Comfortable Saddles

StillRiding5500 said:

...Am I just a wuss because I think that my 8 year old Flite isn't comfortable anymore?...

Well, that's one possibility, but perhaps your body just wants a new saddle.

FWIW, my current favorite is a Serfas DD Pro, but then again, asking someone else what the like in a saddle is a lot like asking someone what you should have for dinner.

Go to your local LBS and ask them to let you experiment with different brands/models.

StillRiding5500 said:

I wanted to know what your choice in comfortable saddles is. Not just because it came on your bike, but because you've had opportunity to test several. Am I just a wuss because I think that my 8 year old Flite isn't comfortable anymore? I used to be on the bike 5-6 days a week, but now I just ride once or twice a week with my fantastic girlfriend. I weigh 160#.

I love my Fi'zi:k. And no, I'm not talking about my body, but rather the high perfomance saddles that are actually comfortable. I currently have the Aliante, which is awesome. Of course, depending on your riding style, you may want to go with something less "racey" and even more comfortable. If so, then check out their [CP]3. Of course, I've never actually ridden that one, but I trust the brand. But I'm sure plenty of people will respond with their favorites that will cator to your ridding style best.

The one thing I have learned in experimenting with saddles is that it is almost impossible to judge a saddle's comfort based on appearance or feel using your hands.

Virtually every saddle I have ever really loved has been one that I did not expect to like based on the looks or feel.

Also, don't fall into the trap of thinking that those super-cushioned gel saddles are the answer. The thickness of the padding/gel likewise does not necessarily translate to comfort.

StillRiding5500 said:

I wanted to know what your choice in comfortable saddles is. Not just because it came on your bike, but because you've had opportunity to test several. Am I just a wuss because I think that my 8 year old Flite isn't comfortable anymore? I used to be on the bike 5-6 days a week, but now I just ride once or twice a week with my fantastic girlfriend. I weigh 160#.

I love my Fi'zi:k Arione!!
Woohoo!!

SunBurnt said:

I love my Fi'zi:k Arione!!
Woohoo!!

I will be getting an Airone. They look cool, are very light, and appear to be comfortable.

In the meantime, I continue to love my Selle San Marco Rolls.

It is a very old design, weighs about 20 odd kgs, but fits my behind puhfectly. 😄

I'm testing a bunch of saddles in my LBS's. Yes, the Fizik's feel nice, but so does a Selle Italia flight and a couple San Marco's... hard to tell which will feel best once it has a few hundred miles on it. I'm looking for a LBS which carries them all for a side-by-side comparison, but so far no luck.

I have a saddle that Selle Italia made for Coda. It's the same body as the Flite, with manganese rails and a suspension wing across the back that soaks up road vibration like a sponge. It's more comfortable than my couch.

Do any of you Arione riders ever ride the Aliante? I was just wondering incase the Arione is even better than the Aliante.

I really like the Koobi PRS saddle. Like ANY new one, I wondered at first, but it didn't take much break-in for me. A few minor adjustments and I'm MUCH MUCH happier than with the Specialized BG Pro I had.

John

I'm pretty happy with the Terry Fly I'm currently using. It replaced a USPS San Marco Aspide that was really cool looking but very uncomfortable on long rides (75-100 miles).

StillRiding5500 said:

I wanted to know what your choice in comfortable saddles is. Not just because it came on your bike, but because you've had opportunity to test several. Am I just a wuss because I think that my 8 year old Flite isn't comfortable anymore? I used to be on the bike 5-6 days a week, but now I just ride once or twice a week with my fantastic girlfriend. I weigh 160#.

I did ride a Selle flite have had a Fizik Pave and once a San Marco Lazer (middle ages) but now ride a Fizik Arione. Great saddle but as you know anatomy varies and it may not be right for you but if you are making a blind choice it would be a better bet.

puma said:

Do any of you Arione riders ever ride the Aliante? I was just wondering incase the Arione is even better than the Aliante.

This Arione rider hasn't been on an Aliante (man, they're pricey!), but I'm not sure it's a really valid comparison. They're pretty different in shape and size; it's clear they cater to different crotch needs.

Aliante saddle here, very comfortable.

StillRiding5500 said:

I wanted to know what your choice in comfortable saddles is. Not just because it came on your bike, but because you've had opportunity to test several. Am I just a wuss because I think that my 8 year old Flite isn't comfortable anymore? I used to be on the bike 5-6 days a week, but now I just ride once or twice a week with my fantastic girlfriend. I weigh 160#.

Know one mentioned that saddles with cut-outs tend to sag after a while-if you liked it at one point, try a new one.

Had a long term Flite that after many years morphed from cozy to crotch hating. Tried Selle Italia SLR....felt good for about 3 days, then the good feelings abandoned me. Then tried Selle San Marco Era K, and that is near perfect. I find that I forget about it on rides, long or short, which to me means that my a_ss and the Era K have that karmic love thing going on.