Specialized Toupe trial request

[Sunil Raghavan]

Folks,

Just returned home after a visit to the very nice new Specialized store on Infantry Road. Great place! Had a long chat with Naveen - he showed me the bikes - awesome stuff... I also got measured on the assometer because I want to buy a new saddle. I was recommended a 143mm wide Toupe. I'm keen to do a test ride of an hour at least before buying - dont know any other reliable way to figure out comfort levels. Sadly that isn't an option at the store, so want to check if someone here has a 143 mm Toupe and wouldn't mind letting me try it out for a few hours whenever convenient.

Thanks,
Sunil

[Arvind P]

assometer?? hehehe ... jus googled. didnt know something like this existed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMbZ2Q8VqOo

[deepakvrao]

What are they charging for a Toupe?

[Sunil Raghavan]

Rs.7200/- for the Toupe RBX, which apparently has a bit more padding than the regular Toupe. I figure these are listed at $130 on the US site, so with the rupee going down the tubes, thought it is reasonable.

[Jerald Vedanand]

I have one that you can try

[Sunil Raghavan]

Did a long ride with Jerry's Toupe saddle yesterday. Clearly the geometry is better than my existing saddle. Weight is on the sit bones, nowhere else. However I found it didnt have enough padding. This is a bit harder than the Toupe RBX, which is whats on offer at the Specialized store. Apparently they are getting stock of their entry level saddle which has more padding - whenever that consignment arrives I'll try that out. Anyone has suggestions on other road saddles that should be tried?

Also used the opportunity to do my first 100 km ride. Was hoping to do the 100 in 4 hours rolling time - ended up taking 5 mins longer. Kept up the pace till 75km, but then ran out of steam and slowed down. Took a break to eat some bananas around the 75km mark as well.Till about 75 km the weather was lovely - cool but no rain - the OMR was wide open, lovely clouds etc, so most enjoyable - I turned back just before Kolar, was planning to end my ride when I finish 100 and ask for a driver pickup after that - didnt fancy the miserable KR Puram market traffic and slush. But car was busy so rode home - 118 kms total. Last part of ride was fairly miserable with heat and traffic, plus my energy was low. Calves were hurting towards the end - I guess the SPD-SL cleats dont go back far enough - maybe I'll dump them.

[Mustafa]

I too am trying a Specialized Toupe. It seems good after two 50 km rides. Ideally I should do a longer ride to be sure.

After the rides, I feel some soreness, but that is directly underneath the bones. I think this is due to little padding, and probably also because I haven't been on a saddle since long.

7200 is a good price. It is available at 130$ in stores in US. Because these are not sold online, it is unlikely you will find a better deal, except possibly on ebay.

Mustafa

[Dileep Vaka]

Nice video of finding width of your saddle width

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=E7j9LUVJrjA

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[Sunil Raghavan]

Mustafa,

In my case, soreness under the bones picked up significantly post 75 kms - so if your intent is rides over 50, you should definitely try that out before finalising.

Sunil