Noseless/hornless seats on Mtn like hybrid bike. What's the consensus?

[fishugly]

I had some perineum issues (unrelated to biking) a number of yrs ago and the sight of a conventional seat makes me cringe. However, I'm seriously considering purchasing a Mtn like bike...or Gary Fisher Montare dual sport/hybrid to be exact. How many people use noseless/hornless seats such as the Easyseat, Realseat, etc on these type of bikes and what is the general consensus?

I'm not interested in technical trail riding. Just commuting and general riding for exercise. Thanks.

 

[DrSS]

Read this article from the Chicago Police Department. http://ipmba.org/newsletters/NoselessSaddles-NIOSHWorkplaceSolutions.pdf

 

[kdelong]

Here is a link to a discussion(or flame war) that occurred awhile back concerning noseless saddles.
http://www.cyclingforums.com/forum/thread/426183/wondering-about-the-spongy-wonder

I stand by my conviction that most conventional saddles, if properly adjusted, are fine for use by not all, but by the majority of the population. I can understand fishugly's situation and anyone else who has a specific medical condition or is just paranoid about their fishing tackle. But I am here which is proof that conventional saddles don't harm everyone. My grandfather was an avid cyclist from the 1920's until he had to stop riding due to arthritis in 1979, and he fathered my mother and her siblings just fine in the 1930's before noseless saddles were ever even envisioned. Heck, his early saddles didn't even have cut outs.

Anyway, everyone has a different backside and the saddle that is good for one person most likely is not going to work for others. Otherwise there would only be one saddle manufacturer making one model of saddle. If a noseless/hornless saddle is going to make you more comfortable riding, then I support your decision to get it, but don't think that since it works for you, that it is the best saddle for everyone.

Now that I have had my rant, I will try to answer your question. Go to your LBS(local bike shop) and look at the saddles on all of their bikes. Go to your local bicycle trail and see what other people are using. Watch a stage of the TdF and see what the pros are using. Only a small fraction of riders are using noseless/hornless saddles. None of the pros are using them and very few people on the bike trails use them. Most serious riders such as commuters and folks who have replaced their cars with their bike use conventional saddles. All of the people who have ridden in the RAAM have used conventional saddles.

America is a pretty easy place to get along, so I don't think that anyone is going to laugh at your saddle. They are more likely to laugh at your clothing if you ride all kitted up. Like I said, whatever works for you and gets you riding is a good thing, for you.

 

[DrSS]

Read the literature about bike even in the 1890s and the bike saddle issues are discussed. I think you need to be very careful about giving medical advice to others without reading and understanding the 60+ biomedica peer revuewl papers on the topic. There is not a single scienitific paper showing that bicycle fit alleviates all of the pressure or improves sexual function. Look at the published scientific papers on noseless saddles. Looks at facts not some sales hype or I use this so it is the best.

 

[fishugly]

Originally Posted by kdelong .

Here is a link to a discussion(or flame war) that occurred awhile back concerning noseless saddles.
http://www.cyclingforums.com/forum/thread/426183/wondering-about-the-spongy-wonder

I stand by my conviction that most conventional saddles, if properly adjusted, are fine for use by not all, but by the majority of the population. I can understand fishugly's situation and anyone else who has a specific medical condition or is just paranoid about their fishing tackle. But I am here which is proof that conventional saddles don't harm everyone. My grandfather was an avid cyclist from the 1920's until he had to stop riding due to arthritis in 1979, and he fathered my mother and her siblings just fine in the 1930's before noseless saddles were ever even envisioned. Heck, his early saddles didn't even have cut outs.

Anyway, everyone has a different backside and the saddle that is good for one person most likely is not going to work for others. Otherwise there would only be one saddle manufacturer making one model of saddle. If a noseless/hornless saddle is going to make you more comfortable riding, then I support your decision to get it, but don't think that since it works for you, that it is the best saddle for everyone.

Now that I have had my rant, I will try to answer your question. Go to your LBS(local bike shop) and look at the saddles on all of their bikes. Go to your local bicycle trail and see what other people are using. Watch a stage of the TdF and see what the pros are using. Only a small fraction of riders are using noseless/hornless saddles. None of the pros are using them and very few people on the bike trails use them. Most serious riders such as commuters and folks who have replaced their cars with their bike use conventional saddles. All of the people who have ridden in the RAAM have used conventional saddles.

America is a pretty easy place to get along, so I don't think that anyone is going to laugh at your saddle. They are more likely to laugh at your clothing if you ride all kitted up. Like I said, whatever works for you and gets you riding is a good thing, for you.

Thanks for the link. I only got about half way through that thread before I couldn't take any more though.

I'm thinking anatomy is a bit like personalities; we're all just a bit different. I believe there are people out there who have developed some sort of sexual or other dysfunction due to their saddles. Heck, I even know one, come to think of it...an old ER doc friend who used to ride a fair bit. He told me his ejaculatory process was fine. He just could not get up. But I digress. As already mentioned, I have other reasons for looking into this matter.

As far as getting laughed at, I'm not overly concerned with that. I just want something that works for my needs...though the Realseat and Manta Saddle may be a little too funky even for me. So far, this one is catching my eye more than the others: http://www.ismseat.com/products_touring.htm

At any rate, thanks for your post!

 

[fishugly]

Originally Posted by kdelong .

Here is a link to a discussion(or flame war) that occurred awhile back concerning noseless saddles.
http://www.cyclingforums.com/forum/thread/426183/wondering-about-the-spongy-wonder

I stand by my conviction that most conventional saddles, if properly adjusted, are fine for use by not all, but by the majority of the population. I can understand fishugly's situation and anyone else who has a specific medical condition or is just paranoid about their fishing tackle. But I am here which is proof that conventional saddles don't harm everyone. My grandfather was an avid cyclist from the 1920's until he had to stop riding due to arthritis in 1979, and he fathered my mother and her siblings just fine in the 1930's before noseless saddles were ever even envisioned. Heck, his early saddles didn't even have cut outs.

Anyway, everyone has a different backside and the saddle that is good for one person most likely is not going to work for others. Otherwise there would only be one saddle manufacturer making one model of saddle. If a noseless/hornless saddle is going to make you more comfortable riding, then I support your decision to get it, but don't think that since it works for you, that it is the best saddle for everyone.

Now that I have had my rant, I will try to answer your question. Go to your LBS(local bike shop) and look at the saddles on all of their bikes. Go to your local bicycle trail and see what other people are using. Watch a stage of the TdF and see what the pros are using. Only a small fraction of riders are using noseless/hornless saddles. None of the pros are using them and very few people on the bike trails use them. Most serious riders such as commuters and folks who have replaced their cars with their bike use conventional saddles. All of the people who have ridden in the RAAM have used conventional saddles.

America is a pretty easy place to get along, so I don't think that anyone is going to laugh at your saddle. They are more likely to laugh at your clothing if you ride all kitted up. Like I said, whatever works for you and gets you riding is a good thing, for you.

Thanks for the link. I could only get half way through that bickering thread though.

I was in a resort town yesterday that is a bike haven which, also happened to be hosting some major Mtn bike race. I saw thousands of bikes of every style and went to every bike shop in the valley. Much to my dismay, I saw not one single noseless saddle.

Unless it was the Manta, I don't much care what the saddle looks like. I'm concerned with pure function. Guess I may have to take a gamble and order one online. The ISM Touring is currently getting the most eye from me.

At any rate, thanks for info.

 

[fishugly]

I didn't think my first post went through so retyped and posted again later. Now they are both here. I'd delete the first but do not see that option. The way this forum functions is frustrating.