Touring saddle query

[Cycleops]

I understand that Specialized have a device which measures you and comes up with saddle which suits. I haven't tried it but someone will be along soon who can give you their first hand experience. I too am in the same boat so it will be interesting to see what people say.

 

[Yellow7]

Hi bikepacker.

I have put this in the touring section as I really would like to hear from those like me who do a lot (around 10,000) of touring miles a year but not racing.

Soreness, numbness (uncomfortableness) on a saddle occurs due to your body weight, acting downward, against the upward shock/ jolts from the terrain surface, even a smooth road, and also from the general side-side movement of the rider, throughout the day, adding to chaffing, upon a fixed [rigid] saddle.

From experience my first 750 mile tour proved more comfortable half-way through the day by using padded shorts, although not keen on them for long tours as they’re not exactly hygienic, furthering the chances of rashes.

I found the obvious answer is to isolate the main mass on the bike (myself) from the bike itself by using a sprung saddle (the make being irrelevant, although obvious). The benefits are twofold:
1.The ride becomes enjoyable all day, with no aches or numbness.
2.The springs - effectively suspension - dampen the jolts/ shocks, minimising Stress / strain on the bicycle (to date, I've had no broken spokes).

My last annual tour was in excess of your stated figure, and I never had a single butt problem. The sprung saddles may look a tad granddad’ish but for me functionality precedes form. Well worth considering if you've not done so already?
Mark.

 

[andym]

More than 160mm seems to rule out a lot of saddles on the market including the Brooks B17 and Swallow. The Team Pro is 160mm. The Spa Cycles NIdd is 168mm.

 

[Muddyfox]

The stock saddle that came on the ridgeback Panorama was comfy enough for 8 hours at a stint, don't know who makes it for ridgeback though.

I agree with this .. i have a Brooks B17 Titanium on my Dawes Karakum but when i sold my Ridgeback Panorama i did keep the saddle just incase i did'nt get on with whatever came on the Karakum, and if i dont get on with the Brooks i will be putting the Panorama saddle on the Karakum

Muddyfox

 

[steveindenmark]

You can of course go down the route I took. It saves all the hassle of seats, gears, pedals, cranks, etc. I was so impressed that I have done it twice

Steve

 

[bigjim]

I've read about Brooks being called an "Ass Spreader" due to the sit bones making their own impression on the leather, so allowing the centre to push up into the Prostate area, which is not a good thing. I can concur with this as my Brooks will do this on a long day. I do find the Brooks relieves the chafing you get on a non leather saddle due to the ability of the leather to cool and not heat up. Maybe I will cut the middle out of mine.
I find the standard saddle on my Giant fine for me, but it does need some Butter Butt applying for long rides.

 

[Davidc]

Have you tried any of your saddles with a suspension seatpost?

I've found that as road surfaces have got worse over the past few years I've more often noticed discomfort, and I've found the seatpost I got last year makes a big difference if I'm riding for more than about 8 hours. (Albeit on a Brooks, which you don't like).

 

[bikepacker]

Purchased a Rido R2 so next week will be a saddle testing time. I was thinking about a small tour of Mid-Wales and the Forest of Dean, so it will give me a chance to try it out.

 

[jags]

on my sherpa i use the brooks champion special copper rivets comfy straight out of the box.
on my raleigh i use the fizik alanti, brilliant saddle really well made find it very comfortable.i had a french guy stay here one time super cyclist but his saddle was a weird looking set up to say the least, no nose basicaly looked like a half saddle but he swore by it said it was the best saddle he ever used.
sorry no idea what make it was but might be worth going on the hunt for one.

 

[HelenD123]

I understand that Specialized have a device which measures you and comes up with saddle which suits. I haven't tried it but someone will be along soon who can give you their first hand experience. I too am in the same boat so it will be interesting to see what people say.

You sit on a sort of gel pad which leaves an impression of your sit bones which they use to measure the width. I've done thousands of miles on a Spesh BG saddle and found it very comfy. Not sure if a female perspective helps though. The saddles can be picked up quite cheaply.

 

[bikepacker]

jags: Was it this one http://www.ismseat.com/saddle/adamo-typhoon I have a friend who rides one and loves it, I have had a short ride on it but it was a little too narrow for my liking.

HelenD123: I tried the Specialized measuring device and they said an Avatat 155 should suit me but it didn't.

My Rido R2 arrived on Monday and I have done 57 miles on it, feels okay but not enough miles yet to know if it is the answer.

 

[jags]

NO bikepackerif you can imagine that saddle cut off just where the A is (on the name of the saddle.)
had no nose strange looking beast but my french buddy loved it .
bikepacker if i remember you don't ware padded shorts if this is the case get yourself a pair of assos excellent padding but expensive but the amount of cycling you do they will work out cheap.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=36446

 

[bikepacker]

Tried cycling shorts many times, hate them, it is like sitting in a cow pat.

 

[jags]

Tried cycling shorts many times, hate them, it is like sitting in a cow pat.

maybe so but better than suffering a sore ass

 

[bof]

I did the sitbone thing at a Specialised shop with a shop assistant who clearly knew his stuff and for a deposit of £50 I think, rode a "demo" saddle for 300km in one day and was fine with it. When I went back to return the demo and buy one, I got a young assistant who said "oh that's the MTB model, you want the road saddle" which I duly bought.

Doh!!! it was alright for short rides but when a few months later I tried a long one it was not up to snuff. Unfortunately nothing on the saddle said what type it was, I couldn't remember the product name, nor could I find the receipt, nor could I find the saddle in a bike shop (not the Specialised one) that had lots of their saddles

I finally found the saddle for me, though, it's a no brand MTB saddle off a a cheap bike. It will soon disintegrate and I too will be faced with finding a replacement.

So... maybe try a Specialised shop and listen to your bottom and not an assistant or try a bespoke saddle maker and tell us how that worked out.