Would a Turbomatic be less firm than the SSM Arrowhead?

[buffybike]

I notice you have a Brooks on one of your bikes. Do you like it? Does it have a cutout?

I like the Brooks for looks and for shortish rides. It's a lovely saddle but I wouldn't do a century on it at this point because it's too firm (although I DO like the shape). No cutout, though.

I live near an LBS that sells Bontrager saddles....I may check out the Affinity if they honor the 30 day return policy. If not, I may just go back to the Jett. Although it's definately not "the one", it's the best one I've had so far and I know I can ride a century on it. I'd put my old Jett back on, but somehow one of the rails got bent and now it's ruined! The Arrowhead is up for sale, BTW. PM me if interested.

[ny biker]

The 30-day guarantee is from Bontrager, so all LBSs should honor it.

The 154 mm Affinity WSD is nearly identical in size and shape to the SSM Aspide Glamour.

[zoom-zoom]

The 154 mm Affinity WSD is nearly identical in size and shape to the SSM Aspide Glamour.

Really?! How does it "feel" in comparison...?

[ny biker]

Depends on the model. The RXL is least padded and the R is most padded.

I found the Aspide Glamour excrutiating, but the Affinity R is quite comfortable for my sitbones. However there is a bit too much padding in the nose of the R for me. It's bearable but not great, especially for very long rides.

I found the Affinity RL (between the RXL and R in terms of padding) to be a bit too firm, though in retrospect I might have had residual soreness from trying the Aspide Glamour and Lithia immediately before it.

[kermit]

I just listed an RXL on ebay, I rode it twice, I really liked the dent area, but the seat is flat and does not flex at all to me. It really puts you into a position and supports very well in the seat, I just like to be able to move around a little more. It is very close to the SSM glamour when you compare the two. The RXL seemed a little more padded than the glamour. If it had a little more of that scooped seat that the glamour has I would have kept it forever.

[zoom-zoom]

I'd be tempted to try the RXL, except for those carbon rails. Those require a special seatpost clamp, right? DH is really leery of carbon rails, anyhow.

[kermit]

Nope my stock seatpost fit it just fine!

[zoom-zoom]

The 154 mm Affinity WSD is nearly identical in size and shape to the SSM Aspide Glamour.

Hmmm...I just got a loaner 154 Affinity and I don't think it's anywhere near as T-shaped as the Glamour. My hubby actually said the same, before I had even commented on it. It looks very similar to the Jett 155 to me (with a shorter nose, like the Ruby 155). So I'm sort of not holding my breath. Tomorrow I'm going to do a ride...hopefully it feels more t-shaped than it looks.

[ny biker]

Hmmm...I just got a loaner 154 Affinity and I don't think it's anywhere near as T-shaped as the Glamour. My hubby actually said the same, before I had even commented on it. It looks very similar to the Jett 155 to me (with a shorter nose, like the Ruby 155). So I'm sort of not holding my breath. Tomorrow I'm going to do a ride...hopefully it feels more t-shaped than it looks.

I put the Glamour upside-down on top of the Affinity and ran my hands around the edges to compare them. They were very close, except for the shorter nose on the Glamour.

Of course the topography is different.

[zoom-zoom]

I wonder if my Affinity is different, then, because when placing them so widest points are at the same spot, the Affinity definitely has the shorter nose of the 2.

[ny biker]

Right, that's what I meant to say. Affinity has shorter nose. Actually, the Glamour had the longest nose of any saddle I've tried.

[zoom-zoom]

Right, that's what I meant to say. Affinity has shorter nose. Actually, the Glamour had the longest nose of any saddle I've tried.

Heh, you didn't try the Turbomatic, I take it? I really liked the long nose on that.