Bontrager Inform WSD

[Yelsel]

I tried out the Bontrager RL, and I really liked the saddle for shorter distances; it was great for rolling my hips out and I could get a great, comfortable tuck and reach. I think I could have loved this saddle, but I wasn't able to tweak it right for longer distance riding; Trek states in the literature that you might have to move the saddle back by a centimeter to account for the different positioning, and I didn't have time to "search" all that space on long distance rides. The shop is *supposed* to help you set up and tweak the saddle, but the place I bought it from here was useless - I brought it back in after 2 months and pointed out the information, but they said they couldn't help at all, and didn't touch the saddle. If I weren't so lazy, I would complain to Trek about the lack of service... they likely lost out on a sale from me. (Also, I thought the saddle size was too broad for me; but the next size down is likely too narrow. But. I still wanted to try exchanging it for the other size, but the shop didn't really want to do that because the sitboard didn't suggest that size, and I was giving up at that point anyway.)

I am riding a Specialized Ruby saddle now, it has a good fit for my sitbone width since the sizing intervals are different (a 143 instead of a 155 mm) and works well up until about 50 miles (I also need a seatpost with more adjustment, I have a choice of a tad up or too far down with this saddle at the moment) - soft tissue at that point, my seatbones seem to hold up pretty well. I can't get the extreme roll-forward that I really liked in the Bontrager RL, though. I would be willing to try this saddle again with a more experienced store that would help with the correct seat setback.

I really like T-shaped saddles, since it is easier to stand and guide them... I didn't have an issue with the shape of the Bontrager RL. There was maybe a slight bit of chafing, but that is likely because the saddle was too wide for me.

[g19]

Here another one that has tried the bontrager rl wsd.

My previous saddles where a SAA and brooks team pro (the last one was a nightmare) and after a test ride of 90 miles with the inform i can't say it's too soft or too hard.

With your thumbs it is possible to press in the foam however when your on the bike you certainly don't 'disappear' in the saddle due to the fact that your bum is a much greater area than your thumbs.

The dent is wonderful so is the softer nose when you're riding more forward and getting a high leg speed (at least that is what i do).

I now have a specialized jett to try and this saddle is firmer on the foam so i'm real curious how this one will go.

My guess is that this one will go better as coming from a rock hard saddle like leather (team pro), but than again within 48 h i'll know.

I'll post my experiences here for as saddles are a very important issue for everyone and i have benefitted a lot from reading the experiences from others.

[nscrbug]

Here another one that has tried the bontrager rl wsd.

My previous saddles where a SAA and brooks team pro (the last one was a nightmare) and after a test ride of 90 miles with the inform i can't say it's too soft or too hard.

With your thumbs it is possible to press in the foam however when your on the bike you certainly don't 'disappear' in the saddle due to the fact that your bum is a much greater area than your thumbs.

The dent is wonderful so is the softer nose when you're riding more forward and getting a high leg speed (at least that is what i do).

I now have a specialized jett to try and this saddle is firmer on the foam so i'm real curious how this one will go.

My guess is that this one will go better as coming from a rock hard saddle like leather (team pro), but than again within 48 h i'll know.

I'll post my experiences here for as saddles are a very important issue for everyone and i have benefitted a lot from reading the experiences from others.

Would be very interested in hearing how the Jett works out for you. I am currently riding on a ProLogo Kappa Dea (stock saddle that came on my new Cannondale Synapse Carbon Fem 3). I did my first full ride on the bike today...logging 93 miles, and I have to say that I'm not "in love" with this saddle. So I may be looking for alternative options very soon. The saddle is white, however...and I sort of want to stay with that since my bike is primarily white. I know the Jett comes in white, so that is likely the saddle that I would try next.

[g19]

@nscrbug,

Ok here comes.

My experiences with the jett are not good and here's why.

Firstly i found that the cutout sides presses too much in my upperlegs which is not nice.
Maybe it's partly getting used to and/or toughen up, but i didn't like it.

Secondly during the ride (100 miles) i could feel my right side (inner/upper leg and seatbone) and nothing on the left.
Funny enough when returning home i discovered that my left side had skin damaged due to chaving ... and the right side was ok ...

Thirdly the cutout works, but there is a price to pay (see firstly).

Fourthly although the saddle has foam and no gel this is no indication that it is soft as i would rather describe it as firm at least.

Overall i'm not happy with it and this week i'm able to loan the SSM rolls saddle from a friend just to try and see what this will bring.

I personally can conclude a few things from my saddle testing.
Cutouts are not ideal for me (edges) just like grooves with sharp edges pressing in my upper legs and foam is probably not the thing my butt likes.

As for now i'm looking at the Selle Italia Prolink http://www.selleitalia.com/eng/index.html
due to its small groove which will help for the girlie bits and it seem not to have the sharp edges which hopefully will give a more comfy ride and it also has gel and no foam.
The fizik Vitesse CP is also on my list due to it's design (similar as the SA Prolink)
http://www.fizik.com/product.aspx?c=Vitesse-CP

Time wil tell which is the best i'll keep you posted.

[nscrbug]

g19...thanks for the Jett review. I'm still undecided on my stock ProLogo Kappa Dea saddle. I have a gut feeling that it is just too narrow for me. The measurements that I have found online for it, indicate that it is 138mm wide, and my Selle Italia SLK Lady Gel Flow that I had been riding on is 145mm. That's a fairly big difference in width, and I'm pretty sure that this is the cause of my discomfort on my new bike. I didn't really want to resort to putting a black saddle on my new white Synapse, but if it means less pain...then by all means, I'll put my SI SLK on it....until I can find a suitable white saddle. But I may still test out the Jett, just to see if I can rule it out completely.

[g19]

@nscrbug,

Yes, by all means do test saddles when you have the option to do so. The great thing about it is that it gives a kind of experience in what saddle does what and what doesn't. One can compare and slowly make a list from what is not working and what is working out ok even when ok means relatively (depending on ride distance etc).

Remember that my experience is just my experience.

The great thing about this forum is that for example saddle issues that all of the things one read here is based on womans ride experiences and this leaves no doubt about it when compared to a review/ride experience when the opposite sex does.

Keep it up girls as many female cyclist appreciate this forum from outside the us.

[Cato]

I switched out the stock men's Bontrager saddle on my Trek for the Inform in Sept '09, and loved it for the first 500 miles. Then the center edges started breaking down and caused serious rubbing in the 'leg pit" area. Bottom line is it is too soft. The last 20 miles of a metric century were agony! In a pinch I switched it out with my hubby's Terry Fly (I've used the Butterfly in the past and have liked it). It's not a perfect fit but definitely an improvement. Any other saddle suggestions?

[Skierchickie]

Anybody have any new comments on the Inform RL WSD? I'm considering one.

I went through the whole saddle-search thing a few years ago, after many years of suffering. Terry (3 models) WTB (several test saddles) Fizik Vitesse HP. Then I got a new road bike that came with an Arione, which is a men's. I never expected to keep it, but gave it a shot, and it was the best of the bunch. Haven't moved it in almost 4 years, but now I'm getting saddle sores. Got them once last year, and have now been battling them for 3 weeks. Thought I'd upped my mileage too fast, or my shorts were getting old. Sat on the Butt-o-Meter today, and the LBS owner is positive that the Arione (132 mm) is way too narrow. The Butt-o-Meter indicates the middle-width Inform or Affinity (so 150 or 144, accordingly). That would explain Sunday's bruising after my 100-miler, as well as the 2 angry bumps.

Anyway, after reading up today about the Inform, and comparing their explanation of it with the issues I've had (always feel like my weight is on soft tissue, rather that sit bones), I might have to give it a shot. I don't want too much padding, but the dip in front might be good. Never could get used to the Terry cut-outs. The Inform R sounds too padded (I like the minimal Arione), so I'd probably go with the RL. Looked at the Affinity RXL & RL, but it sounds like it's for more of an upright position. I'm actually always more upright than I'd like, because of rolling more onto soft tissue if I try to get lower. Maybe the Inform would allow me to get into a better position? Like GLC1968 said, I ALWAYS have soft tissue pain after riding (and during).

Looks like they've cut the trial period down to 30 days.

Any new input would be appreciated!