 Topic Name: Favorite saddle?
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on: September 07, 2011, 07:56:08 PM
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MattL
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 97
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« on: September 07, 2011, 07:56:08 PM » |
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Hi, all. n00b here. I've been using the WTB Rocket V for the past 5+ years and had been happy, mostly on the road. I'm just starting to put in long days on the trails—where obviously my position is very different—and I think I'm getting annoyed with my saddle. I had a couple episodes of backside pain and brief numbness in the...uh, gentleman's area which quickly resolved when I stayed out of the saddle for awhile. These were both during long seated climbs. The other thing I find with the Rocket V is that sometimes I feel like I am resisting the playground side that is the "pedaling platform" by pushing against the bars, which is no good for my hands/ulnar nerves, and my arms get enough of a workout on MTB descents.
Anyway, I am looking to try something different. Anybody have any favorites, anything that was like an "aha!" moment, especially on long MTB rides?
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I finished the 2013 TD. I did the whole damn thing,
excluding the 2013 detours, in good style and—as
far as I know—totally in accordance with the rules.
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Topic Name: Favorite saddle?
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Reply #1 on: September 07, 2011, 09:52:43 PM
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intheways
Posts: 129
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« Reply #1 on: September 07, 2011, 09:52:43 PM » |
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It weighs a ton, but I've been loving my Brooks flyer
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Topic Name: Favorite saddle?
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Reply #2 on: September 08, 2011, 01:16:16 AM
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boddunn
Location: Kirby Muxloe, England
Posts: 86
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« Reply #2 on: September 08, 2011, 01:16:16 AM » |
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Saddles are very specific to each person but my butt seems to be Selle Italia SLR shaped, I've spent about 14 hours at a time on one and it's been pretty comfy. I recently bought the extra padded version and it gives me numbness in the, ahem, area you mentioned.
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Topic Name: Favorite saddle?
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Reply #3 on: September 08, 2011, 05:20:18 AM
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Topic Name: Favorite saddle?
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Reply #4 on: September 08, 2011, 08:32:22 AM
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GRAVELBIKE
Location: Boulder County, CO
Posts: 20
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« Reply #4 on: September 08, 2011, 08:32:22 AM » |
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I swore by the WTB Pure-V for several years. When I started doing more and more paved miles on a Brooks B17, I found that the Pure-V wasn't all that comfortable (it felt like it lacked the 'support' of the B17). Because I couldn't get the B17 back far enough (it has really short rails), I tried a Selle An-Atomica (clydesdale version). Talk about 'aha moments.' Comfy right out of the box, and I can adjust the tension when I feel like I want something harder/softer.
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Topic Name: Favorite saddle?
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Reply #5 on: September 09, 2011, 08:22:12 PM
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Damnitman
Posts: 125
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« Reply #5 on: September 09, 2011, 08:22:12 PM » |
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Aside from an old (20-30 yrs) Brooks on my '55 Schwinn Spitfire, the Terry Liberator gel has been my most comfortable saddle...not perfect, but so far the best. I have been wanting to try the Selle Anatomica for awhile and am barely resisting the urge to order one right now...
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Topic Name: Favorite saddle?
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Reply #6 on: September 10, 2011, 05:19:20 PM
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mbeardsl
Location: NC
Posts: 293
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« Reply #6 on: September 10, 2011, 05:19:20 PM » |
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You will get almost as many recommendations Try a few, many LBSs will have loaners to try for a day/weekend.
I have settled on the Avatar Gel from Specialized as I have very wide sit bones (I use the 155mm width version). I have tried numerous brands and models but none have been as good YET for long distances - in my case 40-60 miles so by no means ultra but do many back to back days around 40 and have no issues. My rides used to revolve around how long I could sit, but that focus has shifted to my legs now that I never think about the saddle. If the nose was turned down a bit more it'd be an alsmost perfect saddle for me. Only complaint is that I am likely too heavy (220lbs) to keep the thing silent. I've got three and all of them make noise where the rails enter the structure of the saddle. I probably just need to take it apart and wrap the ends in a small piece of bar tape or something similar.
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Topic Name: Favorite saddle?
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Reply #7 on: September 12, 2011, 04:05:13 PM
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Ultra Magnus
Posts: 43
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« Reply #7 on: September 12, 2011, 04:05:13 PM » |
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I've tried a handful of saddles over the years and they all have causes a pretty much equal amount of discomfort and numbness, so I just settled on the lightest one of the bunch- selle italia slr. I still get significant numbness in that "special part of the male body" when pedaling seated for more than 15mins at a time. It's not an issue mtnbiking since I'm out of the saddle so much. Though, now that I'm looking to take up bikepacking, I'm thinking something more comfortable is in order. I'll try my lbs and see if they have loaners...but as a recovering weight weenie, it'll be hard to swallow a seat that's three times or more the weight of what I'm running now...
thanks for giving that suggestion...
BM
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Topic Name: Favorite saddle?
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Reply #8 on: September 12, 2011, 07:49:56 PM
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mbeardsl
Location: NC
Posts: 293
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« Reply #8 on: September 12, 2011, 07:49:56 PM » |
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I've never been a weight weenie but anything that allows me to ride as long as I want is worth it's weight in gold (or maybe titanium)
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Topic Name: Favorite saddle?
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Reply #9 on: September 12, 2011, 08:52:17 PM
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GRAVELBIKE
Location: Boulder County, CO
Posts: 20
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« Reply #9 on: September 12, 2011, 08:52:17 PM » |
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I ordered a second Selle An-Atomica today so that I can have one on my commuter and one on my adventure/gravel bike. Not cheap, but cheaper than all the expensive plastic saddles I tried (which was a lot).
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Topic Name: Favorite saddle?
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Reply #10 on: February 06, 2012, 08:00:37 AM
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cocokeelers
Posts: 5
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« Reply #10 on: February 06, 2012, 08:00:37 AM » |
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Brooks, Brooks, Brooks, Brooks, Brooks, Brooks, Brooks, Brooks, Brooks, Brooks, Brooks, Brooks, Brooks...
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Topic Name: Favorite saddle?
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Reply #11 on: February 07, 2012, 01:15:42 AM
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Adam Alphabet
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 968
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« Reply #11 on: February 07, 2012, 01:15:42 AM » |
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Plus One on the Selle Anatomica, biggest aha moment I've had sitting down on a bike, anyone who tries mine says the same...never used it on my mountain bike though.
I've used it touring lots; roads, really rough gravel roads, some single track, but am still looking for a proper mountain bike saddle to use for dedicated mountain bike rides. I tried my B-17 on a bikepacking trip once and didn't like it. Great for the road and gravel, too wide as soon as I stood up or tried to get behind it on the single track though.
good luck!
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@adamalphabet
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Topic Name: Favorite saddle?
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Reply #12 on: February 07, 2012, 03:01:09 AM
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ltlquail
Location: Canberra, AUSTRALIA
Posts: 11
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« Reply #12 on: February 07, 2012, 03:01:09 AM » |
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I really like the WTB silverado done a couple of solo 24's on one with no numbness what so ever. I have had selle anatomica's on both my commuter and road bikes for about 4years now and love them however I have bent the rails several times riding the commuter off road so never tried on the mtb. Selle anatomicas have changed their rails to chromoly just recently so they may be strong enough now. I ride ss mtb and stand up lots so prefer the wtb off road. All other saddles I have tried have left me with numbness after any more than 8hrs in the saddle. These include various Fizik, brooks and selle italia models. The other great thing about the anatomica I find is it is the only saddle I can ride for any period of time without having to wear nicks.
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Topic Name: Favorite saddle?
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Reply #13 on: February 07, 2012, 08:34:41 AM
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Done
Posts: 1434
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« Reply #13 on: February 07, 2012, 08:34:41 AM » |
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After trying 4-5 different saddles, I've been happiest with a WTB Rocket. No numbness, and very little pressure pain. Alas, every saddle that I've ever used has given me serious butt chaff on longer rides. Different shorts don't seem to help. A&D is wonderful stuff. I figure that maybe I've just got sensitive skin--band aids and tape give me rashes and welts if I leave them on too long.
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"Done"
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Topic Name: Favorite saddle?
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Reply #14 on: February 13, 2012, 06:57:55 AM
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chriskmurray
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 59
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« Reply #14 on: February 13, 2012, 06:57:55 AM » |
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My favorite so far is the Fizik Gobi, I can do 12ish hour days and still be comfortable on the MTB. When I tried it on rides that have me seated more like on the road or exploring fire roads it gets to be uncomfortable after roughly 3-5 hrs. I am gonna give a brooks b17 a shot once I have the money to spend, there has to be a reason so many randonneurs use them.
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Topic Name: Favorite saddle?
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Reply #15 on: February 13, 2012, 09:56:21 PM
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sub-xero
Posts: 44
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« Reply #15 on: February 13, 2012, 09:56:21 PM » |
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My favorite saddle is the SQLab 610, a perfect hybrid saddle for mountain biking and long trips. I've been using this saddle for years for both extreme mountain biking and long multi-day bike-hiking tours. However, SQLab is a German company and I'm not sure whether the saddles are available in the US. |
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Topic Name: Favorite saddle?
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Reply #16 on: February 13, 2012, 10:03:23 PM
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mattyp
Posts: 50
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« Reply #16 on: February 13, 2012, 10:03:23 PM » |
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i like the specialized phenom or ronin. both are great saddles and pretty similar shape. rode the phenom on tour this summer on some long days; 8-12hours of saddle time. i use the ronin on my road and cross bikes and they are a little firmer and shorter but i can't really tell the difference; similar i have ridden those bikes from an hour to full days with no complaints.
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Topic Name: Favorite saddle?
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Reply #17 on: February 14, 2012, 02:36:26 PM
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GRAVELBIKE
Location: Boulder County, CO
Posts: 20
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« Reply #17 on: February 14, 2012, 02:36:26 PM » |
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My third Selle An-Atomica should be here in a week or so.
It's like the N+1 rule, but with saddles...
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Topic Name: Favorite saddle?
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Reply #18 on: February 16, 2012, 03:55:57 AM
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Payton MacDonald
Posts: 117
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« Reply #18 on: February 16, 2012, 03:55:57 AM » |
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Thanks for the recommendations, guys, and thanks for starting the thread. I have a Specialized phenom which seems to only work for about three hours. I'll check out some of these other saddles. Funny story: I was telling my wife the other day how cool she is for letting me attempt the Tour Divide. She said "I think it's great you're attempting it and you can do it as many times as you want so long as all that time on the bike doesn't affect your sexual functioning." I think she gets the award for most awesome wife.  |
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Topic Name: Favorite saddle?
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Reply #19 on: February 29, 2012, 12:40:56 PM
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woody
Location: Southern Utah
Posts: 288
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« Reply #19 on: February 29, 2012, 12:40:56 PM » |
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My third Selle An-Atomica should be here in a week or so.
It's like the N+1 rule, but with saddles...
I have a Selle An-Atomica and love it. I saw somewhere that Selle An-Atomica site was selling the brown (only) for $99.98 while they last, which is half off. Two of my buddies just ordered them as well. Can't beat that price. http://www.selleanatomica.com/rapidcart/Woody |
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