The saddle lottery

[PurpleFrog]

Has anyone else had the experience of trying loads of saddles and reading review after review with only so-so results, only to buy an old bike with an awful looking saddle and find it is perfect? My Zaskar came with an odd looking Selle Italia - it's covered in dimpled leatherette - that looks like it was the sort of thing thrown into a spare parts bin until someone wanted to make an old bike saleable, but it's completely perfect. It's so good that I'm cursing because I can't find a model name on it.

 

[poweredbypies]

Yep i had that with a shiney plaggy covered saddle fits like a glove and is soooo comfy.

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

Yeah, the Charge Spoon series has had rave recviews but to me feels like sitting on the blade of a shovel. These reviewers forget everyone's arse is different, his making his sort of review largely redundant.

Cheapo Velos suit my firm buttocks best, and can be had branded as Barello or is OE on many Giants, Pinnacles etc, and can range in price from nothing to £60 depending on the brand name printed on it

 

[PurpleFrog]

Yeah, the Charge Spoon series has had rave recviews but to me feels like sitting on the blade of a shovel.

Yeah, I hated the Spoon. The modern saddle that seems to fit the most asses is the bottom of the range bent nose Selle SMP

And I found it decent. But whatever the Mystery Saddle is, much better. (I'll post photos later.) Bike stores should really have a dummy frame you can try saddles out on and a range of trial saddles.

Also: Online Saddle Museum - http://www.bikecult.com/works/saddle.html !

 

[xerxes]

The only saddle I've tried recently that is consistently comfortable is a Brooks: http://www.brooksengland.com/catalogue- ... +Imperial/

I just wish they were cheaper and lighter. I also wonder about it's longevity as mine has started to collapse, it's gone a bit hammock like and I wonder whether leather saddles are really suited to an MTB without mudguards to stop it getting wet on the underside. :?

I keep looking at Gilles Berthoud saddles for my other bike, but they're also expensive and it's a lot to gamble to find out it doesn't suit me: http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s204p0

 

[PurpleFrog]

The only saddle I've tried recently that is consistently comfortable is a Brooks: http://www.brooksengland.com/catalogue- ... +Imperial/

I just wish they were cheaper and lighter. I also wonder about it's longevity as mine has started to collapse, it's gone a bit hammock like

I thought you were supposed to gently tighten some sort of tensioner with a spanner when that happens???

 

[The History Man]

I have a bike hut saddle that's comfy but looks like :facepalm: don't use t for fear of the mtb fashion police.

 

[We_are_Stevo]

Have to admit I put Flites on the majority of my builds purely for aesthetic reasons... :facepalm:

My favourite saddle is the MaxFlite GelFlo like this...

http://www.roadbikes.de/media/Selle_Ita ... l_flow.jpg

...ridden 1000's of miles on these and prefer them above anything else

 

[saulus]

Saddle hunting for the right one for the girlfriend was a saga.. Trial & error prevailed on the 5th one.

I'm lucky that the saddle I like the most aesthetically is the one I find comfiest.. Flite
But an early Selle Turbo goes along nicely too I find.
A win/win for form AND function for once. Hooray!

 

[wookiee]

Its soooo down to the individual arse in question! I found the Charge soon to be fine and similar to me to the Flite...and I am 16 stone and "stocky"!