Your preferred non-leather saddle

[zem...@gmail.com]

I have tried and failed for years to love and get comfortable on leather saddles. I've really put in the miles so I'm fairly certain that this isn't a "break in period" issue. I've been through a couple Brooks and Stelle Anatomica. 

I'd like to get some non-leather saddles a try but there are so many it's hard to know where to start. I'm riding a San Marcos (similar to Homer or Roadini) with an Albatross bar about an inch above the saddle. 

Do you have a favourite non-leather saddle that's comfortable for you in a similar riding configuration?

Zack

Toronto, Canada

[amill...@gmail.com]

Hello Zack,

I find the Selle Italia flite comfortable in all positions. I rode an original Selle San Marcos Regale for years and found that comfortable, too. 

I couldn’t get comfortable on a turbo or rolls and hated the Brooks Cambiums. I tried 3. 

Best,

Aaron in El Paso 

On Sep 22, 2022, at 12:39, zem...@gmail.com <zem...@gmail.com> wrote:

I have tried and failed for years to love and get comfortable on leather saddles. I've really put in the miles so I'm fairly certain that this isn't a "break in period" issue. I've been through a couple Brooks and Stelle Anatomica. 

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[Piaw Na]

This might be bad advice since I like brooks saddles (the B-17), and only gave up on them because my sweat in combination with my riding style basically destroyed too many B-17s so quickly that I went with a lower mainteneance solution. I switched over to the Ritchey WCS saddle, and they've worked out great for me. What's impressive about them is that the "Vector Wing" structure doubles as saddlebag loops, which is something that doesn't exist on most plastic saddles.

[Mike Packard]

It's ugly and has no bag loops but the specialized power saddle is very comfortable for me.

mike

[Bill Lindsay]

Trying and failing for years consecutively sounds pretty rough.  I'm not that patient.

What works for me might not work for you, though.  

If/when I have no clue what works for me, I enthusiastically try saddles as cheaply as I can.  The best deal I know of is bike shops that have a test saddle program.  For most shops that have a test saddle program, they have a bunch of test saddles.  They charge you something like $40, and you get to try as many of their test saddles as you like over some time period, like 90 days.  After the time is up, if you decide to buy a saddle, they knock $40 off the price.  If you don't buy a saddle, they keep your $40.  

I think that's a good program.  

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

On Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 11:39:19 AM UTC-7 zem...@gmail.com wrote:

[Joe Bernard]

Zack, 

This Fizik Aliente came on a Brompton I had. I intended to immediately swap it for my B17 but kept putting it off and kept riding and was surprised how comfortable it was (I'm a total Brooks guy). I can ride either with Riv shorts, no padding..I can't ride *anything* with padded shorts so YRMV. 

Joe Bernard 

On Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 11:39:19 AM UTC-7 zem...@gmail.com wrote:

[Josiah Anderson]

I agree with Joe, the Fizik Aliente is pretty good as non-leather saddles go, if that's the same one I'm thinking of. Mine is much older and is battered beyond recognition at this point. I love the Selle Italia Flite for race bikes, but I can't imagine it working well in as upright a position as you described, and they're getting rare and quite expensive, so I don't think I can agree with that suggestion.

I also like the Brooks C17 with some shellac added to make it smooth; there should be a thread on ibob or maybe here where I posted about that a couple years ago. It has the same sort of soft hammock feeling as a leather saddle once broken in, but is definitely not the same shape as any leather Brooks. However, nothing is more comfortable for me than a well-broken-in Brooks Pro or Idéale 90 (or B17 for upright positions), and since a saddle is better for me the more it feels like one of those, something entirely different that what I've recommended might be better for you. 

Josiah Anderson

Missoula, MT

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[Ben Adrian]

I have tried a lot of saddles and I find that I can't do any that have a strong arc or curve. It's too much of a "taint blaster". Unfortunately, I've found that almost all leather saddles have either too much arc, or are difficult to get into position. I have found a number of modern saddles that I like.

Specialized Power and Toupe saddles - 155mm width for me. These are flat and feel stable and comfortable. However, they do work best with padded bike shorts if the ride is long, and can start to get challenging after a couple hours without a padded chamois. 

I also have a Selle SMP "Plus" model as well. This has worked great on my Riv; correct amount of padding, desireable shap, but OH IT'S UGLY!!!!

I revently picked up a Rivet Imogene saddle from this forum. It's a flat, pretty wide saddle. I THINK it's working, but I"m waiting for a longer setback seatpost before I decide for sure. 

But holy hell, saddles are a litera and figurative pain in the ass until something comes along and you ride and stop thinking about it.

Cheers!

Ben

[Jon Dukeman]

The bike  shop I worked at would let you try out a saddle for a couple of days or a week as long as it's returned in sellable shape. Discus your experience with leather saddles and the sales person could help you select one that works for you. A good time to establish a relationship with the shop too if you buy a saddle from them.

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[Richard Rose]

I was totally in love with my SQ Labs 611 “active” saddle on my Jones 29 with somewhat upright position. They offer instructions for measuring sit bones then using a formula to calculate the correct width. Most comfortable saddle I’d ever owned - on any bike. When I got my Clem it just was not wide enough for my very upright position. So I went whole hog & got a B67, which is superb. I would suggest SQ to anyone. Better shops have their fit kit in house & would let you try different saddles.

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 22, 2022, at 2:39 PM, zem...@gmail.com <zem...@gmail.com> wrote:

I have tried and failed for years to love and get comfortable on leather saddles. I've really put in the miles so I'm fairly certain that this isn't a "break in period" issue. I've been through a couple Brooks and Stelle Anatomica. 

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[rlti...@gmail.com]

B-17’s work really well for me but I do use non-leather saddles on most bikes these days. The WTB Pure V is my favorite and I have a few stashed for future use. The Fabric Scoop Flat and Specialized Romin also work for me.

Robert Tilley

San Diego, CA

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 22, 2022, at 11:39 AM, zem...@gmail.com <zem...@gmail.com> wrote:

I have tried and failed for years to love and get comfortable on leather saddles. I've really put in the miles so I'm fairly certain that this isn't a "break in period" issue. I've been through a couple Brooks and Stelle Anatomica. 

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[Mojo]

I am with Robert, the WTB Pure V has similarities to the B17 (and my favorite saddle, the Berthoud Aspin/Aravis). The Pure V has a dip fore-aft, and a flat back. 

Joe, Berthoud butt, Ramey in GJT

[Karl Wilcox]

The new Specialized saddles are quite comfortable— I use one with a 168mm width; it is about the same width as my Brooks saddles.  They are also impressively light.

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[Tom Wyland]

I agree with Ben -- most saddles are arc-shaped and I like flat saddles. I really liked my Velo Orange wide touring saddle. It's firm but not too firm and has a rubbery texture. Bag loops are a plus. I find this saddle to be not breathable enough for me (I don't wear bike shorts). My current saddle is a Selle Anatomica H2.

Tom

[John Moore]

Saddles are a very personal choice. What fits one may not fit another thus I tread lightly into this topic. 

Personally, been riding Fizik Alicantes for years. By far the most comfortable saddle on my road bikes. Do have a Prologo nago on my MTB which is quite nice as well. 

Caveat: But what works for you is unlikely to be what works for me. 

John

On Sep 23, 2022, at 8:17 AM, Tom Wyland <tomw...@gmail.com> wrote:

I agree with Ben -- most saddles are arc-shaped and I like flat saddles. I really liked my Velo Orange wide touring saddle. It's firm but not too firm and has a rubbery texture. Bag loops are a plus. I find this saddle to be not breathable enough for me (I don't wear bike shorts). My current saddle is a Selle Anatomica H2.

Tom

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[shopmonkey 39]

C17 Carved is my preferred saddle. The have quite a bit more flex than the regular C17.  

If you don’t mind the generic look, old Advocet Touring saddles are pretty comfy.