Road bike saddle recommendations

[Glover Fan]

Morning!

All this talk about the pro's and con's of the Focus Cayo 105 has reminded me one of the parts I need to upgrade pretty soon. The saddle, what a POS it has as stock, some Concept SL or something, whatever I feel like i've been on a night out at the G.A.Y nightclub in London after any ride over 30+ miles.

Not entirely sure about budget, if something is WORTH having and will make my ride a whole lot more comfortable then I am game for whatever, but I want value for money, which obviously doesn't mean cheap, but offers a lot of bang for the buck so to speak.

Also, my bike has a carbon frame, but a woeful alloy seat post, any recommendations for a carbon seat post? This isn't an immediate purchase, but is next on my list of things to buy.

Cheers,

Jon.

 

[Mark_Robson]

A good value saddle is the Charge Spoon. There's a review on it in this months Cycling Active. I have one on my MTB and it's a very comfortable saddle. Have a look through ebay foe a carbon seat post, there's always bargains to be had.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Saddles are such a personal thing. My Cayo Pro had a Fizik Aliante as standard, and that was pretty good, then like a dick I swopped it for a Specialized Toupe, one ride later I swopped it back and sold the Spesh as it was horrendous!

My CAAD10 has a Fizik Arione, and that's proved to be very good so far, but I haven't done a ride of more than 30 miles yet.

As for seatposts, I'm going the other way. The CAAD10 has a Cannondale branded carbon seatpost, but I'll be swopping it, (due to my size more than anything else), probably for a Ritchey WCS post.

 

[stephec]

Like Spooky says, saddles are a personal chioce.

I used to have a Fizik Arione, now I use a Spesh Toupe, and they are both comfy for me.

Is Baggy's saddle library still current, might be worth a look in there before you blow any money?

 

[Glover Fan]

Thanks so far,

i've had a bit of a look around and at the mo the Selle Italia Max Flite Gel Flow looks quite nice and on CRC it has good reviews. I'm mostly impressed by the fact that the seat has a "hole" for my "soft tissue" to rest into as I find this where quite a lot of discomfort comes from and I would like to have kids at some stage in the future!

Have seen it for £68.99 on a site called "Cycling Bargains".

 

[rusty bearing]

I have one on the road bike, its so good I'm getting another for the MTB.

 

[zacklaws]

I love my Fizik Arione and its very comfortable even on 100+ rides, but with it being a long saddle you can move back and forth on it, which is very handy in the hills, but despite that, I fancy buying a Selle San Marco Concor, I was looking at one in the LBS and it looks very comfortable, and considering it has been out since the eighties when it revolutionised cycle racing, then it shows its stood the test of time.

At times, I wish somethings would wear out a bit quicker so it can be replaced with something else, probably got about another 10 years of life in my Arione

Oddly enough I fancied one a few years ago, and after I had seen one, I kept thinking that I had seen one before, but could not remember where, till one day I was lifting my old commuting raleigh milk race "racer" out of the car after being for a ride, and there it was, staring me in the face, I had been riding one for over 20+ years to work and not realised. I must have fitted it in the late eighties, but the mounting will not fit the seat posts of today, so like the bike, they all got scrapped.

Saddles though are a personal thing, so what works with one, may not work with another

 

[jayonabike]

I have a San Marco Concor on my ss, a really comfy saddle. I am thinking of getting one for my Secteur as the stock saddle gets a bit uncomfortable after a few hours. I also have a San Marco Rolls on another bike and that is equally as comfy.

 

[zacklaws]

I have a San Marco Concor on my ss, a really comfy saddle. I am thinking of getting one for my Secteur as the stock saddle gets a bit uncomfortable after a few hours. I also have a San Marco Rolls on another bike and that is equally as comfy.

Stop talking me into it, I've only had the Arione a year and a half, too soon to get rid of it, or even replace the saddle on my other Trek road bike, as it has a Bontrager saddle and that is also the dogs danglers too for comfort, unlike the Bontrager saddle on my Trek Madone when I bought it, which was as comfortable as a house brick till I replaced it.

 

[screenman]

For anyone riding carbon post in alloy frame or the other way around, check it and grease it often as the two do like to get quite intimate with each other and do not like to be parted.

 

[ufkacbln]

Arch may have a spare saddle

 

[Arch]

Arch may have a spare saddle

Oi!

I'm keeping it for now...

I'll sell it when I've ridden it a bit, it'll have celebrity value...

 

[Nufab]

A good value saddle is the Charge Spoon. There's a review on it in this months Cycling Active. I have one on my MTB and it's a very comfortable saddle. Have a look through ebay foe a carbon seat post, there's always bargains to be had.

Another vote for the Spoon... comes with SS or Ti rails, synthetic or leather coverings, depending on your budget. I got the cheap one at £20 to replace the saddle on my Specialized MTB which was agony, and it works well for me.

 

[al-fresco]

I bought a Madison Flux on Saturday (haven't been out on it yet though). I'm told that they're made in the same factory, on the same lasts, as Charge Spoons.

 

[jayonabike]

Stop talking me into it, I've only had the Arione a year and a half, too soon to get rid of it, or even replace the saddle on my other Trek road bike, as it has a Bontrager saddle and that is also the dogs danglers too for comfort, unlike the Bontrager saddle on my Trek Madone when I bought it, which was as comfortable as a house brick till I replaced it.

I'm talking myself into a new saddle here as well. I don't think a Concor will look right sitting on top of my Secteur, but i think this San Marco Regal in black with silver rivets will