Selle SMP discussion

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  • Yeah, I like nose up. But the issue is the forma is very much a deep U shape. Where as the composit is a shallow U shape. So you sit too far down into the forma and thus the nose can irritate your balls.

  • Ah yeah, the fake ones are totally flat in the middle section

  • Exactly the same as the Composit, but the carbon is a lots stiffer with no flex whatsoever, I actually found it surprisingly comfortable as long you have bibs compared to the real non-carbon one.

    I rode 2,000km on the carbon one, just be careful with it, use normal seatpost and torque accordingly.

    It's great to get an idea of how it should fit, also great for hill climber I guess.

  • Here ya go;


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  • just be careful with it, use normal seatpost

    Does a Thomson count as 'normal'?

    Ab'normal would be one that clamps from the sides rather than top/bottom?

  • Exactly that, Steve Hogg recommend Thomson even.

    I've brought 3 Composits so far from Lordgun whom sell the cheapest SMP so far with speedy postages.

    Need to wait to save up for the full carbon one which is currently £285, much cheaper than what the UK shop charges, and the German too.

  • yeah Lordgun is my place to go for smp also. Best prices.

  • Also italian ebay is pretty good aswell

  • Thanks ed.

    Think I'll try it. Forma is good for sit up and beg position, but doesn't work when eating my handlebars.

  • You can get em on Lordgun, but that's a much better price

  • Fake carbon arrived.

    Sat on it in the garage (boxers and work trousers, no chamois) and it felt like it was trying to split my pelvis in half just putting my weight on it.

    Actually didn't feel so bad when I did a few circles infront of the garage and will try with a chamois tomorrow.

  • Is there a policy of public denial of enjoying an SMP (style) saddle? @edscoble?

  • No, I believe they are very much on trend at the moment.

  • Yep you buy a specialized power

  • I don't know what you're talking about, I never heard of no SMP

  • ???

    Anyway, the fake SMP,

    Despite already mounting a fair bit further forward than my Arione I had to stop quite quickly and move it forward further still. The clamp on my post is now beyond the rear most 'stop' mark on the rail but hey ho, can't see anything different about the rail after this mark and I'm sitting over the clamp so I suspect I'll be ok.

    After a short initial ride, I know I probably need to make time to read that Steve Hogg (is that right?) article and spend time tweaking it and getting used to it but I'd have to say it's a bit of a revalation. 90% of the time it's as if there's no saddle under me. Was really surprised at it being so comfy as the carbon is rock solid.

    I did get a bit of a bounce on on a descent and hit a few rough bits of road and at these points it went from being one of the most comfortable saddles I've used to one of the least!

    I know my pedalling technique needs work, I think this saddle exacerbates the issue I have with disengaging my back, sitting right into the saddle and just letting my legs spin. We will see if it gets better with time. Also may try swapping it to a bike with a freewheel.

    It should be noted that I was riding today in a pair of lightly padded Endura undershorts and chino shorts, would be interesting to see how it is with a thicker chamois.

    Definitely feeling I would now be more confident in spending more on a genuine (and slightly padded) version.

  • Thing about solid saddle is that you notice the smallest difference in height, wether normal saddle with a bit of give or padding compensate for slightly incorrect height.

    I can emphasised on the stiffness can be uncomfortable when you hit an unexpected crack on the road, easily remedy with lower tyres pressure and decent padded short that you're comfortable on.

    The SMP Extra is perfect for MTB and town bike despite the massive padding, (friend of mine do 24h endurance MTB wax lyrical on it).

    And I'm pulling your legs about the SMP earlier.

  • Here what I found;

    SMP Composit- benchmark and a good shape to get into, may required padded short for some people, it have no padding whatsoever, but it's a lots more flexible than the carbon, I can ride it without padded short but only after getting used to it.

    SMP Evolution - exactly the same as Composit but slightly padded like normal road saddle (only on the middle) and can easily be ridden without pads.

    SMP Extra - easy and cheap to get into but very ugly, even if you haven't quite set it up, it's surprisingly forgiven if the angle is a little off, make a great beater saddle but be warned the rail is a little shorter near the nose, not a problem unless your frame have a very steep seat tube angle.

    SMP Hell - I and my girlfriend simply couldn't get used to it (she declare her love for the SMP Evolution, and finally Boyce hoe she no longer think about saddle anymore) despite @miro_o liking it, it just felt wrong, like a mismatch of all of the above.

  • Bouncing = you're seated too high/forward? #internetbeikfit

    There are loads of £150 Evolutions from Taiwan, which puts me off really.

  • Wore my aero-onesie today, the pad is a bit thinner than standard Rapha bibs and it tends to get stuck in the central channel of my knock-off carbon.

    Still very happy with SMP's in general.

  • Yeah, I noticed the same.

    The pad's pretty basic.

  • Em, I asked a coach at work and he gave me the disengage back muscles etc advice and when I remember about it and do it on the Arione it work and I'm a lot smoother, I think it will come.

  • I'm not much of a cyclist these days, but put 100k on a 'full carbon' copy yesterday without any undercarriage issues whatsoever. Normally in other saddles I'm squirming around or out of the saddle a lot just for some relief, but the 'SMP' was so comfortable, especially when on the aerobars.

    And this was on 23mm Gatorskins on skinny rims FYI #ontrend

    Comfy Saddle Bro

    So if I wanted a smidge more padding but didn't want to have to remortgage to afford it, what's the best option. Evolution?

  • Read up above, you got a choice between Evolution and Composit.

    Latter have no padding but the middle actually flex allowing a bit of give as its not carbon (like a Brooks, only less bouncy).

    Evolution the same as Composit, just a little padding on the middle.

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Selle SMP discussion

Posted by Avatar for edscoble @edscoble

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