Saddle return policy (TeamEstrogen)

[lattae]

Well let us all know about your weekend ride on the SAA. I was about ready to purchase one but don't not sure about it. Do we have any reports on the Brooks Imperial yet? How expensive is the Imperial?

[JaneE]

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to this. Between the bad weather we've been having and a wisdom-teeth-removal-gone-bad for one of our kids (he's better now, thankfully) I haven't been able to spend much time on bike issues.

Anyway, the saddle was delivered last Saturday. That's pretty darned quick service considering that I only ordered it two days before that and live on the whole other side of the country.

It was installed according to how my previous saddle had been mounted and it felt better right out of the box than the others I'd been trying, though it by no means just "disappeared" under me. Hmmm...guess we'd better actually read the instructions.

So, I've been experimenting with fore and aft and think I have that nailed. I've also been playing around with the tension. There is a HUGE variation between tight and loose tension. As of this morning I think I'm getting pretty close.

Bottom line: It's a keeper. I'll continue to tweak it a bit and until I'm able to get out for anything other than a quick test-spin around the neighborhood (hopefully tomorrow) I guess I won't know 100%. I feel fairly confident in saying, though, that it is BY FAR the most comfortable saddle I've tried. I'm feeling pretty good about it.

[ladyicon]

I wish I was having the same ease of fit Do not go by what I think about the saddle, you can always return it if no like. I thought I had the saddle dialed in on neighborhood test runs too. Good luck on your long ride, let us know.
How tight do you have the tension screw???

[JaneE]

I wish I was having the same ease of fit Do not go by what I think about the saddle, you can always return it if no like. I thought I had the saddle dialed in on neighborhood test runs too. Good luck on your long ride, let us know.
How tight do you have the tension screw???

I actually (finally ) followed the instructions and loosened it almost all the way and then started re-tightening it bit by bit. This is the process I'm in now...a little more and then a little more, etc. It's feeling pretty good but a long ride will certainly tell the tale.

I'll keep you posted.

[redrhodie]

I actually (finally ) followed the instructions and loosened it almost all the way and then started re-tightening it bit by bit. This is the process I'm in now...a little more and then a little more, etc. It's feeling pretty good but a long ride will certainly tell the tale.

I'll keep you posted.

The day I got mine, my LBS guy told me not to be too quick to adjust the tension. He also has an An Atomica (or two), and said ride it until it sags a little, then make the tiniest adjustment, like a quarter turn. I've only added tension to one of mine one time. As the manual advises, don't adjust it to make it look a certain way. It's okay if it slings a little, as long as the cut out doesn't start to close or overlap, you're still good.

Ladyicon, I'm not sure if I can offer any help, since I had mine installed at my LBS by my bike monk. I did read the manual, but there were so many things to consider, I left it up to the pros. I would say that if you didn't have it installed by someone who really knows bike fit, it may be worth it to give that route a try.

We are all different sizes and shapes, so if it doesn't work out, another will. It will just take time to find your Prince Charming saddle. Good luck on your quest!

[ladyicon]

Unfortunately I do not have a bike monk, I wish I did!!! My LBS's have not been able to help me before.
I have decided that I will NOT give up and spend the weekend trying to make it work.
It feels comfortable till I go more than 8 miles or so. Everyone i have talked to says to be patient and keep changing things (one at a time though). It will be worth the time to feel comfortable . The bottom line is.... I will not give up!

[mudmucker]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by rubbing on the backside of the saddle. Do you mean that you are sliding around and therefore moving too much? Is an edge of the saddle rubbing on your leg?

Here are some things that I have found and/or remedied with this saddle and have adjusted. I've had this saddle for a year and it's working out pretty well for me.

1. At first, I had some rubbing on my left inner thigh, caused by the edge of the material. I took a file and filed it smoother and rounded it off (when I knew I was going to keep it). That and the right saddle position.

2. At first I didn't feel like I had a platform for power output, or rather didn't feel like I was getting maximum power with each pedal stroke. I had to tension it quite a bit to feel that there wasn't so much give, as some of the power output was going into the saddle as opposed to foot-pedal-forward motion. I had it so it was still cushy; it absorbed road impact and didn't bruise the sitbones like other saddles. (Alot of my pavement here is bad). Once I tensioned it, my mph actually went up a bit, but that could be because it also was the most comfortable that I'd been on a saddle.

3. Once I tensioned it, I did kind of slide around. Shorts that weren't slippery also helped keep me in place. I had gotten a fit done by John Allis at Belmont Wheelworks, a former racer in the 60's. He recommended tilting that kind of saddle up a little because you don't slide around or down into the hammock. He said when he raced on leather saddles he always used to tilt them up big time to keep him in one spot.

Obviously, too much tilting puts pressure up front so there is a balance.

4. I had to go to shorts with thinner chamois with this saddle.