Saddle recommendation

pprendeville

Can someone reemd a comfy road bike saddle. I've had 4 at this stage. A Selle Italia Flite Gel in which I was going numb after about an hour, a Fizik Pave which was too soft and I was getting pins and needles after 10 mins, a Prologo Scratch which was the best but still I had numb sensations after about an hour and the latest is a Prologo Nago with a cutout which is very hard and unforgiving (no numbness but sore on my bones). Any suggestions on a saddle that won't break the piggy bank.

245

Cycle Superstore in Tallaght have a demo option running at the moment where you can take a saddle for a few days and try it out. Its probably the best option as what suits one person might not suit another.

https://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewcontent.asp?idpage=194

clog

I've a ritchey comp streem in good condition which you are welcome to gratis if you want. I found it comfortable but I've switched to Fizik saddles on all my bikes because of the saddlebag clip.
PM me and i will post it up to you.

t'bear

Ah shucks. Isn't it frisking brilliant to see this wonderful spirit here on the forum....helping each other out. All warm and fuzzy I am now

feck sake lads

Brooks b17 is hard to beat.

pprendeville

clog wrote: »

I've a ritchey comp streem in good condition which you are welcome to gratis if you want. I found it comfortable but I've switched to Fizik saddles on all my bikes because of the saddlebag clip.
PM me and i will post it up to you.

An offer I can't refuse I guess. Thanks very much. PM sent.

Bigus

pprendeville wrote: »

Can someone reemd a comfy road bike saddle. I've had 4 at this stage. A Selle Italia Flite Gel in which I was going numb after about an hour, a Fizik Pave which was too soft and I was getting pins and needles after 10 mins, a Prologo Scratch which was the best but still I had numb sensations after about an hour and the latest is a Prologo Nago with a cutout which is very hard and unforgiving (no numbness but sore on my bones). Any suggestions on a saddle that won't break the piggy bank.

I presume you wear padded cycling shorts , but I thought I'd mention them just in case, cos if you don't have them ,that's your problem .

smacl

feck sake lads wrote: »

Brooks b17 is hard to beat.

What he said. You want a comfy saddle, talk to the audax riders who mostly live there.

el Bastardo

feck sake lads wrote: »

Brooks b17 is hard to beat.

Mine was indeed very comfortable for the TWO or so summers that I got out of it... before it mysteriously became lopsided to the point of being very uncomfortable (and I'm only 72Kg). Bent frames are not that uncommon a problem on Brooks and for the price, the quality is too variable.

ryan_sherlock

On my race bike I have a Specialized Romin Evo Pro and have been very very happy with it. On the indoor trainer, a Specliased Romin. I really like the form of the saddle, works well, especially on the trainer where I tend to sit without moving around much.

smacl

el Bastardo wrote: »

Bent frames are not that uncommon a problem on Brooks and for the price, the quality is too variable.

The B17 isn't a particularly expensive saddle, e.g. €65 on Bike24 or €90 on CRC. So far as I know, they've also got a long guarantee period, so you should maybe send your dodgy one back.

el Bastardo

smacl wrote: »

The B17 isn't a particularly expensive saddle, e.g. €65 on Bike24 or €90 on CRC. So far as I know, they've also got a long guarantee period, so you should maybe send your dodgy one back.

Off topic but... I did send it back, just outside the warranty period (only 2 years), and they replaced the leather top as a (unwanted) goodwill gesture. Frame is still buckled though. Since it was a Titanium one, it certainly wasn't that cheap.

Lumen

pprendeville, Specialized (Toupe, Romin) are a different design from the ones you've tried so far so might be worth investigating. They're also not hideously expensive.

Charge Spoon is another one (and cheaper still), although I don't find them great in a racy position.

doozerie

I find my Prologo Scratch Pro, the 143mm version, quite comfortable but I've had a few instances where it got really uncomfortable during or after a hard ride or a race. My theory, which well might be daft, is that as my legs became more tired I was unconciously putting more weight on the saddle to relieve my legs, and this led to greater pressure and therefore greater likelihood of discomfort. In a similar vein, on a previous bike I had real problems with a number of saddles and these issues reduced after a bike fit identified that my saddle was too high and lowered it - mind you, the issues didn't disappear but I suspect that those saddles were too narrow for me (I'm full of theories, me). So, given your issues, I'd wonder whether your saddle width is right for you (most of the saddles I've looked at in recent years seem to be 134mm as standard), and/or whether the saddle could be a little high too.

I found a Specialized Romin, 143mm, to be very good for several months, but as part of a bike fit the fitter levelled the saddle across its entire length. I'd previously levelled it according to the middle third, so the back third curved up a little and the front third curved down a little. After that fit I had an occasional bout of discomfort with the saddle, but nothing consistent, however it became persistently sore when I used it on the turbo trainer. I never got round to changing the tilt back, instead I swapped it out for a Prologo Nago Evo 141mm saddle a few months back (levelled across its entire length) and I've had no problems at all with that to date either on the road or on the turbo trainer. So my experience with the Romin is that even a slight tilt can play a big part in comfort, or lack of.

You may be aware of this, but Prologo (and other manufacturers) group their saddles by shape/profile amongst other things. They have flat, round (e.g. Scratch Pro), and semi-round (e.g. Nago Evo) shaped saddles and each is aimed at a different kind of use. I can't remember the blurb exactly but I think that flat is for people who like to move around a lot on the saddle, round is for long distance (or something), etc. These might be other things to factor into your choice of saddle though I must admit I didn't bother taking that into account for my choices.

colm_gti

ryan_sherlock wrote: »

On my race bike I have a Specialized Romin Evo Pro and have been very very happy with it. On the indoor trainer, a Specliased Romin. I really like the form of the saddle, works well, especially on the trainer where I tend to sit without moving around much.

Surprisingly enough I find that carbon selle italia saddle I got from you very comfortable, I guess it's more to do with the shape than the padding covering it...

pprendeville

Bigus wrote: »

I presume you wear padded cycling shorts , but I thought I'd mention them just in case, cos if you don't have them ,that's your problem .

yes i do. i'm not that sadistic.

pprendeville

feck sake lads wrote: »

Brooks b17 is hard to beat.

a bit on the heavy side

pprendeville

Lumen wrote: »

pprendeville, Specialized (Toupe, Romin) are a different design from the ones you've tried so far so might be worth investigating. They're also not hideously expensive.

Charge Spoon is another one (and cheaper still), although I don't find them great in a racy position.

can't buy online shur i can't. what are they going for in that shop near Rotunda (can't think of the name of it now but I always remember going their for our 3 births to pass the time):D

Lumen

pprendeville wrote: »

can't buy online shur i can't. what are they going for in that shop near Rotunda (can't think of the name of it now but I always remember going their for our 3 births to pass the time):D

What are what going for?

I've bought Toupes in 53 Degrees North in Blanchardstown, but I think they've closed the bike section now (in fact anything above the ground floor).

Cycleways sell Specialized. I think I may have also seen a Charge Spoon there.

pprendeville

Lumen wrote: »

What are what going for?

I've bought Toupes in 53 Degrees North in Blanchardstown, but I think they've closed the bike section now (in fact anything above the ground floor).

Cycleways sell Specialized. I think I may have also seen a Charge Spoon there.

sorry, Romins - how much. ah yes cycleways

ryan_sherlock

colm_gti wrote: »

Surprisingly enough I find that carbon selle italia saddle I got from you very comfortable, I guess it's more to do with the shape than the padding covering it...

Yeah - people look at it (and my Tune Speedneedle) and go - ouch! Not the case at all... For years I used a Selle Italia SLR on the MTBs, the carbon one felt just the same.

ryan_sherlock

doozerie wrote: »

I found a Specialized Romin, 143mm, to be very good for several months, but as part of a bike fit the fitter levelled the saddle across its entire length. I'd previously levelled it according to the middle third, so the back third curved up a little and the front third curved down a little. After that fit I had an occasional bout of discomfort with the saddle, but nothing consistent, however it became persistently sore when I used it on the turbo trainer. I never got round to changing the tilt back, instead I swapped it out for a Prologo Nago Evo 141mm saddle a few months back (levelled across its entire length) and I've had no problems at all with that to date either on the road or on the turbo trainer. So my experience with the Romin is that even a slight tilt can play a big part in comfort, or lack of.

The Romin, especially the Evo, is designed for the rear part to flare up a little. Levelling it from front to back does not get the most comfortable position. I still have mine within the UCI +/- 3 degrees thing though.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Philip, sorry to hear the prologo Nago didnt work out for you but on the other side of the coin, neither did the prologo scratch i got from you. I was getting number after 30-45 minutes. A friend of mine recommended an ebay saddle he bought (from taiwan) and it was approx €35 posted so i decided i'd try it out and i have to say i love it so far. I was out for a 50k spin last saturday and no numbness, discomfort or soreness at any stage. Its 143mm long and the padding is medium to firm (IMO) and it has a cut out. I know everyone is different and it may not suit you but for the sake of 35euros it may be worth a shot.

Ebay Saddle

doozerie

pprendeville wrote: »

can't buy online shur i can't. what are they going for in that shop near Rotunda (can't think of the name of it now but I always remember going their for our 3 births to pass the time):D

I bought my Specialized Romin in Cycleways. As far as I can remember it was 99euro but they gave me a discount of 10% (don't know why, I got the impression that can do so at their own discretion), bringing it down to at least as good a price as I could have got online.

I'm not sure whether you are saying you can't buy online because retailers are not allowed to sell Specialized outside their own country (which seems to apply to any Specialized stuff from various German sites, and some Specialized stuff from other non-Irish sites), but I've found Specialized saddles readily available from a number of the UK sites. It has been a while since I checked though.

manwithaplan

I swapped out the Devox saddle that came with my Felt for a Specialized Toupe and we get on very well together. I bought it in Cycleways for €117 ish - think it might have been €129 but got the 10% discount they give to most people who look for it.

I like a flat saddle with little padding and the cut out bit seems to do what it was designed for. As Ryan says, it flares up a little at the back. The width is really important - 143mm fits me but a skinny-arsed fecker like you might get on better with a 130mm. You can google how to measure the distance between your sit bones.

smacl

pprendeville wrote: »

a bit on the heavy side

Yep, and not the aesthetic many are after either, but if all else fails, it's most certainly worth a punt. Also from what I've seen in the adverts section, easy enough to sell on.

Briando

If you need some space for your toolbox I find the ISM Adamo worked for me. Took a few cycles to get used to it but now I can finish a 4hr cycle without any discomfort.

VanhireBoys

I have one of these for over 20 years and I never had an issue. They are being remanufactured once again....


http://www.sellesanmarco.it/en/Vintage/Saddles/99/Concor%20Supercorsa.html

It might not suit a modern bike but if it works then so what...

pprendeville

I got a Specialized Romin on adverts for a bagain 45 euro yesterday so I'm looking forward to trying out this one. Good reviews here and online. I will try out the Ritchey saddle which is being sent on also but if I'm happy with the Specialized I'll pass on the Ritchey.

pprendeville

Tested saddle yesterday and must say I'm very impressed. No numbness or soreness after 90 mins. No sliding either forwards or backwards. Hope it stays that way.

Bechermann

pprendeville wrote: »

Tested saddle yesterday and must say I'm very impressed. No numbness or soreness after 90 mins. No sliding either forwards or backwards. Hope it stays that way.

Glad to hear you like the saddle Philip! That was me you bought it off, meant to say to you I was on here!