Saddle - Comfort, looks or both?

So many bikes I see posted have saddles that look like they would kill me. Straight up the crotch stopping blood flow. I have no idea how you guys do it, I think my pecker would've dropped off by now.

I used to ride an Arione, but even that was cutting off blood and leaving areas numb. Now I have a Fizik Aliante and love it, I can't imagine not having it, and every bike I own has it.

'cept mine is white.

Are you guys really comfortable on the saddles you ride? Or did you opt for the ones that look awesome (and I'll concede they really do) foregoing some comfort?

Ass hatchet... that's the phrase I was trying to think of as I wrote that post.

using an old black ti flite at the mo which is o.k and pimp cowhide sdg on the mtb, want to change the flite to a brooks but i have noticed that different shorts change the comfort factor a lot, i have a pair of sugoi padded undershorts that i now use on any long ride as they make a big difference, MTB baggys are only o.k for short commutes, not looking forward to the break-in period of a new brooks but hopefully it will be worth it.

I find my serfas comfy but I have not had to be on it for more than about one and a half hour straight. I don't know what it would be like for a long ride.

I would really like a brooks swallow with titainiam rails, but it would be worth more than my entire bike :)

Got SDG bel airs on my MTB's and an accent ti rail job on my cyclo cross bike, the bel airs I find really comfy, the accent is pretty good but not quite the same league as the SDG.

I had a Brooks swallow with titanium rails, but i sold it last month on ebay. It was really uncomfortable for me.

Now i roll on rolls

that's fine, thanks

Think i'm gunna get me a white selle italia SLR.

I rode one of those rolls for a while and hated it :(

velocity boy Are you guys really comfortable on the saddles you ride? Or did you opt for the ones that look awesome (and I'll concede they really do) foregoing some comfort?

Actually, I have an ebay Selle Italia sitting in the cupboard and have an OEM Bontrager saddle on the Ribble.. why? Because I'm too fscking lazy to swap it over!!
I always rode Selle Italia Flite's so the SLR is probably gonna be more comfy but the Bontrager hasn't killed me yet, so.. why swap.

My favourite saddle was the 'saddly now bent' OEM GT saddle that came with the GT Talera I have. Mid-90's steel MTB.

I will never use a white saddle.. unless it's awesome and free.

a white saddle can look awesome on some bikes.......do you have to wear white shorts?????? pretty sure i wouldn't be able to keep it looking good. speaking of white shorts i got stuck behind a big guy on vauxhall bridge sporting white see- through shorts with a spotty arse, not a pleasant sight anytime of the day, now a woman.......

brooks all the way, no hassle at all.

can't beleive I put up with a sore arse for so long with every other saddle

the only other one that was bearable was an SLR 135grm, but even that felt hard after a long ride.

the only bad thing with brooks is it creaks and I don't like it getting wet..but for £25 can't grizzle too much

Red Fizik Arione which is sadly covered up by my big arse most of the time. Which i guess is a good thing.

Comfort every time and Brooks is the best

Just look around the start of most long distance Audax rides and the majority of bikes will have a Brooks sitting on top, all those arses can't be wrong :)

i say Specialized saddles are the best for me, that bg trick they have on theyr stuff works for real check them out!

I couldn't sit on a Brooks long enough to 'wear it in'.. Fkn hell they are not compatible with my arse!
How long did it take you Brooks lovers to get comfy? Or am I just a freak in not loving them? :)
I like the look of the red Arione. I was looking for one of those to try before I left Oz but never found one.

I was having trouble with mine, but figured it was part technique.

Rule #1: You can't sit on your taint. That will impair your bloodflow and it may eventually cause your friendlier parts to stop working properly. I tend to slide to it when I am tired, or when I go through a bumpy patch (seeing it is soft tissue and make it less jarring), but if you love your downstairs plumbing, get off the habit. On the other hand, of you are a priest and have been struggling with the idea of celibacy, ride on it all day long and your prayers will be answered.

Rule #2: Get acquainted with your sit bones. Them is the two bony fellas that would stick out if you had no ass. If you ever had a skinny friend sit on your leg and it hurt like hell, you met her (or his) sit bones. Get to know yours.

Rule #3. Place said sit bones on the rised ridge of your saddle. Sit on those suckers. Perch your bony ass right there. Notice your taint. The nose of your saddle should not be pressing it. It will be uncomfortable at first, because you are putting pressure on the bony part of your ass, and you are probably not used to supporting your weight there.

This does a few things for me. Most importantly, it spares a part of my anatomy for which I have high hopes one day. It also emphasizes muscles in the inside of my legs (psoas) and on my booty (glutes). An emphasis on your psoas makes you stronger once you are used to it (initially it just makes you tired), since you are not just relying on your quads, and it saves your knees because of the way they wrap around your leg. An emphasis on your glutes makes you ass look nicer and women do like nice looking asses. Finally, it tips you forward from the hip rather than from lower back, so it saves you a bit of strain there too.

over the years i've tried everything; rolls, turbos, flites, kashimax..
and recently a fizik arione.

but i have to say if you want a comfy saddle then buy some decent shorts.
the difference is incredible, but some assos f1's and you can sit on anything, even a brooks ;)

that sorta contradicts my experience..

can ride the brooks commando, padded briefs, whatever, don't matter

padded shorts are ok, but too much chamois cramps the ole' fella, janart?

the fizik arione is a nice saddle, but not quite as comfortable as a brooks. i had a b17, but it was knicked and haven't replaced it. but for longer distances, you can't go wrong with a brooks. i didn't really have any breaking in issues. it was pretty much comfortable from the get-go.

:))

just not naked eh ;)

all i meant was if you're doing a long audax type ride, then decent shorts can really help.
but i've never had a brooks, maybe i'll give it a try - swallow..

hell, I'd ride the brooks naked..

but I don't fancy getting the tackle short ordered by the 44 tooth innit!

jeeze RPM, you're just showing off now..

use a kashimax protector or something ;)

or twist ties to the top tube.

RPM hell, I'd ride the brooks naked..

See you there then!