The Perfect Saddle?

MileyReilly

Is there such a thing as the perfect saddle? Like I mean is it possible to get on your bike and cycle for hours in comfort or is it just something that comes with cycling that you have a sore arse forever?

I'm on my third saddle trying to find comfort, and nothing. This is getting expensive. Do I just need to harden up? I'm over weight too so obviously that doesn't help. Maybe as I lose weight it should ease?

Cheers

Charlie69

I don't think your weight is the issue, I weigh 70kg and it took me ages to find the right saddle for me. Once you find the right saddle and combine it with a decent pair of bib shorts all day comfort is indeed possible.. no need for chamois cream now either.

Fian

Sadly the perfect saddle is an individual choice so nobody can tell you which is perfect for you.

Pain eases over time (month or two, not weeks). Everybody is sore initially. Are you using a chamois (padded cycling shorts)? They will make a huge difference.

I am also overweight and I don't suffer from pain any more, well after a four hour cycle I am glad to get a break from the saddle but nothing debilitating. I am using the stock saddle that came with my bikes. Lidl sell a saddle with a cutout when they do there cycling gear, that might help.

They say brooks saddles are the best. They are expensive and they require to be broken in - they are hard leather saddles but they conform to your body shape. So tough to start but you break them in like a pair of shoes and they are comfortable after a while. I can't speak from personal experience - I don't have one.

Jawgap

I'd give a +1 for the Brooks.

I've B17s on two of my bikes and a C17 on another and they're very comfy.

They do take a bit of breaking in, though - especially the B17s. I reckon once you get beyond the first 500km or so though, you'll be laughing.

They also need to be looked after a bit in terms of reasonable regular applications of proofide.

Brian?

The 2 most important things about being comfortable in the saddle are bike fit and sitting in the saddle properly.

I'm on the jolly side of tubby myself and I never have any comfort problems. I've 2 different saddles: a Prologo Nago EVO scratch and the cheapest saddle Sellafield Italian make, it came with the bike and I have no reason to replace it. I'm equally comfortable in both because my bike fit is dialed in correctly and I sit on my sit bones.

G1032

I have the Brooks Cambium C17 and find it comfy. I'd recommend it. It really does absorb the shock from bumpy roads. I notice that over poor surface stretches I stay in the same position in the saddle, i.e. I'm not bouncing off the saddle like I find I do with other saddles. Expensive but worth it. There is a Cambium C15 saddle also which is a narrower more race like version.
The Cambium saddles need no maintenance like the leather Brooks saddles do

Alanbt

G1032 wrote: »

I have the Brooks Cambium C17 and find it comfy. I'd recommend it. It really does absorb the shock from bumpy roads. I notice that over poor surface stretches I stay in the same position in the saddle, i.e. I'm not bouncing off the saddle like I find I do with other saddles. Expensive but worth it. There is a Cambium C15 saddle also which is a narrower more race like version.
The Cambium saddles need no maintenance like the leather Brooks saddles do

I had the Cambium and it didn't agree with me at all.
I have found another saddle that works for me but I had to try a few to get there.
Impossible to recommend a saddle for anyone else. You need whatever fits you anatomy.
Measure your 'sit bones' and try find a saddle to fit that. Go to a shop and try a few out. See if you can take a couple for some test spins

Borderfox

I've tried about 5 saddles and settled on an Adamo Prologue, the only one for me that is complete comfort and good for many hours or a hard short session

jamesd

Have a brooks b17 on each bike and love it, tried a few saddles before I found one that suited me.

furiousox

The Specialized Toupe is the least uncomfortable saddle I've ever owned.

07Lapierre

I've never had an uncomfortable saddle!

I've had plenty of saddles that were to far forward, too far back, too narrow, too wide, tilted too high and tilted too low.

The width of the saddle is the first thing to check. Once it fits your "sit bones", the next most important thing is the saddle position.

ptr_84

Currently have a specialized power pro. Seems OK so far. Long spin at the weekend to prove it

Planet X

Does it not depend on what discipline you pursue?
When I raced it was Toupe 143 on a couple of bikes.

Now I try and do a bit ot long distance...... on my tourer it's a Brooks Swift.
On my Audax it's a Cambium.
Love them both.

Wishbone Ash

It depends on your definition of 'perfect'.

I have a brooks B17 that I occasionally fit to one of my bikes if I know I'm going to be out for 10hrs+. It's very comfortable but I wouldn't call it 'perfect' for several reasons:

1. It took about 1,500kms to 'break in'.
2. It doesn't really look right on a modern CF bike'.
3. It's difficult to get a standard saddle bag to fit it.
4. It requires some maintenance and is not supposed to get wet.
5. It can stain bib shorts.
6. It's heavy in comparison to other saddles.

Now, I'd imagine that a 'perfect' saddle would overcome any of these issues.

Puggy

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

It depends on your definition of 'perfect'.

I have a brooks B17 that I occasionally fit to one of my bikes if I know I'm going to be out for 10hrs+. It's very comfortable but I wouldn't call it 'perfect' for several reasons:

1. It took about 1,500kms to 'break in'.
2. It doesn't really look right on a modern CF bike'.
3. It's difficult to get a standard saddle bag to fit it.
4. It requires some maintenance and is not supposed to get wet.
5. It can stain bib shorts.
6. It's heavy in comparison to other saddles.

Now, I'd imagine that a 'perfect' saddle would overcome any of these issues.

I call it useless for 6 reasons

Well that's the most imperfect saddle I seen anyone post about! But, no pun intended, whatever floats your boat.

Donie75

I'm a big lad and had serious problems with saddle sores. I tried a number of high end saddles like the Specialized Romin and Fizik Aliante. I also got a bike fit. I was happy enough on the Fizik but occasionally got sores if I didn't use chamois cream. I bought a cheap Ridley winter bike that came with a 4ZA Stratus saddle. I did a lot of weekend cycling over the winter with good 65-85km club spins every Sunday. The 4ZA was very comfortable and I got no sores. I swapped back to my good bike with the fizik for two spins and ended up with a saddle sore. So the fizik is up for sale and I bought another 4ZA for my good bike for €40.
Spending big money on saddles doesn't always work.

Wishbone Ash

Puggy wrote: »

I call it useless for 6 reasons

Well that's the most imperfect saddle I seen anyone post about! But, no pun intended, whatever floats your boat.

Yup, but if I intend doing a wet 300+ in those awful McNSCC bib shorts, it's becomes the saddle of choice. It's far from perfect, but in terms of comfort on a long one, it wins hands down. That is, it is perfect for comfort, but that's about it!

smacl

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Yup, but if I intend doing a wet 300+ in those awful McNSCC bib shorts, it's becomes the saddle of choice. It's far from perfect, but in terms of comfort on a long one, it wins hands down. That is, it is perfect for comfort, but that's about it!

I tried a couple other saddles prior to the B17, which were all a pain in the ass and have tried a number of others since, none of which worked for me either. So for all its faults, its the only saddle I've ridden any decent distances on that remains comfortable over the day. I'd great hopes for the Ergon SRX-30 which I got with the new bike, and regretting since not stumping up for a new C17.

07Lapierre

Get to know your Saddle...

http://www.bicycling.com/maintenance/bike-fit/get-know-your-saddles-anatomy?cid=soc_BICYCLING%20magazine%20-%20bicyclingmag_FBPAGE_Bicycling__

dancrowley

In my "proper" experience, I had a Fizik Antares which came with my Canyon. That lasted less than 3 rides before I had to try something else.
I then had an ISM Adamo Attack; I was 80% happy with it, but knew there had to be something better (for me) out there.
I've settled on a Specialized Power and it is the business.

Saddles are entirely subjective.

Planet X

Cambiums are brilliant.
If I had a spare €140 or whatever.... I'd buy another without hesitation.

Cee-Jay-Cee

After trying about 4 different saddles, I settled on a Prologo Kappa PAS and have one on both my bikes. They're supposedly designed for longer spins and have a cut out to ease perenium pressure/numb nuts and work well for me. They have a new version out now called the Kappa Space which has a longer and wider channel which I may try out as I do sometimes get a bit numb especially on long seated climbs.

Daroxtar

Don't know about perfect but hand crafted, stingray leather for about € 500 would want to be fairly good!!!
http://www.lehsplymfg.com/packages/selle-italia-slr-xc-stingray

brownian

Planet X wrote: »

Cambiums are brilliant.
If I had a spare €140 or whatever.... I'd buy another without hesitation.

Truly, different saddles suit different people. Got a cambium c17 carved, but couldn't learn to like it. Sold it, went back to a B17 (half the price, twice the comfort...but does need looking after and doesn't look as cool on a CF bike.

YMMV

TychoCaine

Weight has very little to do with it. I'm comfortable on a San Marco Concor and I'm well north of 100Kg. All the big brands do multiple shapes in multiple widths. You have to get the right width for your sit bones, and after that it comes down to how upright you sit in the saddle. The more upright you sit, the more of a curve you need front to back. Fizik dealers usually have a set of bright yellow "loaner" saddles on the wall that you can borrow for a day or two to try out. Maybe go down that route before buying the next one...

MB Lacey

OP if you live in Dublin you could call into Cycleways (they sell Specialised saddles) on Parnell St and buy a saddle there.
If the saddle doesn't suit you, they let you keep swap saddles within a month (if you can return it without marks/ scratches etc) which will save you some money.
They also have a thing to measure your sit bones so you know which width saddle would suit you best.
Might be worth having a bike fit there too.

Exiled1

No perfect saddle....no perfect a*rse.
Proper bike fit + good shorts + one dip of vaseline etc. should do the trick for anybody.

All My Stars Aligned

I've had a number of Brooks saddles over the years and have never had to break them in, they've always been very comfortable from the first spin. Also, I've never been too bothered about them getting wet and it's never been a problem. That said, I've never left them outside for that long at a go.

Unknown Soldier

I don't know if anyone saw "The Voxwomen Cycling Show - Tour of Qatar highlights, Race previews and tips from Laura Trott" yesterday, after Stage 1 - De Panne to Zottegem on Eurosport.

It had a section on the New Canyon-Sram women's cycling team and it went through a few things. There was one point were a lady was showing how she got fitted for a saddle.

Well holy Be_Jay_Sus.

You want to see the amount of saddles that were laid out on tables. I'd take a guess and say 40+ Possibly more.

They put a gel/sensor pad on a saddle that was linked to a computer to show her cycling, and how she was on the saddle/pressure point etc.

So with the proper tech and a lot of saddles to try, you probably could get a near perfect saddle.

Us mere mortals have to use trial and error, even if it is a tad "educated"

A really, really good pair of shorts goes a long way to helping though.
I've found the Endura FS 260 pro to be very good and I love my redwhite.cc "theBibs" They really are the business.