Reasonable saddles

[rickh01]

I'm new to road biking and have a decathlon btwin 300, I want to change my saddle for something more comfy, and reasonable in price. Which is better gel or foam? And does anyone have any brand or model they can recommend ...

 

[MikeG]

Most saddles are extremely unreasonable for backsides new to cycling. The longer you ride, the more saddles become reasonable.

I'm a big fan of Charge Spoons. Cheap as chips, reasonably light, and super comfy. Some people loath them. You could pretty much put (any saddle) in place of "Charge Spoon" in that sentence, and that will cover all the posts you will ever receive on the topic, because there is nothing so personal as what you find comfortable to sit on on a bike.

 

[Apollonius]

Do not buy a soft saddle. They are OK for short distances, but after any distance become bum-wreckers. Buy some decent padded bib-shorts.

 

[Garethgas]

As you'd expect, opinions will vary on this but for what it's worth, here's mine:
Foam is no good unless you're doing short trips and are waterproof.
Gel is better but only for moderate trips (10 to 20 miles or so) they too are waterproof
Leather is by far the most comfortable as they adopt the shape of your backside as they soften. They are not really waterproof either.
A Brooks is my choice and they do need a bit of care but the comfort level is far superior than anything else I've ridden on once broken in.
It can take some time and they are pretty uncomfortable at first but you will be rewarded after a few hundred miles.
A bit like an old pair of shoes.
I can easily do 100 mile rides in a day without any discomfort.
Having said that, I'm still breaking in 2 new ones I bought recently so it's 50 miles tops at the moment but already one is coming along nicely.
I've never tried the ones with a cut out so I can't really comment.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Measure your sit bones, or better still go to an LBS that can measure them for you, they may even have loan saddles you can try for a time.

CC did have it's own saddle library HERE that was run by @Baggy , but it's been closed just recently due to lack of use/interest.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I heard that reasonable saddles are only suitable for reasonable bottoms.

We are all different as @smokeysmoo says, get your sit bones measured. A good fitting saddle will go a long way towards comfort.

 

[Soltydog]

As stated everyone will have a different view. I tried a charge spoon after all the good reviews, but try as I may, I just couldn't get on with it.
I tried a gel saddle & it was great for about 15 miles, but then as bad as anything. I now find a firm leather saddle as comfy as anything else I've tried. I have B17s on 2 bikes & a Spa Cycles leather saddle on my road bike (the Aire I think)
The San Marco regal is a very nice saddle too (see my post in the for sale section )

 

[rickh01]

Most saddles are extremely unreasonable for backsides new to cycling. The longer you ride, the more saddles become reasonable.

I'm a big fan of Charge Spoons. Cheap as chips, reasonably light, and super comfy. Some people loath them. You could pretty much put (any saddle) in place of "Charge Spoon" in that sentence, and that will cover all the posts you will ever receive on the topic, because there is nothing so personal as what you find comfortable to sit on on a bike.

Thanks mike, I'll have a look at the charge spoon this weekend

 

[rickh01]

As stated everyone will have a different view. I tried a charge spoon after all the good reviews, but try as I may, I just couldn't get on with it.
I tried a gel saddle & it was great for about 15 miles, but then as bad as anything. I now find a firm leather saddle as comfy as anything else I've tried. I have B17s on 2 bikes & a Spa Cycles leather saddle on my road bike (the Aire I think)
The San Marco regal is a very nice saddle too (see my post in the for sale section )

Thanks I'll have a look

 

[rickh01]

As you'd expect, opinions will vary on this but for what it's worth, here's mine:
Foam is no good unless you're doing short trips and are waterproof.
Gel is better but only for moderate trips (10 to 20 miles or so) they too are waterproof
Leather is by far the most comfortable as they adopt the shape of your backside as they soften. They are not really waterproof either.
A Brooks is my choice and they do need a bit of care but the comfort level is far superior than anything else I've ridden on once broken in.
It can take some time and they are pretty uncomfortable at first but you will be rewarded after a few hundred miles.
A bit like an old pair of shoes.
I can easily do 100 mile rides in a day without any discomfort.
Having said that, I'm still breaking in 2 new ones I bought recently so it's 50 miles tops at the moment but already one is coming along nicely.
I've never tried the ones with a cut out so I can't really comment.

I'm gonna have a look at the charge spoon, people seem to recommend that highly

 

[jay clock]

+1 for Spoon

 

[rickh01]

Yeah a lot of people say the charge spoon. So I'll have a look this weekend, also it has good reviews online while I was looking last night

 

[vickster]

Looking at it won't tell you if it's comfortable They don't cost much and sell on really quickly on here at minimal loss on the purchase price

 

[rickh01]

Figure of speech, haha

 

[vickster]

This one went in about an hour for example

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/charge-spoon-saddle-black.156050/

New for £22.50 http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-spoon-saddle-with-cromo-rails/