Bontrager Inform WSD

[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!

[KnottedYet]

From dealing with injured cyclists, I'd say give the wider saddle a try.

Not only do I work with bike fits, I also work with pelvic pain/incontinence/sexual dysfunction patients. I see the worst of the worst, so my view is biased. I'd go wide, unpadded, and sprung at every opportunity.

-Knot, who is EXTREMELY biased toward the Brooks B67. (not the B67-Short)

BTW my sitbone measurement is 180-190 mm. I know the misery of narrow saddles...

[Skierchickie]

Thanks, Knot!

Can anyone tell me what the nose width is on the Inform RL WSD? One of my problems is the need for a narrow nose (like the Arione), because of chafing. I've kind of forgotten a lot of the problems I had pre-Arione, since the big search was 4+ years ago, but that was a big one. Darn these thighs, anyway. Okay, darn my love of food, then.

[Skierchickie]

I was hunting around for information / reviews, etc, and found it on sale on the Trek Online site (not on sale on the Bontrager site). Anyway, they appear to be closing out the RL models in both the men's & women's versions - listed for $69.99 instead of $109.99, for the 2009 model only. So I called my LBS, and am getting it for $49! Or maybe it's $49.99 - poTAYto, poTAHto! My LBS always passes along the savings on clearance stuff (bikes included). I really wanted the newest model, because I'm afraid of what terrible problem may have been fixed after the first version, but who can justify passing up that kind of savings?

DH has been dissatisfied with his saddle, too, so we ordered him one as well. Two-fers!

I'm awaiting this with much excitement. And terror.

[ny biker]

Yeah, I haven't seen any Informs at the LBS in a long time. I'm wondering if they are coming out with something new to replace it as their "race" saddle. I will try to ask when I'm there tomorrow replacing the headlight that flew off my handlebar and was crushed by a taxicab the other night.

I hope it works for you!!

[Skierchickie]

Can anybody who rides an Inform help me out with positioning this thing? I want to start out level, but level is kind of hard to pin down, with the bump in front, dip in the middle, and flat at the back. Do you just level the back part? The bump in front sort of throws things off, being taller (and squishier) than the back part. I tried leveling the rails, but that tilts it down more in front than what looks like would be right.

I can't wait to try this thing out. It rained tonight. So far I just toodled down the gravel driveway and back in my jeans last night. Sitting on it in the garage felt painful - not my sit bones, I don't think - seemed forward and inboard from those, but when riding down the driveway that didn't hurt. I was holding myself up against the garage wall, so I was probably too upright then. We'll see.

[kermit]

I have always tried to level a saddle by using a hard back book and a leveler. Make sure the book covers the saddle evenly and try the leveler. That's my take, I know guys that can just eyeball it, me not so much! You could also try the leveler next to the rails. For what it's worth, I have a Bontrager affinity RXL on my bike now and had to go above level with the nose. The dip gives it the optical illusion that its higher than it is. What a difference a level saddle makes!

[Skierchickie]

Thanks Kermit.

So, on yours, is the back part level (the only part that actually is flat, if it's like the Inform)? I mean, I know the procedure to level it if I know what needs to be level, but it's that bump & dip that are the problem. The bump on mine is clearly higher than the flat back part. I'm assuming the bump is taller because it squishes down when you sit on it. Or - maybe it is an optical illusion, like you said. I'll have to study it some more. Or maybe it's an Affinity / Inform difference, or because my RL has more padding than your RXL.

When I leveled the rails it was diving down in front a little.

How do you like the Affinity? And the RXL version? If the Inform works on my road bike, I may have to get an Affinity, for my touring bike, and an Evoke for the MTB. Sigh, I wish they would have a clearance on all of them.

I'm amazed at how sleek DH's new Inform RL looks compared with my Inform RL WSD. His looks racy & minimal. Mine looks like a tractor seat beside it. And theoretically his is actually 4 mm wider.

[petitereynard]

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


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).
!

Skierchickie: I just went throught the saddle search. I purchased an Inform RL last fall after I started getting soft-tissue pain on long rides. When I tried it on a new bike this spring, one that makes me ride slightly more upright, I had nothing but pain. I tried a number of other saddles, including 3 different Terrys, with no luck, so I determined to make the Inform work again. I got a new bike fit just to go around that saddle. I did the same thing Kermit did--strong piece of cardboard on top of the saddle, level on top of that, to level the saddle. I don't know why the dip is better than the cutout, but it is for me. The nose looks like it's up a bit, but the dent is level and causes no pain EVER and that's what I care about.

That said, I'm going to look at an Affinity this week. The Affinity has slightly more padding and is designed for a slightly more upright position--kind of that gray area between aggressive and upright. The salsa pistola I'm riding now doesn't encourage an aggressive position, so I'm thinking the Affinity will work better. I just got back from a week-long tour with 50-60 mile days. No soft-tissue pain, but I could only be in one spot on the Inform saddle, or I would get incredible sits-bone pain. It's not a saddle that encourages you to move around a whole lot. I can move back a little going uphill, up a little going downhill, but that's about it.

I'd like to hear how the Inform works for you--
Good luck!