A saddle conundrum
Discussion
My current Arione R5 fits me well for riding on the hoods and tops but has me sitting off-centre whenever I ride on the drops or TT bars, on account of perineal pressure. I spend more and more time in the drops now and plan to be spending lots of time on extensions too, but still need something that fits well for big days climbing in an upright position.
I had a saddle fit session at Cadence in Crystal Palace, which is basically just trying a range of saddles on my own bike on a turbo. Most felt too wide straight away and made me realise that I probably already have one of the narrowest saddles in the R5. I now also feel confident that I need a central cut-out or a channel to relieve perineal pressure. I tried the ISM Adamo (close, but too wide at the front) and whatever they had available from Selle Italia and a couple of other brands. I tried other fizik saddles and the best compromise I could find was the narrower Tritone.
The Tritone is as comfortable as I think I'll find while riding on the bars but is still a bit too wide in the middle for my sit bones for riding on the hoods. I tested it on a 200 mile ride and a 100 mile ride and while I didn't suffer saddle sores (which I was getting on similar rides with the R5) the pressure from the saddle side edges left me a bit sore. Maybe this is as good as it gets? I'm hoping there's a saddle out there that feels invisible for me but I'm not sure where to continue the search? Anybody have a saddle/brand to recommend?
Narrow sit-bones
Central cut-out/channel
Suits upright and low & forward riding
and, in an ideal world:
As light as possible
Doesn't look fugly
I had a saddle fit session at Cadence in Crystal Palace, which is basically just trying a range of saddles on my own bike on a turbo. Most felt too wide straight away and made me realise that I probably already have one of the narrowest saddles in the R5. I now also feel confident that I need a central cut-out or a channel to relieve perineal pressure. I tried the ISM Adamo (close, but too wide at the front) and whatever they had available from Selle Italia and a couple of other brands. I tried other fizik saddles and the best compromise I could find was the narrower Tritone.
The Tritone is as comfortable as I think I'll find while riding on the bars but is still a bit too wide in the middle for my sit bones for riding on the hoods. I tested it on a 200 mile ride and a 100 mile ride and while I didn't suffer saddle sores (which I was getting on similar rides with the R5) the pressure from the saddle side edges left me a bit sore. Maybe this is as good as it gets? I'm hoping there's a saddle out there that feels invisible for me but I'm not sure where to continue the search? Anybody have a saddle/brand to recommend?
Narrow sit-bones
Central cut-out/channel
Suits upright and low & forward riding
and, in an ideal world:
As light as possible
Doesn't look fugly
Gruffy said:
I did try one during the session with Cadence. Too much perineal pressure for me. It'd have me sitting off-centre, like my current R5 does.
Just because a couple of saddles don't work for you, doesn't mean every saddle without a cut out is the same.You need to find a saddle with a shape that puts your weight on your sit bones.
I am not ruling anything out but I tried around 15 saddles during the session, already filtered by the fitter, and so far only those with a channel or cut-out have been anywhere close. The choice of saddles is huge so I'm trying to narrow things down a bit - I can't try 400 saddles. That's why I posted the thread.
Channel, groove, cut-out, whatever they call it the short version is I'm searching for a saddle shape that reduces the pressure on the perineum. I can't see how that's anything other than less (or softer) material in that area?
Channel, groove, cut-out, whatever they call it the short version is I'm searching for a saddle shape that reduces the pressure on the perineum. I can't see how that's anything other than less (or softer) material in that area?
Gruffy said:
S10GTA said:
No need for cut outs. Try a Sella Italia SLR. I've got 3. They are great.
I did try one during the session with Cadence. Too much perineal pressure for me. It'd have me sitting off-centre, like my current R5 does.Ive had loads of saddles across the years, from everyday riding to 200 mile rides
ISM ones are good, but pricey and divide opinions, I had my ISM setup wrong and I needed an ultrasound on my balls!
I found a Brooks the most painful, no matter how it was adjusted/worn in
I normally buy Wiliers (had 3) and they have all come with a cheapo Selle Italia x1, I found this saddle good for me and better than more expensive ones. The only issue I had was it placed pressure on perineum, so I bought the cut out version "plus flow" and issue solved : http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/selle-italia-x1... Is very cheap as well
With Pereium pressure, naturally my body prefers the saddle ever so very slightly tilted flat/backwards, this placed more pressure , tilting it forward obviously eased off the pressure, but it didnt "feel right", over time ive forced my body to adapt to the saddle being level rather that slightly back
ISM ones are good, but pricey and divide opinions, I had my ISM setup wrong and I needed an ultrasound on my balls!
I found a Brooks the most painful, no matter how it was adjusted/worn in
I normally buy Wiliers (had 3) and they have all come with a cheapo Selle Italia x1, I found this saddle good for me and better than more expensive ones. The only issue I had was it placed pressure on perineum, so I bought the cut out version "plus flow" and issue solved : http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/selle-italia-x1... Is very cheap as well
With Pereium pressure, naturally my body prefers the saddle ever so very slightly tilted flat/backwards, this placed more pressure , tilting it forward obviously eased off the pressure, but it didnt "feel right", over time ive forced my body to adapt to the saddle being level rather that slightly back
Ergon SR3 Pro Carbon.
I'm about to pull trigger on one as I have a slightly different version on my hardtail. The Fizik on my road bike is OK, but the large central relief channel actually causes more pressure as the ridges cause the issue.
The Ergon on my MTB on XC riding I can sit on for 40 miles off road without noticing it's there, superb thing and I'm sure it will make my road bike even more comfortable.
Not a big brand known for road kit, but their saddles work for me. They are also available in S/M/L according to you sit bone measurements.
I'm about to pull trigger on one as I have a slightly different version on my hardtail. The Fizik on my road bike is OK, but the large central relief channel actually causes more pressure as the ridges cause the issue.
The Ergon on my MTB on XC riding I can sit on for 40 miles off road without noticing it's there, superb thing and I'm sure it will make my road bike even more comfortable.
Not a big brand known for road kit, but their saddles work for me. They are also available in S/M/L according to you sit bone measurements.
S10GTA said:
No need for cut outs. Try a Sella Italia SLR. I've got 3. They are great.
Just bought one, it arrived today so need to try it. Having similar saddle issues myself ... only realised when I used a hire bike in Mallorca last month. Have a Bontrager Paradigm RL 148mm on my Madone (done 6k - 7k miles) and a Bontrager Affinity 2 148mm on my Aithein. I was fitted for a wider saddle buy something isn't quite right ... the top of my hamstrings feel tight and restricted causing some discomfort. Did almost 200 in two days on a hire bike in Mallorca and felt so comfortable .. in fact I was so comfortable I kind of didn't notice. Anyhow, the bike was a Massi and was their own brand saddle so trying a few to get something close. I've had an SLR before on a MTB but was a long time ago. Going to try an SLR flow, SLR Max Flow and Superflow ... lets see what works for me.
Johno said:
Ergon SR3 Pro Carbon.
I'm about to pull trigger on one as I have a slightly different version on my hardtail. The Fizik on my road bike is OK, but the large central relief channel actually causes more pressure as the ridges cause the issue.
The Ergon on my MTB on XC riding I can sit on for 40 miles off road without noticing it's there, superb thing and I'm sure it will make my road bike even more comfortable.
Not a big brand known for road kit, but their saddles work for me. They are also available in S/M/L according to you sit bone measurements.
Interesting somebody else likes them. I've got 2, and my riding mate's got 3, we love 'em. They look a bit different with the broad flat looking surface which puts many off trying one. I binned my previous fave Aliante for this (Fizik comfy enough but got numb nuts).I'm about to pull trigger on one as I have a slightly different version on my hardtail. The Fizik on my road bike is OK, but the large central relief channel actually causes more pressure as the ridges cause the issue.
The Ergon on my MTB on XC riding I can sit on for 40 miles off road without noticing it's there, superb thing and I'm sure it will make my road bike even more comfortable.
Not a big brand known for road kit, but their saddles work for me. They are also available in S/M/L according to you sit bone measurements.
Johno said:
Ergon SR3 Pro Carbon.
I'm about to pull trigger on one as I have a slightly different version on my hardtail. The Fizik on my road bike is OK, but the large central relief channel actually causes more pressure as the ridges cause the issue.
The Ergon on my MTB on XC riding I can sit on for 40 miles off road without noticing it's there, superb thing and I'm sure it will make my road bike even more comfortable.
Not a big brand known for road kit, but their saddles work for me. They are also available in S/M/L according to you sit bone measurements.
I had one of these & i really couldn't get on with it , i'm on a Fizik Arione right now & i find it much sweeter .I'm about to pull trigger on one as I have a slightly different version on my hardtail. The Fizik on my road bike is OK, but the large central relief channel actually causes more pressure as the ridges cause the issue.
The Ergon on my MTB on XC riding I can sit on for 40 miles off road without noticing it's there, superb thing and I'm sure it will make my road bike even more comfortable.
Not a big brand known for road kit, but their saddles work for me. They are also available in S/M/L according to you sit bone measurements.
S10GTA said:
Gruffy said:
S10GTA said:
No need for cut outs. Try a Sella Italia SLR. I've got 3. They are great.
I did try one during the session with Cadence. Too much perineal pressure for me. It'd have me sitting off-centre, like my current R5 does.Antares vsx? nosed down. When in the drops it'll be narrow enough as you'll come forward on it, the wider 'cheeks' than the Arione should give you more platform to spread the weight when in the sub-optimal but necessary over your sort of distance hoods/tops?
Any saddle you choose is going to be compromised especially with the changes in position and distance you're looking at.
Any saddle you choose is going to be compromised especially with the changes in position and distance you're looking at.
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