I used to be a Spoon and Flux guy, but went off them.
Recently it's been wtb pure, but they have various models, some good, some bad, but apart from that, they're not lasting long enough, cloth/material issues on 2 and a bent rail on the other.
So, what do I need instead?
Some say SDG Bel Air 3.0?
Or?
For years I've been a Selle Italia Flite kinda guy. Hard wearing and light (very ligh if you get the ti railed version)
I've got 'flow' models on all my bikes to keep my plums happy. There are probably better saddles out there, but they just 'fit' my bum, and despite being firm (...the saddle, not my bum) I can happily perch on them for hours at a time.
I thought I'd found a great saddle and put one on all my bikes. It's only after you've done a multiday tour and sat on a saddle for 12 hours a day that you really know if it's a good saddle or not. Sadly mine really hurt, but fine for a days ride.
One of these days I need to sell my failed saddle collection.
I'm going back to an old selle smp saddle for multidays. It's old and heavy but comfy.
I think they do a test saddle service too.
Ergon sm comp
Yeah, SDG Bell Air. The newer ones don't seem to develop a rattle like the old ones did.
My weight has a big effect on my comfort and which saddles suit best. Over 80kg and my arse is fat enough to make most saddles comfy. Sub 75kg and skinny arse really doesn't like some skinny hard saddles.
Selle Italia Flite Ti Alpes. #retro
If anyone's can recommend anything that's a similar fit I'd be keen to know, nearest I found was the older Fizik Gobi's - but still not the same.
Very personal. Bontrager SSR for me. 300 miles of really tough riding in 13 days. zero arse pain
Specialized Toupe 143
Fizik Aliante works for me on every bike.
One of these days I'll get my plan to open www.saddleswapshop.com off the ground!
Currently a slightly older Phenom (gel comp) which defeated my initial sore sit-bones/scepticism and now is possibly favourite all-time MTB saddle. Will definitely try Phenom again next time
Back in the 90s I favoured various Specialized Body Geometry offerings in the 90s before moving on to SDG Bel-Air and a Gobi XM/wingflex for two decades (couldn’t get on with the much-praised Charge Spoon/Madison Flux bonch-breakers)
For long gravel and/or road (multi)day touring I switch to a Brooks Team Pro Special which is supremely comfortable.
Fabric scoop on both the MTBs, fabric scoop with the cutout on the Zwift road bike.
SDG Radar for me. It’s got a bears face on it but it’s very comfy. Used to like the original Bel Air too.
I've recently bought a cotic solarismax and that came with a cotic saddle,.
It was actually very comfy but the other bikes have brookes carvers which I've liked for years. So with a multi day Scottish trip planned I swapped the saddle to a brookes.
I hated it, really uncomfortable, swapping back, went to Scotland for 300km and 5 days on the cotic saddle.
It was perfect. My bum has never been happier 😊
Fabric Scoop Shallow or Line Shallow. Wouldn't use anything else while they still make those.
Saddles are a very personal thing…. for me over the last 10 years it’s been the Fabric Scoop Shallow Elite (still have a Charge Spoon too, from before the rebrand to Fabric and the expanded line). It’s a cheap and unassuming saddle but it’s comfortable all day, in any condition and can take an absolute hammering!
I don't typically find saddles uncomfortable, but I happen to have a couple of Specialized Phenoms. One is an old 152 wide, the other is 142 (IIRC).
I have another that was a Specialized Phenom Adventure(!?) model - basically covered in canvas that lasted max 6 months. I recovered it with Kangaroo leather which lasts forever.
I love the old Charge Knife, enough that I have an ebay alert and I snaffle up all the new-old-stock ones so I've got some spares. SDG Circuit MTN is almost as good but costs about 3 times as much
It's all about your own personal arse though isn't it. I'm lightweight, low on fat, and narrow so I guess I just sort of balance on top of the Knife and it doesn't matter that it's got no padding, and the skinniness works well for me. For someone else it could well be like sitting on a razor blade.
I've become a big fan of Fabric saddles. Scoop Radius on my MTB and Scoop Race on the CX and Road Bikes. Best saddles I've ever used not stupidly priced either.
On the mountain bikes I have a Brooks b17thays 20 years old on one and chromag trailstars on the other two.
The brooks is awesome for distance, but catches if I'm doing jumps and the like.
The chromag's are fine for a long day, but better if there are jumps involved.
If I was pedaling for more than 6h in a day, the brooks would go on🙂
WTB Volts on all my bikes. They have the added bonus of being relatively cheap too.
Charge spoon for me
Have always been a charge spoon user but new bike came with a WTB volt and its the first bike where I didn’t instantly want to swap it out. Been using it for a year now and when I switch to one of my other bikes with a spoon on, it doesnt feel as comfy (but still fine). Now considering moving the other bikes over to the volt over time.
SQ Labs 612 ergowave have been kind to me.
I used to be a Charge Spoon user. It started to get uncomfortable after a few hours, then that time decreased until I couldn’t even sit on it.
Measured my sit bones and discovered I’d been on too narrow a saddle for years, then bought a Brooks C17 All Weather. Comfiest thing I’ve ever used. Have them on all my bikes now.
Fabric Scoop Radius on all my MTB’s. I find them very comfortable.
Tempted to try a Bikeyoke Sagma, next time I need a new saddle.
Ergon SME and Scoop Radius for me at the mo.
I'm on Spesh Power Expert in 143mm on 3 out of 4 bikes, the other one has a Selle Italia Model X Green superflow, whihc is equally as nice, way cheaper but about 100g heavier
I've just tried one of our spares... it's a Specialized... oh my... isn't it firm !!!!! might as well have left it off and sat on the post.
I seem to be transitioning from Fizik Gobis - I've broken two now, the warranty is excellent - to Fabric Scoop Radius on the mountain bikes, Scoop Shallow on the cross bike and now a Fabric Line on the road replacing an Arione.
Specialized Power Pro Elaston on the MTB (and a regular power pro on the gravel/road bike) in 155mm. The shape works for me, 2-3 hour rides without a chamois are no problem.
I did have the Scoop shallow on there before, didn't get on with the Scoop radius but the flatter profile ones are pretty okay (the power is just perfect for me though!)
I'm not really fussy when it comes to saddles and can normally get comfy on most.
However the last prebuilt bike I bought came with an Ergon SM Enduro on it.
I'm now slowly switching all my bikes to the same saddle.
Selle Italia SLR Superflow on all my bikes be they Road, MTN or Gravel.
Specialized Phenom on the MTB and a Power on the road bike.
Used Phenom's for years, seems to suit my backside.
Fabric Scoop for me on new bike, very knackered Charge Spoon on the old one. Both with titanium rails because shiny 🙂
Original SDG Bel Air fan here, nothing can touch that for all day comfort. Have recently used Charge Spoon and similar Madison Flux which are good but do get a bit of grief after longer trips.
Disappointing that subsequent SDG Bel air models have been so bad, the MK2 is ridiculously uncomfortable in comparison.
Selle Italia SLR. Light, v comfy (for me, despite almost no padding). I have them on all my bikes (MTB / Road / Gravel) now.
The roadie ones are insanely light - they have '135g' printed on them as proof. I've used them for 8-9 years - a great way to shed 100g+ quite easily/cheaply even on an Enduro bike. Admittedly I did break one the other day (I broke the carbon rails), but I've used it heavily for years so it'd done well and was immediately replaced with my Ti-railed spare.
Charge Spoon is my go-to but put a Nukeproof Horizon on my hardtail recently and that's been good so far as well
Phenoms on all the bikes, between the three saddles, 10k miles.
I've got the original 1990 Flite ti on most of my bikes. Also have a gel version.
Never really loved the uncomfortable saddle issue - Brooks work best but not a good all weather saddle. Now on a Brooks Cambium - with the cutout, which is more or less the best I have found.
Tried many - even resorted to ISM - but I am not convinced they are any different from a standard saddle!
I've tried loads over the years. As per others above, now running Selle Italia SLR super flow on all bikes now.
Fizik Gobi XM.
I'm pretty lucky that most things work. Currently have Nukeproof Horizon Enduro's on both MTBs. The summer roadie has a Charge Line and the winter roadie has an unbranded thing that came with it.
I've got a Fabric Scoop Radius on one bike, a Shallow on the other. My arse can detect no difference (but the shallow looks nicer).
There have been some really good deals on the Selle Italia SLR Kit Carbonio Flows recently. Got one on the road bike and love it. Just got a Flite Kit Carbonio Flow for the gravel bike, and it seems OK.
I used to have a cheap Selle Italia that was really comfy so convinced OH to spend on an expensive one for my birthday. Think it was the SLR Flow. Was honestly the worst saddle ever. The ridges around the cutout were hell!
Charge spoon type shape for me now. Got an Analog saddle and fabric saddle both good in that shape. Im much less a long miles rider these days though and stand up more too.
I have a relatively simple process for deciding on saddles..
Is it a roadbike ?
Yes -> Selle Italia SLR Ti
No -> Flite Ti
Job done.
Spoons on 2 bikes + a Genesis Spoon-alike on another. All day comfy for me.
Brooks Cambium C15 on my Stooge...that's a comfy saddle 👍 would put them on all my bikes if I could justify the cost!