Saddles

[gavroche]

Do you always keep the original saddle that comes with your bike? I find that around the 20 mile mark, my saddle becomes uncomfortable , no matter which bike I ride. I have had a bike fit and all my bikes are set in the same way so I think that maybe I should I invest in wider saddles as the problem is not with my bum but the bit between my bum and my privates. I feel that a broader saddle might put less pressure on that area. My bikes are Specialized Roubaix Elite, Specialized Allez and Cube Peloton, all with original saddles.

 

[vickster]

Try a saddle with a cut out?

 

[derrick]

If you had a bike fit they would have measured your sit bones. and advised you on the size of the saddle that suited you. Never been happy with the saddles that come on a standard bike, saying that i have only ever bought one complete bike. There are a lot of different saddles out there, it's just a case of finding one that suits you.

 

[cosmicbike]

I don't think any of my bikes have their original saddles. I go for saddles with a central cut out now, but not the same on each bike as the riding positions vary. I find the width also changes, so have a 155mm Specialized Romin on the RT-58, a 150mm Selle SMP on the commuter, a 140mm Selle Hybrid on the Ti (both the Selle SMP's are the rather odd looking droop nose type, very comfy I find). Mind you, the standard Bromton saddle I find really comfortable which is also down to position I suppose.
I use ebay to buy cheap, used saddles to test, it's worked so far. Once I find one that works then I'll spend a bit more and get one on good condition.

 

[Hedgemonkey]

The OEM saddle on my Whyte Sussex is so comfy I got another for my other road bike.
The mtb one of choice after many trials and tribulations is a titanium railed
SDG Bell air.

 

[Bazzer]

The original saddle on my Cannondale seemed to suit me for a few thousand miles and then started to hurt me on rides, after a few miles,. So went to Evans* for for a sit on their "arseometer" and bought a saddle based on the measurements. I feel it could be refined a little more, but the pain disappeared.
* I expect other bike shops have the measuring device, it was just Evans was convenient.

 

[Sharky]

No real advice, other than keep tweaking saddle height, tilt and fore/aft etc. I found a saddle eventually, which was comfortable and I now have the same on all four of my regular bikes.

 

[bpsmith]

Once you find the right saddle, you will always buy the same for every new bike.

I show willing with any new bike, but always find them too wide. My choice is the Fizik Arione, so there’s no surprise the standard ones feel wide.

 

[ADarkDraconis]

My saddle was too soft and too wide in the nose, I was getting uncomfortable on the inner thighs because I have big legs. I just got a new saddle yesterday so we will see how it treats me. I gave the one originally on it a really good try, but not all bodies are shaped the same so not all saddles will fit you. However, make sure its angle is good for you as well, mine is tilted ever so slightly down in front to relieve crotchular pressure.

 

[Globalti]

One saddle that never disappoints is the Charge Spoon. Good price too.

 

[raleighnut]

Brooks

 

[Ian H]

Saddle, bars, pedals, gearing — I can't imagine being happy with much of the original equipment if I happened to buy a complete bike.

 

[Alan O]

The last new bike I bought was around 1985, and I kept the gel saddle it came with for a long time despite not liking it anywhere near as much as the B17 that was on my previous bike - I kept kicking myself for giving the old bike away without first swapping saddles. Anyway, that one's got a Brooks Swallow on it now.

Other than that, a 2nd-hand GT MTB I got last year had a reasonable own-brand saddle, but that's now been replaced with a Charge Spoon which is definitely better.

A Grisley rigid MTB-type bike waiting to be finished came with a horrible plastic bedspring saddle (whole bike cost £30), and that will certainly be changed before I properly ride it - it can have the old GT saddle.

Other than that, I've only bought frames.

 

[mikeymustard]

Saddle, bars, pedals, gearing — I can't imagine being happy with much of the original equipment if I happened to buy a complete bike.

plus wheels, frame..... Oh wait!
I have a variety of Brooks saddles the latest of which is a swallow; it's taken me a while to get used to how different it is to other leather saddles but we are finally making friends!

 

[Dave7]

The original saddle on my Cannondale seemed to suit me for a few thousand miles and then started to hurt me on rides, after a few miles,. So went to Evans* for for a sit on their "arseometer" and bought a saddle based on the measurements. I feel it could be refined a little more, but the pain disappeared.
* I expect other bike shops have the measuring device, it was just Evans was convenient.

I was struggling to do more than 20 miles. After 30 I couldnt get on the bike for 2 weeks (it was so painful).
I went to a LBS and they sat me on their arsometer. I bought the saddle he recommeded and heypresto....next day I did a fairly comfortable 70 miler.