A REALLY T-shaped saddle to watch for - Ergon SM3

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I still haven't had a chance to try it. Weds. I went mountain biking and yesterday I rode 65, so neither was a good chance to try it. Today I'm running and tomorrow I'm mountain biking, again, but planning to also try and get out for an hour on my road bike to test it...stay tuned!

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Why don't you try it on your mountain bike?

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Why don't you try it on your mountain bike?

'Cause I never really have "saddle issues" on mtn. bikes, just road bikes (probably because my butt spends so much time out of the saddle off-road and I'm more upright). If I like this saddle I'll probably end up putting it on my CX bike (since the one I bought is a black base model and I'd likely go up one level to get the white one with carbon shell for my road bike).

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Oh, I may really love this saddle. I just did 12 miles, so not really far enough to tell if I love it, but I definitely like it a lot and it wasn't an immediate torture device like some saddles that have had me in pain in <5 miles.

It feels at least as good as my Bontrager Affinity RL in terms of the cut-out (which surprised me)...the footprint is definitely better, I like that it's firmer, and it has some sort of suspension feature built in which was PHENOMENAL on bumps and cracks and potholes and other assorted crappiness of our roads. I'm riding a couple of 30 milers this week and planning a century on Sun. so if it's good for those I will likely be picking up the next model up (carbon shell, slippy silicone sides for less abrasion on shorts) and putting this one on my CX bike. If I REALLY love it I may have to get a 3rd for mtn. biking, even. That suspension rail dealie would be nice on a hardtail.

[Owlie]

I remember her saying elsewhere that she has issues with shorts rubbing on the saddle, so her shorts don't last as long.

Glad you like it thus far. Which one did you end up getting? Performance gives the same description for both models (but then, their website is kind of screwed up). Also, what's the sizing like? I can't find widths for it either.

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I remember her saying elsewhere that she has issues with shorts rubbing on the saddle, so her shorts don't last as long.

Glad you like it thus far. Which one did you end up getting? Performance gives the same description for both models (but then, their website is kind of screwed up). Also, what's the sizing like? I can't find widths for it either.

Yep, my thighs are the destroyer of shorts...muwahahahaha!!!

I got the base model, the Pro is the next model up from that (carbon shell, slick sides, metal rails). I think the top is the Carbon Pro, which is carbon everything.

Mine is the L, which is 145ish, I believe. I think the S is 130.

[Owlie]

While I don't destroy shorts, I'll keep it in mind for the next bike. It looks like it might work well.

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On second thought...I think I only like this saddle--at least for road riding. I did 25 miles tonight and by 18 miles in I was definitely feeling less fond of the saddle.

See the sort of ridges on either side of the channel? It felt like they were digging into my butt muscles. Eventually I started getting some foot numbness on both sides, so I suspected that they were pressing into nerves. I also feel like the nose is a hair wide and I felt it on my inner thighs. It's definitely wider than the nose on my Bontrager InForm Affinity saddle.

I do think that I will hang onto it for mountain biking and cyclocross, though. For shorter rides and rides where my butt is not on the saddle for long lengths of time I think it would be really good. I LOVE the way it absorbs bumps. It should be perfect off-road. DH really wants to give it a try, too.

An Ergon rep said in a video last Spring that they are contemplating a road version. I hope they do. I am considering e-mailing them and giving them a review of the saddle and suggestions of what I'd like to see in a road version. I think they are on the right track with this, but it's not perfect for the use I attempted to give it.

[Owlie]

Definitely e-mail them.

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Is there any reason other than cost to get the lower-level saddle versus the slick sided one? Would only consider the ones with metal rails. Carbon just sounds scary. I like my current Turbomatic, but not completely.

Yeah, the carbon railed one I have 0 interest in--plus it's $$$. The next model up from the one I have is a carbon shell and has the slick sides...AND comes in white, so I'd like that for my "heavy as a wet fart" (as my DH says) carbon road bike. For my CX and (future) mtn. bike I wouldn't bother with anything but the bottom model, since they'll just get trashed, anyhow. It still seems fairly light and very firm, but that flex makes it really forgiving and it's still softer than the SSM Aspide Glamour Arrowhead that I used to use. I'd say it's about comparable to the Ruby.