Road Bike Saddles
Discussion
So,
I am struggling with saddle selection in lockdown. I swapped out the cheap sella on my cube as it hurt so much for a Fabric team scoop saddle after measuring my sit bones.
Made a good difference but the thing creaks and cracks like anything and I am getting rub as somehow despite suiting my sit bone side, its not suiting me.
Any recommendations on long range saddles I can look at for someone who rides on the hoods quite a bit?
I am struggling with saddle selection in lockdown. I swapped out the cheap sella on my cube as it hurt so much for a Fabric team scoop saddle after measuring my sit bones.
Made a good difference but the thing creaks and cracks like anything and I am getting rub as somehow despite suiting my sit bone side, its not suiting me.
Any recommendations on long range saddles I can look at for someone who rides on the hoods quite a bit?
dogbucket said:
Not that it helps much, but I settled on Fabric Scoop Shallow on all my bikes and have two with Carbon Rails and one with CroMo and have not had any noises (I am also a somewhat inflexible hoods rider).
Yeah its annoying - it fits ok (maybe a tad too wide) and comfort is there, I wouldnt be looking otherwise.These are worth a try for the price, I’ve been using 2 for about 5 years, done many hundred mile rides and Ventoux X3
Luwu-Store MTB Bike Saddle Breathable Spider Lightweight Saddle Ergonomic Hollow Front seat, Ultra-light Shockproof Hollow Out Saddle Cushion for Mountain Bike Road Bike https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07547P8FC/ref=cm_sw_r...
Luwu-Store MTB Bike Saddle Breathable Spider Lightweight Saddle Ergonomic Hollow Front seat, Ultra-light Shockproof Hollow Out Saddle Cushion for Mountain Bike Road Bike https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07547P8FC/ref=cm_sw_r...
I find the Specialized Romin comfy on long rides, if you like a cut-out. I have a Fizik Antares on my Canyon and it’s not as comfy on longer rides, it starts to make my balls go numb, which worryingly I only notice when getting out the saddle, after the damage has been done.
Some people hate a cut out though. It’s such a personal thing. Unfortunately you just have to try a few and narrow it down. I also like a Selle Italia Flite, another cut out saddle.
Some people hate a cut out though. It’s such a personal thing. Unfortunately you just have to try a few and narrow it down. I also like a Selle Italia Flite, another cut out saddle.
MiseryStreak said:
I find the Specialized Romin comfy on long rides, if you like a cut-out. I have a Fizik Antares on my Canyon and it’s not as comfy on longer rides, it starts to make my balls go numb, which worryingly I only notice when getting out the saddle, after the damage has been done.
Some people hate a cut out though. It’s such a personal thing. Unfortunately you just have to try a few and narrow it down. I also like a Selle Italia Flite, another cut out saddle.
I've found it depends on the bike too, I had a Romin on my specialized allez. I put it onto my TCR when I couldn't get on with the saddle (Giant contact SL) that came with it. The Romin was giving the same issues.Some people hate a cut out though. It’s such a personal thing. Unfortunately you just have to try a few and narrow it down. I also like a Selle Italia Flite, another cut out saddle.
In the end I found the Antares quite comfortable except for the really long rides (100mile+), I went for the versus evo model with the weird raised pads which form a chanel (but no cutout).
I think there's a lot of luck of the draw with saddles tbh!
I find I slip forward on my standard giant defy advanced saddle.
I have to keep pushing myself back otherwise I'm perched on the narrow bit.
It's fully forward on the rails.
A new saddle is definitely the next spend... Its not an uncomfortable saddle by any means (when I'm in the right place) but the I've never got on with the position.
I have to keep pushing myself back otherwise I'm perched on the narrow bit.
It's fully forward on the rails.
A new saddle is definitely the next spend... Its not an uncomfortable saddle by any means (when I'm in the right place) but the I've never got on with the position.
I asked on here as the OEM Bontragers on my Treks killed my bottom after an hour, put it down to being a bit rusty, didnt get better, someone suggested a charge spoon, night and day better, three hours with only a very slight discomfort.
Dont bother with those ebay "Suspension" plastic web saddles you see advertised on Facebook, bought one when drunk, terrible.
Dont bother with those ebay "Suspension" plastic web saddles you see advertised on Facebook, bought one when drunk, terrible.
A new saddle might not be the magic bullet you're hoping for, as things like your shoes, insoles, and seat height will all affect the comfort through your backside.
I ended up sorting it through a bike fit (which resulted in a spacer in one cleat, and wedges under both), but appreciate that's not going to be possible at the moment or ever for a lot of people. There's a few videos on youtube from knowledgeable chaps if you search for Francis Cade.
I ended up sorting it through a bike fit (which resulted in a spacer in one cleat, and wedges under both), but appreciate that's not going to be possible at the moment or ever for a lot of people. There's a few videos on youtube from knowledgeable chaps if you search for Francis Cade.
FIzik do a try before you buy scheme, whether you can find a shop thats doing that at the moment though I dont know.
Basically you borrow a saddle from the bike shop and then you can try it out / evaluate it on longer rides.
On a personal note, since I fitted an Fizik Arione many moons ago, I've never been uncomfortable, but its way to personal thing for me to just simply suggest you fit one of those...
Basically you borrow a saddle from the bike shop and then you can try it out / evaluate it on longer rides.
On a personal note, since I fitted an Fizik Arione many moons ago, I've never been uncomfortable, but its way to personal thing for me to just simply suggest you fit one of those...
I went through so many different saddles trying to find one that didn’t rub excessively or cause numbness, and then I discovered Selle SMP. I have a few Formas which have no padding, yet find them very supportive and comfortable. I also have the Dynamic, which is the same shell but with a very thin layer of padding. This I find extremely comfortable for longer rides.
They seem to have quite a following, and I believe dealers offer test saddles for trial.
They seem to have quite a following, and I believe dealers offer test saddles for trial.
No one can tell you what the best saddle is for you I'm afraid. That's up to you to find out.
What I will say though, is that less is more. The more saddle touching you the more potential pain points you have.
Those minute credit card saddles are the way forward.
But you have to figure it out.
What I will say though, is that less is more. The more saddle touching you the more potential pain points you have.
Those minute credit card saddles are the way forward.
But you have to figure it out.
If you ride a lot of miles regularly then a bike fit is certainly worth considering.
Saddle wise I have one from SQ Lab. It was designed to be ergonomic rather than stylish, which becomes very apparent as soon as you see one of them. They focus very strongly about the width of the saddle to support the sit bones and instead of having a gooch crevice, the seat of the saddle is higher than the nose to allow for your hips leaning forwards to help reduce the old penis blood vessels being crushed as much.
If you can find one in the right width I think it's worth trying, however as others have said, only you, your arse and your gentleman vegetables can tell you which saddle is the best for you. Some of the decent brands with good retailers have test saddles available, I know it used to be a thing with Prologo saddles when I worked with them.
Saddle wise I have one from SQ Lab. It was designed to be ergonomic rather than stylish, which becomes very apparent as soon as you see one of them. They focus very strongly about the width of the saddle to support the sit bones and instead of having a gooch crevice, the seat of the saddle is higher than the nose to allow for your hips leaning forwards to help reduce the old penis blood vessels being crushed as much.
If you can find one in the right width I think it's worth trying, however as others have said, only you, your arse and your gentleman vegetables can tell you which saddle is the best for you. Some of the decent brands with good retailers have test saddles available, I know it used to be a thing with Prologo saddles when I worked with them.
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