Opinions on Road Bike Saddles

Ivar Hesselager wrote:
These are the three important qualities for a saddle: Fit, firm and
(slightly) flexible. A Brooks leather saddle is guarantied to fit your
individual anathomy and it gives you the firm and flexible support you need.

no it isn't. make sure you buy from a place with a nice liberal refund
policy (wallbike.com comes to mind).. 'specially with how much these saddles
cost.

Surely you can find other saddles that will fit you - but a Brooks is sure
to do the job.

ummm, no.

I used my first Brooks (Colt) for 20 years. And a year ago I
bought my second Brooks - a Swift. In a month it was broken in and since
then it has supported me gently on numerous ultra long rides. It has
personality, it carries craft tradition, it's beautiful, and it gives you
lots of well deserved street credit among the connaiseurs.

no saddle has caused me as much pain as a brook's swift. it just didn't
fit me. i rode a selle italia ti flite cross country no problem.

there really is no easy answer w/r/t saddles.
--
david reuteler

"Matt O'Toole" writes:

However, pros spend more time on their bikes than most people, so
you might look at what they use.

If you're a racer with 5% body fat and a low-bar aero position, this
might work well. As one gets more normal in build and more upright in
position, the less comfortable (IME; YMMV) these saddles get. If you
want to see what's comfortable in saddles, I'd say look at what's
ridden by the people who do 200, 300, 400, 600, 1000 and 1200 km
rides. There's an amazing number of Brooks saddles under these folks
(OTOH, I also see Flites and other "racing" saddles too).

It's a good thing that there are many, many saddles to choose from
because there are many, many different size and shape butts out there.

"Ivar Hesselager" writes:

These are the three important qualities for a saddle: Fit, firm and
(slightly) flexible. A Brooks leather saddle is guarantied to fit
your individual anathomy and it gives you the firm and flexible
support you need. Surely you can find other saddles that will fit
you - but a Brooks is sure to do the job.

Whilst I am a Brooks fan and have them on 5 of my bikes, I know many
people who could never every get comfortable on any Brooks saddle.
They don't work for everyone.

The other two bikes have Lepper Voyageurs, BTW. Not quite as comfy
as a Brooks but quite suitable for a race bike.

RE/

have ya had a bike fit? Most uncomfortable saddles are related to fit, no
saddle design.

I spent *months* convinced that a certain saddle was too narrow for me.
Finally discovered that as my bod found KOPS on it's own, my butt wound up
sitting on the rear rivets of the saddle. Got a 2" setback post and suddenly
the saddle fit...
--
PeteCresswell

RE/
A Brooks leather saddle is guarantied to fit your
individual anathomy

Don't be too sure. Some of us have butt bone spacing that's way out on the
edge of the bell curve...like 5" C-C instead of 2.5....

For the statistical outlier with 5" spacing, Brooks B-72 is a little wide, but
B-17 is borderline wide enough - CB 1/2-3/4" wider... All the narrower Brooks
(and just about all other firm, non-sprung...) saddles are way too narrow.
--
PeteCresswell

First, do check your fit and then go a shop that will readily exchange
saddles until you get one that's comfortable. Most will do so if you're
careful and quick.

That said, I used to use the Terry Butterfly, went to the Fly and most
recently went to Selle Italia SLR. The SLR is pretty minimalist but I've
been very surprised at how comfortable it is. Just rode a century this
weekend without any concerns/issue.

CM
"Mark" wrote in message
om...
I've been using a seat that came with my Bianchi Campione, which is
the Selle Italia Tri-Max, and I must say this thing is murder! Sure
looks pretty though, as the yellow accents go nice with the yellow
frame on my bike.

Anyhow, I've been seriously kicking around the idea of upgrading
mighty soon, as my poor butt (Mostly my two butt bones) just cannot
bear the punishment from this saddle any longer.

I've thought of perhaps the Selle Flight Gel, as this would also
nicely compliment the bike too, but then I got to thinking.... "Why
should I make "looks" really be THE most important factor on buying a
new-better Saddle"? I think I'm initially totally missing the point
here, and need to think a bit more about this choice.

I can remember back many years ago, on how the Brooks Saddle on my ole
Motobecane Le Champion never hurt me like this.

I've read some reviews on saddles, and certainly the evaluations are
quite mixed on virtually all of the Selle's. I guess it's true that no
one saddle, no matter what its features, high cost, or attractivness
can be said to be suitable for every rider, we are all different.

Still I'd like to hear a few opinions from those who have over the
years tried many of the saddles, both the newfangled types, and the
good ole Brooks. Perhaps you folks can help me make a sound choice.
Price is not a problem, yet I do prefer a traditional Road Bike
Saddle, not a hybrid-MTB. Thanks, Mark

David- A Brooks leather saddle is guarantied to fit your
individual anathomy and it gives you the firm and flexible support you need.

no it isn't. BRBR


Gotta agree. I tried a Swift and was amazed how uncomfortable it was...Brooks
isn't the panacea of saddle comfort. works for some but not all.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

. I tried a Swift and was amazed how uncomfortable it was...Brooks
isn't the panacea of saddle comfort. works for some but not all.


OK OK, some budds are imcompatible with any Brook's saddle. I wish a happy
life with a synthetic substitute to those of you that will never experience
the depth of a lasting Brook's relation. You may find happiness in your own
way, I guess, but please don't talk evil of the real thing.

So to a searching soul in need of a good saddle, it's still the best advice
to try out - at least once in the course of af cycling life - one of those
firm and flexible, beautifully craftet, organic, honeycoulered Brook's
leather saddles. ;-))

Ivar

Ivar Hesselager wrote:
. I tried a Swift and was amazed how uncomfortable it was...Brooks
isn't the panacea of saddle comfort. works for some but not all.


OK OK, some budds are imcompatible with any Brook's saddle.

Calling Doctor Freud, calling Doctor Freud!

Bill "where's Brock Bailey when you need him?" S.

(Mark) wrote in message . com...
I've been using a seat that came with my Bianchi Campione, which is
the Selle Italia Tri-Max, and I must say this thing is murder! Sure
looks pretty though, as the yellow accents go nice with the yellow
frame on my bike.

Anyhow, I've been seriously kicking around the idea of upgrading
mighty soon, as my poor butt (Mostly my two butt bones) just cannot
bear the punishment from this saddle any longer.

I've thought of perhaps the Selle Flight Gel, as this would also
nicely compliment the bike too, but then I got to thinking.... "Why
should I make "looks" really be THE most important factor on buying a
new-better Saddle"? I think I'm initially totally missing the point
here, and need to think a bit more about this choice.

I can remember back many years ago, on how the Brooks Saddle on my ole
Motobecane Le Champion never hurt me like this.

I've read some reviews on saddles, and certainly the evaluations are
quite mixed on virtually all of the Selle's. I guess it's true that no
one saddle, no matter what its features, high cost, or attractivness
can be said to be suitable for every rider, we are all different.

Still I'd like to hear a few opinions from those who have over the
years tried many of the saddles, both the newfangled types, and the
good ole Brooks. Perhaps you folks can help me make a sound choice.
Price is not a problem, yet I do prefer a traditional Road Bike
Saddle, not a hybrid-MTB. Thanks, Mark

Never tried a Brooks, but I have tried a few over the years. The best
one I've used is a Trico Split Rail. This saddle has adjustments for
width and spring. It also has a space in the middle. Very easy on the
butt for long rides.

Eric