New saddle

Jim Stynes

Some advice or recommendations required lads.

I have persisted with my current saddle for nearly 5000mile but I am pissed off with it now. I can hardly sit down after todays ride! It has always been fairly average comfort wise but I never have been fully comfortable on long rides or consecutive days on the bike. I have started getting saddle sores and pain in the undercarriage due to my increased mileage over the summer.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/selle-san-marco-era-dynamic-protek-open-saddle/

That is something similar to what I have now.

I know saddles are a personal thing and not every saddle suits but what are the best brands and saddles to stick to. I like the look of fizik saddles if that is a good place to start. I am 6ft and around 88kg-90kgs.

Edit: Also is there such thing as a saddle fit? I would happily pay an extra couple of quid to get something that is comfortable.

Luxman

Not a saddle fit as such, but measuring your sit bones is a great start. Some shops have bum-0-meters, or some such silly name and can get it done, You can do it yourself too (youtube will help you here). Also some shops have samples saddles that you can bring home, fit and test for a week or two. Mate did this and took him about 2 80k spins to get to know if the saddle was the right one for him.

bog_savage

I've gone through 4 saddles in 3 years ,
Got one of these recently , http://www.rido-cyclesaddles.com/new-rido-r-lt-pre-launch-info-c100130.html

Only done 60km & 160km but it seems good and is half the price of many guzzi saddles of same weight .
Most comfortable saddle ive had . Hopefully I've found "the one"

sprite0

Hi.

Have a look at SQlab. http://www.sq-lab.com/en/sqlab-products-en/sqlab-bicycle-saddles-en/race-en/sqlab-611-race-saddle-en.html
I recently got the 611 race from Rose bikes. Just did the Westportif 160k yesterday and it's the first time my ass has not been aching. I have been using a selle italia max flite gel flow but would still begin to get uncomfortable after 80k. I have also tried some of the fizik models in the past. Sqab give you a month to try the saddle and will refund if you don't like it. I'm 6 foot and 95kg and got a 14cm width. Saddle is nice and light too.

wendell borton

If you place a sheet of tinfoil on a folded towel and sit on it, the sit bones should leave two indentions in the foil from which the width can be measured.

jamesd

Brooks b17 saddle is what I opted for in the end after trying a few different saddles, did ROK in it and was as comfortable.

Unknown Soldier

I have surveyed many people on their saddles and levels of discomfort over the last two years. Even people I have hooked up with for a very short time on things like the W200.

I am convinced there is a Holy Grail saddle out there for all of us.

So far I have only met one person who swore blind that they have never had any discomfort over any distance and never even had to stand here and there for some relief.

She's a lucky lady!

Everyone else had various levels of discomfort and ways of dealing with it.

The saddle that I am using at the moment is very close in size to yours, 135mm with a good bit of padding. Cheap too.

http://www.wiggle.com/selle-italia-x1-plus-flow-saddle/

I think the fact that I am positioned quite "aggressively"(?) on the bike versus "sitting up straighter" makes a thinner saddle easier on my sit bones, I think.

I tried a 147mm (Prologo Kappa) one once and after 9km I was in agony. Pure agony.

Another saddle I have that is quite good is a Selle italia race but I can't find what the latest version of that is.

Good luck with your search! I don't think there is a "best brand" etc by the way. In the sense of comfort versus quality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMNOhZ_NLQQ

iwillhtfu

I found this saddle quite comfortable

http://www.wiggle.com/selle-italia-c2-gel-flow-black-saddle/

I changed to a fizik arione which probably isn't as comfortable over long rides but I've cycled 8+ hours on the arione without any major discomfort. there's also plenty of room to move around on the arione if that makes sense but you will definitely notice the lack of a cut out.

I have that c2 sitting on the winter bike if you want to try it out for a while you're more than welcome to.

Jim Stynes

Cheers lads. Some good info to have a read at. Was looking at something like this earlier on in the week:

http://www.wiggle.com/fizik-antares-versus-saddle-with-kium-rails/

iwillhtfu

These also get good reviews

http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;product=62957;page=1;menu=1000,4,37;mid=0;pgc=0

Also the charge spoon

Cee-Jay-Cee

Unknown Soldier wrote: »

I tried a 147mm (Prologo Kappa) one once and after 9km I was in agony. Pure agony.

I went through 4 saddles (3 x Prologo and 1 x San Marco) and ended up with a Prologo Kappa EVO PAS. I done Mizen to Malin on it last with absolutely no discomfort at any stage. I have them on both bikes. It's extremely comfortable for me.

Eamonnator

Jim Stynes wrote: »

Cheers lads. Some good info to have a read at. Was looking at something like this earlier on in the week:

http://www.wiggle.com/fizik-antares-versus-saddle-with-kium-rails/

I am about same weight as you, and about an inch taller.
Last year, I tried out a Fizik Antares. Straightaway, I knew I was on a winner.
I used it all last year on my good bike. I did one 230K spin, several 160Ks, all in great comfort. Last year, I cycled about 15,000Kms.
I now have 3 road bikes, all equipped with Antares saddles.
Having said all that, saddle choice is a very personal thing.