Comfortable Saddle on a Road Bike

Thargor

Apart from aesthetics which I dont really care about is there anything to stop me from putting a big comfortable saddle on my roadbike? Im thinking of those gel ones you see in Lidl sometimes.

Since I started extending my evening rides out beyond 30 km my ass and back have been in bits when I get home from a long ride and Im pretty sure its the saddle thats at fault, its a rock hard Boardman one, very thin and sharp.

Im just worried that these are necessary on a roadbike for some reason, posture/position or whatever you'd call it, any advice?

quozl

This is well worth reading - http://sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html

Basically, you'll make yourself sad if you buy one of those big gel saddles.

Thargor

A very good read thanks, I might be sliding forward to the thin part of the saddle now that I think of it.

Brian?

What kind of shorts are you wearing?

petethedrummer

Thargor wrote: »

Im just worried that these are necessary on a roadbike for some reason, posture/position or whatever you'd call it, any advice?

Borrow and try out as many saddles as you can. Saddle choice is very personal and what works for some will not work for others. There is no right answer.

Thargor

Brian? wrote: »

What kind of shorts are you wearing?

Lidl padded ones from last year, not the best I know but I really like them.

diomed

Big comfortable saddle turns out to be a big uncomfortable saddle if you are cycling more than a few kilometers.
I have one somewhere around the house. You can have it for free if you want it (and I can find it).

Thargor

Thanks for the offer Diomed but it seems to be the wrong route to go down, Ill try the incremental changes that Sheldon Browne reccomends over the next couple of weeks and see how I get on. I keep putting off the bike fitting because Im saving it for a new bike but my Boardman thats been my commuter for the last couple of years just keeps going and going.

Does anyone have a really comfortable roadbike saddle on their bike at the minute out of interest?

alexanderomahon

Thargor wrote: »

Does anyone have a really comfortable roadbike saddle on their bike at the minute out of interest?

No, not me.Just about to try my third saddle (fizik). I am still cursed with saddle sores. I have good shorts, tried two pairs even, use chamois cream, shower straight after rides (just had one), ensure dry off well, apply powder, but still have problems.

Did Passau Vienna this summer with wife who does not cycle at all. Guess who had a saddle sore by the end? Hope new saddle will help otherwise It's HTFU

diomed

Thargor wrote: »

Does anyone have a really comfortable roadbike saddle on their bike at the minute out of interest?

Yes. A Selle San Marco Regal (black)
http://www.nashbar.com/images/nashbar/products/large/SM-REGAL-NCL-ANGLE.jpg

Ole Rodrigo

diomed wrote: »

Yes. A Selle San Marco Regal (black)
http://www.nashbar.com/images/nashbar/products/large/SM-REGAL-NCL-ANGLE.jpg

Selle San Marco Rolls

slap/dash

jump on the boards order for bib shorts. you wont look back with a quality chamois where it matters. im also a fan of chamois creme, but maybe thats a step too far for some.

i ride a selle italia max gel flow and its good. on my around town bike a specialized avatar - which doesnt need padded shorts to be comfy. you may be using a saddle thats too narrow...i had one that was 135mm or something which killed me until i got my ass measured - true story - in the us and found that 143 is my size

Brian?

Thargor wrote: »

Lidl padded ones from last year, not the best I know but I really like them.

But you said you arse has started to hurt, so why would you still like them.

My advice, get decent shorts.

petethedrummer

Thargor wrote: »

Does anyone have a really comfortable roadbike saddle on their bike at the minute out of interest?

Yes the one that came with my cube MTB and the one that came on my Giant SCR, both similarly shaped and cheap.

You should try a few saddles and a good one will immediately feel better than your old one. It should feel good enough to go on a decent spin in jeans and no padding IMO.

Tackling the problem with padding is not getting to the root of the issue.

hueylewis

The saddle I use is thin and quite solid, but with my padded bibs it's completely pain free - very comfortable, in fact. You can get a very nice pair of bibs for around the €50 mark. Just read reviews about lots of pairs before you buy and see what people are saying about the padding.

Ole Rodrigo

Bike fit is also important, so that your upper body weight is being distributed between your back arms and shoulders. Too much on your lower back and it will create extra pressure on your sit bones. A proper bike fit might be beneficial.

-K2-

Just buy the Assos bibs and get it over and done with.

Squidgy Black

-K2- wrote: »

Just buy the Assos bibs and get it over and done with.

New Boards bibs have the same chamois as the Assos bibs and are cooler. Just saying :cool:

Ole Rodrigo

stetyrrell wrote: »

New Boards bibs have the same chamois as the Assos bibs and are cooler. Just saying :cool:

Hmm. Lets reserve judgement 'til the shade of green issue is resolved.:cool:

Brian?

It's a very personal thing as others have said. In descending order my favourite saddles:

Prologo Scratch Pro Ti

Selle Italia XR

Selle Italia Nitrox

petethedrummer

Brian? wrote: »

Prologo Scratch Pro Ti

This is quite similar to the shape i like.

Brian? wrote: »

Selle Italia Nitrox

I'd know without even trying it that this would be awful for me.

Darkglasses

I quite like this one, the Fizik Aliante. Good for skinnier bodytypes I think. I can use it comfortably with or without padded shorts.

Sinbad_NI

Charge spoon gets great reviews for comfort and doesn't break the bank.

Seweryn

I recently bought a new one - the Selle Italia SLS Kit Carbonio Flow Saddle.

So far the most comfortable one I used.

Konkers

Agree with sewyern re selle Italia. Have one variation of the cut out gel saddles in the link below on all 3 bikes. Have done some very long days in all with no probs.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/saddles?f=4294965968

Maybe I'll give the boardsie bib shorts a go.

cdaly_

Mine is a Brooks B17. Leather, no padding or anything and so comfy straight from the start. It's carried me for up to 360km* at a time without issues...







*Someday I'll crack that 400km barrier...

Seaneh

Sinbad_NI wrote: »

Charge spoon gets great reviews for comfort and doesn't break the bank.

Using a Charge Spoon for about a year now (I think) and I fecking love it.

Seaneh

Lovely looking, very comfortable, very durable (actually designed for XC, so built to take stress) and less than €30 online.

kumate_champ07

it depends on your body type, and weight. racing saddles will flex alot under a heavy person. some people like a flat saddle, others a curved. that can also depend your bodys flexibility. racing saddles are now available in wider options again, the trend was towards 130mm, specialized has 155 and now 165(?)mm options

I like a saddle with a hole down the centre to releive pressure on nerves that would cause me to go numb otherwise, for me the Romin comp gel 155mm works very well


if you like the look of brooks saddles but want something more modern and 'sportier' theres the selle anatomica an american saddle, gonna try one of these out eventually for a bike that needs a vintage looking saddle

http://www.selleanatomica.com/products/titanico-x/

smacl

+1 on the Brooks B17, you see a lot of them at longer distance events such as audax. I've done a number of 200k+ spins on mine and find it very comfy.

Wishbone Ash

smacl wrote: »

+1 on the Brooks B17, you see a lot of them at longer distance events such as audax. I've done a number of 200k+ spins on mine and find it very comfy.

I wouldn't have anything else. I did 221 km last Sunday and it was flawless.

Koobcam

These Ergon Saddles are something else to consider. I bought one of the SR3 Pro's a coupe of weeks ago. Pretty good so far, some long spins done without any bother (4+ hours), and it looks great on the bike also.

Tonyandthewhale

Another vote for the B17 (although it is heavy). I've happily clocked up upwards of 500km on one in one sitting with no problems. I also like the basic white saddle that came stock on my old giant SCR 4. Someone else mentioned them earlier, they're inexplicably comfy.