"Gentleman's" saddle?

[Legacywr]

I'm sorry, as I'm sure this would have been covered before, but, my current saddle (10 years old) leaves me with a tingling knob after about an hours cycling

I realise most saddles these days have relief for the perineum(?), does anybody have any recommendations?

It's for an MTB, that I mostly ride on the road.

Thanks

[Agent XXX]

I switched to a Maddison Flux a while back. Really comfy and sensible price.( I believe the Charge Spoon is pretty much identical to it)

[JEA1K]

One mans razor blade is another mans sofa.

I got advice from others, bought a Sella Italia because it was recommended and looks the business, only to find I was in absolute agony riding on it.

My advice: borrow, buy as many saddles as possible, try them and see what you think. I bought 7/8 off ebay, tried them, settled on the best, sold them all on ebay and bought brand new saddles of the one which works for me.

[TwistingMyMelon]

ISM are good if you want to take it all out of equation

[smifffymoto]

Brooks B17 or a Cambium.
I am 150 kms into breaking in a B17 and already it is reasonably comfortable.I am going to get another for my road bike as I like it and it will only get better with use.

[Wacky Racer]

smifffymoto said:

Brooks B17.

Blimey! Are they still making them?

I used to have one on my Bob Jackson in 1966.

You'll be telling me Zeus, Milremo and Campagnolo are still going next.

[snotrag]

As per above, you need to try them.

Also, check you are setting it up right.

Try your local specialized dealer and have a sit on their 'ass measuring gauge'. This measures the distance between your sit bones enabling you to target saddles of the correct shape.

Despite being a very normal slim 5ft10 male,I have the childbearing hip bones of a larger lady, so was surprised to find I needed a 'wide' fit. Lo and behold, it works, and i have a nice ti railed 143mm saddle on my CX bike.

Other saddle manufacturers also have equivalent measuring kit and associated saddle sizing options.

[idiotgap]

Have a read of this to understand why one saddle might suit you and another not, will take some guesswork out of the equation.

https://www.cervelo.com/en/engineering-field-notes...

Cervelo, who don't sell saddles, did some research and decided to publish it freely.

[Gren]

JEA1K said:

One mans razor blade is another mans sofa.

I got advice from others, bought a Sella Italia because it was recommended and looks the business, only to find I was in absolute agony riding on it.

My advice: borrow, buy as many saddles as possible, try them and see what you think. I bought 7/8 off ebay, tried them, settled on the best, sold them all on ebay and bought brand new saddles of the one which works for me.

Yep. You need to sit on a few and for more than a few minutes. I've sold a few on ebay too.

[Dannbodge]

As what everyone else said

Buy ones off ebay/forums and try them out.

Generally ones with cutouts will be better but I found them worse.

The sit bone measurement is a good guide but not perfect.
I use a 145mm saddle where as I technically should be using wider, along with no cutout.

[anonymous-user]

Try the www.sellesmp.com smp4bike range too

Saddles are a very personal thing and you need to try enough to know you chose the right one

[scrwright]

On my 5th in my perfect saddle journey at the mo, Charge spoon was nearly there, moved to a Charge Pan as I need something a bit wider, only done 10k so don't know yet

[NorthDave]

Are you sure this isn't down to bike fit? It made a huge difference to my comfort on the bike.

[Get Karter]

idiotgap said:

Have a read of this to understand why one saddle might suit you and another not, will take some guesswork out of the equation.

https://www.cervelo.com/en/engineering-field-notes...

Cervelo, who don't sell saddles, did some research and decided to publish it freely.

Interesting article. Thanks for the link.

[louiebaby]

TwistingMyMelon said:

ISM are good if you want to take it all out of equation

Absolutely. Done many thousands of miles on mine, and will always use them now.

[JEA1K]

NorthDave said:

Are you sure this isn't down to bike fit? It made a huge difference to my comfort on the bike.

Again, not the same for everyone. I had a bike fit on my Madone, fitted with a wider saddle and general comfort was fine but I put up with the saddle for 2 years to the point it wore holes in my shorts at the pressure points. Went to Mallorca, hired a bike and realised what saddle comfort really was! That sent me on my mission to find suitable and comfortable one ... I now use the Bontrager Serano 148mm which I have 2 x ti railed and 3 x carbon railed versions.

Unfortunately they've ceased making them so I'll need to look again. Only brand I haven't tried is Prologo so they'll be up next.

[Legacywr]

Thanks for the advice fellas

Ordered one of these...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272552441983?_trksid=p20...

[S6PNJ]

louiebaby said:

TwistingMyMelon said:

ISM are good if you want to take it all out of equation

Absolutely. Done many thousands of miles on mine, and will always use them now.

I have them on both my MTB and road bike ( 2 x 24hr endurance MTB comps and 1 x Raid Pyrenean, so decent rides on both bikes). Another thumbs up from me.

[Rich_W]

louiebaby said:

TwistingMyMelon said:

ISM are good if you want to take it all out of equation

Absolutely. Done many thousands of miles on mine, and will always use them now.

I was sceptical before I got my Adamo.

But I wouldn't fit any other seat to a TT bike ever again!

To the OP, remember that seat colour and bar tape must match

[Treb0r]

I have a Selle SMP Well. Once set up correctly it's been brilliant for me - comfortable for long rides and no numbness etc. As has been mentioned it's a very individual thing so you might need to trial a few different ones!