 Topic Name: Saddle preference
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on: July 15, 2016, 08:07:06 AM
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bakerjw
Posts: 464
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« on: July 15, 2016, 08:07:06 AM » |
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Back in June, I had some issues with saddle comfort with riding 10+ hours a day for 3 days in a row. I know that saddle preferences vary based on the individual but I figured that this would be a good place to get an idea of what saddles work best for ultra racers since they spend so much saddle time. What is your go-to saddle?
Thanks
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Topic Name: Saddle preference
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Reply #1 on: July 15, 2016, 09:09:04 AM
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Yagi
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Posts: 152
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« Reply #1 on: July 15, 2016, 09:09:04 AM » |
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I don't race, but I love my Brooks Cambium. Took a gamble buying it - nobody I knew had one when I bought mine. It turned out to be a great investment for the Coconino, Kokopelli, and other bigger trips. Otherwise, I use some good old B17s for touring.
You're right, though - it's a very personal item.
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Topic Name: Saddle preference
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Reply #2 on: July 16, 2016, 02:43:58 AM
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Unai
Posts: 27
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« Reply #2 on: July 16, 2016, 02:43:58 AM » |
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I think that the most important is to go to a good (sometimes dificult) bike fitter. To put everything ok on your bike, because everything affects to the saddle pressure. Also is important to see your pelvis to choose the best bike saddle for you.
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Topic Name: Saddle preference
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Reply #3 on: July 17, 2016, 12:19:15 PM
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eec
Posts: 107
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« Reply #3 on: July 17, 2016, 12:19:15 PM » |
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I've been riding a Fizik Arione for about 10 years. I bought it back when I was road racing, and I wanted a long saddle with lengthy rails. When I started getting interested in bikepacking, I moved the saddle to my old Cannondale Trail mountain bike. This year I bought an El Mariachi, so now it's moved to that bike, which is now my primary bike. I've never had problems with that saddle. Like I said, it's long, so there's plenty of real estate to keep moving around and stay comfortable, and the rails are long as well, so there's a wide range of fore/aft position. The saddle itself looks like it could do double duty as a torture device by making someone sit on it all day, but it's perfect for me.
I'm glad I happened to find one that worked out, but you could literally spend a fortune on trying to find the right saddle. I wish there was a way to test out saddles with a long ride before purchasing, because the good ones ain't cheap.
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Topic Name: Saddle preference
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Reply #4 on: July 18, 2016, 05:42:48 AM
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Yogi the Barry
Location: Land of Detachment
Posts: 482
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« Reply #4 on: July 18, 2016, 05:42:48 AM » |
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I just purchased a Fabric Scoop Race, with the Curve shape option. Weight is about ~250g and it has Ti rails. Coming off a Fizik Gamma Aliante XM model, my favorite for about four years now, which I believe has been discontinued.
The Fabric Scoop fits my sit bones very nicely. At least it did during the 5.5 hour ride I did with it this past Saturday. I like it so much I'm leaving it on for the 2016 CTR. It lacks any type of perimeter protection, to minimize damage in crashes, but I don't know if this is an issue or not with this type of one-piece, molded construction.
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« Last Edit: July 18, 2016, 07:17:23 AM by Yogi the Barry »
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Topic Name: Saddle preference
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Reply #5 on: July 18, 2016, 06:14:55 AM
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Lentamentalisk
Posts: 248
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« Reply #5 on: July 18, 2016, 06:14:55 AM » |
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I had heard good things about the Brooks Cambium, so test rode one on a nice 30 mile ride. It felt great! So I went ahead and purchased one. My next ride was a 250 mile overnighter. Sure enough, 31 miles in to the ride, my butt started to hurt. That was a pretty rough 220 remaining miles. Moral of the story, test ride your saddle for the length of time you plan on riding it for.
Also the Cambium does NOT work for light weight riders. It relies on your weight to sag the saddle and if you don't weigh enough, it simply will be hard as a rock. Even the cutout saddle has this problem.
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Topic Name: Saddle preference
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Reply #6 on: July 18, 2016, 07:10:31 AM
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Yogi the Barry
Location: Land of Detachment
Posts: 482
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« Reply #6 on: July 18, 2016, 07:10:31 AM » |
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@Lentamentalisk, Hard to test a saddle for multiple days when only the punishment of a multi-day event is the ultimate test. Instead, have to rely on body awareness and shorter duration rides. Any negative vibe during a short ride is a clear indicator of things to come. Also helps a lot to be proactive on the management of the equatorial regions of the body. I'm a firm believer of A&D ointment before I have friction issues. I've tried multiple chamois creams and expensive elixirs - A&D seems to do just as good or better. It's also dirt cheap, if you're a cheapskate like me. I think A&D is about 15% lanolin. 100% lanolin is the best, but it's so thick that it needs something to thin it out and ease application. -B I had heard good things about the Brooks Cambium, so test rode one on a nice 30 mile ride. It felt great! So I went ahead and purchased one. My next ride was a 250 mile overnighter. Sure enough, 31 miles in to the ride, my butt started to hurt. That was a pretty rough 220 remaining miles. Moral of the story, test ride your saddle for the length of time you plan on riding it for.
Also the Cambium does NOT work for light weight riders. It relies on your weight to sag the saddle and if you don't weigh enough, it simply will be hard as a rock. Even the cutout saddle has this problem.
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« Last Edit: July 18, 2016, 07:22:17 AM by Yogi the Barry »
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Topic Name: Saddle preference
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Reply #7 on: July 18, 2016, 07:45:35 AM
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bakerjw
Posts: 464
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« Reply #7 on: July 18, 2016, 07:45:35 AM » |
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True. If a saddle presents issues after a few hours, it is definitely out of the running for long hauls. What surprised me was that my saddle was fine for 8 or so.
I am trying a Selle Anatomica right now. A friend also tried one but bent the rails on a xc ride so I am not sure how it will work out for me.
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Topic Name: Saddle preference
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Reply #8 on: July 18, 2016, 07:47:07 AM
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eec
Posts: 107
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« Reply #8 on: July 18, 2016, 07:47:07 AM » |
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@Lentamentalisk,
Hard to test a saddle for multiple days when only the punishment of a multi-day event is the ultimate test. Instead, have to rely on body awareness and shorter duration rides. Any negative vibe during a short ride is a clear indicator of things to come. Also helps a lot to be proactive on the management of the equatorial regions of the body. I'm a firm believer of A&D ointment before I have friction issues. I've tried multiple chamois creams and expensive elixirs - A&D seems to do just as good or better. It's also dirt cheap, if you're a cheapskate like me. I think A&D is about 15% lanolin. 100% lanolin is the best, but it's so thick that it needs something to thin it out and ease application. -B
I haven't tried A&D ointment, but what I found to be really effective if things are acting up is slather on a bunch of vaseline down there before putting on the shorts. Seems to keep things friction-free for a long time. |
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Topic Name: Saddle preference
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Reply #9 on: July 18, 2016, 08:46:27 AM
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Yogi the Barry
Location: Land of Detachment
Posts: 482
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« Reply #9 on: July 18, 2016, 08:46:27 AM » |
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Re: Vaseline/A&D... Over 50% of A&D is petroleum jelly [a.k.a. Vaseline]. Other inactive ingredients in A&D are cod/carrot/mineral oils, wax/paraffin. The cod liver oil, rich in vitamins A & D, are supposedly what it's named after. I know, I know, TMI... A&D/Vaseline - both dirt cheap. I haven't tried A&D ointment, but what I found to be really effective if things are acting up is slather on a bunch of vaseline down there before putting on the shorts. Seems to keep things friction-free for a long time.
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Topic Name: Saddle preference
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Reply #10 on: July 19, 2016, 02:17:58 AM
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Rob Colliver
Posts: 83
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« Reply #10 on: July 19, 2016, 02:17:58 AM » |
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I've used a Prologo triathlon saddle for the TD twice. Don't be afraid to take a grinder to the saddle if there are tiny places where it does not fit perfectly.
Also, when a spot develops on your bum, get the pliers out and notch a space in the saddle padding to give the spot to breathe. My bum went from sitting lopsided on the saddle back to central and able to apply equal power through both legs in less than 30 minutes this year on day 19 when Uncle Fester the younger made a fleeting appearance.
This may make the saddle into a 'one race only' saddle, but they are tools, not jewels.
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Topic Name: Saddle preference
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Reply #11 on: July 19, 2016, 05:03:25 AM
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Yogi the Barry
Location: Land of Detachment
Posts: 482
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« Reply #11 on: July 19, 2016, 05:03:25 AM » |
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@Rob, Curious which Prologo saddle you used? They make so many. Looks like Fabric does the same thing as Prologo, in that they offer three different curves to their saddles [round,semi,flat]... I've used a Prologo triathlon saddle for the TD twice. ...snip...
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Topic Name: Saddle preference
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Reply #12 on: July 21, 2016, 12:23:53 PM
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Rob Colliver
Posts: 83
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« Reply #12 on: July 21, 2016, 12:23:53 PM » |
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It was a Prologo Iron Edge Tri saddle with a pair of small divots angle ground into the sit bone area to relieve chafing.
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