Choosing a bicycle saddle, easy right? Nope, there’s so many options. Bike Fitter James Thomas Ranks them from worst to best in his opinion.
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25 Comments
i've changed my ergon saddle on Specialized POWER with Mirror and NOW i feel better, much better!!! Nose on level 0 degree !
I actually really like my ISM Adomo. I think its the flatness that works for me, so I'm sure others are out there that would work as well or better, but the Adomo was the first comfortable saddle I found.
I use the Selle Italia SLR Boost L3 that he has at the end of the video. Amazing saddle, I'll never use other designs.
Have you tried Bisaddle? I was very curious about them.
The end of the video probably explains why I can ride most saddles for my normal 30-50mile ride. Of course longer rides impact it more but I have found most saddles work for me, but I get my fit pretty similar on all road bikes.
Went thru a phase where I bought/sold probably over $2000 US dollars retail worth of saddles/seats on eBay until I finally found two brands that I could tolerate on longer rides WITHOUT bike shorts. I look at bike shorts as sort of the king's new clothes phenomenon. Why or why is it necessary to wear what feel like diapers while riding a bike? Obviously, because the saddles/seats are NOT designed for human anatomy. So … rather than solve the issue with bad design, just add padding to riding shorts. Makes perfect sense to me. NOT! Eventually settled on one of the SMP saddles, Hybrid model IIRC, low priced saddle believe it or not but then in my quest for an even better saddle discovered the ISM line. Started off with some older models in the narrow range finally 'graduating' to either the ISM PN 1.0 275mmX110mm 25 series or the ISM PN 275mmX110mm 40 series with a bit of extra padding good for longer rides & which is currently my main saddle now.
I tried the Power saddle and had that excact issue with my thighs shafting and the saddle itself wasn’t too comfortable either. I have around 132-140 mm sitbone width depending on hip angle and from Specialized the Toupé in 155 have worked well. But my favorite is Bontrager Verse in 155. First saddle I can do 100 km+ on multiple days on with no discomfort. Using it on both road and MTB.
yes. The Tune Speedneedle. Shouldn't be comfortable, doesnt look comfortable, but is exactly that.
Currently testing the Fizik Argo Terra x5 Regular 150mm which came with my bike. So far so good.
My specs are relatively long, relatively flat across, a bit of a dip under the pelvis, and side skirts to prevent thigh chafing. Selle Italia's 1990 Flite and Bontrager's Serano fit the bill. I haven't needed a love channel yet.
What are bike saddles made for? Comfort when setting sure don't seem to be the reason.
that ergon is crap / looks like a great saddle but not for me, SQ LAB is worth mentioning.
Hi!
I'm not sure I understood correctly: is saddle bone measurement useful for sizing the saddle for MTB? I'm trying to get a particular saddle from abroad since there's no local stock. My sit bone width is almost at the top end for the smaller size they offer… is there a general guideline when "in between sizes", or you just have to keep trying with different saddles until you get the right one?
Disappointing that you let looks get in the way of the SMP. I've got the TRK version (slightly shorter, I think), and can honestly say that it's the most comfortable saddle I've ever used. So much so that I don't even have to think about it, or get discomfort towards the end of a long ride. It just works, perfectly
The saddle with the fin.. what in tarnation is that? Surely some colleciton of engineers sat around laughing at what people would sit on? Dang.
I got the SR allroad core, the core makes a difference. Very comfortable saddle and absorbing shocks. Also i tried the SMC core, and man you are sitting on a cloud… But quite heavy and 15mm longer, also the s/m is a little bit too narrow for me and the m/l could be a little bit narrower to be perfect (i suit best 152-155 saddles, smaller is 148, larger is 161).
Also i tried sqlab saddle with the ifinergy(same as ergon core i think) and it was stiffer less pleasure to sit on than the normal version, but when i started riding and come across some bumps, normal saddle was harsh and stiff i felt every bump, but the infiniergy was absorbing like 70-80% of the impact. Also this was with both that got an absorber elastomer, so the thing is with this infinergy core magic, and i got similar feeling with the ergon core saddles that i have with infinergy active sqlab.
In the end i can reccomend the ergon CORE series (SR allroad core and smc core).
Now i ordered selle italia MAX SLR boost with 155 version to give it a try, 145 i tried was too narrow for me.
unfortunately I can't find the Sella Italia Boost S3. For they still make them, if not what is next in line?
viel spass im regen 🙂
Yikes that one saddle with the ridge. Exciting stuff right there
This video is so dumb … he doesn’t like any of them … DUMB WASTE OF TIME
Garbage.
Our bikefitter (over 7000 fits) claims that Power is the most popular saddle between his customers
But there are different versions.
I rode Power Comp and it sucked. I rode Power with Mimic and it sucked too.
S-Works was very good
It is exactly the same with Toupe.
Phenom Comp was one of the worst I ever rode.
But I ride S-Works Toupe in my endurance bike and it's great
I tested probably 10 Selle Italia saddles in the best. they all sucked.
Though my son raced Selle Italia SLR Boost SuperFlow Carbon in his French team was very happy with it.
I ride Phenom Comp in my mountain bike and it's a very comfy saddle.
The most comfortable saddle I ever come across was Specialized Rival. Not manufactured any more. We have them in ur gravel bikes. One with titanium rails and one with Cr-Mo rails.
My son won national TT junior championship on ISM saddle shown. One of the most popular saddles for the TT. But obviously not a road saddle.
I used to ride a Selle Italia SLR Boost, 130 wide, and it was pretty good. Then, about a year ago, I switched to the Novus Boost, 140 wide and 3D printed, and it was a game changer. Never had a saddle sore again.
I’ve never had a bike fit but after much trial and error I’ve settled on the SLR and Lake shoes. I also love the Brooks B17.
The got the Arione and when i changed for the Selle Italia it was day and night! Best saddle good looking and the Titanium rails it just robust!
haven't found a good saddle yet sit bones have measured in at around 155mm, most of the saddles I have tried start to burn on my pelvic bones, have been told wide sit bones need a wider saddle width so sit bones are actually on the saddle. Currently have aspecialized power comp mimic 143 on my road bike, its uncomfortable over time, tried a wider one but started hurting inner thighs. Have a giant approach sl on my gravel bike very comfortable but again starts to hurt on pelvic bones . Any recommendations ?