Saddle Quest 2011

[hulagirl]

I just fell in love with the Finesse Titanium!

[hulagirl]

I've written to Wallingford and my Local Tri shop (LTS) that is doing my saddle swap now with the SMP's.

LTS responded right away and offered me the entire rack of saddles. Everything from Adamo to Fizik (hopefully they have the 180mm that I'm looking at) to a whole slew of Terry. They might even bring in a Cobb saddle for me to try. (If I get one, I will need to call it my Cobb Salad!) Being that I have a Metric Century ride this Sunday, I'll start locally to find something to ride. I'm still interested in the Brooks but not sure if I will go the B68 Imperial (can't as they are out of it right now) or the B17 Imperial. I risk nothing to try it out so I might as well!

Thanks for all the input ladies. I'll keep you all posted with what I find.

Mahalo and aloha!

Denise

[hulagirl]

Any experience on the Selle An-Atomica saddles? I'm just researching options, no decisions made yet!

[warneral]

hey that's great that you can try different types on loan!!! congrats

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

You should know that Wallingford will not accept a Brooks back if you have applied anything to to it except Brooks brand "Pruf-hyde/Proof-Hide" (or however it's spelled). So don't be rubbing neatsfoot oil or other stuff into it if you plan on returning it.

Also, for those looking for saddles- please be aware that there is a whole section here on TE under "Gear..." that has MANY saddles reviews and threads, including "Favorite saddles" and "Hated saddles", plus many more. The saddle you are considering may already have been reviewed with many comments in that section. Try using the SEARCH function here on TE- punch in your saddle name and you may be amazed what's already been posted about it.

[hulagirl]

Update after epic "try-on-every-saddle-in-the-shop" day.

Tried:
Fizik Vitesse Tri - 142mm no channel = evil pain
Fizik Aliante Versus - 142mm "groove" = hanging over the thing, groove is useless
Adamo Podium 130mm - sit bones hung over the edge. I call this "evil pitch-fork" seat.
Terry Falcon - 152mm = getting better, but channel turns into jaws of death.
Terry Liberator Gel - 162mm = HEY! What's this odd feeling under my sit-bones? Why, it's a saddle! How odd! Even in aero it isn't that bad. But there is so much padding that the channel turns into jaws of death munch on my girlie bits.

The LIberator was the least evil of them all. I have the demo version of that saddle so it's what I will use for a 20 mile ride tomorrow and I might use it for the metric century this weekend. It's labeled demo so I don't feel bad riding in it and taking it back. I do miss the wonderful channels on the SMP saddles, but not riding on my girly bits. ;-)

Haven't heard from Wallingford or the Selle An-Atomica folks yet. Will let you know when I order. Thanks Lisa for the info on the return policy.

[hulagirl]

Sheila - my hubby has that one in the 175. And it goes to show you how wonderful our LBS is as his sit bones measure 97mm c-c! He's not happy in that thing. And I've tried it and feel is not that nice. Why they place the seams where they did on that thing I will never know!

I'm thinking I might just jump into the B68-I as I can always put it on my hybrid! ;-)