Is a $400 cycling saddle worth it? (My experience with different saddles)
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- Опубліковано 27 вер 2024
- I talk about the 3 most popular styles of cycling saddles. This video is sponsored by Competitive Cyclist and if you use code VEGANCYCLE15, you can get 15% off your first purchase, some brands excluded.
In this video about cycling saddles, I talk about the pointy ones, the ones with holes, and the stage looking ones. I talk about my experience with them and what you should look at when considering a new saddle for your bike.
bit.ly/2YnZsuY Homepage
bit.ly/36eBpyo Sella Italia SLR Kit Carbonio Boost Superflow Saddle
bit.ly/2ZMropX Selle Italia Novus TM Flow
bit.ly/2SDGBrz Fabric Saddles
bit.ly/3660hIB ISM PN 1.1 Saddle
bit.ly/2QaRDTv FABRIC Tri Race Saddle
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why did I have to pick such an expensive sport as a lowly poor person
Because you get to look at your bike when you dont ride it!
My poor man's Ferrari, fake it until I make it, "pow" !!
No Shit! thousand dollars a wheel...400 a saddle...300 for shoes... crazy man
Because it's the best sport ever
@@Nico_enni fair point!
I love that Tyler wanted a new saddle so he got Competitive Cyclist to give him one in exchange for a video. That's a pro move right there.
Nicely played and nice video.
taking into account the shitty way youtube pays creators, that's the way to go!
Honestly, that was a strong power move from him lol
400 buck!! It better perform another service while it's down there.
Lol
It does. It makes you more comfortable (as long as it fits properly). I have saddle issues currently and i'd pay that to fix them.
what service would you like? LOL
service bad for watts
And makeva cup of tea...
Mark Beaumont used an Selle SMP Pro (nearly identical to the one you called "an abomination") on his record breaking 80 day round the world challenge. Just goes to show how personal saddle choice can be. One man's abomination is another man's comfort.
Applies not only to saddles
“Very long, very happy to see you.”
So I'm a girl, a competitive bodybuilder, and I have a huge butt - and I ride the abomination saddle and it's the most comfortable saddle I've had. I have one of every other kind in this video, including an ISM Adamo. I love my Selle abomination the most. Everyone has different sit bones and different levels of tissue. And Competitive Cyclist is the bomb.
Selle Abomination 🤣 I'm in for that full-diaper saddle.
"competive bodybuilder...huge butt" My kinda girl!
How would you compare your Selle saddle to a fizik arione cx? Mine Cx is not too confortable on long bumpy rides
@@marcosr666 I haven't tried the cx specifically, but I have tried the standard Arione, and the Arione R1 Open, and I found the shape of the Selle to be much more comfortable. The R1 was better than the standard. I also have a Selle SLR Flow that is comfortable, and that's even on my indoor trainer bike.
OHH, I LOVE YOU HEATHER!!!
Thanks to this video, and the comments section... I'm looking for a SMP.
haha same
If you choose a seat solely on how it looks, you're gonna have a bad time. Also. +1 for SMP. No doubt they look goofy, but dammit they're comfortable. Best bike fitter in the world, Steve Hogg goes in depth on why the SMP saddle is so good. Worth the read on his website/blog
I tried riding it and it was the worst thing ever. But everyone is different.
@@TheVCAdventures to be fair, even their widest seat is narrow AF. So if you've got child bearing sit bones....I don't doubt you wouldn't like them
@@mafiaracers1 SMP now makes a wider version Well (formerly Hell) model named the M1, but none of their super high end saddles have wide options unfortunately.
Contrary to the opinion registered here, the Selle MP was the solution to thirty years of discomfort when I bought my first in 2011. Ten years, NO issues ever since.
Selle SMP's saddles are the BEST! Spent lots of money on every type of saddle over the years and Selle SMP Dynamic is the best saddle and the only one I ride.
disgusting
I gave up cycling until I got my Selle SMP. Now I can ride painfree!
He lost me when he diss’d Selle SMP saddles. They are the best.
Agreed i didnt want to like it cause they dont look cool, but the SMP Dynamic is the best.
The pros ride a small selection of saddles their handed. Most ride long nosed saddles with NO cutout. When asked "what's the first thing you change on a rider" The coach for thre U.S. Junior National Team said "We usually lower their saddles by a centimeter to a centimeter and a half.". If you are sitting "to high" in the saddle, you will have numbness, rocking hips and upper body and loss of balance and power. Look how low in the saddle Chris Froome rides. He has that odd upper body motion but I believe that's him keeping his upper body-that isn't doing much work-relaxed. Most riders can benefit from a lowered saddle and a stretching regime, to allow one's legs to extend as far as possible in the pedal stroke.
Nah, I'm not going to a LBS, try a bunch of saddles, and then buy the one I like online. That's not right.
Your right, watching that part back is cringe.
@@TheVCAdventures look if its a good shop their service should be good enough that you buy it in store at a competitive price.
Buy it in the store if is not much overpriced. The store deserves your money.
Agree. You can ask about price matching / discount and then it's win win.
@Xehanort11 depends on some “buy online” as in Halfords do click and collect and can pay in store, like tyres was £24 each but click and collect and get online price so about £24 for two tyres
I have tried 2 specialized saddles, 2 fizik saddles, 2 giant saddles, a selle italia saddle, a wtb saddle and the only one i have found to be comfortable was a selle SMP Well. looks kinda odd but it feels like armchair for ultra-endurance.
the Selle SMP are fantastic! I currently ride the carbon version but I have had 3 so far and i love them! the least painful of any saddle i have been on! Hands down! they feel as good as they look crazy!
This is where it all started for me one year ago. Saw this video and bought a test tri seat (fizik mistica) from the bike shop for $50. You’re helping people in bigger ways you know man. Big thanks
Selle SMP is the best. And don’t give me “only suits people who like to sit in one spot”
Fred Says What?
i have ridden an smp glider for years with good results, but with my new bike (sc bronson v3) that has a steeper seat angle and a different geomtery, the need to move around comfortably increased and the smp's concave shape started to bother me. right now i am on a specialized power comp and i must see it's pretty good
Happy New Year from Japan!! Dude, Bruh, the SMP is the shiznit!!
I don't have a butt. Good to know
Yeah like I don t understand that ahahaha.. i bought a used road bike that has this smp saddle and Iike it and i have a butt ahhaha
Yeah. He lost me at that point. Has he ever tried one? They are great saddles.
yotubemass he said he tried one and thats just his opinion so try not to cry
@@otter2206 man go eat candy
@@_Philip_. waaah waaah
“such a treat for the balls” this line right here could sell millions of saddles 🤣😂🤣
Appreciate your efforts on this topic....but would like to help you to communicate more clearly.
- "sit bones" ... you are a little off with your use of this term. The sit bones are the ischial tuberosities (ITs), which you take weight through when sitting erect. (check a diagram of pelvis anatomy).
- when riding a bicycle, leaning forwards, one shifts weight off the ITs onto the ischiopubic rami (IPR). These are 'rails' between the ITs and pubic symphysis. They angle inwards from back to front. These are the bits one has to 'harden' or condition to taking weight when a cyclist. WIth many thousands of km's in the legs, the periosteal lining of the bone and the bone itself begin to adapt to taking weight....and discomfort gradually eases.
- saddle paresthesia and other soft tissue issues occurs when the muscles and other tissue between the IPR endure excessive compressive force.
A cut out or channel can help this.
- However, by far and away the best strategy for a more comfortable butt is to lose weight, adopt a healthier diet with lots of vege and fruit and improve spine and limb flexibility. Why so?
-- because excess weight usually comes with stiffer joints (especially spine) and this prevents one from getting more weight onto the hands off the butt.
-- excess weight means more weight driving the butt into the saddle
-- excess weight is associated with more atherosclerosis, so less blood flow to the perineum at a given pressure.
-- greater flexibility means being able to distribute weight more variably between hands and butt, as well as adopt a more aero position for longer periods.
I personally really like these videos. It's not like competitive cyclist is paying you to lie. They are helping you get more equipment to give honest reviews of. I'm really liking these.
Riding an SMP Drakon for 1 year and no regrets.
The saddle does look kind of silly, not to say that it doesn't work.
"you don't have a butt" -tyler
@@WtfUA-cam_YouSuck yes I do and being a 90kg rider you can imagine. The advantage of the SMP saddle is that you always sit on the right position
SMP Dynamic all day long. Real butt. Wife approved
Frederick.
I’ve got a SMP Pro I used for RAGBRAI last year, great for long endurance riding, maybe not great if your getting nuts on quick switchbacks or for racing events but good if your riding 60 miles a day for a week.
I have a SMP Dynamic too and I love it. Done 2 century rides on it and it was great. I just wish it didn't weight almost 300g! And yea I know the cf rail version weigh like 245g... But still
Product videos like this are SOOO helpful becasue cycling is hella expensive and it’s hard to get opinions and first hand experience about where to spend your money!
After trying many, i found the ideal one: Specialized Power
Gottta make sure you get the right width tho. I tried the 155 and DIED. Changed to the 144 or whatever, and am in love.
This is a great saddle!
There's also a cheap copy named "EC90" on Amazon 🙊
Three years ago I got a new bike, got a fit, and told the fitter I wanted to be able to ride for hours mostly on the drops without numb nuts. They selected the Power, it worked great, and now all my bikes have one.
@@garrettmeifert3333 interesting. I must have wide sit bones lol. I ride the 155mm with no issues.
The Selle SMP is *VERY* sensitive to tilt angle. Mine didn't work until I got the angle just right. And it does lock you in, so if moving around on the saddle is your jam, it probably won't work for you. I actually like being locked in, so I'm fine with SMP-style saddles. (I actually have my trust old Fizik Arione on right now, but I like to rotate thru different saddles every few months. I've found that if I stick to any one saddle style for too long, I eventually start to have comfort issues.)
My SMP saddle is the best saddle for my sit bones, I’ve tried many others and they killed me on rides over 30 miles where the SMP fits like a glove... you need to remember a saddle is a very personal thing, just like shoes, bibs etc...
Yep
Time on a trainer will force you to understand “bike fit” differently than riding out in the world. Great conversation about saddles.
Liked the Video! I have an ISM on my TT bike, I tried it on my Road bike and found it to be NOT a good fit. One thing...the go try out saddles in LBS then go buy online for discount. Lets support the LBS so they can stay around.
Great video Tyler. The dangers of mucking about with the wrong saddle & wrong position are REAL! Long story, but in the interest of perhaps saving another dude the torture I will share....
In early 2018 I raced a TT on my Venge fitted with the Specialized ROMIN saddle. I did a couple of tests before the event to make sure I had the fore/aft & tilt dialled in...over 2 hours of mucking about to get it "right". Went to the event (from memory it was a 16km TT) and got off the bike walking like John fucking Wayne. A day later I was pissing blood at work (lots of fresh blood, not just a little colour in my stream... ) and went to the ER. At my age (41) they immediately flag you for possible bowel/liver/kidney cancer and begin testing for cancer....despite me telling the story I smashed my balls the day before on a bad fitting saddle in a TT they were insistent (due to my Dad dying of liver & bowel cancer). Before I knew it, I was in a consult with a bowel cancer specialist who asked me to lay on the bed and drop my pants....enter (literally!) Dr. Squarefinger. I got my first prostate exam without as much as a "May I?". No chocolates, no flowers, no kiss...he just cranked his finger in like we'd been dating for months. I then was "cleared" of prostate cancer...yipee! Next, was a screening for Liver Cancer...weird x-ray, metal taste in mouth, cold sweats, IV pumping X-ray fluid through my whole body...WEIRD experience. But worst of all came at the end, once they figured my butt, liver and tubes were cancer free...they then went down the last avenue of exploration. They booked me in for an internal scoping of my penis and urinary tract....full anaesthesia and camera down the eye of my old fella. I was relieved to wake from the haze of drugs to be told I didn't have cancer and must have just smashed my balls & taint really hard on a bike saddle.
SCARRED FOR LIFE :(
oils1976 😖 I’m sure that wasn’t the experience you were expecting! I also had a Roman that did me in real well on a century years ago! I’ve since moved on to the Power Saddle and it’s been great so far
@@jamesajjr72 yes, it was a roller coaster ride from hell! I also have moved to the similar PRO Stealth saddle and find it's mostly great...just a little wide on the tip. Will likely move to a Power saddle when one comes up for a good price ;)
as a doctor I apologise on behalf of my profession. Sad story but FRANK HAEMATURIA really is cancer till proven otherwise these days. :-(
@@charlesedward9357 Totally understand given the familial history/risk, just totally unaware of the roller coaster that would ensue from what seemed like a straight-forward bike-related injury.
oils1976 😂
I've tried dozens of saddles but the tried and true SLR is perfectly comfortable so I keep going back to that :)
My 155g Selle San Marco Open Shortfit Carbon FX is the best thing I ever bought for my bike at $200. Feels more like I'm perched than sitting. Not a single issue after a thousand miles. I'm 6'4" too with a viking sized package.
Awesome. I was looking at the Selle San Marco Mantra Open Fit Carbon FX, but I'll now check out that one too!
I’ve tried a bunch of saddles. SMP full carbon is the best.
I know it looks funny but I need a saddle to avoid pain and prostate cancer.
Another move if you're a bro on a budget, get a piece of cardboard, put it on a flat hard surface, sit on it.
Draw circles around sit bone indents, use a ruler to measure the distance between your sitbones. Look for saddles with your sit bone measurement.
You can buy some cheap saddles on sites like AliExpress that will give you a pretty good idea of if you like that kind of thing and upgrade to a better brand of the style you rode when it innevitably wears out.
do you measure to the center of the circles or just the space between them?
@@dant.6364 centre.
ua-cam.com/video/E7j9LUVJrjA/v-deo.html
My favorite saddle is a cheap PRO Tunix. Of course, I’ve never owned an expensive one so what do I know? HNY dude!
I have a million expensive saddles and the one I ride is the PRO Tunix!
I might take a punt on that. Thanks
I have a Fabric saddle intended for sitting more upright, endurance riding. They are awesome. I also like the Sella Italia! For me a saddle needs some curve, not flat! Yes... test them out... buy what works!
specialized power is a good option for short nose. I had the hollographic version which looked cool but the surface rubbed off after 1000km :(
Mine didn't even last 1000
Ive had saddle sores all my life, now rolling with the bontrager aeolus pro saddle.. Life changer!
"Go to your bike shop and test out a bunch of saddles, then buy the best one on CC." That's a bit of a scumbag move tbh.
Nike on a Bike - Yes agreed if you find it at your local bike shop buy it there. I think Tyler understands that.
If only ... I got an account on that site but as in UK now I get redirected to their EU sister site that not got the calculator the american site has
I'm okay doing that because you have to stretch your money these days. Local bike stores may not jack up the price too much but I have seen stores that do jack the price up a lot. Aside from competitive priceing I want better service from these brick-and-mortar bike stores and not to be helped by some piece of shit kid that doesn't care or some elitist cyclist know it all. On top of all that I don't want a bike store that acts like a car dealership where everythings extra and they talked you into bunch of bullshit you don't need. My wife bought a brand new bike out of a bike store two years ago and I was almost sick to my stomach watching the whole process. No thank you I'll do my own research online and buy used.
I’m new to riding. What does cc stand for
@@wmendez3 competitive cyclist. It's a website.
Mark Beaumont rode a Koga that had the witch nose saddle, through Africa
Gotta say, I've got two of the Selle SMP saddles, and I have much butt (all the butts). Very comfy, looks dumb as hell. For my gravel/rando bike, I've been using the Brooks Cambium carved. Feels good, looks much less dumb.
This is no joke. I haven't ridden since 3/24/19 because of prostatitis. I battled it for 7 years, but the last event was a life changer. After an 8 month nightmare I am finally back to my normal, but don't think for a second it can't happen to you...... it's just one of cycling's dirty little secrets, like morton's neuromas. If you put in enough miles, over a long enough period of time, then you will eventually find out.
Another SMP dynamic here. Love it
Got a saddle pressure measurement recently. Helped a lot! No experimenting, just science.
i bought a very expensive saddle and just could not get used to it, than i went back to the 5 euro saddle i was using on my other bike... i never went back, its simply amazing!
Happy New Year! Keep up the good work. I use the SMP Dynamic and the Bontrager Aeoulous Elite saddles. Both very comfortable
SMP saddles are the best.
Best comment talking about starter saddle "Very happy to see you "
2 cents worth :
- you make a great point about needing to slide fore and aft along the saddle.
- but it is more nuanced than that. as well as slide, you tilt/roll your pelvis forwards/backwards. when you tilt forwards you move most of your weight off your ischial tuberosities and load the ischiopubic rami (the bone between the ITs and pubic bone). The more time you spend on the drops, or riding downhill, and even on some climbs, the more you tend to have your ITs unloaded, and your IPRs loaded.
- and when on your IPRs you tend to be towards the front of the saddle. and the IPRs angle inwards towards the pubic bone.
- now in between the IPRs is perineum, a lot of soft tissue including the penis root. If the root area gets compressed excessively, blood vessels and nerves are compromised, leading to local numbness, pain, and difficulty urinating.
- so the goals with saddle fit, are to reduce compression of the perineum, and supporting the ITs/IPRs, no matter whether you are sitting up, or in the drops, or spinning or grinding. That's a lot to ask from one saddle.
1. The thing that makes the greatest difference is to reduce your bodyfat % to 12% or lower. When you do that you can stay comfortable on a greater range of saddles. Many pros don't use saddles with a cut out, because their perineum is not bulked up with lots of useless excessive fat. The Fizik Arionne and Antares are flat saddles and have been favorites among pro cyclists for decades.
2. Second thing is to do lots of spine, lumbopelvic, and hams flexibility exercise. This will help increase comfort time at various degrees of pelvic tilt, whether on the hoods or drops.
3. Lots of saddle issues are actually low back, SIJ, sciatic and pudendal nerve issues. Only a highly experienced cycling health professional can diagnose these things, and provide the best solution.
4. Many cutouts have too sharp an edge with the outside support surfaces. This edge can bite into your perineum. There's a case to be made for not having a cutout, but a depressed channel. Cutouts make a saddle weaker, causing longitudinal flex and early failure.
5. Many saddle issues are due to having the saddle too high, and causing lateral pelvic bone from side to side. A lower saddle is necessary to engage the hamstrings more when pulling the pedals rearwards. However, a lower saddle can unmask knee problems.
You're welcome.
Been using the $70 fabric over a year. ZERO regrets, love it!!
Still using it?
I have a Specialized Power with Elaston (a softer middle section over the regular Power) and that thing is awesome. $275, but probably the most crucial part of the bike.
Selle San Marco Zoncolan is my favorite saddle. It has the cutout and is nicely padded.
Wish you had a person with out balls giving input. So here goes:
For saddles with cut outs are good, they reduce pressure on the soft tissues and nerves of the vulva, the ventilation is good for preventing yeast and urinary tract infections. Saddles with gel in the seat are good, so you don't have to wear bike shorts that fell like wearing 1950's sanitary pads and spandex on the fanny is bad for UTI and promotes yeast growth. My favorite is a Medicus, wittkop gel saddle, At fifty-seven, I have done 100 km/day rides, in the summer spend 20+ hours a week on the bike.
Been through plenty of saddles throughout the years. Models from San Marco, Fabric, Prologo, Specialized, SMP, etc. I'm good on a Fizik Arione but I keep going back to the Selle Italia SLC. It's been discontinued for years now and I always buy one when it randomly pops up for sale on ebay. It has the cutout like the newer model SLR but it's not connected by the shell in the back. It allows each side of the saddle to flex independently. 8 hour granfondos and zero issues. Most cyclists have their go to saddle which is tried and true but good luck to those still searching. +1 giving a cutout a go if you've never tried it. The key is finding one that the padding of the saddle closest to the channel doesn't put too much pressure on your arse and inner thighs. FTW!
Next gear discussion should be road tires. As overlooked as they are, they can be HELLA expensive (at least for me). How big is the difference in puncture resistance, traction, and comfort? And does the difference in rolling resistance really make THAT big of a difference?
You are referring to pubic ramus, the narrow front bony part of your pelvis you sit on during time trials or when you're in the drops. The sit bones are the 2 pointy bits you sit on when you're upright.
I’m riding a brooks colt saddle and the taint smashing is so real. I just got back into riding after not riding in like 15 years. And even riding only 1.5 hours a day, I still feel it.
Love this. Just purchased ISM PS 1.0 from LBS after riding demo saddle for a few hundred km. Couldn’t recommend higher! You’re spot on with everything in this vid! Thanks!
For years, I rode with a fizik aliante saddle because it was the most comfortable out of the ones i could afford and was able to test. I later realized it actually gave me saddle sores. Fast forward to the present and the brooks cambium c17 has been my new go to. The nose may be a taint smasher in certain positions, but I get zero saddle sores.
I love my Selle SMP. Very comfortable. Run it on my road and MTB. Maybe you should have tried one for more than a minute or tried another SMP saddle before a public condemnation. JS
Smp looks weird but dude they are comfortable as F! I can ride all day long without any issues! I have the SMP Stratos
the same. Best saddle what ive been ridden so far.
I ride the SMP Stratos myself and love it.
Diane S. Actually I take my word back lol. Changed to Shimano PRO saddle and is the best saddle I have used. My fit is really aggressive and this new saddle is fantastic.
I had opposite experience; The Flight 1990 is a way more versatile and comfortable. Got the SLR Boost Superflow 3 wks ago.It has very little adjustment. I cant move front to back very well. it takes to long to get comfortable when you move. i remember when cut out seats first came out and i used to laugh after a 100 miles riders would always be fixing their shorts trying to get comfortable. Just ordered another 1990.
Love my SMP Drakon. You may not have adjusted it properly. Needs to be nose down 5 degrees plus. If it is setup correctly, you can move around.
I for one appreciate your advice to try a bunch of saddles at a local bike shop & to purchase it online. I’ve dealt with too many rude local bike shop managers who only care to make a quick buck & if they want to sell their saddle, then they should sell it at a fair and competitive price!
Alright dude, I usually like your videos but why the hating on the Selle SMP? As far as my wife tells me I have a relatively normal and attractive butt. I absolutely LOVE my Selle SMP Well! (WELL is the model) I have ridden just about every type of saddle you showed and the only thing I am comfortable on is the SMP. The Well is not the Extra. It is very minimally padded and vegan. I can move fore/aft enough to change position and my junk never goes to sleep. It is comfortable without cycling shorts up to about 30 miles. My daily commute is about 40 minutes in the AM and 90 minutes in the pm and I do this every workday in my work clothes. Rant done.
Agreed. Haven't tried the Well yet (or the Dynamic, for that matter), but of the 30 or so saddles I have owned and/or ridden, none comes even close to the Plus Celeste (vegan!) that I have since half a year.
I tried 7 saddles and my SMP is the only saddle that works for me. I stopped watching the video as he is too biased to give an honest review.
Pro Stealth saddle. Awesome price for about 100 bucks and the only saddle you'll ever need. Works in both race and TT position.
"Taint smasher..." LMAO. "My balls were celebrating..." OMG Tyler...LOL
My saddle is a Specialized either Romin or Power Comp, can't remember which. I love that saddle and it didn't cost a fortune even at my lbs.
Clothing and some accessories I'll buy online but I try to support my lbs as much as I can.
Its all about comfort,I'm on a ten dollar eBay saddle and its one of the most comfortable saddle I ever used
Hey Mate, love your diet tips. But different people require different saddles. Selle smp works for a lot of riders with the Plus model working for larger riders. I would recommend every rider to get professionally bike fitted with saddle testing being a large component of the fitting process. I would never advise buying a saddle without testing it first.
I have that Fabric saddle on both of my bikes. It works well for me.
Hey Bro, I have no butt, I have been riding the plus saddle for over 5 years now and am more comfortable on it than the expensive selle italia saddle types. My butt just can’t take the hard rock like no pad on the saddle. Great vid bro as always. Ps, I can move up and down the saddle very comfortable.
Best take away, try LOTS of saddles (and if you're fit is poor, you're gonna suffer on any saddle).
You need time on the saddle to really know if the fit is right for you, everyone's different, but time will tell.
His advice on demoing saddles form your local bike shop is good advice.
SAN Marco concor with xslite rails. Most comfortable thing in the world. I’ve got the one which doesn’t have a cut out with a rounded top and it’s comfortable even when In a mega aggressive position (my track bike with a slammed stem, deep track drops and a high saddle . It’s soooooooo comfyyy)
The saddle I'm using is the Bontrager Aeolus Pro. I love it.
Eric Wohnig I have the same one so much better than the fabric saddle that came on the bike.
I just test rode a Madone at the bike shop that had one of these saddles and I immediately told them to order me one. I haven't received it yet, but i'm looking forward to trying it out. I'm currently using the Fizik R7 that came on my bike and I hate it.
@@primersdime You made a good choice!
you only sit on something that is comfortable and fits you, not what you think is cool or all your mates have.
what's wrong exactly with the SMPs? I ride daily on a SMP TRK large saddle with a thudbuster and absolutely got rid of any taint soreness. Fill me in, what's wrong with it?
Not gonna lie I clicked on this purely due to seeing a 'taint smasher' style seat 😂😂 Was not disappointed either lol
"Very long, happy to see you!" Made my freakin day, man! :-D
Exactly what I needed. This video! New rider here. Have been riding everyday since July and only complaint is the seat still! Numbness when pushing my envelope.
Can we have this discussion without the Specialized Power saddle? Game changer.
Yeah. Also I need to move forward to back at different times during the ride. For example climbing vs. Getting aero. Sometimes you just need to get over the bb a bit more. That italia saddle looks good. I run the specialized one with the hole in it. It's OK, and I don't mind it but I bet that italia one is better.
Mate if you have wide sit bones and like to move up and down on the saddle but sit on the nose when doing an effort give a ISM PN 3.0 a crack! When set up correctly it will blow your mind. Heaps of controversy over weather they belong on a road bike or not, but I like a bent over tuck position and I feel it gives great stability in that position but like they say saddles are very personal.
SMP all day, every day!
Bruhh I hate the SMP too. I shit when you said that. Lol
Our Vegan Spirit connection prompted you to upload this video EPIC Review.....as I just destroyed my bike/saddle/etc.
Saddles are a tricky one.
99% of the time it's preference. Always great to hear your take.
I always like Fiziik for the style/money/comfort. Antares Vs R3. I Ride sitting way forward also... I basically TT as much as possible on a Road bike=====(position+power+aero=free speed)...Comfort is a RELATIVE Term in Cycling tho.
A Cut out saddle is absolutely mandatory; for safety. I can't believe anyone would still be sitting on their taint when cutouts have been around for years. But cushioning your sit bones is also very important ...the sit bones can be injured as well. Especially if you veer onto a gravel road.
My favorite saddle, which i have on all four of my bikes, cost just $35.
So you are supposed to go your local bike shop and use up their time to help you pick a saddle and then go buy it on line?
I just took a Selle SMP off my cycle and put on a Specialized Power knock off. Selle SMP would be good for indoor trainer but it kills on long road rides.
locked in, lock it in!
This is the way to discuss saddles.
Amazing video as always. Tried many saddles over the years including all the ones you review. Specialized Romin works for me. Rode in races including a 300km race in Melbourne Australia
I had to get a new saddle because once I started hitting those 50mins in point , my sit bones start killing me , and a lot of those times I wanted to ride for longer
Pro Stealth or Specialized Power work pretty well and are not too expensive
Bike shops in our area have a very limited selection of saddles. They mainly carry whatever low end saddles they can double their money on. I've noted that price doesn't necessarily correlate with comfort, at least for me. I bought a used bike where the LBS had put a cheap $12 (yes, a $12 saddle) on that I found to be glorious, even on 40+ mile rides. I liked it so much I approached him about purchasing another for another bike. He wasn't so good on the price though, asking me $40 for it. Arrrgh! The most comfortable saddle I've ever owned was a Brooks Imperial. Yeah, the weight at over 500g isn't good, but on long endurance rides, it's nice to tell my legs to shut up instead of my "taint" as you call it.
Sorry, you're wrong about SMP saddles: they works fine (at least for me and for thousend of other cyclists...). SMP Composit saddle is the best saddle I've ever tried.
I love your stuff but don't diss the SMP. I spent yrs trying different saddles most were too narrow. The 1st saddle that didn't hurt my butt was an SMP but my legs rubbed on the nose, I was told the top of line SMP has a narrow nose but have not tested it. I now use a specialized power it has a short nose which like the SMP turned down nose doesn't get caught in the shorts. I have wider sit bones and big legs that touch so the flair and short nose works for me. Most things in cycling are made small. Even the padding on shorts can be too small it took awhile to find shorts that didn't have me riding on the seams. Thanks for bringing up the topic
I run the fizik arione and I agree that once you start pushing the hours it starts to really get bad on your balls especially when your seating position gets a bit off.
It’s funny the saddle you hate Mark Beaumont rode his around the world in 80 days on. I had a gebioMized saddle pressure mapping test done in a fitting and it was amazing to see the hot spots on my “butt radar.” We tried like 15 saddles until we got no reds and minimized yellows.
Yup, saddles are totally personal. Had a long skinny prologo saddle and hated it. Got a specialized power with the short nose and central cut out, and hated it even more, and got saddle sores. Switch to long skinny Fabric saddle with like no padding, and my second ride was 205 miles. Everything was in excruciating pain except my taint. Saddles are soooooo personal.
Good video. Just picked up a Selle Italia SLR Superflow Boost. Looking forward to riding it.