Selle SMP Strike TRK Lady Saddle

[koala]

Decision made -- the Stratos saddle is a keeper! I decided today after my 2nd ride outdoors. Yesterday was only 20 miles, but in a 20 mph wind it was long enough. I don't shift around much in wind, I tend to ride hunkered down & normally come back rubbed & irritated up front -- no rubbing yesterday. Today was a 40-mile ride in hills. I'm pretty active on the seat on a hill ride, I move forwards & back, bend forward & shift around. I had a chance to go through all of that today, and again did not get rubbed up front. Despite the fact that there seems to be a cradle area that supports the sit-bones & the glutes, it still has enough of a platform that I can slide around fore & aft to relieve sitting in one spot. I was worried about a saddle that had only one "sweet spot", but this one has some room to roam around. I had to play with positioning a little again, because the bike on the trainer is not the bike I ride outdoors. And I might still tweak it some more, but overall I think it's good & will continue to work with it.

Before anyone rushes out to order one, a couple of caveats:

1) This sucker is firm! If you ride a seat with a lot of cush, you will either need shorts with a lot of cush in the padding, or you just might not be able to deal with it. I am used to a firm perch as I've been riding a carbon fiber shell for a couple of years, but it might not be tolerable for some others.

2) Finding the right seating position is finicky & has tremendous impact on comfort. I would not give up right away based on first impressions, make some adjustments & give it a chance.

3) I would not order a single saddle from the SMP line unless I had a 100% certainty of ability to return. I see some vendors, particularly the on-line shops, have a policy of you buy it, you own it. The saddle is too pricey & too finicky to gamble on.

4) If you have an opportunity to try one from someone who has agreed to take it back if it doesn't work, order the skinniest one that will still support your sit-bones properly. The wider ones are not only wider in the back, but wider in the taper towards the nose, which might cause rubbing.

[RoadRaven]

Well, I went into one of the LBSs yesterday who said there was no way they could get the Selle’s in through their importer and suggested I buy over the net. I’ll go into a couple more of the local LBSs first though, and see what they say. I would much sooner “try before I buy”.

Koala, your comments confirm this for me. Thank you for such a detailed review… I am more encouraged than not by your posting as you have gone into very useful detail.

It certatinly gives me more insight when I go to chat with LBSs about what I want – not just from the saddle, but from the shop themselves…
Thank you

[crazycanuck]

Hey RoadRaven,

There's a Selle saddle for sale on the Tri WA site. No idea if you'd save yourself $$$ though?

www.triwa.org.au

c

[RoadRaven]

Thanks CC
Saw your post just after you posted it, but this is the first time I have logged in and am able to reply...
Where on that site do i look
I went to it, but there doesn't seem to be a "for sale" tab... and I didn't have time to look about when I was there, and today, from home, the page will not load