Audax saddle

Muckers

Hi all

I'm looking at doing a few audax events this year for the first time, and am looking for a suitably comfy saddle to suit. I don't fancy sitting on my current race saddles over the extra distance. It doesn't need to break the bank or be uber cool either. Any advice?

Tonyandthewhale

A lot of people use Brooks (I use the B17) or charge spoon. Saddles are a personal thing though as I'm sure you know so don't sign up for any event where you're going to be 20 or 30 hours in the saddle until you find one you like and have put some miles on it.

feck sake lads

Muckers wrote: »

Hi all

I'm looking at doing a few audax events this year for the first time, and am looking for a suitably comfy saddle to suit. I don't fancy sitting on my current race saddles over the extra distance. It doesn't need to break the bank or be uber cool either. Any advice?

theres a brooks b17 for sale on cycle chat.might be worth sussing out.;)

ROK ON

I have done about 4 200k cycles in each of the past few years.
I use
Selle Italia SLR carbon saddle- hard with no padding but great to spend a day on.
Also used a San Marco saddle - can't recall the make.

I like thin saddles with minimal padding. Softer wider saddle are for me a pita.

I think Audax is no different from any other type of cycling in that it attracts a certain snobbery around equipment and clothing selection.

feck sake lads

rok on please explain that last line

ROK ON

My point is this. There exist sacred cows or recd wisdoms in any pastime, particularly cycling.
Such as racers shaving legs, Audax guys riding steel chariots with Brooks.

My point is forget the sacred cows and focus on what is comfortable.
I like shaved legs so I do that. Not for any other reason.
I dislike leather saddle and like hard saddles, so for comfort I use these.
Assos don't suit my backside despite 80% of other cyclists loving it.

There is no right, just what is right for you.
My most comfortable bike is carbon fibre. If I were to do a 200k cycle I would use that bike over the Ti frame which would be more in keeping with Audax traditions.
Traditions are good but sometimes they get in the way of what makes sense for the individual.

smacl

Brooks B17 here as well, just couldn't find anything that suited me on other attempts, and they're not overly expensive. As ROK ON says, you really need to find out what suits you rather than others. Outside of the saddle there are other changes you can make, albeit at some compromise of speed and/or weight. e.g. I find 25mm tyres at 100psi way more comfortable than 23mm tyres at 120psi on crappy l-roads. I also re-wrapped my bars to include gel pads in my favourite positions in the drops and tops.

feck sake lads

horses for courses as the man said.but would i be looked upon as a snob when i pull up on my Raleigh 753 steel beauti with carradice saddle bag wareing my assos gear:eek:

Ole Rodrigo

The san marco rolls is a good alternative to the B17

Muckers

Thanks for all the replies. That's an interesting one about increasing tyre width to 25mm. I will definitely do that.

I was going to ask whether carbon or alu frame would suit best, but that question has already been answered. Horses for courses it seems.

thebouldwhacker

ROK ON wrote: »

I think Audax is no different from any other type of cycling in that it attracts a certain snobbery around equipment and clothing selection.

Jez the guy is asking how to achieve ass nirvana and you jump in with your snobby cyclist agenda stirring it all up...

Flandria

San Marco Rolls, but real Audax riders use a brick wrapped in a Superquinn bag. So as to avoid snobbery accusations...

Planet X

Yeah but Superquinn? More like Aldi or Didl.