Looking at getting a new saddle/seatpost and Ive been looking at the I-beam range
They seem pretty lightweight and can be picked up relatively cheap but ive seen a few unfavourable reviews regarding them breaking/snapping.
I ride mainly all mountain / light-ish downhill so there is the possibilty they would take a wee bit of a beating.
Anyone have any experience of them? good or bad?
I've had my I-beam & Bel Air for over a year now and am very pleased with it. The Bel Air is second to none for comfort and I've not had an issue with durability.
Recommended.
alternative opinion - I have Bel Air Ti's atop Thomson posts on 3 bikes and used a demo I-beam on a test bike - it was like sitting on a knife - quite horrible 👿
SDG Bel Air saddle on my 5. Not the most comfortable I have used, it has rails so not part of the I-beam range.
Looks like a good deal tho....
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Kits.aspx?ModelID=23386
In my experiance for short rides of a few hrs it's fine but on a long ride I find myself standing up to give my ass a rest. As for durability I can't fault it though, I'm not careful with it and after 8 months it still looks in top condition.
Moonhead - yeah that was the deal that I saw which looks like a bit of a bargain.
If the SDG's on rail aren't the comfiest then I can imagine that the I-beams will be even less so!
They can break in cold weather. I have broke two now I don't know if they have fixed the problem, its well documented on the single track forum. They are light weight and the saddles comfortable for a ride round the kielder 100. But I have had two bust doing nothing other than sitting on them. I still have the seat and post I knocked out the seat, inverted the tube and fitted a nylon sleeve and glued it back together. Still going fine. Cp
stevey - you need to try it first. For many, the railed SDG is the best saddle out there (that's why I have 3 of them 😀 ). The I beam one is much stiffer. It's only a good deal if it works for you...
have an I-beam on my Cove Sanchez pump track bike, and also on my Bluepig, neither have an easy life, the bluepig one is 3 year old, the Cove a year or so. No probs, cheap and light.
Stevey, yeah I can see what you mean....thing is with saddles it's all a matter of opinion RE: comfort. The only thing about the I-beam range is that you have to use the I-beam saddles and posts together.
If I was after a saddle I would be looking here. Just ordered some stuff, arrived within a week and cheapest I could find. Loads of choice.
http://www.actionsports.de/gb/Components/Saddles:::7_19.html?XTCsid=220867d670319f0bee5ef08b9ceb9ae0
Had my eye on this one but ran out of cash.
http://www.actionsports.de/gb/Components/Saddles/Fizik-Gobi-XM-Sattel-Maganese-schwarz::36368.html
It's strange, I've tried loads of saddles and the only thing that comes close to the Bel Air for me is the Charge Spoon.
True, it's not the most immediately comfortable, but it never makes itself known on a long ride.
Cheers for that moonhead, they have alot of choice. I've looked at the fizik's also.
To be honest I was originally looking at getting a joplin 4 or similar and new saddle but then thought that theres no point in spending 300 odd quid on a new saddle/post combo as I'll be going away in a few months for six months. Thats when I saw the i-beam deals chainreaction are doing and the seed was sown!!
ive got a bel air and an fx.the fx,although far skimpier looking, is far more comfy. Its also got a cut out at the top of the i-beam on the underside of the saddle to give more flex. The movement either side of the ibeams compared to railed saddles is so nice when riding.Dont think that the i-beam design will mean a harsh ride.Try them out.
AVOID the layback version. Had mine for a month or so before the section on top of the post bent making it impossible to attach the saddle. Returned to CRC post haste. Unfit for purpose in my opinion.
I snapped a massive chunk out of the rail on an I-beam a few years back by simply sitting on it. and I've avoided them like the plague since. That was until my new frame came with an I Beam post. I picked up a saddle for under £30 from the alpine bikes website, just waiting to fit it. Fingers crossed
I put Bel Airs on every new bike so was very pleased to see a new bike a couple of years ago came with SDG and I beam. However like ianc I found it monstorously uncomfortable and reberted to Thompson and Bel Air
alternative opinion - I have Bel Air Ti's atop Thomson posts on 3 bikes and used a demo I-beam on a test bike - it was like sitting on a knife - quite horrible
+1 pretty much all of the above.
I've run Bel-Airs for about eight years but found the i-Beam version beat my botty up far more than the railed version.
Rails for me, all the way.
Bel air I Beam saddle great really liked it have bent two posts after about 2 years use each with unitentional no footer landings so can't really complain, just waiting for an adjustable post to turn up for pre production testing so on railed saddles now.
ibeams are great. the bel air is definitely thinner and firmer in ibeam flavour which i dont think is a bad thing, its a bit of a sofa in standard format. if you like a firm, thin saddle then the i fly ibeam is great, silly light too. i just wish i could fit one to my reverb!
Bel Air I-beam here. There's not much give in the saddle, I guess because it doesn't have rails to flex, but it's reasonably comfortable. But I'm running a full suss so that takes a lot of sting out of the trail anyway.
I must say that the Spoon I bought for my road bike seems really comfy, even after several hours in the saddle.
I love mine, doesn't creak like its standard counterparts! I have the leopard print bel air seat - I ordered the Cowprint! gotta love CRC!
ive ridden bel air railed saddles for years and recently swapped over to i-beam
ive got an ifly on my dh bike and it is very firm i wouldnt want it for lots of peddaling
but got a belair sl i-beam on my am bike and it feels just the same as the railed one to me, maybe a tiny bit firmer i was very worried that i wouldnt like it but it seems fine
ive also just got the ibeam gravity diopper mod in time for the mega!
+1 re layback post.
mine bent on it's second outing, literally whilst JRA.
have sent it back to CRC and am waiting fo a response.
otherwise, comfy saddle and light-weight set-up. choose the in-line post.
Stand your ground with CRC. They initially only offered to act as a gobetween and file a warranty claim with SDG. However, as the retailer they are obliged to take resppnsibility if their goods are unfit for purpose. Took me 2 emails and a few paragraphs ( + mentikn of the Sale of Goods Act) before they quickly about-turned and refunded.