Help me choose a saddle (please)

[S6PNJ]

After a relatively painless sportive the other weekend, I've decided to get myself a new saddle for my Trek 1500. I say relatively painless 'cos once something has gone numb there is no pain! Now my 'cheeks' were fine but my bits were not so I'm looking at the saddles with anatomic cut outs. I don't want to spend the earth, but do realise I need to protect what assets I have got, so I'm looking at these 4 at the moment.

Selle Italia SL XC Flow
Selle Italia XO Flow
Selle SMP Extra
Selle SMP TRK

I've also heard good things about the Charge Spoon but am not sure if it will offer as much 'space' as the 4 above.

Any recommendations out of the 4 above, or anything similar in that sort of price range (£30-£55)?

[Jimbo.]

It's impossible to recommend *anything* when it comes to saddles: everyone, their a*se, and their, uhhh...gooch...is different, so what works for me may not work for you.

Trial and error, sadly: eBay, the STW classifieds and CRC will be your friends.

[b2hbm]

Jimbo. said:

It's impossible to recommend *anything* when it comes to saddles: everyone, their a*se, and their, uhhh...gooch...is different, so what works for me may not work for you.

Trial and error, sadly: eBay, the STW classifieds and CRC will be your friends.

Very true. I used to buy the original Selle Flite Ti saddles without gel padding because they felt great and I must have had 4 or 5 until they stopped making them. I lent one to a mate who returned it after one ride because he thought it "the worst saddle I've ever ridden".

Now I do what Jimbo suggests; if I fancy a new shape saddle I go and buy a s/h one from Ebay, try it out for a few weeks and if it works I can always go and buy a brand new one if I want to. With saddles varying anything from £20 to £100+ I can't afford to make too many mistakes, although the £20 ones aren't too much damage.

Incidentally, I'd say price point bears no relation to ride comfort. I bought a cheap bioflex saddle for the winter bike (£25, NOS on Ebay) which has survived onto the summer hack bike because it's roughly the same weight and more comfortable than the expensive Fizik one it had previously.

Edited by b2hbm on Friday 27th August 06:43

[cjs]

If you're not already doing so, wear good padded cycling shorts, they are a must.

[S6PNJ]

Thanks for all so far - I wear the Wiggle dhb bib shorts so whilst not the best, they are within my price bracket and are seen in general as a reasonable pair to wear. I have a WTB saddle of some description on my GT Avalanche MTB (came with the bike) and this has given me no grief whatsoever but it's a bit big and chunky for my road bike, though I've not discounted WTB from my choices if I can find something suitable.

I've also considered the eBay secondhand route to try - and punt on again if I don't like it - but the second hand prices seem (relatively) quite high eg Charge Spoon for over 50% of new price.

The search/quest goes on I guess - any other personal recommendation as to what people find as a good road saddle?

[mrandy]

I recommend any saddle with the centre cut out they are very good for stopping pressure on your UT and prostrate.I had lots of problems in this area from years of racing when the selli italia flight gel came out it was a god send

[CVP]

mrandy said:

I recommend any saddle with the centre cut out they are very good for stopping pressure on your UT and prostrate.I had lots of problems in this area from years of racing when the selli italia flight gel came out it was a god send

I also use the Selle Italia Flight Gel. So far it has proven very comfortable up to my long rides of 70 miles. Before that I rode a Selle Italia TransAM, with a similar cutout design, again very comfortable and it lasted about 5-6 years of commuting so despite beign pricey initially it did work out good value in the end.

[jodypress]

Specialized BG saddles are the nuts

I personally have a BG Team Toupe. Tried a Selle Gel Flight and couldn't get on with it.

[cjs]

jodypress said:

Specialized BG saddles are the nuts

I personally have a BG Team Toupe. Tried a Selle Gel Flight and couldn't get on with it.

Agreed and if you go to a good Specialized shop they will measure your arse so you get a saddle that fits!

[Broaders]

I have a charge spoon and would reccomend it!

[anonymous-user]

i think you might find the nose of the SMP TRK to be to wide and that longer distance rides will be better on the SMP Extra

smp4bike.co.uk is the site to check for measurements etc.

but, as others have said, try as many as you need to in order to find a comfortable one that suits you

[BalhamBadger]

cjs said:

jodypress said:

Specialized BG saddles are the nuts

I personally have a BG Team Toupe. Tried a Selle Gel Flight and couldn't get on with it.

Agreed and if you go to a good Specialized shop they will measure your arse so you get a saddle that fits!

Thirded. The BG saddle on my 2010 Stumjumper FSR Comp is great, did a reasonable offroad blast today on it today without proper padded shorts and no discomfort at all. Definitely worth a try.

[Gnarlybluesurf]

mrandy said:

I recommend any saddle with the centre cut out they are very good for stopping pressure on your UT and prostrate.I had lots of problems in this area...

Did you get your saddle from Ann Summers? mRANDY by name mRandy by nature.... ?

[S6PNJ]

mrandy said:

I recommend any saddle with the centre cut out they are very good for stopping pressure on your UT and prostrate.I had lots of problems in this area from years of racing when the selli italia flight gel came out it was a god send

Well courtesy of the good old bay of E I've bought myself a Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow saddle - just need it to arrive now!