one sitz bone hurt. I tried to adjust it different ways. I'm starting to think my pelvis is uneven, and a cushy saddle hides some of that when my bones aren't dead square. But, that's just goofy to me, not the saddle.

I wish I could take the construction of the SI Diva, and make it more sleek shaped like the SSM. I think there is something that looks like a Diva in the 2009 line, but it says it's a Lady gel. Maybe it's closer to my wish. Dunno yet...

Plus, I have some other things I've tried besides the brands in this thread title. Not a final report on either saddle, but maybe some help:).

K..I am searching for a new saddle & am happy i came across this thread :).

Tokie, I think i have the same issue as you. I find one small bit of my thigh hits my behind but not all the time.?? I have a Selle Italia saddle(name escapes me though atm)I am dying to find a new saddle soon :(

I have 155mm sit bones & am wondering if a men's saddle would be better?

It's hard to find men's saddles in 155mm sizes, though Specialized ones are a choice. The SI Lady SLR is what I just put on my bike yesterday and went for a short ride, but it will be this weekend before I get a long ride in and really put it to the test.

Thanks for the input on the saddle. I was actually considering that one or the SI Diva, although I just got a zero X I will try. It was on sale at Terry and it looks close to the mens SLR I have but a little wider and more padded. Recent back trouble makes me wonder if I need a little more cushion on the seat bones. Good to know we have our own saddle critic. By the way, love the corgi.

I'm interested to see how the SI rides go. Currently I have the Diva and Lady Gel Flow. On order to come are the SI SLR and SI SLK (lady versions).

The only thing that's making the Diva not work quite right for me is the nose is kinda thick/chunky, and the flare to the back platform is like a fat pear. I get the glutt/quad crease bump.

I rode the Lady Gel Flow some more today. Actually the 'fat pear' flare as I call it is less I think than the Diva. HOWEVER... the cut out is like a lot of Terry saddles. IMHO, "sharp"... meaning it's a 90 degree right angle with a slit center. The "point" on the 90 degree edge starts to turn into a razor blade after a while. That's the bummer part.

The SLR and SLK both look like the cut out sections are not the 90 degree slit edge. They look like the Diva. Which is basically an opening with a slight rounded drop off.

The other visual I can think of is holes in beach sand at the shore. If your kid just dug a hole in the sand with a sharp shovel edge, it's like a Terry or the SI Lady Gel cut out. If the hole has started to sink in with the tide washing over it... it's rolled in like a Diva cut out... and softly disappears.

Do you suppose all this saddle searching is making me looney:rolleyes:.... EVERYTHING reminds me of saddles:o.

I really like other things about the SIs. Hoping the shape of the next batch might be "the" fit shape wise for me.

Rumor has it that the plain ol' Lady Gelflow is just a Terry Butterfly in nicer clothes. My first impression of the Lady SLR is that the cutout isn't quite as awesome as it looks in photos- it is large at the back, but it gets somewhat narrow in the front. It still does its job, though, and my 70 mile ride on Sunday will be the real test. It's pretty long, which I find to be a little annoying because the way my legs are built makes me have to scoot the saddle very far forward, which puts the long nose up where it can poke me in the butt or back when I'm starting/stopping.

Terry saddles are made by Selle Italia (or so I've been told by more than one person at bike shops).

Boyfriend recently got the Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow. It is a men's saddle, and is a good bit narrower (too lazy to look up specs right now but I would say between 130 and 135). I actually think it's pretty comfortable. This surprised me for two reaons: first, I usually really need a flat, flat saddle and the Flite is contoured and second, I normally hate saddles with cutouts. However, I can definitely tolerate this saddle (though it still probably wouldn't be my first choice). The cutout is fairly wide and the edges are not sharp at all. The cutout is kind of far back on the saddle though (there's a good bit of nose with no cutout). I actually think this may be why I can tolerate this cutout when usually I don't like them, but I could see how it might be a problem for women who are looking for soft-tissue relief. (Though if I really wanted a Flite, I'd probably still get the original one without the cutout).

The Flite Gel Flow seems to have a nice level of cushion. It's still fairly firm (much firmer than you would expect anything with "gel" in the name to be), and reasonably light, but does have a little padding. It feels less hard on your rear than bf's old Specialized Alias, although the Alias appeared to have more cushion if you pinched it. I actually have a theory that a good bit of how soft or hard a saddle feels has more to do with the shape of the saddle where it contacts your bones than it has to do with how much padding is actually there. This will be different for everyone because everyone's bones are shaped differently, but for me, a saddle that wraps down a good bit (i.e., is convex from side to side at the back, as my Arione is and as the Flite is as well) will feel much softer, regardless of how much actual cushion it has, than a saddle that is very flat from side to side at the back, such as the men's version of the SLK (haven't seen the women's version, so I don't know how they compare), or most Specialized and Terry saddles. A saddle that is too wide will tend to feel harder to me as well. I think it has something to do with the angle of my sitbones... or something :rolleyes:...

Anyway, I just thought I'd mention the Flite Gelflow -- I think it's a pretty nice saddle and if it's not too narrow for you, might be worth a try.

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Originally Posted by Andrea

Rumor has it that the plain ol' Lady Gelflow is just a Terry Butterfly in nicer clothes.

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I believe it -- I have one of each, and they are absolutely identically shaped, just have different cover material. They work for me, thankfully. I go the Lady Gelflow for a great price (new) on ebay -- about half the price of a new Butterfly. :D

That is a really interesting comment on the curvature supporting the sitz bones. All along I have been looking for the flat saddle. To at least find my sitz bones are actually on it AT ALL:o. Until I figured that part out with the help of TE, duh... no wonder why I hurt... only my soft tissue rode the saddle, and not my bone structure. On the angled saddles... I just had a shop guy say that same thing to me. Hmmm, maybe it's destiny to consider.

I like the looks of the Flite Gel Flow. I think that shape would work. But, I think it might be too narrow:(. Actually, I took my SI brochure and wrote down all the mens saddles 140 or over. I think my sitz bones are about 140.

Waiting to see what Andrea post about her SI slr longer ride. Mine came, and I like it except for the cut out too. I'm going to ride some more when it quits raining. The slr is like a diva on a diet. Only the edges of the cut out seemed to get more squared off with less padding. I really want it to not hurt, it works better than the diva in many ways for me. The glutt bumping the hamstring on the down of the pedal stroke all went away with the slr being skinnier... but my sitz bones feel squarely planted. Actually, I think that's a first for me:). Sooo... this cut out issue needs to resolve:mad:.

The SI slk I ordered ended up being out of stock and canceled. I re-ordered it elsewhere. Hope it works out to come soon to compare.

Thanks for the updates. I wound up sending the zero X back to Terry. Not at all like the one I had before, the cutout was narrower and it was UGLY. The new carbon thread looking leather cover, it sticks to you and you can't move on it. It was alot more padded than before and I started to have numbness issues. I just got in a Specialized lithia, I like the looks of it, not completely flat and the curves look like it will fit me. If not I was looking at the SI max flite, thats the one thats a little wider than the regular flite(130). The lady SLR you are all trying, is it flat and flexibe at the cutout or really raised padding? I like flat.