Saddle questions - Page 4

03-11-2005, 12:14 PM

Benjamin Lewis wrote:
> Roger Zoul wrote:
>
> > I enjoy my Brooks a lot. However, I would not ride on it without
my
> > padded shorts.
>
> That's what I thought about mine, until I tried riding it without
padded
> shorts, and still found it comfortable, at least for shorter
distances
> ( < 20km). I think the main benefit of the "padding" is actually
moisture
> absorption.
>
> Mind you, for the first week or so when I was breaking in the Brooks,
I
> carried a gel seatcover with me for when it got too uncomfortable.
I'm
> very low on "natural padding"...
>

Aren't you lucky. I think. Ummmmm. Very low on natural padding may not
be that good. Everyone likes a nice butt on a nice guy. :-) I guess
it depends on how low on natural padding you are. What is this thread
all about? I forgot.
All Good Things,
Maggie

03-11-2005, 12:48 PM

Two thoughts:

1. definitely ride with bike shorts that have a liner (sometimes called a
chamois, even if made from artificial material). The benefit is not
cushioning, but rather preventing chafing. The pad in a well designed pair
of bike shorts will be made with special flat seams that will not irritate
you, and the materials typically wick away perspiration to further reduce
the chance of chafing. Also, don't wear underwear, since the underwear's
seams will just negate the benefit of the pad. I buy my the house brand
shorts from Nashbar or Performance, and have been very happy with them. I
get the six or eight panel shorts, which cost more, but they fit better.

2. Check out Terry saddles.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Georgena Terry originally introduced the saddle design with a cut away in
the middle for women. But the concept caught on for men, too. Her company
now makes a wide selection of seats for men as well as women. Look at the
the Liberator (the basic Terry model), which has padding as well as the
Terry cut-out, and the Liberator Y, a variation with more padding. I've only
heard good things about the Fly and Fly Tri (sportier), and I'm trying to
decide between one of them and a gorgeous Brooks leather saddle for an old
touring bike I'm having restored. The Brooks would be perfect on the bike,
but at $180, I may have to forego the luxury.

If you're experiencing discomfort on your bike, you probably should change
your riding position before you do anything else. The saddle really is a
critical component in how a bike feels and how it responds -- and the
padding is the least of it. Height, horizontal angle (nose up or down), fore
and aft position, relationship to handlebars all make significant
differences.

Check Sheldon Brown's web site for articles saddles and riding position.
This will get you started.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Good luck.

"Maggie" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:1110555698.176415.252450@o13g2000cwo.googlegr oups.com...
>
> Tom Sherman wrote:
>> Ken Marcet wrote:
>>
>> > Does an one know of a economically priced saddle that will let me
> ride more
>> > than a couple of miles without the need for padded cycling pants?
> Or is this
>> > just a dream of mine? I was browsing nashbar and they have some in
> the $30
>> > to $40 range that look as though they have a bit more padding than
> a "stock"
>> > read "cheap" seat.
>>
>> I prefer sling-mesh seats with a foam pad. You could inquire at
>> Lightning Cycle Dynamics since they make such a seat, but I expect
> their
>> seat is more in the $300-400 range.
>>
>> --
>> Tom Sherman - Earth
>
>
> THE SEAT COSTS $400?????????????????????????????? The Seat??? I paid
> 40 dollars for my new seat and when I mentioned I bought a seat someone
> promptly corrected me as being a "saddle" not a seat.
> I think when spring arrives and I start riding more, I have alot to
> learn about this sport of champions.
> All Good Things,
> Maggie
>

03-11-2005, 03:07 PM

I use a Specialized Body Geometry with the cutout. It is a pretty firm
seat but as others have said it fits my bones pretty well. I bought it
on Ebay for about $35 or so. I have heard a lot of good things about
Fizik brand seats also. A nice on goes about $100.

03-11-2005, 03:37 PM

Brooks Swift works great for me...

"Peter Cole" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:1110544424.622996.109580@g14g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>
> Pat wrote:
>> What you write is true, BUT--I ordered a Brooks saddle from them and
> tried
>> it out and returned it. It was killing me! I thought it was just the
> wrong
>> model, so I got another one, the B-17, and still have it. There is an
>> ongoing battle, though as to who will give up first--me or the
> saddle. So
>> far, the saddle's winning. Brooks saddles are NOT for everyone or
>> Wallingford wouldn't have their "buy it used" listing.
>
> This pretty much mirrors my experience. I first tried a Brooks
> Professional for 3 months and 1,000 miles. It was the most horribly
> uncomfortable saddle I've ever used, despite trying every possible
> adjustment. I traded that for a B17, which was a bit better, making it
> only the second most uncomfortable saddle I've had.
>
> I traded the B17 to my sister, she had a new bike with a Selle Italia
> "Trimatic" saddle. She loved the B17, I rode the Trimatic on a 250 mile
> brevet without discomfort about a month after I put it on.
>

03-11-2005, 03:39 PM

Maggie wrote:

> Tom Sherman wrote:
>
>>Ken Marcet wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Does an one know of a economically priced saddle that will let me
>
> ride more
>
>>>than a couple of miles without the need for padded cycling pants?
>
> Or is this
>
>>>just a dream of mine? I was browsing nashbar and they have some in
>
> the $30
>
>>>to $40 range that look as though they have a bit more padding than
>
> a "stock"
>
>>>read "cheap" seat.
>>
>>I prefer sling-mesh seats with a foam pad. You could inquire at
>>Lightning Cycle Dynamics since they make such a seat, but I expect
>
> their
>
>>seat is more in the $300-400 range.
>>
>>--
>>Tom Sherman - Earth
>
>
>
> THE SEAT COSTS $400?????????????????????????????? The Seat??? I paid
> 40 dollars for my new seat and when I mentioned I bought a seat someone
> promptly corrected me as being a "saddle" not a seat.
> I think when spring arrives and I start riding more, I have alot to
> learn about this sport of champions.

See <http://www.lightningbikes.com/sp38blue2.jpg> for a picture of the
seat in question. In all likelihood, more labor goes into fabricating
this seat than most bicycle frames.

--
Tom Sherman - Earth

03-11-2005, 04:33 PM

Tom Sherman wrote:

> See <http://www.lightningbikes.com/sp38blue2.jpg> for a picture of the
> seat in question. In all likelihood, more labor goes into fabricating
> this seat than most bicycle frames.

And here it is /without/ the pedals and chain:
http://www.horsemanpro.com/articles/photos/trot.jpg

:-P

03-11-2005, 06:00 PM

B i l l S o r n s o n wrote:

> Tom Sherman wrote:
>
>
>>See <http://www.lightningbikes.com/sp38blue2.jpg> for a picture of the
>>seat in question. In all likelihood, more labor goes into fabricating
>>this seat than most bicycle frames.
>
>
> And here it is /without/ the pedals and chain:
> http://www.horsemanpro.com/articles/photos/trot.jpg

That version has a bonus: <http://www.wrightguide.com/media/IM000942.JPG>.

--
Tom Sherman - Earth