Rockhard saddle with no cutout advice please

[Becky]

The flattest, hardest saddle that I can think of is a Selle San Marco Glamour Aspide. It does have a "dent", but it's not very deep IMO. It was too hard for me, but I like its shape.

How wide of a saddle do you need?

[g19]

Sorry, no brooks anymore. I've had 2 (team pro and team pro s) and they don't work regarding the soft tissue.

Why no mens saddle it's because of the explanation from roger minkow from specialized (click the bg video's) where he explains that males 'only' have one problem and woman have 2. It gives me a 'false' review on what is most important for me the soft tissues.
That is why i specifically put my q'n up here on this female cyclistforum.

I had recently a very informative answer from a selle italia rep where he explains on the how and why regarding saddles and everything that comes with it.

Esspecially the part where he explains about hiking shoes made an impression with me. Did you ever see somebody hiking for several day's using soft paddes shoes .. There's a reason why they wear firm to hard shoes and i believe saddles are the same especially if one is spending hours in the saddle a day when out riding.

Please keep sharing your thoughts and/or experiences.

I include the full length reply.

Please take some time to read this long email because it will help you on selecting your saddle.

Unfortunately it’s always hard and frankly quite impossible to recommend or say which is the most comfortable saddle for you, even if you give us certain criterias as your weight, height or type of bike or specific problem that you suffer.

The reason we produce more than 20 different models is because we need to accomplish our products to the needs of all different types of cyclist and their way of riding a bike.
As you know some riders like to sit far way in the back of the saddle as well as slightly towards the front nose of it. The different riding position on the same saddles implies a “reaction” from it that is different from person to person.

In accordance to this we usually don’t recommend a particular model of saddle but we can advise which are the most used saddles by pro riders and the most sold to our consumers.
This will give you a clear idea of which are the most appreciated saddles by the performance pro rider and the comfort oriented consumer.
Considering that we sponsor more than 65 UCI teams (this includes road, women, triathlon and MTB) we can easily say that the most popular saddles used in the peloton are:
SLR
SLR GEL FLOW
FLITE GENUINE GEL
FLITE GEL FLOW
TURBOMATIC
SLR KIT CARBONIO
PROLINK GENUINE GEL
LADY GELFLOW (only for ladies)
SLK LADY GELFLOW (only for ladies)

For those riders more concern about comfort like you, specifically for a "specific problem", the following models are our most sold and appreciated saddles:
SLR GEL FLOW
FLITE GEL FLOW
PROLINK GEL FLOW
FLITE GENUINE GEL
MAX FLITE GEL FLOW
TURBOMATIC GEL FLOW
SLR
SLC GEL FLOW
PROLINK GENUINE GEL
LADY GEL FLOW (only for ladies)
SLK LADY GEL FLOW (only for ladies)

To make an easy comparison please use this "rule" when you choose a saddle. Saddles are like shoes. If you choose a soft shoe for walking, your bones will not find support so after 1 or 2 hours you will feel pain. They are OK for walking 15 or 30 minutes. Saddles are the same. If you ride for 30-50 minutes you can use any saddle (even very soft) but if you ride for more than 1,5 hours, your bones need support and they shouldn't sit on a soft padding. More you ride (or walk) and more stiffer the foam should be. For pro riders sometimes we need to add carbon into the shell and make very stiff foams, otherwise they have difficulties after the first 3-3.5 hours of riding. More stiffer the saddle is and more they like it.
Please also note that since the introduction of the “anatomical cutout” saddles (so-called Gel Flow) these have been always between 55-60% of sales because they are much more comfortable in the front tissue area.

WHAT SADDLE IS BEST FOR ME?
Not everyone has the same requirements for comfort, fit, looks, etc.
With that said, the following information is offered in an effort to help you find the most comfort in a saddle for you. The final shape, cover, material, padding is like the color - it is your choice.

1) The more flex the rail of the saddle has the more comfort. Flex absorbs road vibrations and impacts rather than being passed on to the rider. The most flexible rail material is Titanium Tube (it is also the most expensive and lightest.) The least flexible rail material is FeC Alloy (it is the least expensive and heaviest.) Carbon, Manganese and Vanox are other materials that vary in flex and price as well as weight. In addition, the rail should be as long as possible. The longer the rail the more flex and shock absorbing it will be.

2) The base of the saddle should be nylon not plastic. The flex of the nylon will provide more vibration and shock absorbing than a plastic base. You can see the difference by pushing against the saddle base with your thumb. If it is nylon, the saddle base will move. Plastic will not move. The more stiff the base the more stiff the ride! (All SELLE ITALIA saddles are manufactured using nylon composite or nylon/carbon composite.) Nylon/carbon composite saddles are lighter but they are also stiffer.

3) Padding alone is not enough to judge comfort. Have you ever sat on a pillow or cushion on a metal, concrete or plastic bench? You will eventually feel the stiff bleacher even with lots of padding. It is the same with a saddle. If the saddle has lots of padding but the base and rail will not flex it will become uncomfortable.

4) Making sure the saddle is properly adjusted will help with comfort. This will take patience and adjustments can only be made by the rider.

A saddle must be positioned so the rider does not reach too far forward or sit too upright. This cannot be done by sliding your seat forward or aft on the rails more than a few millimeters. (Your saddle should be mounted as close to the center of the rail adjustment as possible.) It may require a different handlebar stem or seat post than your bike is currently equipped to achieve this.
The angle and height of the seat is important as well.
The height of the seat should be adjusted so that your leg is straight out when your heel is resting on the pedal at the bottom reach of the crank and your foot is parallel to the ground. (Do not over extend the leg and do not have it curled.)
The angle of the saddle should be adjusted to fit "you". If you find yourself getting sore on the "sit" bones, tilt the saddle nose down a little but not too much at one time. Try it again and re-adjust as necessary but not too much at one time. If you find yourself getting sore in the front soft tissue area, raise the nose a little. Try it again and adjust it a little at a time. Do not go from one extreme to the other. It will not help.

5) Leather covers do not sweat like synthetic covers. Because leather does not sweat, it causes less friction and less irritation. The leather costs more but it provides more comfort

6) Shape is important! There are different "shapes" of saddles. Saddles like the SLR, TURBOMATIC, SLK, C2, YUTAAK and PROLINK have several riding positions because of the flat area on which the rider sits. Saddles like the SLC, FLITE, MAX FLITE, are less flat allowing the rider fewer sitting positions. Analyze your riding style and body type so that you ride the saddle that best fits your style of riding.
Selle Italia has in production 2 different shapes for all its saddles: the ROUNDED SHAPE and the FLAT SHAPE.
FLAT shape (saddles as SLR, PROLINK, MAX FLITE, SHIVER, SL, MAN, allow the rider to have multiply positions on the saddle that means you can move back and forward while riding.
The ROUNDED shape (saddles as FLITE, C2, TURBOMATIC, XO) allow only 1 or 2 sitting positions and are more suitable for those riders that don’t like to move on the saddle.

FLAT SHAPE ROUND SHAPE


Evaluation should include:
a) if you move around a lot and ride in several positions, a flat saddle should be more comfortable as it provides more sitting positions. If you have a tendency to sit in 1 or 2 positions, a curved saddle should be more comfortable.
b) note that flat/wide saddles provide better support for persons with wide sit bones. If the saddle is too narrow the sit bones will not provide the support needed to keep the soft tissue area supported over the top of the saddle.
c) note that narrow sit bones will cause the riders leg to rub against the edge of the saddle if the saddle is flat/wide. A narrower saddle platform should be selected for the narrow sit bones

d) easiest way to determine potential comfort is to look at what is being ridden and what isn’t liked about the saddle and to focus on a new saddle that helps eliminate the current problems remembering padding is probably not going to solve the problem.
Most of all SELLE ITALIA models use leather covers that lessen friction between the cyclist and saddle. Leather also breath’s reducing the sweating and resulting discomfort.
All SELLE ITALIA Genuine Gel and Gel Flow models have real "silicone gel" located in the frontal soft tissue area and under each of the sit bones. Gel absorbs 300% more vibrations and impacts than standard foam.
In an effort to eliminate as much confusion as possible about these series of saddles, please note the following descriptions and availability.

GENUINE GEL SADDLE MODELS
All SELLE ITALIA "Genuine Gel" saddle models include real surgical "gel" (some companies use "soft foam" and call it "gel") strategically placed for added comfort. "Genuine Gel" saddles DO NOT have any "hole" in the saddle foam/base.

All current models of SELLE ITALIA Genuine Gel saddles include "gel" in the frontal soft tissue area and under each of the sit bones. All Genuine Gel models are available only with leather cover.

GEL FLOW or FLOW SADDLE MODELS
"Gel Flow" indicates a soft tissue hole in the saddle foam/base plus real surgical gel located around the soft tissue hole and under each of the sit bones. “Flow” indicates a soft tissue hole in the saddle foam/base without the gel insert.
"Gel Flow" and “Flow” saddles have become best sellers the past 6 years and SELLE ITALIA is expanding the range. All of the saddles are available as "Gel Flow" with leather or Lorica cover.

SUPER LIGHT MODELS
With the current increased interest in road bikes and the resulting quest for super light products, SELLE ITALIA is proud to have not only the lightest saddle available anywhere (86g) but more saddles under 200 grams than any other saddle manufacturer in the world. For many riders these saddle models are extremely comfortable as well as being light! Saddles weighing less than 200 grams include: SLR (135g), SLR XP (180 g), SLR Kit Carbonio (125g), SLR Kit Carbonio Flow (125 g), SLR T1 (195g), SLR Teknologika (120g), SLR Teknologika Flow (120g), SLR C64 (82g), Flite Kit Carbonio (150g), Flite (200g), Flite Team Edition (200g), CX Zero (86g), CX Zero Teknologika (91g), Optima (135g),

Finally, the #1 saddle for SELLE ITALIA from its introduction in ’91 was the Flite Titanium w/black leather. For the past two year’s the SLR series replaced the Flite series as the most popular saddle. In addition the "SLR Gel Flow" offers the serious rider extra comfort in the soft tissue area without having a heavy saddle. This does not mean the Flite or SLR is the best for your particular needs but it does indicate that many people like these 2 models.

RAIL CRITERIA:
None of the materials have a rider weight limit! They will all work extremely well used in a normal course of riding.

Most riders have problems with bending or breaking rail:

a) when impacting the saddle during landing after becoming airborne! The earth will not move or give so the saddle must. This usually happens during aggressive riding when the bike gets airborne or runs into a pot hole/curb, the riders foot slips off the pedal/rider loses balance/or ? and the rider impacts the seat when the bike hits the ground or edge of the pot hole/curb.
Bent rails can even happen when road bikers "jump" a pot hole/curb/railroad tracks/? and do not time the jump correctly impacting the saddle.

b) Stress riser caused by the seat post cradle. A sharp edge of the seat post cradle creates a stress riser that will eventually cause the rail to break.

As with most things that can bend or break (stems/handlebars/rims/seat rails), the riders riding technique or riding circumstance when it bends/breaks has more to do with durability than the product material.
The advantages of Titanium, Titanium Tube or Vanox are it is lighter and it flexes more than other materials. The advantages of Manganese are it’s lighter and flex more than FeC Alloy. The advantages of Carbon rails is the lightweight and strenght.


Best Regards

CUSTOMER SERVICE