Tripleshot Cycling

So I'm looking to buy a new saddle for my bike, anyone have a certain model or brand that they just love?

I'm looking for comfortable, something I wouldn't mind riding for 4+ hours on.

Looks can be deceiving. I've been riding on the Specialized Toupe for more than a year. It doesn't look comfortable at all, but for me, it is. They come in different widths, so that's something to consider.

http://bicycleseatreviews.com/wp-conten ... eside2.jpg

JohnT

JohnT wrote:Looks can be deceiving. I've been riding on the Specialized Toupe for more than a year. It doesn't look comfortable at all, but for me, it is.

Ditto. There's not much to it - it's really light - but the Toupe has been great for me.

Go to OBB and demo a few specialized saddles to make sure you get the right one for you. They have a demo program for exactly that reason.

specialized is the way to go

no such thing as "best" saddle, only "best for you". you'll see pro bikes with 10 year old beat to sh*t saddles on them for exactly that reason.

Everybody is built differently, go demo some at oak bay.

Also, don't think you need something with lots of padding. The most comfortable saddles have very little padding, but the right shape for your sit bones.

For what it's worth, if brotherly genetics come in to play, the bontrager race x lite pro is the most comfy for me.

you'll see pro bikes with 10 year old beat to sh*t saddles on them for exactly that reason.

Only 10?

Seriously, there's a popular saddle is named Toupe? If that's not aiming at the MAMIL market, I don't know what is. What next, Grecian Formula Hubs?

I agree with all that has been said here, that:

- saddles are very individual
- Specialized makes great saddles
- you should try demos
- Toupé is an unfortunate name for a great saddle (although I believe that it's spelled "toupet")

In the last 5 years I have ridden 8 different saddles:

San Marco Rolls (from 1990) and ASPide=numbness in the family-generating area
Fizik tri gel and arione=numbness
Specialized toupé, phenom (non-gel)=numbness
Specialized tritip=great for track and road
ISM Adamo racing gel=great for time trials

However, the main consideration is: how rotated forward is your pelvis? The toupé or phenom are good if your back is relaxed (as opposed to flat), but for my riding style, it's imperative to have a gel saddle with a wide nose like the tritip gel. At the end of long time trials (like the TS 66km TTT on NRR), I found that I was numb with the tritip gel. The ISM Adamo has been very good that way. Not that I need to reproduce or anything.

Otherwise, for me anyway, nothing fizik makes works for me, though they look good. This year I demo'd the 2 fiziks, and the arione is a nice climbing saddle, but I wouldn't touch it for anything like TTs, track or general on-the-rivet riding. This is particular me.

Another thing to consider: the problem with demos is that my adaptability to saddles is a long process, and most frequently is in the negative direction. The phenom was great for me in 2008 -- no complaints whatsoever; and then in 2009 I had numbness and prostatitis. The latter is not caused by a given saddle (at least, there's no conclusive research on the connection between them), but the area was so sensitive that I couldn't ride the saddle, even after I got better, hence the change to the tritip. I had previously switched to the phenom after the San Marcos were failing.

If anyone wants to try and/or buy the following (for low prices), email me at emilederosnay@gmail.com:

ASPide and Rolls (both are worn, but in good shape), phenom (light scratches) and toupé (good shape).

Cheers,

Emile

Great feedback, everyone,

Jeremy, I think the trifecta would be to a) follow the 'try before you buy' option at your fav shop (OBB is great for this, BTW) recommended in this thread; b) pay for the shop to fit you properly to your steed. As Emile suggests, no saddle will give you the best ride if you are mashed against it at the wrong angle; and c) develop a great relationship with the shop in question so you can receive support and informed feedback as you tweak your position over time!

R

Great feedback, thanks everyone!!