Bloody saddles again - really, really sorry.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I've fallen out of love with my Spoons. Upon investigation I'm starting to think the problem lies with the slightly 'raised at the nose' shape of the Spoon ... I've no idea what's changed but obviously something has. Moving the saddle fore / aft doesn't make any real difference and if I drop the nose, I feel like I'm always sliding off the front and having to support myself on my arms / hands.

Anyway, what I'm after is a saddle with a completly flat top, I don't mind a centre 'cut out' but I'm trying to get away from the higher at the front and back / lower in the middle type shape.

A quick look on-line would indicate that Selle Italia could be a good bet ... any thoughts, suggestions or ideas very welcome. Ta.

[Scud]

For me, always have SDG Bel Air on the MTB's, on cross or road bike, always Fizik Aliante, both just seem to work for me.

[ScotRoutes]

Specialized Toupe? I get on great with the Specialized shape,though I've also had Spoons. I find the Spoons don't last as long - as if the padding packs down after a while.

[Mike]

I to have used the sdg bel air and its a nice saddle, however im now using the spoon and having no probs so far. Im doing a ride from bromsgrove to knighton and back this weekend with composite and its just shy of 200 miles so will see how it preforms under my rear!!

[Ray Young]

Upon investigation I'm starting to think the problem lies with the slightly 'raised at the nose' shape of the Spoon ... I

I'm running a spoon and having the same problems hence my "pain in the nether regions" post.

[chris n]

I have a Selle Italia Max Flite Gel Flow that I bought S/H but don't get on with: http://www.idmatch.ch/2013/pdf/MaxFLITEGelFlow.pdf £30 if you're interested.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I have a Selle Italia Max Flite Gel Flow that I bought S/H but don't get on with: http://www.idmatch.ch/2013/pdf/MaxFLITEGelFlow.pdf £30 if you're interested.

Cheers Chris ... I would have been but having just had a measure it's a touch big for me.

[composite]

+1 for the SDG Bel Air. I just replace as required with that years model. Love 'em. :)

[restlessshawn]

Whilst I like bel airs I can't see them suiting if Stu wants a flat top saddle, I think they are a very similar shape to a spoon, just more padded and lovely.

The original selle italia flites were flat from what I remember, though I haven't had one since the 90's, I think you can still get that shape.

Fizik Arione look flat as, never tried one though

[Cheeky Monkey]

What restless said. If after something flat it isn't a bel air. Love mine but that's not the question.

I did just pick up one of the cheap SDG I beam saddles off CRC but the name escapes me however it was pretty flat. Some mates are swearing by fixit ariones (?) iirc, see flat ish too.

[Zippy]

fizil tundra is pretty flat and one of my saddles of choice.

[royAB]

S I Flite - flat, lite & cheap(ish) on eBlag

[Bearbonesnorm]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

A NOS Selle Italia SL XC Flow is now ordered. Judging by the pictures I've seen it has a flat top, fairly big cut-out and a width of 140mm should suit my arse well

[ericrobo]

I got a Specialised Toupe Expert a few weeks ago... it's very light and very minimal with a slot along the middle - cost £80
even though it's hard and minimal it may help because there is so little of your butt on it, on the other hand a comfy armchair saddle may cause a problem

[Bearbonesnorm]

I'm running a spoon and having the same problems hence my "pain in the nether regions" post.

Ray, after a trip this weekend I would certainly take a look at the offerings from Sella Italia ... 100(ish) K with lots and lots of climbing and everything down below is perky

[Ray Young]

Thanks Stu.

[Ray Young]

Just ordered selle Italia X1 team saddle from CRC, looks nicely flat and minimal.

[24tom]

I use a Fizik Tundra 2 on two of my bikes. It has a flat nose, and is relatively narrow, which seems to suit me perfectly.

Having said that, I'm testing a Charge scoop at the moment, which is basically the same shape as theSpoon, and I seem to be getting on just fine with that! (Although it's on my SS and the only long ride I did on it was into such a headwind, I barely sat down for 4 hrs :-/)

[Ray Young]

Just ordered selle Italia X1 team saddle from CRC, looks nicely flat and minimal.

Just been informed these are not in stock even though the CRC site says they were and still are in stock, :? .

[Bearbonesnorm]

Quite a selection here Ray: http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/pp/mtb-bm ... s-mtb/sadm

This is what I ended up with, it's an old model year so heavily reduced: http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/mtb-bm ... ellsadm315

[adjustablewench]

I am having saddle troubles too and not quite sure what to do. I have a belle air on my mountain bike which has always seemed ok. Now on my genesis I have the saddle that came with it - not as padded and feels comfy can do long ride on both with no problems. ...

But changing from one bike to the other gives me hip pain, so commuting all week on the cdf then a weekend mtb ride will give me hip trouble as will a weekend of mtb and followed by a blast on the cdf.

Also with both saddles when I do over 100miles in a day I start to get pressure damage over my sitting bones. Is there a way round this - not that I do 100+ often, but I dont like damaging myself when I do.

Has anyone had a saddle fitting done properly?

[Bearbonesnorm]

This is what Specialized think*.

A saddle should do more than simply protect you from your seatpost. Like shoes, gloves and other gear you depend on, it should fit. Perfectly.

Until now, saddle width had been determined by little more than an educated guess based on myriad opinions and a few calluses. But physiology makes it clear that it does not, and should not, have to be this way: different riders, even those with identical waist sizes and weights, can have different sit bone width measurements. Thinner saddles are not always best for the peleton’s svelte, just as a sprinter does not necessarily require a wider saddle due to broader musculature. There is one primary determinant of proper saddle width: the distance between the ischial tuberosities (a.k.a. “sit bones”):

Related to this is rider position: as a rider rolls forward into a more aggressive aero position, the sit bone placement tapers closer together. As a result, a more comfortable endurance position requires a slightly wider saddle than a faster, more aero position would require.

So without dimensions like waist measurement available as a reliable way to determine sit bone width, and because perceived comfort is a poor substitution for a measured fit, we developed the Body Geometry Saddle Fit System to provide an easy way to accurately measure your actual sit bone width. Once you’ve been measured, try either of our two all new racing saddle designs, the Alias and the Avatar. Each is available in 3 widths to ensure a perfect fit, based on your actual measurements and preferred riding position.



*lifted from their website without any permission (kind or otherwise). If you'd like to sue me, go ahead ... I've got nowt

[ScotRoutes]

I've done the Specialized bone measurement thing (you can do it with plasticine) and I'm a 143. It seems to have worked for me.

[adjustablewench]

Cool will get the plasticine out :)

How would waist measurements give sit bone width? Not important just intrigued

[Ray Young]

Sorry to drag this thread up but I have a new saddle and it's 133 mm wide replacing the 140mm one I was using. I am hoping this will stop me getting pain in the nether regions that I was getting on multi day rides. I am thinking that the 140 was too wide for my skinny butt and was pushing me forward onto the nose of the saddle which meant I was not getting supported properly. If I checked the back end of the saddle whilst riding I always seemed to have about 1cm of saddle not being sat on no matter how far forward I moved it or how often I pushed myself further back onto it. A two hour ride today on the new saddle is looking promising, I actually sat on the whole saddle for the whole ride, no gap at the back and no conscious effort to sit back into it, only a multi day ride will tell if it works but here's hoping.