Gel saddles?
- Thread starter hoppym27
- Start date
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byegad
Legendary Member
- Location
- NE England
Golden rule. There are approximately 10 000 backside types to each type of saddle in production.
In the days when I rode an upright I must have tried 20 different saddles including the supposedly ultimate Brooks B17! The Brooks* was true suffering, the like of which I'd not want to go through again, the 1000 miles I rode on it are the worst miles of my cycling life. I eventually found a Specialised saddle which was comfortable and immediately bought another 6, one for each of my other bikes. I must have clocked up 10s of thousands of miles on MTBs Folders and a Thorn Club Tour on those saddles and never did the saddle give me a moment's pain on any bike.
* Others swear by the legendary B17, my recommendations if you are even saddled** with one, is to soak it in a solvent like a high quality petrol for a day or two. Then set fire to it!
**Pun intended, sorry!
In the days when I rode an upright I must have tried 20 different saddles including the supposedly ultimate Brooks B17! The Brooks* was true suffering, the like of which I'd not want to go through again, the 1000 miles I rode on it are the worst miles of my cycling life. I eventually found a Specialised saddle which was comfortable and immediately bought another 6, one for each of my other bikes. I must have clocked up 10s of thousands of miles on MTBs Folders and a Thorn Club Tour on those saddles and never did the saddle give me a moment's pain on any bike.
* Others swear by the legendary B17, my recommendations if you are even saddled** with one, is to soak it in a solvent like a high quality petrol for a day or two. Then set fire to it!
**Pun intended, sorry!
- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
@byegad
In view of the high regard that the B17 is held by many; that's potentially an inflammatory post.
byegad
Legendary Member
- Location
- NE England
@byegad
In view of the high regard that the B17 is held by many; that's potentially an inflammatory post.
Which is why i bought one! However even after 1000 miles just10 miles on it saw me getting off to ease my aching bum!
While I accept lots of people like the B17, my post was trying to show that there's no such thing as a perfect saddle. Your perfect saddle is his rather uncomfortable saddle and my medieval torture implement. Another of those irregular verbs.
- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
I had a Brookes Professional many years ago and it was truly awful - apart from being atrociously uncomfortable it sagged in the middle when it got soaked on a long wet ride. Maybe the leather wasn't so good back in the day.
Recently replaced my MTB saddle with a Brooks B17 and its a big improvement. However the amount of time I have to spend rubbing in Proofide, stopping it getting wet, covering etc might mean a gel saddle will be better and less obvious.
Previously had good experiences with the Selle on touring bikes, but after a while they just feel a bit flat.
Previously had good experiences with the Selle on touring bikes, but after a while they just feel a bit flat.
Ahh, the great saddle debate again - ! 
I've used a couple of Viscount VS17 saddles for some years. Being of the 'firm gel' variety, they've been fine - until the fabric wore through. I now have a B.17 on my commuter / tourer and as it's now nicely broken in after about three hundred miles and suitable applications of Proofide, ahh, joy - ! 
But as has been stated quite rightly by many, saddles are a VERY personal thing and having a comfortable one depends on many factors.
I've used a couple of Viscount VS17 saddles for some years. Being of the 'firm gel' variety, they've been fine - until the fabric wore through. I now have a B.17 on my commuter / tourer and as it's now nicely broken in after about three hundred miles and suitable applications of Proofide, ahh, joy - ! But as has been stated quite rightly by many, saddles are a VERY personal thing and having a comfortable one depends on many factors.
pawl
Legendary Member
- Location
- Desford Leicestershire
Back in the day when Methuselah was a lad there wasn’t a lot of choice.there was of course Brooks in various styles,I believe Wright’s was anotheri I had both.The Brooks was better quality than the Wrights but both were comfortable over 100+ days.
Perhaps had a more resilient posterior. All the club people I knew were rectant to use what they called plastic saddles
How times change.
Perhaps had a more resilient posterior. All the club people I knew were rectant to use what they called plastic saddles
How times change.
Widge
Baldy Go
IME there are 'gel' saddles and there are gel padded saddles.......and if you go this route-it is a lottery. Many people starting out unsurprisingly surmise that the BIGGER and more PADDED the saddle is the better. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is more about the SHAPE of the saddle and where the squishy gelness has been applied. Big squashy gel padded saddles saddles tend to be more uncomfortable than you'd think unless you have a big squashy bottom to go with them and only ride a mile or two at a time. Rock hard, razor-thin and unforgiving saddles can be the same and you need to match the saddle to your cycling style and your physical needs. This is the tricky bit that so often involves much 'trial and error'.
I have a bony bum AND a tendency to feel grunge-futtock pain so eventually I settled on the SMP range of anatomically designed saddles (Big cutout and slim but padded tuberosity(?) support in the right place) which now give me effortless comfort on my road bike over moderate distances. Their pro level saddles are eye-wateringly expensive....but they do a range of 'entry-level' saddles (vinyl covered and a bit heavier/bulkier) that give a pretty good feel for how well they work. 'TRK' model for hybrids/commuting and sitty up styles of riding and 'Extra' for more 'sporty' roadie style riding. I Ride an Extra on my road bike and a TRK on my MTB and have never had to give my nut-comfort another thought...
BUT..........
YMMV
best
w
I have a bony bum AND a tendency to feel grunge-futtock pain so eventually I settled on the SMP range of anatomically designed saddles (Big cutout and slim but padded tuberosity(?) support in the right place) which now give me effortless comfort on my road bike over moderate distances. Their pro level saddles are eye-wateringly expensive....but they do a range of 'entry-level' saddles (vinyl covered and a bit heavier/bulkier) that give a pretty good feel for how well they work. 'TRK' model for hybrids/commuting and sitty up styles of riding and 'Extra' for more 'sporty' roadie style riding. I Ride an Extra on my road bike and a TRK on my MTB and have never had to give my nut-comfort another thought...
BUT..........
YMMV
best
w
Last edited:
Widge
Baldy Go
I thought that's what I implied>?
Sorry.
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
I must be strange then, my most comfortable bike is a Ridgeback Hybrid. It's the bike I mainly tour on as well as the bike I'd normally grab from the shed for general use, I'm quite happy doing 'back to back' 100 mile days on it............................and it has a Brooks but a B17n (Narrow) as opposed to the B17.
When it comes to the best saddle, I'm becoming increasingly convinced that we're all strange!
I've been trying to do away with my posterior padding for years, but I can't seem to shift it.And of course, if you are one of those lucky enough to get on with a B.17, as soon as it's broken in, you can do away with all that posterior padding - !