Numb Nuts! Saddle recommendations needed!

[CerbitonFlyer]

As per the title really. I'm starting to ride a few triathlons and I'm finding my current saddle (just a cheapie Charge Spoon) pretty uncomfortable for long periods when on the tri-bars. I'm after a light weight yet comfortable saddle, preferably no more than £100. I quite like the look of the Specialized Toupe. Has anyone got any views on what this is like, or could recommend me something simular?

Many thanks
Dan

[Raoul Duke]

If your spending a lot of time on the aero bars then get a triathon specific saddle as they have a differnet nose profile, or angle the nose slightly as you will tend to sit further forward than normal. I do this with my saddle when using clip on bars and end up almost perched on the nose of it - Sella Italia SLR - i cant be bothered with two saddles and it seems to work.
Specific saddle recomendations however are down to your own size and shape and what works for one may not work for another, so you may end up trying a couple before you find one that is perfect for you.
Best bet is to go to your local bike shop and have a look at what they have.
Conventional racing type saddles that seem to get consistently good reviews would be the Fizik Arione, Sella Italia SLR as well as the aformentioned Specialized offering.
Unless you have already thought of it, dont forget that shorts with a good pad will increase the comfort of any saddle - expensive shorts are one of the things that really are worth the sometimes eye watering costs.
Also, dont be impatient with any new saddle as they will take a few hundred miles to break in.

[The Walrus]

I can only echo the comments above, if you are around Surbiton then Surbiton cycles who sell spech may do a loan / test saddle I know Sigma will do this just pop in and ask, they take the cost of the saddle give you the test saddle you try it you like it and buy it and get a new one or try a different one and they refund you and do the same process again, you can normally keep the saddle a couple of weeks as well so plenty of time to see if it fits.

[anonymous-user]

the SMP4Bike range works for me (www.smp4bike.co.uk), I can sit right on the nose for real efforts in relative comfort. That said, no saddle is right for everyone so do look round / try out carefully before parting with the ££

[louiebaby]

I'll be getting an ISM saddle from Canada in a couple of weeks...

(The front is shaped like a tuning fork, and is supposed to allow 99% blood flow when on the hoods and about 90% on the drops.)

I'll report back when I've had a chance to try it out properly.