New Rider with Saddle Troubles

[CaliRider]

So....next question....can you tell immediately when the saddle is right? I just picked up a Toupe from the LBS (didn't have a Ruby). They're letting me try it for a week. I just took a quick spin and didn't find it particularly comfortable overall. So....how did you know when you'd found the right saddle?

[OakLeaf]

To me it takes at least a 35 or 40 mile ride for problems to really show up. It isn't how many rides, it's the distance, as I settle into the saddle, and minor discomfort does or does not become major. IME if it's good for 40 it's good for 100+. Can't speak for anyone else, though.

[zoom-zoom]

To me it takes at least a 35 or 40 mile ride for problems to really show up. It isn't how many rides, it's the distance, as I settle into the saddle, and minor discomfort does or does not become major. IME if it's good for 40 it's good for 100+. Can't speak for anyone else, though.

+1. But if it's not good at 10 it will be miserable at 40 and likely horrific at 100.

[TigerMom]

So....next question....can you tell immediately when the saddle is right? I just picked up a Toupe from the LBS (didn't have a Ruby). They're letting me try it for a week. I just took a quick spin and didn't find it particularly comfortable overall. So....how did you know when you'd found the right saddle?

If you did a quick spin and it's not comfortable....it's not the right saddle. Can you get your LBS to lend you other saddles to try before you buy?

This post might help you too:
http://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/...ll-about-smps/

[Sky King]

Just to add to the confusion, How about an all leather saddle w/ zero padding? Once I discovered how comfortable they were, I can't imagine riding anything else
Brooks B17 Imperial
Rivet Pearl

[macski]

I agree with others that it appears you will likely prefer a t-shape saddle.

I had a Ruby that was reasonably comfortable - not really any pain but some numbness occasionally. Then I got a Jett and it is so much better - no problems for long rides.

You might want to ask your LBS if the have a Jett that you can try.

[CaliRider]

Thanks for the ongoing support here! I thought the link to Steve Hogg's SMP page was timely because I had ordered one and it arrived today!!!! I can't wait to try it out in the morning. I had no idea that finding a comfortable saddle would be so difficult, but the advice and opinions on this forum have been invaluable.

[CaliRider]

Update: My Selle SMP Lite 209 arrived yesterday, and this morning I took it out for a 25-mile ride. I am blown away. I need to make some minor adjustments, but it was night and day compared to the other saddles I've tried. I was riding with my husband and kept exclaiming about how comfortable I was and how nice it was not to feel pinched and smashed and otherwise in pain. I am very hopeful that I can now stop obsessively reading about every saddle under the sun and can concentrate on actually riding!

[zoom-zoom]

Yayayayayayayayay!!! This was exactly my experience with the Drakon (1 level firmer than the 209, but otherwise the same saddle) on my road bike. I recall my words being "game changer."

I now have a 209 on our tandem and am looking at a Glider for my CX bike. The only issue I have run into is that the seatpost on my road bike doesn't allow me to angle the Drakon nose up as high as I need, so I feel like I'm sliding off the front a bit. Makes my upper body tired really fast. Once I can figure out a better seatpost option it will be perfect.