Saddle woes

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)

Aren't they all uncomfortable?

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!

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.

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 😉

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)

Quoted post said:

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 😄

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

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.

My personal favorite is the Selle Italia Flite Genuine Gel, but again it all comes down to the ass in question :-)

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by big_h
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.

Two weeks is a bloody long time 😄

I have just changed to a Selle Italia Turbomatic and early indications are good. I have had lots of problems getting comfortable and plenty of saddle sores. My past two saddles were a selle italia flite trans am which wasnt a great success, then I had a selle san marco ASPIDE which was very light but very hard !!! This is a tough area to get right but I am told that the pros go for comfort over weight every time.

Quite a lot of the pro riders prefer the Turbo Matic saddle even though it's not a light wieght saddle in an way. I've only once had serious trouble with saddle sores. Assos' chamois creme got rid of it within a week.

I used my stock Selle Success for about 7 months before I did a 200km ride and that made up my mind to change my saddle. I got the Selle Italia XO Trans-am Magnesium. It is pretty lite, liter then the Flite, and VERY comfy. Give it a try, you'll be amazed on how comfortable cheaper saddles can be.

Still trying to understand the 'logic' of why we torture ourselves and take padding off the seat, and add it to our shorts. :p Seems kinda bass ackwards doesn't it?

does anyone have any conjectures with regards to the fact that I've worn out two saddles on the right side, and my left legs' medial collateral ligament is in pain?

am I just used to pedaling crooked? I used to have a problem with my fork, the dropouts were uneven and my bike tracked to one side, but I fixed it, the bike no longer tracks but I still have the problem with the saddle and leg.

thanks

Powderfinger- I use the WTB Speed V, and I like it.
Dousell- you have a problem, probably more than one problem.
You need to find out what it is, and fix it. Soon. The first thing to do is to see by how much the length of your legs differ. It could be something as simple as getting a left crankarm 5mm shorter than the right. But that is just a giess on my part. A unusually good bike shop, a cycling coach, or a sports specialist physician with experience in cycling injuries are the sort of people you need to start talking to.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html

You might consider consulting with a chiropractor; xrays may reveal a leg length discrepancy, an unlevel pelvis or even a scoliosis - all of which could contribute (in addition to your knee problem) to the abnormal wear that you describe.