Saddle for big boy... Help please.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Dominic Sansom
I've been looking for a saddle to replace the one that came with my 03 Speialized Allez Comp 18.

I'm not in the position to try any out so I need to be sure that I get it right first time.

I'm 120kg so I'm leaning towards a Selle Italia Prolink Gel Flow.

Any advice/recommendations gratefully received.

Thanks

I'm a few kg heavier than you, and I have Selle Italia Turbomatic 4's on both my Roadie and MTB. I've tried a Prolink Gel flow, a Koobi, and a Maxflite transam gel flow as well as several others and come back to the T4 every time - it's a STRONG saddle and the vibration-damping elastomer rail mounts really do work. I found the cutout models much less comfortable than a well set up T4 - the cutout felt like a cookie cutter on my soft parts with my weight bearing down on them. The extra support and weight-bearing surface area of a conventional saddle works for me. I have both the standard and the gel T4, and prefer the standard - there must be a reason why about 30% of the TDF peleton rides T4s, despite the extra few grams. Go for the T4 and forget the fancy cookie-cutters if you want comfort and support. The only thing to watch with T4s is the occasional squeak where the saddle lip can rub on the rail - nothing serious - a little grease under the saddle lip now and again and no problem.

see www.roadbikereview.com for reviews on the turbomatic.

Why doesn't the UCI develop a weight-based classification system, like the WBC? I reckon I'd give a few of these stick-insects a run for their dough if they were carrying a cement bag strapped to their middle.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by armchair_spacem
I'm a few kg heavier than you, and I have Selle Italia Turbomatic 4's on both my Roadie and MTB. I've tried a Prolink Gel flow, a Koobi, and a Maxflite transam gel flow as well as several others and come back to the T4 every time - it's a STRONG saddle and the vibration-damping elastomer rail mounts really do work. I found the cutout models much less comfortable than a well set up T4 - the cutout felt like a cookie cutter on my soft parts with my weight bearing down on them. The extra support and weight-bearing surface area of a conventional saddle works for me. I have both the standard and the gel T4, and prefer the standard - there must be a reason why about 30% of the TDF peleton rides T4s, despite the extra few grams. Go for the T4 and forget the fancy cookie-cutters if you want comfort and support. The only thing to watch with T4s is the occasional squeak where the saddle lip can rub on the rail - nothing serious - a little grease under the saddle lip now and again and no problem.

see www.roadbikereview.com for reviews on the turbomatic.

Thanks for the advice. The last thing I need is my cookies cut... I seriously thought the hole would ease the pressure and I was only looking at the "flow" models.

[QUOTE][i] Why doesn't the UCI develop a weight-based classification system, like the WBC? I reckon I'd give a few of these stick-insects a run for their dough if they were carrying a cement bag strapped to their middle. [/B][/QUOTE]

Couldn't agree with you more. I cycle with a group who are mostly triathletes. A couple of weeks ago I came 6th out of a small field of 9. Most were half my age. They ripped the [censored] out of me up the hills but were amazed at being passed by a 120kg (+9kg bike) cannonball going 75kmph down the other side on a Allez Comp (I have to admit it was pretty scary but the momentum kept me averaging 30kmph + for 5km).

Thanks again for the reply. I was giving up hope of getting any.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Dominic Sansom
Thanks for the advice. The last thing I need is my cookies cut... I seriously thought the hole would ease the pressure and I was only looking at the "flow" models.



Couldn't agree with you more. I cycle with a group who are mostly triathletes. A couple of weeks ago I came 6th out of a small field of 9. Most were half my age. They ripped the [censored] out of me up the hills but were amazed at being passed by a 120kg (+9kg bike) cannonball going 75kmph down the other side on a Allez Comp (I have to admit it was pretty scary but the momentum kept me averaging 30kmph + for 5km).

Thanks again for the reply. I was giving up hope of getting any.

No worries. An afterthought - If you decide to go that way there's a definite sweet spot on T4 that's worth a bit of fiddling to find. Most of the blokes I know who ride on T4s (myself included) find it with the saddle nose tilted up slightly - not much, just a degree or two off level.