Saddle!

[Johnno260]

Is 300 miles enough to break in a new saddle?

I love my Merida but the saddle is proving a real pain in the $5#, I am also getting a small amount of lower back ache on longer rides 2hr+ and when I do my 2hr rides they also tend to have min 2000ft total elevation climbs.

On my flatter faster rides I have no back issue but I am getting some rear end pain.

I was on the Fizik site and I would say my current saddle looks more like the Arione range of saddle, I was thinking I should try a Antares versus? would this be the saddle people recommend?

If it helps I can touch my toes with knees straight but there is quite some pull in my lower back and backs of my legs, I have had hip issues in the past due to martial arts so they can be a little tight as well.

I would say I am more a chameleon going by the Fizik tests etc

 

[Spiderweb]

There are a lot of different arses therefore it's hard to recommend a saddle but for me and many others a Charge Spoon is the saddle of choice. It's worth a punt at £20, if not suitable then it will always fetch £15 on eBay.
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/charge-spoon-cromo-saddle/?gclid=CNj-5srOydECFRAW0wodEtMFoQ#pid=1132
A decent pad in a pair of bib shorts is a big help.

 

[Johnno260]

There are a lot of different arses therefore it's hard to recommend a saddle but for me and many others a Charge Spoon is the saddle of choice. It's worth a punt at £20, if not suitable then it will always fetch £15 on eBay.
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/charge-spoon-cromo-saddle/?gclid=CNj-5srOydECFRAW0wodEtMFoQ#pid=1132
A decent pad in a pair of bib shorts is a big help.

Cheers matey I will check those out. I think I have decent pads my biblongs are the Endura thermolite with the 600 series pad, and my bibshorts have the same they're the FS260 type shorts.

 

[Cycleops]

The saddle might be just the wrong shape for your behind so no amount of breaking in will be of any use.

Its just such a personal thing but you might find a LBS who can help you with a fitting if they specialise on such things. No good going on recommendations although some swear by the Spoon or Brooks leather, some swear at them. The new Brooks Cambium might be worth a look. I was having trouble finding a comfortable one but bought a old cheap nasty looking Selle Royal in fake carbon fibre finish for a fiver and it was wonderful.

 

[vickster]

Is the saddle the right width for your sit bones and shape
Also, is it level? And in the right fore/aft position

 

[numbnuts]

I had a Brooks and after 27,000 miles the only thing it broke was me
some swear by them, I swore at it, but it still made no difference

 

[Grant Fondo]

Is 300 miles enough to break in a new saddle?

I love my Merida but the saddle is proving a real pain in the $5#, I am also getting a small amount of lower back ache on longer rides 2hr+ and when I do my 2hr rides they also tend to have min 2000ft total elevation climbs.

On my flatter faster rides I have no back issue but I am getting some rear end pain.

I was on the Fizik site and I would say my current saddle looks more like the Arione range of saddle, I was thinking I should try a Antares versus? would this be the saddle people recommend?

If it helps I can touch my toes with knees straight but there is quite some pull in my lower back and backs of my legs, I have had hip issues in the past due to martial arts so they can be a little tight as well.

I would say I am more a chameleon going by the Fizik tests etc

For what its worth i never got on with Arione on Specialized, but had an Aliante on Cannondale Synapse which was much comfier...bear in mind frame/post difference Speccy was Alu/Alu, Canny was carb/carb? Aliante also isnt stupidly long which stops those 'gentlemans moments' when getting back on the saddle

 

[Johnno260]

Is the saddle the right width for your sit bones and shape
Also, is it level? And in the right fore/aft position

See I think width is the issue, it's around my seat bones that hurt maybe I just have a bony ass.

I moved it back a tad on the rails as I found I was naturally pushing back into that position more but I was siting off the back of the saddle, it's straight as well I made sure to check that and it looks level.

 

[Johnno260]

For what its worth i never got on with Arione on Specialized, but had an Aliante on Cannondale Synapse which was much comfier...bear in mind frame/post difference Speccy was Alu/Alu, Canny was carb/carb? Aliante also isnt stupidly long which stops those 'gentlemans moments' when getting back on the saddle

Yes looking at my current saddle it looks more like the arione type saddles, I used fiziks website as people seem to like the way they suggest the saddle type etc.

I was going to miss the arione range entirely if I used fizik.

 

[vickster]

See I think width is the issue, it's around my seat bones that hurt maybe I just have a bony ass.

I moved it back a tad on the rails as I found I was naturally pushing back into that position more but I was siting off the back of the saddle, it's straight as well I made sure to check that and it looks level.

Go get your sitbones measured, specialized dealers have the gizmo and will sell you the correct width saddle (various shapes)

 

[pawl]

Is 300 miles enough to break in a new saddle?

I love my Merida but the saddle is proving a real pain in the $5#, I am also getting a small amount of lower back ache on longer rides 2hr+ and when I do my 2hr rides they also tend to have min 2000ft total elevation climbs.

On my flatter faster rides I have no back issue but I am getting some rear end pain.

I was on the Fizik site and I would say my current saddle looks more like the Arione range of saddle, I was thinking I should try a Antares versus? would this be the saddle people recommend?

If it helps I can touch my toes with knees straight but there is quite some pull in my lower back and backs of my legs, I have had hip issues in the past due to martial arts so they can be a little tight as well.

I would say I am more a chameleon going by the Fizik tests etc

Do the 2000ft of climbing out of the saddle,it will be a relief to sit down .only joking.

Perhaps a bike fit may help.Saddles are very individual .I believe some bike shops now do a fitting service.

 

[Johnno260]

Go get your sitbones measured, specialized dealers have the gizmo and will sell you the correct width saddle (various shapes)

I think there is a specialized dealer near where I work I may try them out.

lol can just see it now telling my boss see you later going to get my ass measured.

 

[Grant Fondo]

I think there is a specialized dealer near where I work I may try them out.

lol can just see it now telling my boss see you later going to get my ass measured.

Speccy saddles (have one on MTB) are really good too!

 

[Alan O]

This is a bit like asking which food is best, or which band...

There's no real correct answer that anyone can give for you, because it is very personal and depends on your own sitting anatomy (and other undefinable factors, it seems).

I like Brooks leather saddles, and I have a Swallow that's close to broken in after oil treatment and less than 200 miles (though the leather is thinner than my old B17, and that too a lot longer).

I have a Brooks Cambium on another bike, and I really like that - and no breaking in at all. I suspect my bones just happen to fit the Brooks "hammock" style.

Having said that, I got a second hand GT MTB recently. It came with an own-brand saddle which I expected to hate - but so far I find it really comfortable.

What would I do if I didn't know what saddle suited me and I wanted to try some recommendations? I think I'd try a Charge Spoon, because a lot of people like it, and crucially, it's not a lot of money - trying a Brooks based purely on recommendations is risking a lot more. In fact, I have another bike (which I got recently for £30) which has a horrible saddle - I might try a Charge Spoon for that.

Alan

 

[mjr]

Plastic saddles don't break in much if at all.

Saddles have to fit both rider and bike.

My bony backside rides unpadded, else padding puts pressure on soft bits, which is wrong. My road bike currently has a BrevM Sellino. My others have a Dawes GT, a Lycett mattress, a Selle Royal Maya (imperfect fit) and a Brooks Flyer (but its springs creak).

Speccy saddles (have one on MTB) are really good too!

Worst saddle I've tried was a Spesh BG! Having since found out what a wrong headed company they are, I'm glad!