Talk to me about... SADDLES!

[Xenocide]

Afternoon all,

I'm looking to upgrade my saddle. Bit of chafing if you know what i mean. At the moment I have a VELO *something* but the other week I had a ride on a friends GT IDrive 1.0 with a Fizik Gobi saddle. It was lovely!

Problem is it's big bucks (for a saddle). What's a cheaper alternitive of a similar saddle?

Danke.

[Stu R]

Xenocide said:

What's a cheaper alternitive

Danke.

Chafed crotch, agonising Piles and a Velo saddle.



Spend some money on a decent one, your ass will forever thank you

Selle Royale do some nice ones, though careful as some are like razors.

[Stuart]

Have a look at some of the Specialized BG saddles. I run them on road bike and MTB. Astonishingly comfortable, and reasonably priced. The Body Geometry brand is obviously a marketing construction, but it seems to work. Just bought some of their BG shoes and they are the most comfortable things I've ever worn.

[marcellus]

I think the key is that the sadle that works for me probably won't work for you.....having said that I found the Fizik Pave to be a good cheap alternative (until I could upgrade to teh Arione)

So if the Fizik Gobi worked for you but is too expensive see which in the Fizik range is the model below!!

Edited by marcellus on Friday 4th May 21:33

[Xenocide]

Shame you can't test them very easily. Really.

I think i'll pop down some bike shops and see what they have on the hire bikes.

There's a shop in Bath that has loads of BG stuff so i'll try there first.

Thanks!

[marcellus]

fleabay until yu find one that's right?

[dammit]

I've got a Fizik Wing Flex on my bike, and as it was the one up from the bottom of the range I don't imagine it can be very expensive.

Very comfortable for my 14 mile daily commute, and for throwing myself around the countryside trying to hurt myself at the weekend.

[V8 Disco]

marcellus said:

I think the key is that the sadle that works for me probably won't work for you.....having said that I found the Fizik Pave to be a good cheap alternative (until I could upgrade to teh Arione)

So if the Fizik Gobi worked for you but is too expensive see which in the Fizik range is the model below!!

Edited by marcellus on Friday 4th May 21:33

What he said.... Merl*n cycles offering the pave for £17, post free last week.. bought one and it's fantastic.

(hope that doesn't break any PH anti-advert rules.. apols to mods if it does!!)

Edited by V8 Disco on Saturday 5th May 21:15

[roop]

Had a Specialized Body Geometry saddle and it was ing crippling. Next day always felt like someone had kicked me in the biffins bridge as hard as possible. Swapped out for something made by Selle Royal, much better now and am very comfortable day in day out.

You have to try these things out - be prepared to flog a few week old saddles on eBay...!

[Xenocide]

Well I just bought one off fleabay that looks similar to the gobi. I'll let you know how it goes.

Might get a cheaper fizik aswell though!

(Put my overtime to good use. As I know you're going to read this at some point Simon...)

[saddle bum]

Selle Flyte saddles have always suited me and I am a fat b*****d. One really needs to harden off the bum over a period of time. Good shorts are as important as saddles. "Going Commando" is just plain stupid. Using lots of Sudocream is a great help, it counteracts the effects of sweat acid and stops sores and blisters - babies swear by it!!

Keep your bum clean by specifically washing it the shower and wash shorts thoroughly, being careful to rinse out all traces of soap.

I agree with the proposition that saddles should be mounted absolutely flat and the position of the nose relative to a vertical line through the Bottom Bracket adjusted to suit the user, it should never bee less that 3cm.

Even top pros can go down with saddle sores.

[Xenocide]

saddle bum said:

SGood shorts are as important as saddles. "Going Commando" is just plain stupid.

Keep your bum clean by specifically washing it the shower and wash shorts thoroughly, being careful to rinse out all traces of soap.

I have a lovely pair of shorts. I left them at home the other day and the difference was amazing.

I tried to clean my bum once...

Also I just looked at my saddle and it is perfectly parallel to the top tube so i suppose that's a winner.

[marcellus]

saddle bum said:

One really needs to harden off the bum over a period of time. Good shorts are as important as saddles.

couldn't agree more......unfortunately there's no cheap shortcuts.....Assos all the way!!

saddle bum said:

"Going Commando" is just plain stupid.

have to disagree - decent shorts and commando otherwiseyou may as well be just weraing your boxers.

saddle bum said:

Using lots of Sudocream is a great help, it counteracts the effects of sweat acid and stops sores and blisters - babies swear by it!!

Assos Cahmois cream for me but I hear that "Wonder Udder" is good as is "pink Stuff" (sorry for sounding so sad on the topic but for a laugh my club did a road test on them all for a joke!!

saddle bum said:

Keep your bum clean by specifically washing it the shower and wash shorts thoroughly, being careful to rinse out all traces of soap.
Even top pros can go down with saddle sores.

Too true - every year iirc at least half a dozen rider withdraw from the TDF with saddle sore!!

[Neil_Bolton]

Quite simply for me: pair of 'proper' shorts with an insert (be it traditional or newer technology material) and the grandfather of lightweight saddles: The Selle Italia Flite.

My reason? The Flite is a classic and stunning looking saddle, flipping light, and very well designed for the posterior.

I have one of each one of my three bikes, 1 normal one (which are bloody hard to find now), a TT (at 165g), and my favourite; The Carbonio (with carbon rails and base) at 155g...

Simply the best saddles IMHO - they work well for me and many other riders, and at £30 well priced enough to warrant trying. However, beware, they take a little while to break in, just like all the saddles...

Dribble away...All £80 worth of Carbonio sexiness...

Edited by Neil_Bolton on Monday 7th May 20:00

Edited by Neil_Bolton on Monday 7th May 20:01

[mat205125]

Applause to Neil for his choice of the Flite! Can't stretch to the Carbon one for my bike, but the lesser models are great all the same.

[saddle bum]

I think some misunderstood me. By "Going Commando" I meant using cut down jeans or other flimsy shorts and 'nowt else. Of course proper shorts should be worn au naturale, but still with plenty of cream.

[Neil_Bolton]

mat205125 said:

Applause to Neil for his choice of the Flite! Can't stretch to the Carbon one for my bike, but the lesser models are great all the same.

All 'normal' Flites are excellent saddles, they did some wierd ones along the way, but the traditional ones are the best.

However, don't buy secondhand if you can help it - the Flite dips in the middle over time - usually comfortable for the original bum that bedded it in, however it wont be right for you.

Get a £30 normal one, and spend some time going through the grief of breaking it in - everyone who I have convinced to get one has always remarked on how comfortable a saddle that doesn't look like it should, actually is.

Edited by Neil_Bolton on Tuesday 8th May 09:53

[pdV6]

mat205125 said:

Applause to Neil for his choice of the Flite! Can't stretch to the Carbon one for my bike, but the lesser models are great all the same.

I have a Flite Titanium on the play bike and recently picked up a Flite Genuine Gel for the commuter bike. The GG is noticeably more comfortable than the Ti, which itself is pretty damn good.