Selle SMP Strike

[sklarewc]

I've been riding a Saddleco Flow saddle for a couple of years now--it looks like one of those office chairs that's mainly made of mesh (check it at www.saddleco.com), and in terms of comfort for the sitbones, it's great. Unfortunately, it's surprisingly not so great for the soft tissue up front. So about 6 months ago I tried the selle smp strike evolution, not realizing there were different models of the strike (duhhhhh, you'd think before spending such big bucks I would have researched more carefully). The cutout is unsurpassed for soft tissue comfort--really great. Unfortunately, the rest of the saddle is *really* hard, creating discomfort not only in the butt but, more acutely, on those lower pelvic bones. I ended up sending it back and going back to my old Saddleco. But after reading this forum, I realized there were different models and decided it might be worth giving the Glider model a try. I ordered one (and received it yesterday) from Masherz.com--they give you 30 days to try it (altho of course you have to return it in essentially new condition)--and now that I've ridden it to work (12 miles, admittedly not much), I can already tell you that the extra bit of padding that it has over the Evolution makes a big difference. It's still a performance saddle, not cushy, but I'm psyched; I think it's going to be great--no soft tissue pain, and a better platform for cranking up hills than the saddleco gave me, AND my bones seem to be fine with it, as well. I'll update this post after I've had more time on it.

[tendy]

I bought a Selle Italia SMP TRK from bikemania.biz beginning of August for around $80 including shipping. It took some days until the product shipped, but they always kept me up to date via email on the process. After shipment left their site, it took about 10 days for the saddle to arrive at my place.

I mounted the saddle, as described on their website, with laying a level on top to achieve perfect sitting angle for the sitbones and the soft tissue.

I am 5'8" and my sitbones are wide. The saddle I was using before caused me pain in the lower back, sitbones, and soft tissue, plus some chafing. At that time I had only ridden 40 miles (64km), and thus the problems were not caused by too many hours in the saddle. Also I am using pearl izumi 3d pants, so the problems were also not caused by uncomfortable pants.

At first I believed it was just me, because I started cycling this year after not having ridden in 16 years, but when I tried my new Selle SMP TRK the first time, I experienced the difference immediately: only very little lower back pain because my back muscles were not trained enough, and neither tissue pain nor sitbone pain, and no chafing.

Now, after 4 weeks and 450 miles (720km) with the new saddle, I am now up to riding 45 miles (72km) of "rolling landscape" (up and down and up and down). Because I am a beginner with no leg muscles, it means that I am in the saddle for many hours, but I do not experience any problems at all.

At first I believed the large amount of padding on the saddle could cause problems, but it does not for me. My sitbones have the support they need when going up hills, my soft tissue is perfectly "cradled", and my lower back has no problems either.

Ok, the saddle is cheaply made, and weighs almost a US pound (around 420 grams), but it is the best saddle I ever used in my whole life. I can shift my weight around on the saddle forward and backwards without chafing or other problems. I can even slide a little to the right or left, if necessary, without losing sitbone support and hurting my soft tissue.

The only "problem" the saddle has is: the writing and artwork on the side where my legs move up and down when pedaling start to wear off. But that just gives the saddle its "broken in" look.

If at sometime I find another Selle SMP for my sitbone width that is lighter and nicer manufactured, I might try it. Others than that I will definitely not change my saddle.

[alpinerabbit]

Summary of my SMP testing experience... just wanted to put this under the right topic.
add another thumbs up to the Glider model which I have now tested for 2x100 K's and then some - it's a keeper.

re: sweet spot, there are several. Comfort depends on how the saddle is adjusted. This means the lowest pt of the curve needs to be level.
The result is two good seating positions for when you're gripping the top bar - one entirely on the seat bones (ischial tuberosities) and one more on the pelvic bone in front of them - which gives a rest to the main ischial tuberosities that do take a lot of load.

For the drop or aero position there's only one but it is entirely discomfort-free.

Somebody in a review on the www mentioned the stitching on the leather chafes the shorts (NOT the body) and it's probably true.

I also tested the composit - rock hard but there are people who live with that and are fine, and the evolution - too narrow for me.