Saddles: Terry Butterfly

[Jen72]

I keep reading on several sites of how women swear by this saddle. But there are 3 or 4 different versions of this saddle on the Terry website. Which ones do you use and like? I'm personally thinking of getting the butterfly TI for no other reason than I like the cutout but also the snazzy designs available. Right now I've got a really cushy gel seat and my tail bone is always sore so looking to get another one. Your help is appreciated!

[Blueberry]

I like the Butterfly Ti - I believe the same saddle is available with cromoly rails. I (personally) wouldn't want any of the gel versions. They don't agree with me.

CA

[tzvia]

I had one for less than a year. Felt great at first, then just so-so, then not so so-so. It just got less and less supportive till I was sinking into it like an old couch. . It was the TI one. I could feel my sit-bones resting on the plastic base-right through the padding. So I gave it a fond farewell and bought the Sella San Marco Aspide Glamor. No center hole (discovered I can't stand a saddle with a hole in it, pressure on the bits that are on the edge of the hole outweigh the benefits IMO), and a bit firmer with less padding. Was just fine till I crashed and ripped it up. While looking for another, I spot the Bontrager Inform saddles. The 'Womens' saddles looked dreadful to me. Padding everywhere- why do all these companies think women want to ride on a couch? Visions of my sit bones hitting the plastic base again made me put it down. Every time I buy a cushy saddle, it turns into torture at some point. Then I see the unisex ones. Racy, but my sit-bones are wide and I need a 150~154 saddle. It's firm with light padding and a slightly softer center, no padded bumps anywhere. Then I noticed the little sticker, '154'. OH GOSH. I ran to the salesperson "is this the width?" "Yes it is." was the reply.

Do I dare break away from serious padding? The Aspide I had was comfortable, and had a small amount. But this is a real racing saddle- it is quite a bit firmer-. The salesperson then shows me the 90 day unconditional return. Sold. Took about 8 rides, but once broken in, (me or the saddle, not sure), it was heaven. I've had it since March and it has not changed a bit, no sinking in, no loss of support, and all day comfort. In a racing saddle. Who would have thought. I have since bought the Inform RL (same saddle with hollow stainless rails, the RXL is TI) for my mountain bike, and let me say, it is comfortable. All the bouncing in the ruts and over the roots, and it is comfortable. And no, I have no rear- no natural padding- all my flubber is around the waist.

Yea, I know long answer to your question. Yes I had the Butterfly, and for me it was a mistake. But we all make mistakes, and for some, the mistake is more padding. Padding is not the same as support and may be the opposite.

[Blueberry]

I'm odd - I ride a butterfly on a couple of bikes, and a Brooks on the tandem and my surly. And no, I'm fine going back and forth between them. So...it's not padding that does it for me.

CA

[Miranda]

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodTY_21643.html

This link is my saddle. It is the Butterfly Tri Gel version. I love it.

I have read different comments on TE about the padding breaking down over time. Don't recall if it was my tri gel version. Or the other. It's something I will keep in mind as I own mine.

The gel layer is said to be "thin". Actually, I think it makes the saddle slightly stiffer than the regular version. Terry says it's for "long distance riders, like tri peeps, and bad backs etc.". Well, I don't tri, but I love to ride far. And have the back issue. I would assume the gel helps to soak up some road vibrations. It's really not all that squishy to be "gel". Like some I have seen.

Here's the killer... I tried some other Terry saddles. Not the tri gel. But the same shape /width. Sent it back, and wrote it off. This was on my old too big bike. Every saddle hurt. It was the bike, and fit. Not the saddles so much hind sight.

Well... when I test rode my current correct frame size bike, I had a new experience. First time in my life, I experienced what people on here refer to "the disappearing saddle". Literally, the thing just disappeared under me. I forgot it was even there. That is quite a feeling!

I also have the Terry Falcon X on my mtb. That is ever so slightly narrower. Less padding /squish etc. That is not the same level of comfort as my Tri Gel. I think it's not the padding for me. It's the *width*. On the Falcon, I can just get the edge of my sitz bones if I push really far back. Soooo... I think it's that tiny bit of extra width that makes my bum happy.

FWIW.

Good Luck!

[Chile Pepper]

I use the Terry butterfly and I love it. I never think about it when I'm on the bike, which is pretty much what I'm looking for in a saddle. I have the Donna version (don't like the pink ribbon, but I don't suppose anyone can see it when I'm sitting on it). I'll probably get the ti version when this one needs replacing.

[out_spokin']

I have both - the dimensions and padding are similar enough to give me the consistency I wanted across bikes. Ti /leather goes on the road bike, Chromoly/vinyl goes on the commuter that is regularly exposed to rain/snow/junk both on the ride and on the front of the bus. Not a fan of gel myself -- squishes out from where I need to and then puts pressure where I don't want it. I love the Ti/leather - subtle patterning allows me to stay put when I want but shift effortlessly when I need to.

[MtnBikerChk]

I had one for less than a year. Felt great at first, then just so-so, then not so so-so.

SAME HERE!

I just took it off my bike - it's got ti rails. If you want it, pm me your address and you can have it. I need some good karma these days anyway