Quoted message said:Joe S. said:. .
Anyone tried these alternatives to the usual seat --
-- The Seat http://www.ergo-theseat.com/index.htm
-- Bi-Saddle http://www.bycycleinc.com/
-- SpiderFlex http://www.spiderflex.com/index.html
-- or any other alternative seat?
I tried a very similar one to the spiderflex, just on a test ride.
Absolutely, definitely did not like it. And that was at a time in my
cycling career that I was having saddle problems.
The nose on a saddle is functional. Trust me, if it weren't, the
weight weenies would have thought of cutting it off long ago, to save
three ounces! It stabilizes the bike beneath you. With the two-part
saddle I tried, I felt very disconnected from the bike, as if it would
slip sideways out from under me. Also, that particular one (don't
recall the brand) pushed against the back of my thighs in an unpleasant
way.
I solved my saddle problems by getting a seat that was exactly the
right width and shape. I found a way to measure my "sit bone" width,
and shopped for saddles that would support those bones properly, with
moderate firmness. And of course, I adjusted it exactly right. I'd
say that's what you need to do.
- Frank Krygowski
Interesting. One poster mentioned how the weight of the saddle and seatpost
was important in balancing the bike and offered you could get a sense for
that by riding your bike around in front of the house with the seat and
post removed - standing, of course. ;-) Supposedly it feels very strange -
laying it from side-to-side while pedalling, that is
Even though I thought a saddle would be a problem for me - I'm a clydesdale
- I've ridden the stock saddles on both my Treks (hybrid and 1000 road
bike). Now I'm never aware of the saddle and when riding intervals I'm out
on the nose most of the time. I didn't even notice that until a couple
weeks ago and then kept trying to shift back onto the saddle, but now I
don't even worry about where my butt is. On longer rides it may come back
to be a problem - don't know - presently I don't ride much over 2 hours or
30-35 miles - but like the way most things have happened in my evolution
in the short time I've been back on the boike, I've no doubt when I'm
ready, I'll be riding longer.
I guess I just don't have a lot of weight plunked on the saddle. Early on,
my butt used to go to sleep, but then I was fully sitting on the saddle,
riding 'sitting up' - probably 80% of my weight on the saddle, if not more.
I consider myself lucky not to have had saddle problems so far.
jj
