Which Saddle?

I too use a Romin, and want to try out the SLR Flow

But I don't really want to spend £80 just to test out a saddle. I think I have been spoilt in finding a perfect saddle for me before I even started doing road rides. I forget how good it is until I ride on another saddle then go back to it.

I use an SLR XP Flow on the road bike and I've had no problems with it on long rides, on the whole it's very comfortable:

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/SASISLRXPF/selle_italia_slr_xp_flow_saddle

The only qualm I have is that the shell feels a tiny bit too flexy for my liking. Maybe that's a deliberate 'comfort' feature, maybe that ^ one is a bit stiffer. I dunno what the XP bit means.

FYI the 2013 SLR Flow looks like it has a much bigger cutout than that one:

http://www.selleitalia.com/se_it3/prodotti/road/pagina_slr/

I'm waiting for the 2013 Flite Flow though. Good looking saddle and the width of the Flite suits me well.

There's actually an SLR Superflow just come up on Weight Weenies today. 130mm though, I need 143mm. Plus it's $170, needs shipping from the US and would likely be hit by tax/duty.

Have recently fallen out of love with Romins. After a winter of stretching and making my lower back stronger, my osition on the bike has changed to love more weight onto my hands and take some off my gooch/feet - which means that I no longer get on with the curves of the romin and want something flatter.
I had a carbon railed Antares which seems to work but I would like a saddle with a cut out - would prefer not to go back to fizik saddles as they just seem to wear to quickly. That slr above looks like a good punt - what's the width?

Have you tried a Toupe as a flatter alternative to the Romin?

Had thought about it but heard they are quite fragile

For me yes. I thought I'd try the px to see if I liked the shape – then buy the fizik. The shape is very similar but the support of the fizik is much better. My planet x saddle had just a small amount of sag in the middle which was not good. The fizik only flexes under your thighs.

Very similar experience for me. I was fairly happy with the PX for quite a while ('000s miles) and only switched to the Arione when I notice a proper bit of sag in the middle. The Arione immediately felt like it was providing the right amount of support / flex where needed and a few hundred miles later just feels like it's made of sterner stuff. I don't really understand all the different rail material options but I bagged a basic model of t'bay for £50, very happy with it.

Can't wait until Sunday when I'll be able to give it a proper road test.

Any further feedback on the SLR Superflow ?

Cheers.

Since I last posted on here I've been on the following saddles:

SLR Superflow 130 - It's ok but I prefer the flexibility of the SLC
Regal (the Belgian sofa) - Very hard, painful and giving me many sores
Fizik Kurve chameleon - Much the same as the Regal but slightly more forgiving

SLC Gel Flow still my favourite saddle. Although that carbon nose thing looks daft...

^^Hoping to find out tomorrow, but today it's quite icy outside. Hoping it'll clear up enough to get out on the club ride. Else it'll just be more turbo time :(

Yeah I like the flexyness of the SLR base, and the SLC is even better with the cut out.

Shame about the sharp carbon nose, but as I watch my SLR strip itself from the front, I wonder if it is quite a sensible feature after all.

Currently trying to decide between another Romin or an SLR Flo. Shame there's not a try-before-you buy service on saddles

There is a try before you buy on saddles. Go to a shop.

Test saddle example ^

Show off

Currently trying to decide between another Romin or an SLR Flo. Shame there's not a try-before-you buy service on saddles

There is, buy the saddle, try it out for a week, then return it.

I'm pretty sure the Specialized concept stores have lending saddles too. The Romin and the SLR flow are quite different shapes - do you sit in one position, or do you move about quite a lot in the saddle?

Have recently fallen out of love with Romins.

I've been swinging between Romins and Toupes for a few years - get on fine with both but they give me @rse ache on the turbo (sit bones). Have been trying a Flite Gel Flow for a while now and been great so far. Not to my taste cosmetically, but you can't have everything...

I'm pretty sure the Specialized concept stores have lending saddles too. The Romin and the SLR flow are quite different shapes - do you sit in one position, or do you move about quite a lot in the saddle?

I have a Romin Evo on my road bike and love it, no problems with it on 3-4 hour rides so I should just stick with that. But my head was turned by the raving over the SLR here, so fancied trying something different.

I'm so easily led

I've been swinging between Romins and Toupes for a few years - get on fine with both but they give me @rse ache on the turbo (sit bones). Have been trying a Flite Gel Flow for a while now and been great so far. Not to my taste cosmetically, but you can't have everything...

thankfully they are too narrow for me. Those things are hideous :)

I have a Romin Evo on my road bike and love it, no problems with it on 3-4 hour rides so I should just stick with that. But my head was turned by the raving over the SLR here, so fancied trying something different.

I'm so easily led

HA - I know what you mean. I find Romins fine for general leisure riding where I don't move much - but the problem with Romins for me these days is the 'hammock'; which makes me want sit in one position the whole time (which contributes to numbing down there). It also makes moving onto the nose uncomfortable when putting power down - for obvious reasons, and makes moving back in the saddle for climbs awkward too.

There is, buy the saddle, try it out for a week, then return it.

Pearoast^10000

Any further feedback on the SLR Superflow ?

Cheers.

7 hours on the SLR Superflow on Sunday and I can report that it was a success. Was a little sore, but that's from spending so long on a new and differently shaped saddle to a Romin which I've used exclusively on all my bikes for a least a couple of years. My sit bones contact the saddle in a slightly different place/angle and it's just my arse getting used to that. The problems I had from blood flow/nerve compression were no present. I was no more or less numb than I would have been on the Romins, but I experienced a significant improvement in....functionality.

I have one of those Fizik test saddles, a pink/purple Arione CX (Kium rails) if anyone fancies a punt on one for cheap, or just something to suit a HHSB build. £25 posted. Not my pic, but like this: http://www.bikepointsc.com.br/upload/p3770_1.jpg

Lol at functionality.

Know you're lack of feeling.

Good to know that you can get those solider ready to plough the depth that is no man's land without complication.

I have one of those Fizik test saddles, a pink/purple Arione CX (Kium rails) if anyone fancies a punt on one for cheap, or just something to suit a HHSB build. £25 posted. Not my pic, but like this: http://www.bikepointsc.com.br/upload/p3770_1.jpg

Hmm. I'll take you up on that

Using one of these at the moment. Totally surprised by how well it fits. Seems to have its lowest point exactly where its width fits my sit bones. Much as I like the SLR. I do wonder if the saddle wants me a few mm further forward than my bum wants to be.