Bontrager Inform WSD

[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.

[kermit]

When I did my Specialized super duper bike fit I had an Inform with me to try. It never even made it on the bike, my fitter told me that lump would mush me into the saddle and the nose was very wide. I have heard mixed reviews (everybody is different) but the affinity RXL is very flat. The dip is just enough to be comfy for the girly parts and the right size supports my seat bones very well. I measured it up to my former SSM aspide glamour and it was exact. I have had more success with it that anything else I have tried, and I think I have tried them all. When I look at mine on the bike, the nose looks higher than the seat but my nose bump is smaller. I actually have it past level to compensate for the bump if that makes sense. Just play with it, if you feel like you are on your hands bump the nose up. Good luck.