Bike Saddles- Recommendations

[herzalot]

OH SNAP - what sorcery is this? The thread title changed.

Phew!!! Thanks magic internet guy!

 

[Faust29]

OK - time to resurrect one of the saddle threads. I hated to resurrect this one, since it is called "bike seat" and we super-cool cyclists know that if you think it's a bike seat, then you're doing it wrong! But it's the most recent, so here goes.

I've been on WTB saddles for years. They typically come on a bike if you ever buy a complete bike, they are ubiquitous (like Maxxis Minions) and they work. But I've struggled a little with some nether region pain - not numbness. I ascribed it to not riding often enough, but honestly, that's a different kind of pain. Plus my hip issue continues (see thread from 4 years ago if you are interested).

So before looking for a replacement for my WTB Silverado, I went to the WTB website and found their interesting method for determining your sit bone width - measuring your wrist width. Rachel Atherton swears it's accurate! So based on that, I was a medium. Side note - why would they use a world cup downhiller to endorse a saddle? But I gots me a Volt in medium. @mtnbikej uses them, so I should too!

Nope.

So - back to my narrow Rocket? Back to the Silverado? Try a different brand?

Ergon SM looks like it might work. Yoann Barelli says so. The Ergon site says measure your hip circumference at widest point. OK. I have narrow hips so I must be a ... wait, what? I need a medium/large? Ohhh kay - if you say so. That's twice I've measured out wider than I thought.

Ergon SM Comp in M-L is now on the bike. Two rides in and I think I can say...

Yep.

Getting rid of saddle material under the guy parts is life changing... My ISM is obviously the extreme form of that, but there are quite a few options now with a similar saddle shape- minus the split nose.

Glad you found one that works...

 

[Danmtchl]

Getting rid of saddle material under the guy parts is life changing... My ISM is obviously the extreme form of that, but there are quite a few options now with a similar saddle shape- minus the split nose.

Glad you found one that works...

Some people, mainly triathletes swear by this saddle. It is funky looking and I have ridden a few bikes with them and it’s not to bad in the short term.

 

[Faust29]

Some people, mainly triathletes swear by this saddle. It is funky looking and I have ridden a few bikes with them and it’s not to bad in the short term.

I have 3 of them... The oldest is on the gravel bike now, and is starting to show its age. I think that is the 7th bike it's been on. I have never had any numbness or pain in the 30,000 miles I've used them. I'm a customer for life.

I'd try one of the new ergo saddles from Speshy or Ergon, but I'm afraid to fix what isn't broken... But if ISM doubles the price again, like they did a few years ago, I might change my mind.

 

[scan]

Just put this on and so far my butt likes it!! Only 130g.

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Sooooo. I've always wondered if people have experienced catastrophic failure with carbon products, be it wheel, frames, bars, etc. I've had the above saddle for less than a year, don't ride alot of chunk and only weigh a buck 50.
Riding saturday I was going through a little rocky section when suddenly I came down hard on my saddle and combined with a pedal strike. Initally thought I broke a pedal, but then felt a little pain in the Man region, looked down at my saddle and it was bent back, broken rails. @Sasquatch9billion was behind me a little ways.
It ended our ride abruptly and rode back 2 miles to the cars, doing my SS imitation.
Needless to say I won't be using carbon rails again. Couple of pics for your enjoyment.

 

[SnakeCharmer]

Sooooo. I've always wondered if people have experienced catastrophic failure with carbon products, be it wheel, frames, bars, etc. I've had the above saddle for less than a year, don't ride alot of chunk and only weigh a buck 50.
Riding saturday I was going through a little rocky section when suddenly I came down hard on my saddle and combined with a pedal strike. Initally thought I broke a pedal, but then felt a little pain in the Man region, looked down at my saddle and it was bent back, broken rails
It ended our ride abruptly and rode back 2 miles to the cars, doing my SS imitation.
Needless to say I won't be using carbon rails again. Couple of pics for your enjoyment.

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Bummer.

 

[herzalot]

Sooooo. I've always wondered if people have experienced catastrophic failure with carbon products, be it wheel, frames, bars, etc. I've had the above saddle for less than a year, don't ride alot of chunk and only weigh a buck 50.
Riding saturday I was going through a little rocky section when suddenly I came down hard on my saddle and combined with a pedal strike. Initally thought I broke a pedal, but then felt a little pain in the Man region, looked down at my saddle and it was bent back, broken rails. @Sasquatch9billion was behind me a little ways.
It ended our ride abruptly and rode back 2 miles to the cars, doing my SS imitation.
Needless to say I won't be using carbon rails again. Couple of pics for your enjoyment.

View attachment 76630

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View attachment 76633

Glad you only showed us the damage to your saddle...

and glad you didn’t join Florent Payet with a serious injury to your junk.

 

[Danimal]

Sooooo. I've always wondered if people have experienced catastrophic failure with carbon products, be it wheel, frames, bars, etc. I've had the above saddle for less than a year, don't ride alot of chunk and only weigh a buck 50.
Riding saturday I was going through a little rocky section when suddenly I came down hard on my saddle and combined with a pedal strike. Initally thought I broke a pedal, but then felt a little pain in the Man region, looked down at my saddle and it was bent back, broken rails. @Sasquatch9billion was behind me a little ways.
It ended our ride abruptly and rode back 2 miles to the cars, doing my SS imitation.
Needless to say I won't be using carbon rails again. Couple of pics for your enjoyment.

View attachment 76630

View attachment 76631

View attachment 76632

View attachment 76633

I was JRA and it broke!

Seriously though, it shoud be a warranty claim.

 

[da big hills]

I guess most of us are too young to remember hard leather racing saddles. Everything is an improvement from there except that one designed to make you a Eunuch in a bad crash, and remember crash happens. I know how to size women's saddles, wide ass, the wider the better, pads and springs and they will love even more. I got funny thoughts about the Path sizing your ass, better left here in my mind.