Saddle Crisis

[jellikins]

Got 3 months training left till do the Raid Pyranees and have a saddle prob.

Had a Bontrager Race Light that was uncomfortable.

Swopped it for an Selle Italia SLR Flow Gel - get to 40 miles mark and killing my arse.

Any suggestions anyone, both hurt on the bones bit either side on each cheek!
Going to be in saddle 8-9 hours in 3 months and stressed.

 

[Steve Austin]

Fizik arione works fine for me. but you'll get a different suggestion from anyone who posts on this thread.

Only real thing i can suggest is make sure you have a decent set of shorts and use some assos chamois cream.

 

[Radius]

Fizik Arione or Specialized Toupe would probably be your best bets...

 

[Fab Foodie]

Somebody will say get a Brooks B17, so it might as well be me. OK, it's heavy and it deosn't look quite the part, but mine's on a TCR1 and it's peachy, 12 hours in the saddle no probs.
Otherwise the Arione gets good reviews as do Speciqlized saddles, whose dealers have a gel pad device to measure your sit bones.

 

[rich p]

I sometimes get used to a saddle after a bit of time. Have you given it a chance?

 

[ACS]

Another vote for the B17, some love 'em others hate them but I am a convert, confortable from day 1. I also use as Selle San Marco Rolls saddle on the what I laughing call the the Race Bike and find that just as comfortable.

 

[4F]

I would not sit on another b17 even if you paid me. My Specialized Toupe however is so comfortable but I would also agree about getting a decent pair of shorts as well as chamois cream.

 

[asterix]

I did the 10 day raid with a Ti B17. Very comfortable. My latest B17 is 6 weeks old and ok now, but I also bought a Ti Swift that is very good indeed.

 

[jellikins]

are the fizik and spec wider in design than the 2 i have tried then?

 

[Chuffy]

The problem with Brookes saddles (apart from the ridiculous price and out of place look on most bikes) is that you can't just fit and forget them.

The Specialized BG saddles are pretty good.

<ducks back down into trench and raises periscope>

<preps mortar and lobs shell into Mr Paul's trench>
Yes you can.
<fixes bayonet>

<CHARGE!>
The whole breaking in thing with Brooks saddles is much exaggerated. They are also the nearest thing in cycling to the little black dress. They go beautifully with anything. Can't argue with the prices though, they have gone up quite a lot, although for the quality and longevity it's still hard to argue with them.

<thrust, twist, withdraw>
They are the saddle of choice for a huge proportion of audaxers, randonneurs and sundry other long distance types. There is a very good reason for that....
<kicks twitching corpse off bayonet, wanders off in search of Bonj>

 

[Fab Foodie]

Agree with Chuffers, es[ecially the doubling in price over the last 2 years, that's fashion I guess...
But my last one now sits on my turbo-mule and has been used on and off for around 25 years... so not too bad.

 

[punkypossum]

You could try one of the Charge saddles, they tend to be pretty cheap (around £20), but a lot of people are impressed with them (including myself so far)...At least you haven't spend a fortune if it doesn't work out.

Or have you got a bike shop near you that will let you have a saddle on loan? There is quite a few that let you try them for a few days or so...

 

[phil_hg_uk]

B17 spent hours in the saddle no problems, well not with me arse anyway the rest of me is exhausted though

 

[Soltydog]

The problem with Brookes saddles (apart from the ridiculous price and out of place look on most bikes) is that you can't just fit and forget them.

The Specialized BG saddles are pretty good.

<ducks back down into trench and raises periscope>

£35 for a B17 from SJS isn't too ridiculous, however £65 on ebay for a B17 is

Fit & forget ?? i put one on my hybrid & only treated it with proofide at new & once since. My bike's never left out in the rain, so I admit that's one thing I dont have to worry about, but they aren't a great deal of hassle

 

[Soltydog]

Or overly sweaty butt cheeks.

I guess mine wont last much longer then