Which Saddle?

fizik suggest you look at your flexibility to determine which saddle would be appropriate for you, check their website

I've found Spoons really uncomfortable in the past.
I don't know what it was.. Just weird.

Cheers james I'll check it out...

I found the spoon really uncomfortable, too broad in the mid section and the plastic is toohard. Selle Italia SLR ti is the most comfortable I've found, looks great too (apart from on a full njs build...)

Could be set too high to begun with, I find it uncomfortable when it is.

Specialized Toupe, SLR, Flite, Turbo, XO, to name but a few selection.

Buy a black version so you can easily return it if you didn't get on with them*, keep playing with saddle position as that make a massive difference than changing saddle.

*hipster customer order white saddle, tried to return it but it was far too blue.

The Fizik Kurve is a dream, I've tried charge spoon, fizik arione, specialized romin, concor, rolls and a B-17. The second place would be the arione and third the romin, the best bang for the buck is the romin, cheap and very good.

this thread makes as much sense as asking everyone what size shoe fits them and then buying those rather than the ones that fit you

anybody use a brooks saddle these days

I agree to a point, there are A LOT of saddles out there and choosing can be a little overwhelming. The opinions should act like a compass not a definitve answer.

I think Spoons are only comfortable at all for a relatively upright stance. Not a good recommendation for a lo-pro

this thread makes as much sense as asking everyone what size shoe fits them and then buying those rather than the ones that fit you

For advice on fit/comfort then yes but for advice on build quality, longevity, potential problems than it's pretty good.

i think ill go with a selle italia or a fizik.
heard nothing but good things about them.

now just to work out which model

Odd question but are Flites any longer than most Saddles (eg turbo)? they look like my arse would like one but not if they're really long which they can sometimes look in pics.

Current incarnations of each saddle are both 275mm. I think the old Flites were 280mm. I don't think you'd find any length issues. TBH, length is only an issue if you're keen to use all the available real estate, but the extremities don't suit your anatomy e.g. rear part is too much of a curved up bumper, or nose is too firm.

I never got on that well with Flites due to the curved profile over the top of it, preferring flatter perches like SLRs, but YMMV, blah blah blah.

Flites look longer and narrower than they are, I think. Especially in photos.

The one I'm running at the moment is pretty well used, and has a fair bit of curve to it as a result, so I'm really keen to try that one I posted ^^^^ up there somewhere. A bit flatter and with a channel and I reckon it could be The One for me.

IMHO

If you want a curved saddle like the Flite, also consider the Gobi. I have a couple and really rate them both with or without padded shorts.

I picked up one of these for the 29er. Havent tried it properly, but it feels like a Gobi with padded shorts on. May destroy my nice bibs though.

http://i01.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/603425025/New-TIOGA-SPYDER-TwinTail-Saddle-Super-Light-Road-Mtb-Bike-Bicycle-Saddle-Seat-141g-Black.jpg

I've done~600 miles this month on an old Arione, perfectly comfortable.

My lower back, however, is FUBAR.

you been using a saddle on a recumbant?

I've done~600 miles this month on an old Arione, perfectly comfortable.

My lower back, however, is FUBAR.

That could be 20mi per day which is certainly not far enough to tell if a saddle is working or not. Of course you could also have ridden 600mi in one 'sitting' which would mean quite a lot more about how well your arse meshes with an Arione.

Didn't you said the saddle is no longer comfortable by 70 miles?

That was his super duper carbon fibre one.

Core exercises.
Have made such a difference to my lowerback and stability.

Keep the crabon saddle.

Stop and eat pies for 10 mins every 60 miles.

Sorted.

BTW, when I said 'curved' in relation to the Flite, I meant over the top longitudinally, i.e. if you eyeball it from the nose, you can see the whole thing slopes away from the top on each side, rather than being a flat platform that then falls off abruptly at the edges. Not talking about relative hammockyness.

Core exercises.
Have made such a difference to my lowerback and stability.

Which ones would you recommend?