Bike Fit Tuesdays is back. Classic, TT, Snub nosed… What’s the best saddle for road cycling? Thanks to @bikefitjames and Bicycle in Richmond for hosting.
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38 Comments
I have to say, this is the most informative video on saddles I have ever seen, especially the bit about ‘it isn’t the saddle, it’s the way we sit on it’. Never heard that before. I get discomfort on my left sit bone, tried loads of saddles, so what can I do about that? Currently riding a mimic,girly saddle,but also have a toupe. Should I go back to the toupe?
S works power carbon saddle or S works romin evo carbon saddle ?
Do you believe san marco aspide has a similar profile to pro griffon?
Loved what you had to say. Unfortunately I’m the one seriously struggling to get comfortable who you described. I’ve tried so many saddles and been in so much discomfort caused no end of health problems to myself and still. I’m uncomfortable. No , I’m still in pain! A Bikefit didn’t help, at all. I’m buying again, where to next? Trying a Selle Italia slr on Ti rails? The L3 size. Oh well.
Thats the model of seddle shown in 1:15 ?
I had my glute removed due to a sarcoma 12 months ago and since then my saddle gives me sores.
My position was ok before and I never had any problems or discomfort. Do you think I need a new saddle or explore bike fitting again?
I cannot believe that there was no Selle SMP was on the table!
Setting up after a long time off the bike. I really liked a San Marco Rolls back in the day, aside from a bit of numbness. Selle Italia saddles always felt like riding a sharpened brick. I like a relaxed seat tube angle and to move forward and back with terrain and to shift load from quads to hamstrings. What would you recommend trying out of today’s saddles?
For a sport/hobby that is so detailed down to the millimeter I find the search for the right saddle overwhelming and disconcerting. I'm going to take your advice and look into the longer saddles with a channel cut out. The short nose saddles like Selle Italia SLR Endurance Boost and Power Expert just don't do it for me
Bontrager aeolus work for me great sadlle
What is your idea on the Selle SMP. My bike fitter advised me the SMP DRAKON for more stability on the saddle but after 2000 miles I everytime get the unpleasant feeling that my prostate hurts because it is kind of pushed trough the channel. After about 35 miles it starts getting unpleasant. I tried different angles but I can't solve the discomfort. The great thing is that the saddle helps in preventing pain in the back. Does this sound familiar to you? Thanks for the video.
I was wondering how often James has a client for with fizik arione
Whats this guy going on about? you will never not have numbness on a flat saddle with no cutout. it doesnt come down to your position unless your body is literally in a 90 degree angle to the bike. which no one does? with the cutout you can still have pelvic support..
Easy to say when your clients are men as we know women need wider saddle width unless your a very thin woman
Does saddle affects balance? I mean wt loading infront. I felt that pelvic tilt which causes impingement on my wrist is bec my saddle cant hold my pelvis into place…
Re-watched. Liked. Recommended.
I have struggled to ride any road saddle without about a 5 degree down tilt. I realize this causes weight shifting forward and recognize the symptoms this causes (shoulder/knee/hands) but the alternative is bad soft tissue discomfort or lower back pain. I ride with my pelvis tilted forward to keep my lower back straight. I’ve tried to lower the saddle but the pressure is still there when rotated forward. If I get it low enough to alleviate the soft tissue it feels like my knees are barely extended. My fitting experience has been dreadful with fitters setting saddle height ranging from too high to way too high. As such I just don’t even consider another fitting. Any help would be appreciated.
Great video. Oddly enough… I love that blue Fizik Arione. The very long lenght allows me to move around the saddle. I go to the front when on the drops, and to the back when climbing.
What about saddles for long distance comfortable cycling or multiday bikepacking?
Thanks for this video, very informative! Since a couple years have past since its production, just curious if you are still fitting 75% of riders on the Griffon or have you found a new saddle that is more "universal" for 2022? Thank you!!
So what's the recommendation when you have been professionally fit and still getting genital numbness?
Turn the fookin music down!
Didn't really amount to much information yes the ride position is correct on sitting lobsided he didn't mention bad back ake on one side I've tried a large amount of different saddles and found none any good and changed various seat posts and handle bar length. . an yea everybody is different what solved my issues of 1..back ake lower right hand side..2 dick stem ake..3 arce ake…..1> cure stick some duck tape over the area you get back ake before you go out then I turned the saddle position pissed to the left slightly = back akes gone !!!!!!…2> cure to dick stem ake and knacks shriveled up it's the saddle nose and saddle is to far back so I was sitting on the nose most of the time I'm out for hours so I changed the seat post and adjusted the saddle more forward I bought one of those tt saddles you had it's cured the dick ake ..3> arce ake I've been in agony sometimes so that seat I put it in my vice and bent up each side to sit flatter on it now the arce akes gone ! ..some people have a fatter arce so these methods prob don't work for you I'm small and skinny also a shorter handle bar steam work for my reach also ride out the saddle more until your legs are on fire …so the conclusion is listen to nobody but yourself get some old seats off eBay bend and saw them till one works for you then you no what shape suits your arce ..so there you have my two pence worth good luck!
Can you recommend a saddle like the specialized toupe? I tried the slr and I had lots of pressure from the edges of the cutout. Is the phenom similar? Having a hard time finding the pro turnix in the us
Thanks
I got saddle sores on both sides (along with heat rashes) due to riding a 155mm saddle. Adjusting to 140mm completely got rid of the sores. In my case, the saddle was definitely the problem… I can't even imagine a man walking into a bike shop and being told a 155 or 165 saddle will fit his body
My extra padding might go up and down, but those actual hip bones aren't that wide
Bike shops need to let out loaner saddles for people to find the right fit.
Most bike shops just refer you to an expensive fitter.
Is this selle Italia any good for MTB? I'm currently using spz power.
Hi everyone, I have been suffering from a saddle soreness for a long time. And I was wondering if someone knows what saddle would be good for a road bike for heavier riders? I am 6 feet tall with 280 pounds thank you
Can I pay with pay pal?
Did you mention the saddle that has proved itself for over 140yrs and is still sought by thousands? A saddle that depended on design, quality and adaptability? If you did, I missed it. I refer, of course to the inimitable B17
WTB are no 1. Better then Specialized and better then Bontrager and better then Selle Italia ..
Durability and Comfort of the WTB saddles are a proven formula .
You can not go wrong with buying WTB saddles. Most likly once you buy a WTB saddles you will stay with WTB for ever.
Simply the BEST.
WTB are no 1. Better then Specialized and better then Bontrager and better then Selle Italia ..
Durability and Comfort of the WTB saddles are a proven formula .
You can not go wrong with buying WTB saddles. Most likly once you buy a WTB saddles you will stay with WTB for ever.
Simply the BEST.
Are the noseless sadles likely to cause hipflexor problems? My bike came with one and I find myself automatically moving forward on the it which in turn seems to cause instability in the hips.
Interesting take….Hard to argue with how many people like and recommend power saddles and there variations. I mean specialized stopped making the toupee and its variants are their worst sellers.
I switched from a 142mm stealth limited to a pro griffon 142mm and am returning it tomorrow. I actually bought two.
GOD.. I WISH I had a fitter like this in my neck of the woods. I am in the market for a new saddle and LOST. Tons of great tips here tho, thanks for making this!
Why wait?
Great video, thanks!