Saddle woes

19-02.-2003, 10:42 AM	#1
Powderfinger Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 36	Saddle woes Hey guys, I just bought a Trek 5200, and the Selle San Marco saddle is a disaster. I've heard a lot of complaints 1: what is a good COMFORTABLE saddle? 2: do you think the shop i bought the bike at will swap the saddle i got with the bike for a new one?

19-02.-2003, 12:01 PM	#2
rek Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,200	Congrats on the new bike! Trek 5200, wow, you don't like to mess around, do you I would simply ask your local bike store, I'm sure they'll be happy to help. Saddles seem to be very 'personal' things when it comes to fitting, I don't think there is "the" saddle for everybody, it all depends on personal preference. If I bought a bike like that from somewhere, I would pretty much expect a level of service where they would have no worries swapping the saddle (that is, if you haven't put too many miles on it already), and even to 'test-ride' saddles until you find one that suits you perfectly. I think my LBS offers that service no matter what bike you got from them (or even, if you didn't buy one from them .. I can't remember the exact details) __________________ Peter Cannondale Synapse Carbon Scalpel Cyclocross Ultra

19-02.-2003, 07:57 PM	#3
Blimp Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Bothwell, Tasmania Posts: 144	Aren't they all uncomfortable?

19-02.-2003, 08:04 PM	#4
steve Administrator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Below Australia -20 years Posts: 1,993	A good bike shop will let you try a saddle before you buy, I wouldn't shop at one who didn't. I would also think they'd swap a 'new' saddle you brought from them without any issues. cheers! __________________ Steve CyclingForums.com

19-02.-2003, 08:19 PM	#5
Blimp Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Bothwell, Tasmania Posts: 144	For the uninitiated amongst us, how about a quick description of saddle types, why cost varies and how to avoid a bad one? Mine is something called a Selle Italia, which provides a powerful incentive to get out of the saddle whenever possible. May have something to do with the beer and pizza habit and 96 kg.

19-02.-2003, 08:24 PM	#6
steve Administrator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Below Australia -20 years Posts: 1,993	Mines a gel Selle Italia turbo matic, I dont have any of the problems i had when I used a rolls or other cheap crappy saddles __________________ Steve CyclingForums.com

19-02.-2003, 08:28 PM	#7
Blimp Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Bothwell, Tasmania Posts: 144	Thanks Steve, just checked mine and can't find a turbo on it anywhere. Probably why I can't get up hills. Could you send me yours? You shouldn't need a turbo (no hills near Ballarat)

19-02.-2003, 08:30 PM

steve

Administrator

Join Date: Aug 2001

Location: Below Australia -20 years

Posts: 1,993

Quote:

Originally posted by Blimp
Thanks Steve, just checked mine and can't find a turbo on it anywhere. Probably why I can't get up hills.

Could you send me yours? You shouldn't need a turbo (no hills near Ballarat)

There are a couple of good 5km climbs just down the road from here, but your right its nothing like tassie

__________________
Steve

CyclingForums.com

24-02.-2003, 01:05 AM	#9
big_h Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Villieria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa Posts: 146	Hi Guys The stock saddle on my old Nishiki MTB hurt me so much during and after my first "long distance" race that I had no feeling "down there" for two weeks. I went through a lot of panic and purchased a Vuelta saddle (I think it is called a Gents Specific Model and Distributed by Topgear in R of SA) with a slit in the top. This was a cheapie and I have now used it for one and a half years. I think it has more to do with the saddle shape than anything else. I must also mention that I weigh 121 kg. Quite a testemony for a cheapie saddle. I transferred the saddle to my Trek Hybrid and then to the Tandem. I have now done more than 7000km on this saddle. What I have also noticed now that my bum have become hard I can sit on any saddle in the spinning class with no ill effects. Anything from narrow unpadded racing saddles to the wide flared saddles that look more in place as a tractor. I agree the spinning class is only for an hour but I think Saddle time has a lot to do with it. Your own style also has a lot to do with saddle contact. As you become stronger and your style improves you "float" above the saddle more. Keep those wheels spinning!!!!! Big H

27-02.-2003, 05:47 AM	#10
crewman Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ontario CAN. Posts: 17	Trying to find a comfortable saddle is like buying new shoes. Not all shoes fit the same and the same goes for saddles. It took me 4 differrent saddles before finding the right one. I opted for a Selle italia Prolink "trans am" model. It was recommended to me from a club member and was fortunate enough to have borrowed his ride to try it out. I am now looking to put a new saddle on a new bike i have recently finished building up and was looking at the Selle Italia SLR "trans am" or the Selle San Marco "arami". Take your time, and keep in mind the area you are sitting on. I have had two major opertations to that area and was told to be very careful in the future. __________________ Harold

28-02.-2003, 06:49 PM	#11
jalabert Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Denmark Posts: 60	My personal favorite is the Selle Italia Flite Genuine Gel, but again it all comes down to the ass in question :-)

28-02.-2003, 07:06 PM

#12