Would a Turbomatic be less firm than the SSM Arrowhead?

[buffybike]

Here's my saddle history: SI Lady Gel Flow (not t shaped enough); Specialized Jett 143 (didn't support sit bones enough); Specialized Jett 155 (much better but had some chafing on inner thigh); SSM Glamour Aspide (too firm and squished girl parts); SSM Arrowhead (loved the shape, but cutout not enough to relieve pressure on girl parts and too firm). I feel the the princess and the pea. This is getting ridiculous and expensive.

I'm missing my Jett now--especially the cutout. Is the firmness and cutout of the Turbomatic comparable to the Jett? I'm thinking of trying the Turbomatic because I want a more T-shaped saddle.

[nscrbug]

It's definitely more T-shaped than my 155 Ruby...probably the most T-shaped saddle I've tried. My legs were free and clear of any part of the saddle when I had the Turbo on my bike. That is what I LOVED about this saddle...and the HUGE cut-out, too! Unfortunately, it felt a tad bit too narrow for my sit bones (probably because it is more "domed" on the seating surface...and I need a FLAT surface), so I passed it on to my DH who is quite happy with it. I am back to riding my Ruby for the moment.

[Becky]

I see that you've tried the Lady Gel Flow, but what about the SLR Lady Gel Flow? It's firmer than the regular Lady Gel Flow, but not as firm as the Glamour Aspide (which I loved except for its rock-hardness at 40+ miles). IMO, the shape is about the same between the Glamour Aspide and the SLR Lady Gel Flow.

I really want to try the Turbomatic, but I'm afraid that the dome would be a dealbreaker for me

[OakLeaf]

The Turbomatic is a good bit firmer than a Jett. The cut-out is effectively larger (because of the slope) and, for me, better placed. Never tried a Ruby or Arrowhead, so I can't compare.

If your problem on the 155 Jett was it was too wedge-shaped, then you're in the same place I was, and I'm loving my Turbomatic.

[buffybike]

[QUOTE=Becky;601626]I see that you've tried the Lady Gel Flow, but what about the SLR Lady Gel Flow?

I think that the SLR gel flow is the one i had. My sitbones were between the 143 and 155 on the Specialized scale. The 143 feels slightly too narrow and I found that I kept scooting back for more support. i love the "footprint" of the Aspide and Arrowhead, just not the firmness and pressure on the middle. Basically, i want the Jett 155 but slightly more t-shaped. Also, it's worth pointing out that I like to ride for distance, not necessarily speed. In the next 6 weeks i have 2 centuries and i just don't think I can do them on the Arrowhead...it's too firm and uncomfortable.

[OakLeaf]

To me it's the other way around.

Squishier saddles are tolerable for short rides.

It's when you've been squishing and moving around on the saddle for hours on end, that it gets really uncomfortable. I would much rather have a firmer saddle for a long ride.

[buffybike]

Ive done centuries on the Jett which i found to be about perfect (firm-wise). I was wrong about the Gel Flow, too...I had the Diva Gel Flow. Didnt work for me. Now i'm a little undecided between the SLR gel flow and the Turbomatic.

[zoom-zoom]

Here's my saddle history: SI Lady Gel Flow (not t shaped enough); Specialized Jett 143 (didn't support sit bones enough); Specialized Jett 155 (much better but had some chafing on inner thigh); SSM Glamour Aspide (too firm and squished girl parts); SSM Arrowhead (loved the shape, but cutout not enough to relieve pressure on girl parts and too firm). I feel the the princess and the pea. This is getting ridiculous and expensive.

I'm quoting you because I have had such similar experiences on many of the exact same saddles.

SI Lady Gel Flow -- too pear, too squishy
Jett 143 -- too narrow in the rear
Ruby 155 -- too pear (inner thigh rubbing, kept having to push myself back)
SSM Glamour Arrowhead -- cut-out is just not great for me. I think it's too narrow and too sharp-edged. Actual footprint and profile is otherwise perfect.

Turbomatic probably would have been the best. saddle. ever...except it was so domed that I ended up straddling it. It measures as a wider saddle than it really is.

I'm now thinking I need to give the Bontrager Affinity a try...as a last ditch effort to find a saddle that I can mostly forget about.

RL vs. RXL? I don't mind a firmer saddle. The Ruby was really about perfect. Would that be comparable to the RXL?