saddle comfort expectations

[Greg]

I have been looking at and trying new saddles to find something
comfortable. It occurs to me that my standards for what constitute
comfort may not allow me to settle on a traditional saddle. If I ride
200km on a saddle and need to gingerly reseat myself on the saddle
after a time off the bike, I consider that saddle to be uncomfortable.
But maybe my expectations are too high.

I've tried:
Selle Italia Gel Flow,
Brooks B-17,
Fizik Alliante,
Sella SMP , http://www.sellesmp.com/en/default.htm
Selle Anatomica
Specialized Toupe Gel, (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?
spid=26036)
ISM Seat (http://www.ismseat.com/)

If no other saddle can do better than the ones I've listed, then maybe
my next saddle will be attached to a recumbent. Not that there's
anything wrong with that.

Any ideas? Does chamois cream help in (what seems to me to be)
compression issues on/around the sit bones?

Greg

[Tom Rosenbauer]

Greg,

Keep looking ... somewhere out there, there is the ideal saddle+shorts
combination just for you. I see you've gone through quite few saddles but
haven't tried the one I've settled on: Terry Fly Ti. Terry has a bunch of
different saddles that might be worth a try.

In general, I try to avoid any creams -- at least at the start of a long
event. I do use a product called "Glide" that seems to cut down chafing
while keeping you dry.

Another thing you might want to double check is your saddle height -- if
this is the least bit on the high side, you'll tend the rock on the saddle
as you peddle -- and this can certainly cause you some grief.

You might also try riding a bike that might be more forgiving with regards
to road shock and vibrations.

Good luck, in your quest ... and if you find something good that works for
you, be sure to buy a spare so you'll have a replacement in 10 years.

Regards,

-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA

----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg" <greg.o...@gmail.com>
To: "randon" <ran...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 9:02 PM
Subject: [Randon] saddle comfort expectations

>
> I have been looking at and trying new saddles to find something

> comfortable. .....

[littlecircles :: mikeb]

Describe your discomfort... chafing? bruising @ the sit bones?
numbness? saddle sores? etc...
How high / low are your bars? Have you tried riding without 'cycling'
shorts? With a different make / shaped pad?

I've found the B17 works great on my fixed gear / 'city bike' - and it
translated well on that bike to a century, sans cycling shorts and
pads. (a bit of bag balm...)

I sold my Anatomica as it felt too wide and I had rubbing issues when
in street clothes @ the front.

I like my Brooks Swallow on my main ride - a rando specific road setup
- but I get bruising @ the sit bones depending on road conditions,
etc. etc.


I've hated the 'normal' saddles out there that I've tried.

I'm also a new fan of Lantiseptic...

-Mike

On Aug 26, 9:02 pm, Greg <greg.olmst...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I have been looking at and trying new saddles to find something
> comfortable. It occurs to me that my standards for what constitute
> comfort may not allow me to settle on a traditional saddle. If I ride
> 200km on a saddle and need to gingerly reseat myself on the saddle
> after a time off the bike, I consider that saddle to be uncomfortable.
> But maybe my expectations are too high.
>
> I've tried:
> Selle Italia Gel Flow,
> Brooks B-17,
> Fizik Alliante,

> Sella SMP ,http://www.sellesmp.com/en/default.htm

[john mangin]

I too have been on the seeminly never ending quest to find a comfortable saddle.  I have tried a B-17, standard and narrow, Selle Anatomica, and other with varying success.  So far I have had the most success with a men's Terry liberator.  Mine is not the gel.  I do have a fairly new (under 300 miles) Brooks Champion Flyer that seems quite promising.  Also, I have tried several chamois cremes, and I give a thumbs up to Lantiseptic.  I look forward to other's suggestions.
John M




 

---

> Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:02:59 -0700

> Subject: [Randon] saddle comfort expectations

> From: greg.o...@gmail.com
> To: ran...@googlegroups.com

[Greg]

If a saddle causes any numbness (Brooks, Alliante, Selle Italia) I
immediately go to the next model. My Brooks started out OK, but it got
wet from the rain and the saddle area sagged. It felt like I was
sitting on a staircase handrail. Pure torture.

The Selle SMP had no numbness issues, but did cause bruising under the
sit bones. Ditto for ISM Seat and Specialized Toupe Gel.

I don't know that Lantisceptic will solve this thing. I have some and
have used it, but leather chamois chafing is not my problem. It seems
like I've got a lot of weight resting on too small an area on my
saddle.

Greg

On Aug 26, 7:09 pm, "littlecircles :: mikeb" <mike.bega...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Describe your discomfort... chafing? bruising @ the sit bones?
> numbness? saddle sores? etc...
> How high / low are your bars? Have you tried riding without 'cycling'
> shorts? With a different make / shaped pad?
>
>

[Lisa Susan McPhate]

I have cane creek thudbuster suspension seatpost on most of my bikes
now. Having some suspension helps relieve some pressure discomfort.
I am quite fond of this seatpost. It helps a lot on the tandem (I am
the stoker) and I like it on my single bikes, too. I, too, haven't
really found a saddle, short, cream combination that keeps me pain
free. Good luck.

Lisa-Susan McPhate
Oakland, CA

On Aug 26, 2008, at 7:43 PM, Greg wrote:
> snip

> I don't know that Lantisceptic will solve this thing. I have some and
> have used it, but leather chamois chafing is not my problem. It seems
> like I've got a lot of weight resting on too small an area on my
> saddle.
>
> Greg

snip

[GJones]

I have absolutely no experience with them other than starting with
them and the other “Specials” but maybe you should try a recumbent.
(I ride a "normal" tandem.) From what I understand, taller people
have some sort of biomechanical advantage on a recumbent – but this
maybe just a myth. On the other hand, I do know a very tall rider
from the San Diego area who never complains about his seat and yet
hauls a$$ down the road. Maybe you should talk to him.

> > > Greg- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[BryanG]

Well... I just bought a recumbent. Not because I had saddle or fit
issues... I just that I thought it was silly to replace my current
ride with one of nearly identical geometry in carbon, but I really
wanted a new bike :-)

I was talking with the organizer of the Texas Time Trials after
recent ride and he said in his experience people gravitated to one
type of bike or the other and got really good, or they were just
crappy on both. I fully intend to be crappy on both types! I've
ridden for a little bit with the tall San Diego rider and he is
certainly way faster than me on a standard bike! Recumbents may not
solve everything, however, I am initially having problems with neck
pain that I never had on the upright. That may just require
conditioning or a headrest. Seriously, if you cannot find a saddle
that works well at least try out a recumbent, the rando community
tends to welcome them.

> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

[pamela blalock]

I don't think that fellow who did PBP on the kick bike had any issues with
saddle sores :-)

pamela blalock pgb at blayleys.com
care-free in watertown, ma http://www.blayleys.com

[Bill Gobie]

On Aug 27, 2008, at 7:40 PM, BryanG wrote:

> I am initially having problems with neck
> pain that I never had on the upright. That may just require
> conditioning or a headrest.

It probably is just an adaptation issue. Try your seat more upright
for a while.

You are also not being distracted by butt or wrist pain. ;-)

Bill Gobie