Saddles

Brendo said:

I've got a Fizic Pave. It's got about 15 - 20mm of 'Royal
Jelly'(a squishy gel substance) between the upper and lower
limits of the seat.It's supposed to give you a more comfortable
ride. My question is, if it's so comfortable, why do most roadies
ride with much firmer saddles? Is the benefit purely from an
efficiency point of view, or does your bum really like the firmer
saddles more?

If the shape of the saddle is right for your ischial bones (your seat bones) then the saddle can be firmer. Pro's do so many kms that they are conditioned to firmer saddles, but they also have the benefit of choosing anything in the market to trial until they find the perfect fit. Specialized and San Marco (or Selle Italia?) now have "fit systems" to attempt to guide you to the appropriate saddle in their range.

On a long ride, minimalist is best...rolling around on a fat squishy saddle is not good after 6 hours!

Walrus said:

Brendo said:

I've got a Fizic Pave. It's got about 15 - 20mm of 'Royal
Jelly'(a squishy gel substance) between the upper and lower
limits of the seat.It's supposed to give you a more comfortable
ride. My question is, if it's so comfortable, why do most roadies
ride with much firmer saddles? Is the benefit purely from an
efficiency point of view, or does your bum really like the firmer
saddles more?If the shape of the saddle is right for your ischial bones (your seat

bones) then the saddle can be firmer. Pro's do so many kms that they
are conditioned to firmer saddles, but they also have the benefit of
choosing anything in the market to trial until they find the perfect
fit. Specialized and San Marco (or Selle Italia?) now have "fit
systems" to attempt to guide you to the appropriate saddle in their
range.

On a long ride, minimalist is best...rolling around on a fat squishy
saddle is not good after 6 hours!

A long ride for me at the moment is 45 minutes, but looking to
get around 1 hr 30min. Would there be a benefit to a firmer
saddle in this situation? Or do I really need to try one and see?

Brendo said:

A long ride for me at the moment is 45 minutes, but looking to
get around 1 hr 30min. Would there be a benefit to a firmer
saddle in this situation? Or do I really need to try one and see?

The golden rule with saddles is that once you find one that is comfortable...that is, it doesn't create major issues after prolonged use...then stick with it. Take it with you when you switch bikes, nurse it, care for it, love it! My favourite saddle was a $20 no name brand that was from my first bike, they don't need to be expensive. If you're not experiencing any major discomfort, then stick with the Pave, it's a nice saddle. If it's giving you pains after 45min, then go to your LBS and chat to them about other options. Sit on bikes etc...arrange tests rides if you can. Look at the Specialized saddles which you can be fitted for at some stores, but only if the Pave is causing you problems.

I did try a gel saddle - after a few months all the gel had migrated to where I wasn't, & was totally useless. I went back to hard saddles again after that.

Getting the right saddle shape, correctly fitted, is the key, but usually involves a fair bit of trial & error.

DB

Duracell Bunny said:

I did try a gel saddle - after a few months all the gel had migrated to
where I wasn't, & was totally useless. I went back to hard saddles
again after that.

Getting the right saddle shape, correctly fitted, is the key, but
usually involves a fair bit of trial & error.

DB

--
Duracell Bunny

I tried a number of saddles that were ok, once I found one I really
liked, I've got the same one on all but one bike. They are an
individual thing and I second the comments about padding, less is more
the more you are riding.

PieldHIgher

Brendo said:

I've got a Fizic Pave. It's got about 15 - 20mm of 'Royal
Jelly'(a squishy gel substance) between the upper and lower
limits of the seat.It's supposed to give you a more comfortable
ride. My question is, if it's so comfortable, why do most roadies
ride with much firmer saddles? Is the benefit purely from an
efficiency point of view, or does your bum really like the firmer
saddles more?

Old bike shop adiage :
Soft, padded saddles sell well to tootlers who ride 5km at a time,
firm, correctly fitting saddles work well, but take time to find the
right fit.

The saddle needs to fit you. Squishy stuff just puts pressure where
you don't want it, generally.

Brendo said:

I've got a Fizic Pave. It's got about 15 - 20mm of 'Royal Jelly'(a
squishy gel substance) between the upper and lower limits of the
seat.It's supposed to give you a more comfortable ride. My question is,
if it's so comfortable, why do most roadies ride with much firmer
saddles? Is the benefit purely from an efficiency point of view, or does
your bum really like the firmer saddles more?

Like others have said, matching shape is more important than thick
padding. In fact, that's what the padding is trying to do - mold
to the shape of your backside so your weight is evenly supported.
The problem is that padding only goes so far in achieving this and
if it's thick you find yourself moving about.

Saddles are a very personal choice but for long rides in the saddle,
my experience is that you can't go past a Brookes all leather saddle.
On my road bikes I have a Sella Italia SLR and a Sella Italia Flite.
I find the Flite more comfortable. I recently went for ride (after
several months break) on my old tourer with a Brookes Professional.
The bike felt heavy and sluggish but the saddle - it was like it
wasn't there! I hadn't realized how much more comfortable that old
saddle was.

Some people don't like the Brookes and others can get all religious
about them - I really like the Brookes but saddles are very personal
so YMMV.

Cheers,
DeF.

--
e-mail: d.farrow@your finger.murdoch.edu.au
To reply, you'll have to remove your finger.

I tried in vain to get "used to" my new saddle on my new bike. After 600kms
I folded, got out the old saddle and woohoooo I now have a bum again!
I ride 2 bikes, a tandem and my new Trek 7500 and they both have the same
saddle now.
The LBS said that I just had to do the kms with the new saddle but after 600
I decided I had had enough torture. I like the comment about - when you find
the right saddle, love it - I never want mine to die. I dont even know the
brand name, but if I ride 100kms I still have a bum, no pain, that is good
enough for me 🙂
Kathy

just us said:

I tried in vain to get "used to" my new saddle on my new bike. After 600kms
I folded, got out the old saddle and woohoooo I now have a bum again!
I ride 2 bikes, a tandem and my new Trek 7500 and they both have the same
saddle now.
The LBS said that I just had to do the kms with the new saddle but after 600
I decided I had had enough torture. I like the comment about - when you find
the right saddle, love it - I never want mine to die. I dont even know the
brand name, but if I ride 100kms I still have a bum, no pain, that is good
enough for me 🙂

I have two of my preferred saddle, but it's not made anymore.
Bollocks! (no pun intended)

BumRating&PlayerComfort

• Hybrid had a softy lounge chair saddle, now using a Selle Italia Nixé gel flow, bum rating/ player comfort (BRPC) level *good* (they dont make them anymore either) (Like a C2 but with longer Carbon-Titanium rails)
  
• Old Roady ( I bought second hand ) had a Selle San Marco Race Gel..BRPC *ouch* Flogged the frame, kept the bits, saddle is in a heap of stuff in a corner happy to donate to a home anywhere)
  
• New Custom Roady has a Selle Italia Nixé BRPC * firm and comfy to boot* ( again cant replace, just cannibalise the Hybrid)
  
• Training Roady has a Rolls ( BRPC *poifect* )
  
• Track (had a Vetta/Selle San marco (BRPC *bearable and nice and smooth for quick movements* )-now has a Rolls (BRPC * again I love it* )
  
• Old Classic has a BrooksB33 Touring ( BRPC*-looks like something out of Lawrence of Arabia ( no not a camel saddle but almost big enough), has a huge coil out the front and superb double spiral springs at the back, brass rivet studs and leather top in soft hide that is supple but firm*...
  

have tried (on a Colnago)-Selle SanMarco Hoskar- *Nadda* ( too firm across the top and the stitching is irritating)

The saddle has to be set right too....
Riding with a mate last week who had a new Lightspeed and was fitted by his LBS, after two K's he had a very sore "peri"...I suggested his saddle was probably either too high or pointing up, he said "nah..they fitted me and reckon its right"...well after 26 ks we get to Frankston and he needs a break, he dismounts and hobbles off awkwardly to the loo to check things out...I meanwhile have a gander at the saddle and it has its nose pointing skyward a good centimetre higher than the middle of the saddle and almost two centimetres over the back...he comes out saying "I cant do this"... so I say "check this out...you have the Eifel Tower here pushing into your nethers, 'tis a wonder you can walk (or talk)..." so we adjust with the trusty Park Tool and he gingerly remounts, his squirming face breaks into a relief smirk as if a bag of ice had gone down the shorts.... suffice to say, even if the saddle is right... it better be well fitted or you will never be comfortable....

In article <[email hidden]>,
rooman <[email hidden]> wrote:

<snip tale of wedgie woe>

Quoted message said:

ice had gone down the shorts.... suffice to say, even if the saddle is
right... it better be well fitted or you will never be comfortable....

<insert picture of recumbent rider looking very very smug indeed>

Zebee