New Saddle Design by Topeak: Talk about Soft Tissue Relief!

[Ana]

I stumbled upon this while browsing for the Topeak Morph Road frame pump:

It's called the Allay

http://www.allaysaddles.com/line/lineall.htm

It says it's unisex and looks like it may have ultimate soft tissue relief (check out the side view!). It looks like it has a nice "T" shape like so many saddle seekers have expressed the desire for. I would LOVE to hear from anyone who has tried it or knows someone who has tried it!

[sgtiger]

Those look pretty cool. I'd like to hear the reviews too, please.

[MM_QFC!]

I saw them at the Topeak booth at Seattle's recent Bike Expo and when I touched that band of material (I do believe it's called the "AirSpan system with compress-free zone"), and gave him a questioning look (as I'm leery of seams, ridges, even edges of material in that strategic area), he said that it doesn't cause any issues...
I didn't get to sit on it though, so I'm interested in women's reviews too.

[Ana]

Here is a comment at the end of this thread: http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/in.../t-391332.html

[Thorn]

The Allay has been mentioned in multiple TE saddle threads. The most specific, I think, is: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=21707 Use the search function to learn more.

The saddle has been in limited distribution until very recently.

[Ana]

Yeah, I read that thread right after I posted my findings I can't find a lot of info on it.

[auntiebobo]

I ordered one at the Seattle Bike Expo and rode on it the first time this last Saturday - 28 miles. The jury is actually still out for me. It definitely isn't any worse than the stock saddle my Ruby Expert came with but I still felt a bit tender after just 28 miles. Next step will likely be to take it to my LBS and make sure I've got it positioned right as I don't think I'm sitting back on my sit bones enough. For me the cut-out in the orignal saddle just seemed to create more pressure points. I'm not sure if my tissue isssues (sorry couldn't resist) are posture and fit related or just not yet finding the right saddle.

I'll keep ya'll posted on what I decide.

[Idealmuse]

I just ordered one too. I'm hoping it's wide enough. Anyway I'll let you guys know what I think in a few weeks.

[salsabike]

It's still on my trainer, which I am on about two to three times a week for about 75 minutes. I still like it. But I know I won't know for sure till I take it out on a 30 mile trail ride, which should happen within the next month. Given how important the saddle quest is for all of us, I promise I will keep you all posted.

[auntiebobo]

So, I rode the Allay again today - just 26 miles and started to feel some discomfort around mile 20. I decided to pump to bladder full of more air and I could notice it becoming noticeably firmer and much more comfortable. It looks like that may be the trick for me keeping it firm and it seems very comfortable.

[alpinerabbit]

It says it's unisex and looks like it may have ultimate soft tissue relief (check out the side view!).

Check out the top view too am I twisted or what does it look like to you gals.....

[bmccasland]

Check out the top view too am I twisted or what does it look like to you gals.....

You mean, not a bike saddle? Blink blink

[KnottedYet]

I am loving the Topeak Allay website!

so much good saddle info!

Looky, not only do they give the dimensions of the saddle, BUT they also give the sit-bone span that the saddle supports!

(so, like the 175mm Allay has a 120-150mm sit-bone correspondence)
http://www.allaysaddles.com/line/sport.htm

I LOVE IT!!!!!

I wish all saddle manufacturers gave out this kind of info!

[Ana]

Maybe it's a ploy to get you into the bike shop in search of a saddle....perhaps they know that once you have a bike you have bike-buying weakness! :P

[emily_in_nc]

Does anyone else have anything more to report on the Allay saddle? I'm specifically interested in whether the edge of the nose section rubs the girly bits. It looks awfully narrow in that section.

I have decided I need a wider saddle after measuring my sitbones on my yoga mat and discovering that they are wider than I realized (about 130 mm c-to-c). I've been riding a skinny Selle San Marco Atola Gelaround, and although the cutout is excellent (diamond-shaped and soft) so the soft-tissue relief is amazing, I've got a persistent saddle sore on the left side in the crease between my inner thigh and labia. Finally realized, when pressing on the tissue in that area on both sides, that I am sitting mostly on the bones on farther in on my pelvis, not enough on my sitbones (which are not sore at all).

I've just started riding again this spring (mtb), so the soreness is pretty pronounced. I've had better luck with Terry Butterfly saddles over the years, though I do get chafing/rawness in back on longer rides so always thought they were too wide for me. Now I'm thinking that the width in back was right after all, and that it's the fact that they are more pear-shaped that was a problem.

So, I'm currently thinking about a more t-shaped saddle for my mountain bike. Considering the Allay (but it doesn't have a cutout, which I've always needed in the past to avoid that stinging when peeing after a ride) and the Specialized Ruby SL (which does have a cutout) in the 155 mm size so far. The Ruby appeals the most but is pricy.

Any advice appreciated!

Thanks,
Emily