Saddle recommendations for a road bike?

[JQ]

Can people offer some good suggestions please for a road bike? I'm pretty tight, so budget will be circa £60, but could stretch it for something special.

The Charge Spoon seems to get lots of good press on here, but some Googling suggest they're not that comfortable past 20 miles, any thoughts?

The reason I want to upgrade is I'm upping my miles this year with at least three 100 milers planned, and will have one weekend when I'll be doing a planned 200 miles.

I realise saddles are somewhat personal and that really I need to test some out, but I'd at least like to have a shortlist before testing as there seem to be literally hundreds available. Not sure if it makes any difference but I'm 5' 9" and around 75kg.

Cheers

[MrsMiggins]

Edinburgh bicycle offer a 30 day exchange policy on their saddles, so you can try after you buy and swap to a different saddle if you don't like the one you chose originally.

[LotusMartin]

For comfort - Brookes B17. not the lightest or most aesthetic but it's VERY comfy for long distance. I did 450 miles over 4 consecutive days on mine last summer.

But as you've said, everyone's different

[47p2]

Prologo Scratch Pro works for me, any other Prologo saddle does not work for me...everyone's different

[nottusleinad]

To prove a point, my Focus came with a Prologo Nack Evo saddle and it was like sitting on a spike... I now have a Fizik Antares with braided (carbon) rails and it is much better suited to my backside.


You really need to try them out.

That said, the cheap as chips Charge Spoon saddle sells like hot cakes on Wiggle.

[upsidedownmark]

I found the spoon fine up to about 4hrs, and a bit hard after. Another 'budget' that I find rather comfy is the planet x superlight team (used to be the only one they did, but now a few it seems somewhat arione like, not so much padding, but quite a flexi shell). That's back on my roadie and does me for 100mile rides quite nicely.

As has been said, it's all a bit personal..

[anonymous-user]

I have a prologo naga evo and i like it a lot but so much of its comfort dependent upon the saddle width and the shorts you are using. Good quality shorts with a structured pad and a saddle with minimal padding are your best bet. I have used a charge spoon for loads of events and endurance mtb races and not had an issue.

[Rouleur]

Spoons are comfy for many people but have a reputation for wearing shorts out due to them having raised stitching.

The Fizik Arione is hugely popular and I'd say it's a sort of middle ground in terms of shape front to back and side to side, and also padding thickness, so it suits lots of arse shapes. Maybe buy something second hand from ebay or a forum classifieds just to see if it suits before splashing loads on a gamble.

[nammynake]

Charge Spoon fits me well - I used it over 7 consecutive days riding from Blackpool to Paris. Having said that it may be the most uncomfortable saddle you've ever tried.

Pick a range of saddle shapes/widths within your budget and try as many as possible...but don't bother relying on reviews.

[Jonnny]

I've got the Specialized Toupe on my Specialized.. Thought it was so uncomfortable, got some DHB Aeron Race and found the saddle very comfy.

The Toupe has hardly any padding, and the shorts half the padding compared to my Altura Pro Gel but seems a more comfortable set up.

[Esders]

The Charge Scoop is essentially a Spoon but without the stitching so has no wear issues. I have one and have found it comfortable on rides up to 4 hours long. Can't tell you what it is like after that as I haven't tried.

[richardxjr]

Stick the Fizik Alliante on your test list. Borrowed a mate's bike with one on and immediately ordered one for myself.

I have Madison Flux on my mtbs which is same as Charge Spoon with a bit more padding apparently. It's alright on mtb, done 6+ hour rides on them, but much prefer the smoothness, narrowness and flex of the Alliante on road bike.

[ro55a]

I have recently, ie last two months, bought a Fizik Airone and have done 1200-1300 miles on it so far. I suffer from lower back problems and wanted the most supportive saddle I could find. I am 6 ft and approx 90 kilos and find the saddle great and am very happy with it whether cruising or on the rivet. I am doing the London to Paris in 24 hours in July and needed it ideally for that ride, so far so good. Bought online and was approx £50 posted.

[Matt_N]

Best place to start is go to a shop with an arse measurer, this will measure the distance between your sit ones which ideally you want to support with a saddle.

Once you have that try a few different shapes around that width and see how you get on.

[Fourmotion]

Each to their own.

I'm 'blessed' with a fat arse, so haven’t had an uncomfortable saddle. I put on a brand new Fizik Arione the week before riding LBL, and it was perfectly comfortable to the point of not knowing it's there.

I rode a Selle Italia Thork before that, next to no padding. I only replaced it because it snapped in the middle. And there's the drawback to a fat arse.

[JQ]

Matt_N said:

Best place to start is go to a shop with an arse measurer

Everyday is a school day, I didn't even know they existed. I look forward to going to my LBS on Saturday and asking Andy to measure my arse.

Cheers for all the recommendations. I'm currently watching a few Fizik Arione's on Ebay to use as a test mule, I'll also pop in to my LBS to see if they stock any test saddles.

[Mr Will]

JQ said:

Matt_N said:

Best place to start is go to a shop with an arse measurer

Everyday is a school day, I didn't even know they existed. I look forward to going to my LBS on Saturday and asking Andy to measure my arse.

Cheers for all the recommendations. I'm currently watching a few Fizik Arione's on Ebay to use as a test mule, I'll also pop in to my LBS to see if they stock any test saddles.

That is the correct answer. Saddles are a very personal thing and what one person finds caresses them like the gentle touch of an angel is another persons torture-spike.

For reference I have had two Fizik saddles that I'd found great (a Pave CX and now an Ardea - can happily ride both without padded shorts) but I just couldn't get comfy on an Arione even on short rides. That's just from one manufacturer!

[Simon-R]

I have a Charge Scoop and have done a number of 200 km + rides on it. Works for me, may not work for every one.

[Matt_N]

I had an Arione but an older one without the slight cut out down the centre and found it very uncomfortable on the old fella so changed it for a Specialized Romin which is much better.

[duff]

I have a Romin Pro in the biggest size, 168mm, and it's superb. It does look massive compared to my other saddles but was the correct size after sitting on a gel pad in Evans to measure my arse.

Saddles are very personal in terms of fit, a bit like helmets in some ways.