View Full Version : Which saddle should I choose?
Which saddle should I choose?
Hi,
I'm thinking of buying a replacement saddle and was wondering if anyone could give me any advice.
The only supplier in the town where I live is 'Argos' and they sell only two types - which can be
seen at this url:
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1001&langId=-
1&searchTerms=saddle&go.x=0&go.y=0
The first is the "Bell Maximum Comfort Suspension Saddle" which has the following description:
"Dual spring suspension absorbs road shock.
3in supersoft padding for extra comfort.
Ergonomic shape relieves pressure."
And the second is the "Raleigh 'Selle Royale' Sprung Gel Saddle" and is described as:
2 coil springs and gel properties ensure cycling comfort by moulding to the body contours.
Smooth synthetic cover.
Suitable for all adult cycles.
Length 27.5cm."
Has anyone got any experience of either of these saddles or any general comments to make?
Thanks in advance,
--
John Latter
Model of an Internal Evolutionary Mechanism (based on an extension to homeostasis) linking Stationary-
Phase Mutations to the Baldwin Effect. http://members.aol.com/jorolat/TEM.html
'Where Darwin meets Lamarck?' Discussion Egroup http://groups.yahoo.com/group/evomech
"John Latter" <jorolat@msn.com> wrote in message
news:vbfpuvo2schfqo1t4tjmtncmb5dbtum6g2@4ax.com...
> Hi,
>
> I'm thinking of buying a replacement saddle and was wondering if anyone could give me any advice.
Saddles are a personal thing, what one may find comfortable another may find torture.
Generally though I would say that a saddle that is squishy and looks like it should be comfortable
is often the reverse, much like a soft sofa that you sink into but develop back ache from as it
offers no support where needed.
The other thing is intended use, if you are say doing a 15 minute commute maybe you can be lesss
fussy and one of the Argos perches will be fine, if however you intend going out for several hours
then (obviously) comfort is a must and it's unlikely a saddle of that ilk will be up to it.
Basically you should be sitting on the bones of your **** rather than sinking into an unsupportive
gel, lack of pressure on the perinuem is also desirable if you want loads of kids, allegedly :-)
Some swear by Brooks leather saddles which mould themselves to the rider but can be initially
uncomfortable. http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ -saddles-performance £29.99.
Pete
John Latter wrote:
> I'm thinking of buying a replacement saddle and was wondering if anyone could give me any advice.
>
> The only supplier in the town where I live is 'Argos' and they sell only two types
Those Argos ones are possibly suitable for short distances on very upright bikes. I suggest
forgetting Argos and travelling to a town with a proper bike shop (or even a Halfords) with a
greater selection to examine properly. Be prepared to try/buy more than one before you find
something comfortable enough (and try lots of different position settings with each). Some money can
be recouped by selling unwanted used saddles via this group or eBay.
~PB
John Latter wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm thinking of buying a replacement saddle and was wondering if anyone could give me any advice.
>
> The only supplier in the town where I live is 'Argos' and they sell only two types - which can be
> seen at this url:
>
> http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1001&langId=-
> 1&searchTerms=saddle&go.x=0&go.y=0
>
> The first is the "Bell Maximum Comfort Suspension Saddle" which has the following description:
>
> "Dual spring suspension absorbs road shock.
>
> 3in supersoft padding for extra comfort.
>
> Ergonomic shape relieves pressure."
>
> And the second is the "Raleigh 'Selle Royale' Sprung Gel Saddle" and is described as:
>
>
> 2 coil springs and gel properties ensure cycling comfort by moulding to the body contours.
>
> Smooth synthetic cover.
>
> Suitable for all adult cycles.
>
> Length 27.5cm."
>
> Has anyone got any experience of either of these saddles or any general comments to make?
>
Try mail order. Settle Cycles do a Selle Italia Flite for £30 - most people seem to get on with them
and they look very cool.
Zog The Undeniable wrote:
> John Latter wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I'm thinking of buying a replacement saddle and was wondering if anyone could give me any advice.
>>
>> The only supplier in the town where I live is 'Argos' and they sell only two types - which can be
>> seen at this url:
>>
>> http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1001&langId=-
>> 1&searchTerms=saddle&go.x=0&go.y=0
>>
>>
>> The first is the "Bell Maximum Comfort Suspension Saddle" which has the following description:
>>
>> "Dual spring suspension absorbs road shock.
>>
>> 3in supersoft padding for extra comfort.
>>
>> Ergonomic shape relieves pressure."
>>
>> And the second is the "Raleigh 'Selle Royale' Sprung Gel Saddle" and is described as:
>>
>> 2 coil springs and gel properties ensure cycling comfort by moulding to the body contours. Smooth
>> synthetic cover. Suitable for all adult cycles. Length 27.5cm."
>>
>> Has anyone got any experience of either of these saddles or any general comments to make?
>
>
>>
> Try mail order. Settle Cycles do a Selle Italia Flite for £30 - most people seem to get on with
> them and they look very cool.
>
Alternatively, there's a company (is it gearshift? Googling for past postings on saddles in this
group should get you the post I made previously about the company concerned) that will, for a
deposit, send you out a box of saddles to try. You get an idea what you (and your bum) wants from a
saddle before you buy it. I think there IS a charge for this (other than the refundable deposit) but
they might offer a discount on the saddle you eventually buy from them, not sure.
Velvet
On Sat, 27 Dec 2003 10:31:07 GMT, Velvet <not@valid.domain> wrote:
>there's a company (is it gearshift? Googling for past postings on saddles in this group should get
>you the post I made previously about the company concerned) that will, for a deposit, send you out
>a box of saddles to try.
I thought it was SJS but on reflection I think I was confusing it with their money-back guarantee
on Brooks.
Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://chapmancentral.demon.co.uk (http://chapmancentral.demon.co.uk/)
"Peter B" <peter28@btinternet.com> writes:
> "John Latter" <jorolat@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:vbfpuvo2schfqo1t4tjmtncmb5dbtum6g2@4ax.com...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I'm thinking of buying a replacement saddle and was wondering if anyone could give me any
> > advice.
>
> Saddles are a personal thing, what one may find comfortable another may find torture.
>
> Generally though I would say that a saddle that is squishy and looks like it should be comfortable
> is often the reverse, much like a soft sofa that you sink into but develop back ache from as it
> offers no support where needed.
>
> The other thing is intended use, if you are say doing a 15 minute commute maybe you can be lesss
> fussy and one of the Argos perches will be fine, if however you intend going out for several hours
> then (obviously) comfort is a must and it's unlikely a saddle of that ilk will be up to it.
All this is true but there are some things to add:
Squashy saddles are more comfortable than relatively hard ones if your typical journey is less than
ten minutes and if your riding position is 'sit up and beg'. Harder ones are more comfortable if
your typical journey is more than twenty minutes or if you ride in a more relaxed position or both.
Softer saddles are said to be more likely to cause pressure damage to your plumbing.
The critical issue for comfort in all saddles is the distance between the bony lumps on the lower
back of your pelvis, which are what you actually perch on. That is why men on the whole prefer
narrower saddles and women on the whole wider ones, but everyone is different so the saddle which
will suit you is not necessarily the same as the one which will suit other men, not even other men
who are superficially the same build as you.
> Some swear by Brooks leather saddles which mould themselves to the rider but can be initially
> uncomfortable. http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ -saddles-performance £29.99.
I strongly endorse this. In fact, consider the whole range which you will find here <URL:
http://www.brookssaddles.com/welcome.htm>. Brooks saddles look old fashioned and initially feel
very hard (they are). But the leather over a few weeks moulds itself to fit your pelvis and from
then on its peerless. If you look at bikes people ride long distances you will see an awful lot of
Brooks saddles.
I have Brooks Professional saddles on all my bikes, because the width of the Professional model fits
me. The Swift is (I think) slightly narrower and the B17 slightly wider, with the Professional S and
B17 S (womens versions) being wider again. You can also these days get a B17 Narrow and a 'New
Swallow' which looks exceedingly narrow.
--
simon@jasmine.org.uk (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; Friends don't send friends HTML formatted emails.
Originally posted by John Latter
Hi,
I'm thinking of buying a replacement saddle and was wondering if anyone could give me any advice.
The only supplier in the town where I live is 'Argos' and they sell only two types - which can be
seen at this url:
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1001&langId=-
1&searchTerms=saddle&go.x=0&go.y=0
The first is the "Bell Maximum Comfort Suspension Saddle" which has the following description:
"Dual spring suspension absorbs road shock.
Hi If it is a road bike and you really want the best for comfort and looks I can recommend the Fizik Alicante - for a MTB I have a Specialised gel c £40 both have removed all of the discomfort I had over the years,
Hope this helps
Jon
3in supersoft padding for extra comfort.
Ergonomic shape relieves pressure."
And the second is the "Raleigh 'Selle Royale' Sprung Gel Saddle" and is described as:
2 coil springs and gel properties ensure cycling comfort by moulding to the body contours.
Smooth synthetic cover.
Suitable for all adult cycles.
Length 27.5cm."
Has anyone got any experience of either of these saddles or any general comments to make?
Thanks in advance,
--
John Latter
Model of an Internal Evolutionary Mechanism (based on an extension to homeostasis) linking Stationary-
Phase Mutations to the Baldwin Effect. http://members.aol.com/jorolat/TEM.html
'Where Darwin meets Lamarck?' Discussion Egroup http://groups.yahoo.com/group/evomech ;) ;) ;)
On Fri, 26 Dec 2003 23:07:18 +0000, John Latter <jorolat@msn.com>
wrote:
>Hi,
>
>I'm thinking of buying a replacement saddle and was wondering if anyone could give me any advice.
>
>The only supplier in the town where I live is 'Argos' and they sell only two types - which can be
>seen at this url:
>
>http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1001&langId=-
>1&searchTerms=saddle&go.x=0&go.y=0
>
>The first is the "Bell Maximum Comfort Suspension Saddle" which has the following description:
>
>"Dual spring suspension absorbs road shock.
>
>3in supersoft padding for extra comfort.
>
>Ergonomic shape relieves pressure."
>
>And the second is the "Raleigh 'Selle Royale' Sprung Gel Saddle" and is described as:
>
>
>2 coil springs and gel properties ensure cycling comfort by moulding to the body contours.
>
>Smooth synthetic cover.
>
>Suitable for all adult cycles.
>
>Length 27.5cm."
>
>Has anyone got any experience of either of these saddles or any general comments to make?
>
>Thanks in advance,
Thankyou to everyone who replied - you've certainly broadened my outlook concerning saddles & I'm
going to look before I leap before I actually buy one now!
--
John Latter
Model of an Internal Evolutionary Mechanism (based on an extension to homeostasis) linking Stationary-
Phase Mutations to the Baldwin Effect. http://members.aol.com/jorolat/TEM.html
'Where Darwin meets Lamarck?' Discussion Egroup http://groups.yahoo.com/group/evomech
Simon Brooke wrote:
> I strongly endorse this. In fact, consider the whole range which you will find here <URL:
> http://www.brookssaddles.com/welcome.htm>. Brooks saddles look old fashioned and initially feel
> very hard (they are). But the leather over a few weeks moulds itself to fit your pelvis and from
> then on its peerless. If you look at bikes people ride long distances you will see an awful lot of
> Brooks saddles.
Nah...it's a CTC conspiracy, like the funny handshakes employed by Freemasons. Although I know a guy
who did the End To End on a Flite and said it was absolutely fine.
www.Gearshift.co.uk
I work for them and can give you advice on our range of saddles for touring and racing, and advise
where you might find one that's suitable if we don't stock what you're looking for.
Ian
--
Ian Rogers
"Velvet" <not@valid.domain> wrote in message news:LbdHb.6853$ds3.54524027@news-text.cableinet.net...
> Zog The Undeniable wrote:
>
> > John Latter wrote:
> >
> >> Hi,
> >>
> >> I'm thinking of buying a replacement saddle and was wondering if anyone could give me any
> >> advice.
> >>
> >> The only supplier in the town where I live is 'Argos' and they sell only two types - which can
> >> be seen at this url:
> >>
> >>
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1001&langId=-
1&searchTerms=saddle&go.x=0&go.y=0
> >>
> >>
> >> The first is the "Bell Maximum Comfort Suspension Saddle" which has the following description:
> >>
> >> "Dual spring suspension absorbs road shock.
> >>
> >> 3in supersoft padding for extra comfort.
> >>
> >> Ergonomic shape relieves pressure."
> >>
> >> And the second is the "Raleigh 'Selle Royale' Sprung Gel Saddle" and is described as:
> >>
> >> 2 coil springs and gel properties ensure cycling comfort by moulding to the body contours.
> >> Smooth synthetic cover. Suitable for all adult cycles. Length 27.5cm."
> >>
> >> Has anyone got any experience of either of these saddles or any general comments to make?
> >
> >
> >>
> > Try mail order. Settle Cycles do a Selle Italia Flite for £30 - most people seem to get on with
> > them and they look very cool.
> >
> Alternatively, there's a company (is it gearshift? Googling for past postings on saddles in this
> group should get you the post I made previously about the company concerned) that will, for a
> deposit, send you out a box of saddles to try. You get an idea what you (and your bum) wants from
> a saddle before you buy it. I think there IS a charge for this (other than the refundable deposit)
> but they might offer a discount on the saddle you eventually buy from them, not sure.
>
> Velvet
ian1954@tiscali.co.uk wrote:
> www.Gearshift.co.uk
>
> I work for them and can give you advice on our range of saddles for touring and racing, and advise
> where you might find one that's suitable if we don't stock what you're looking for.
Do you still offer the box-of-saddles trial service? I can't find any mention of it on the site now.
cheers ~PB
On Sun, 28 Dec 2003 14:04:41 -0000, <ian1954@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
>www.Gearshift.co.uk
>
>I work for them and can give you advice on our range of saddles for touring and racing, and advise
>where you might find one that's suitable if we don't stock what you're looking for.
>
>Ian
Thankyou for the offer Ian, I'm just going to look at your company's website now.
--
John Latter
Model of an Internal Evolutionary Mechanism (based on an extension to homeostasis) linking Stationary-
Phase Mutations to the Baldwin Effect. http://members.aol.com/jorolat/TEM.html
'Where Darwin meets Lamarck?' Discussion Egroup http://groups.yahoo.com/group/evomech
Hi, I'm afraid that the saddle loan scheme (unsurprisingly!) turned out to be too popular to be
workable. What we say now to customers who are unsure about which saddle would most suit them is to
purchase 2 or 3 and we will take back those that they don't want and give a refund as long as the
saddles are returned in saleable condition. This of course doesn't affect the customer's usual
rights to a refund under the distance selling reg's.
Not ideal, especially for those with limited funds, but the (owner's) original idea was not exactly
practical.
Ian
--
Ian Rogers
"Pete Biggs" <pbiggmellon{remove_fruit}s2000@onetel.net.uk> wrote in message news:bsmtm5$edn3p$1@ID-144931.news.uni-
berlin.de...
> ian1954@tiscali.co.uk wrote:
> > www.Gearshift.co.uk
> >
> > I work for them and can give you advice on our range of saddles for touring and racing, and
> > advise where you might find one that's suitable if we don't stock what you're looking for.
>
> Do you still offer the box-of-saddles trial service? I can't find any mention of it on the
> site now.
>
> cheers ~PB
In news:bskj0v$q2v$4@news7.svr.pol.co.uk,
Zog The Undeniable <ggg@hhh.net> typed:
> Simon Brooke wrote:
>
>> I strongly endorse this. In fact, consider the whole range which you will find here <URL:
>> http://www.brookssaddles.com/welcome.htm>. Brooks saddles look old fashioned and initially feel
>> very hard (they are). But the leather over a few weeks moulds itself to fit your pelvis and from
>> then on its peerless. If you look at bikes people ride long distances you will see an awful lot
>> of Brooks saddles.
>
> Nah...it's a CTC conspiracy, like the funny handshakes employed by Freemasons. Although I know a
> guy who did the End To End on a Flite and said it was absolutely fine.
Yes, but I don't think you can get a Flite in Argos either, can you? Having said that, I've got one
in my bits box, which I replaced with a Brooks (although at least partly because the Brooks was a
couple of cms higher than the Flite, meaning I didn't need to get a longer seatpost.)
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