Saddle Recommendations

Thread started by
bondink at 05.20.09 - 11:57 am
My friend wants to buy his girlfriend a new saddle. Says something comfy that won't look weird on a 10 speed racing bike.
i have no idea. any suggestions? thank you :)
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people who have Brooks saddles swear by them. I think they look good on any bike
spiraldemon05.20.09 - 12:06 pm
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there is only one answer. see above.
steph responding to a
comment by spiraldemon
05.20.09 - 12:16 pm
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yea.. i think i might have to agree.
bondink responding to a
comment by steph
05.20.09 - 12:17 pm
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If it's a racy bike I like Selle San Marco Concors. Really, you can't go wrong with one of the classic saddles like Concor, Rolls, Turbo, or Flites.
cabhauler05.20.09 - 1:14 pm
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If he really wants to go the extra mile, he could have her but measured. Srsly, don't laugh. Helen's in Santa Monica has a such a butt measurer, it's got a couple of gel pads that you sit on, and they change color where your sit bones hit. Based on that, you can tell how wide a person's hips are, and they'll tell you what width saddle to get. Usually, stores will stock women's-specific saddles which are usually wider and shorter.
All the old timers tell me to give the Brooks saddles a try. So I guess that's a good option too.
jericho1ne05.20.09 - 1:24 pm
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i love my brooks HOWEVER because it has no cushion, when i'm wearing jeans or anything with a seam, it hurts like a bitch- so i myself am considering a cushioned saddle for my recreational bike but have no idea what to get.
a lot of cushioned saddles/women specific saddles feel great for 5 minutes and then feel like rocks after 10. any suggestions other than brooks?
if she does go with a brooks, they have the women's specific with a shorter nose and wider seat. i love it.
tomato05.20.09 - 1:36 pm
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I'm really really happy with my Specialized Alias saddle on my geared road bike. It's partly because it comes in three widths for riders' different size sit bones. I got it at Cynergy Cycles (near Helen's in SM). They also have a thing that measures your butt and it's free whether buy a saddle or not. It's just a simple gel thing you sit on for a couple seconds and it leave an imprint showing which size you ought to be. I know, I know it sounds silly, but it gets you fitted on the right saddle. The right saddle will make solid contact on your sit bones and very minimal contact elsewhere. I've gone through a lot of saddles (except no Brooks, which I suspect are more style than substance.)
0gravity responding to a
comment by jericho1ne
05.20.09 - 1:48 pm
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Brooks don't work for everyone, but to me they are style and substance. I have ones that are over 30 years old and they look great and are comfortable to boot. They must work for some otherwise they wouldn't have been standard equipment on so many bikes for almost 100 years.
Tomato, I ride in boxers with my Brooks all the time, they feel fine.
cabhauler05.20.09 - 6:15 pm
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I got my wife a specialized ariel after she got measured by the butt thingy. She loves it. As for me, the brooks are great after they've been risen for a year! I have a fizik arione and aliante that are both wonderful on my cheeks!
BICYKILLER05.20.09 - 6:34 pm
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My favorite is the San Marco Regal. It's a very comfortable saddle even in regular pants. I'm also quite fond of the Selle Italia Turbo and Flite saddles.
Velocipede05.20.09 - 9:41 pm
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Brooks have always been comfortable right outta the box for me. YMMV.
cabhauler responding to a
comment by BICYKILLER
05.20.09 - 10:01 pm
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Yeah, but after that year its gonna last as long as you want it to.
Graham responding to a
comment by BICYKILLER
05.20.09 - 10:07 pm
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saddles are as personal a decision as neckties.
each of us is different. we have different bodies, different bikes and different riding styles. asking someone to recommend a saddle is like asking them to recommend a specific style and size of levi's. you have to try them on. have your friend spend $75 on competitive cyclist's demo saddle program. it's genius.
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/road-bikes/demo-saddle
kurtz05.20.09 - 10:10 pm
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brooks, selle anatomica
or just be a fucking hardass[litterally] and rock a plastic seat.
HANDBONE responding to a
comment by Graham
05.20.09 - 10:10 pm
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i love those touring saddles
HANDBONE responding to a
comment by la duderina
05.21.09 - 10:37 am
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specialized avatar!!!
that saddle is real nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
if u go to cynergy they have that butt measurer thing too!!!
that seat is real nice though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
around $80
but worth it!
lucifur66605.21.09 - 3:00 pm
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+1 on the brooks.
I am quite fortunate that my bike came with a 30+ year old books in near perfect condition. I call it the "ass hammock" it was a 100% improvement over the specialized saddle i was riding before it and the specialized was a 100% improvement over the saddle it replaced.
I'm pretty hooked on Brooks. Althoght i would try a velo orange or selle anatomica.
And brooks+boxers works great for me.
trickmilla responding to a
comment by cabhauler
05.21.09 - 7:15 pm
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