I’ve just bought a new boardman fs team and whilst it is a cracking bike the saddle is f’kin terrible

Can anyone recommend a good saddle for under £30 or know of any good deals at the moment?

Charge Spoon, £15 from Wiggle.

Charge Spoon, reasonable from any bike shop

I’m a fan of the Madison Flux and it’s dirt cheap

Madison Flux and Charge Spoon are pretty much the same. There is another one too but I have forgotten the name.

sweet, thanks for the advice folks.

+1 for the Flux

Madison Flux and Charge Spoon are pretty much the same. There is another one too but I have forgotten the name.

something by gusset

Horses for courses. Personally I find the Spoon/Flux shape a massive PITA literally.

I recommend trying to find an SDG Bel Air at a good price (cromo will do if Ti can’t be found cheap enough) or any Specialized Body Geometry saddle in the right (for your own ass) width. But then they’re what suits my behind, and might not suit yours…

Saddles are all too personal to be fair!

WTB Rocket V Race Saddle 2013 £23.99

I use a Rocket V on both my bikes – excellent saddle tbh. I also like the SDG Bel Air.

Tried both a spoon and flux and just didn’t feel right.

Spoon, Flux, or Gusset R, depending on which you like the colour of.

Best thing about the spoon is that if you don’t like it, someone’ll buy it for more or less what you paid (I sold a used one for more than it cost new from Wiggle)

They’re not the best saddles ever, but they cost nowt and they’re good, and compatible with most bums.

I used to hate the spoons till I tweaked the position more and found it much more comfortable… So tweak a bit if you’re having comfort issues – fore-aft and angle make a huge difference, particularly with the sculpted profile of the spoon.

My favourite. Currently 24 quid.

slainte 😀 rob

I’ve had a Spoon for about 2 years now. Riding offroad on average 30 miles a week, all weathers.
Bought it on the principle, it was cheap and had good reviews.
If it failed it wouldn’t be the end of the world. If breaks or becomes unbearable, i’ll get another one.

thanks again folks. I just ordered the madison flux for £15 so will see how that goes.

@CP thanks for your advice on tweaking the position due to the sculpted shape, i’ll give it a crack.

Spoon! mines been going strong since 2009, averaging 60 – 80 miles a week

2 of my riding mates swear by Charge Spoons, but I hate them. Massively uncomfortable.

I have gone back to a spares bin WTB Rocket until I get round to buying a new one.

Just depends what suits your butt.

The best saddle is the one that best suits your arse. And Arses are all very diferent. Its such a personal thing. its worth riding a couple of your mates bikes who are running different saddles

I love WTB Rocket V’s myself. Though Charge Spoon’s are good too. But, for instance I had one of those Ragley’s that colournoise has suggested, and regarded it as having been specifically designed by Satan himself, to inflict maximum pain on my delicate bits. Its now sat in the shed somewhere

Spoons [and their derivatives] seem to fit a bigger percentage of arses than most saddles do so you stand a pretty good chance of it being good for you

I’ve got one of those ragleys on the road bike, it’s alright but by god does it creak. Also, ymmv but when I had it on the big bike I found the pointy rear of the saddle was absolutely perfect for catching shorts on, not ideal.

Still at that price they’re good value and the saddle-catchy thing wouldn’t have been such an issue on an xc bike or similiar.

Flux is a bit thinner than the Spoon I think.

I’ve used both and they’re pretty much identical, apart from the flux not having the stitching that some people find painful

Northwind – Member
I’ve got one of those ragleys on the road bike, it’s alright but by god does it creak. Also, ymmv but when I had it on the big bike I found the pointy rear of the saddle was absolutely perfect for catching shorts on, not ideal.
Still at that price they’re good value and the saddle-catchy thing wouldn’t have been such an issue on an xc bike or similiar.

Heh, I do have a few occasional creaky issues but assumed it was seatclamp related.

And yeah, if you wear baggy baggies the rear design can be a bit snaggy – catch my Sombrios from time to time, but my Oakleys and Enduras are fine.

Proper answer to the OP I guess is try (borrow/buy cheap) as many as you can until you find a shape you like then buy a decent one and stick to it. I have a box with maybe 5 or 6 saddles in I’ve tried and not really got on with. As well as two Ragleys, I also have a THE Icon Pro and a WTB Shadow V Pro on other bikes and they seem to fit my backside fine too.

slainte ➡ rob

Charge Spoon was a bit of a revelation to me as seemed to get rid of various aches while riding.

Rocket 5 was very comfy to sit on but the shape not quite right.

I have a 2nd (1 ride only) hand Brown Flux available for sale if interested

£15 posted

Anybody else think that the Charge saddles have too much grip ?
I don’t mind the shape,but I feel that it pulls everything about a bit too much.
Don’t think I would use it on a big day out,smooth FTW,and all that.

Spoon