Another One.....?

RCope47 said:

if it wasnt for my behind, I would like to ride a little today too. I've been wearing a good pair of shorts and used the chamois cream, still pretty tender, Im also running the stock saddle that came on my bike,(Specialized Allez Triple), so I dont know what to compare it too, great site by the way, lots of friendly people! Thanks

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Congratulations on your progress on the knee problem. Cycling using good sense and technique can be very beneficial to troublesome knees.

Regarding the saddle, it sounds like your problem is more about chafing than support. I'd like to suggest a re-issued Selle Italia Turbo. The only difference between this one and the steel-railed original is the use of a man-made "leather" cover.

Yesterday I rode my old iron, equipped with an original Turbo. I was struck by how nicely it supported my ass. No hot spots or chafing. No cutouts, gel, center slots, or even titanium rails. Just a great shape with the right amount of dense foam padding and plenty of length for changing your position.

Ben's Cycle (• Milwaukee Bicycle Co. • Ben's Cycle) is already sold out of the reissues (but they have some NOS). Try Excel Sports in Boulder at Excel Sports Boulder - Online Bicycle Retailer.

oldbobcat said:

Yesterday I rode my old iron, equipped with an original Turbo. I was struck by how nicely it supported my ass. No hot spots or chafing. No cutouts, gel, center slots, or even titanium rails. Just a great shape with the right amount of dense foam padding and plenty of length for changing your position.

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That saddle looks muy interesting, except for the hideous 1/2 black, 1/2 white motif.

To the OP, git thee to an LBS and see about trying some saddles. A good LBS will let you try saddles for a week or so, maybe more, and allow you to switch saddles if the tried saddle doesn't work.


Wait....I just realized Bob Cat meant the first reissue, not the one shown at Eurobike and Interbike.

Some of the OEM saddles are pretty thin bits of plastic. If you're a big guy, say 180lbs and size L shorts, make sure you get a saddle wide enough to support your sitzbones. Specialized dealers have the "Ass-o-meter", a pad of memory foam that you sit on. With that measurement, they can fit you to the correct width of saddle. SSM also labels their saddles based on size/weight. Everyone is different, but at 180 lbs, 6', my favorite is the Terry Fly. It's made in Italy, with ti rails, but is wider and has more padding than the typical racing saddle.

However, even with the perfect saddle properly setup, it takes a while to get your butt toughened up so you can do long rides without some pain. On long rides, I've found it helps to get out of the saddle often for maybe 30 seconds at a time. You can either do this climbing hills, or just on the flats by standing in a big gear, then coasting with weight on one leg or the other. Brief rest stops about once an hour are great too. Start early and keep up the butt-breaks throughout the ride and I'll bet your comfort increases.

RCope47 said:

OK, I got a lot of good responses about my jacked up knees, now how about a sore Arss, know what I mean?, I rode almost 37 miles yesterday with the LBS crowd, furthest I have ever gone! felt good, no problems with my knees, payed a lot of attention to my gearing, and if it wasnt for my behind, I would like to ride a little today too. I've been wearing a good pair of shorts and used the chamois cream, still pretty tender, Im also running the stock saddle that came on my bike,(Specialized Allez Triple), so I dont know what to compare it too, great site by the way, lots of friendly people! Thanks

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was out recently ab0ut 20miles roads were a bit rough going at speed down hill a few miles later had terrible uncomfort in balls area could not figure it out till i got home and noticed the saddle had moved and tilted up at the front , just a thing to look out for before you start that the saddle is tightened fully incase of movement happy to say made a full and functioning recovery....

Oh awesome, congrats! I might need a saddle fit here soon also.