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Saddle Recomendation

danjohnstondanjohnston
in General Training Discussions

I need a new saddle!  Anyone have any recomendations?  I am experiencing numbness and discomfort despite currently having a high quality Selle Italia saddle with the cut out.  I do most of my riding indoors on the trainer so I really need something comfortable as I start to build up my long rides in prep for Lousiville.  Help!

Comments

  • Jump4Joy19Jump4Joy19

    I've been riding the Adamo TT that came on my new QR bike. I love it for the lack of a nose and the comfort in the aerobar position. For me, I have problems when sitting up (like for a seated climb) because it feels like I can't find a comfortable place to put my sitbones. But I know it's not a women's-specific saddle, and that women's and men's hip bones are in different places. I would think that most men would find this saddle very comfortable, and my hubby is going to give it a try next.

    I just replaced it with a Specialized Romin Pro, and that is one very comfortable saddle. It does have a nose, so a bit more pressure in the rocked-forward position, but the overall comfort level is very very high. I put it on today and took it out for 4.5 hours with no noticeable discomfort (I know that's not normally the way to test out a new saddle, but that's how it shook out). It was comfortable both climbing and in the TT position.

  • GMAN 19030GMAN 19030
    I would start with the Adamo (Race or Road) and Cobb (V-Flow Max or Plus) and go from there.

    I used the Adamo Race for three seasons and while it was good, I went on a search for something better.

    I tried the following saddles this year:
    ISM Adamo Race
    ISM Adamo Road
    Cobb V-Flow Max
    Cobb V-Flow Plus
    Specialized Romin Evo Pro
    Specialized Romin Evo Expert
    Fizik Arione Tri2

    - The Fizik is all kinds of uncomfortable once you're used to a cutout or pronged saddle. I couldn't ride for 10 minutes on it.

    - The Specialized Romin Evo saddles are the newer Romin saddles that are supposed to be more tri friendly (the new Shiv uses the Romin Evo). They felt awesome riding up in the bars (road style). Felt like crap in the aero position. The nose is troublesome as Robin kind of mentioned. Robin, being a female, doesn't know how troublesome it really is for us guys. That nose really puts a lot of pressure "down there" and I made countless adjustments to it. Nothing made the aero position feel better. I wouldn't hesitate to use a Romin on a road bike.

    - The Cobb saddles felt really good. I decided to keep the V-Flow Max and will try that out this season to see how it works. So far, so good.

    - I still have both of the Adamo saddles. I have the Adamo Road attached to my indoor cycle.
  • Doug JohnsonDoug Johnson
    I have an Adamo Prologue and I think it's great. When I first got my tribike I rode on the original saddle and was numb after 30 minutes and had to stop. I put the Prologue on there and have had no issues since. After my first ride of about an hour I was a little tender in the new contact points but that was gone by the next time I rode the bike a couple days later. I've done a bunch of 3 hour rides on it now with no discomfort.

    One thing I will note is that similar to what Robin says when riding in the "up" position/non-aero, I can't find the sweet spot, it feels awkward. For me this isn't a problem though, because we're supposed to be riding in the aero position. It just reminds me to get back into the proper position.
  • ezellrhezellrh
    X2 on the Cobb plus saddle. I recently bought one and spent about three weeks dialing it in and now I love it. Lots of up/down/fore/aft tweaking but the final piece was coming out of cycling shorts (fat bulky pad) and trying riding full time in tri-shorts (smaller, thinner pad). No issues down below now. Also, Cobb offers 6 month money back return policy, no questions asked. Can't go wrong with that.
  • Jump4Joy19Jump4Joy19

    @Doug I agree on the Adamo. If I was doing IMFL, I would keep the Adamo on the bike - in the aero position it can't be beat. Since I'm doing IMCdA, I knew I would need a fair bit of seated climb time, so the Adamo just didn't cut it.

  • Doug JohnsonDoug Johnson
    @Robin, I apologize if I sounded like I was being critical. I wasn't trying to do that at all. I agree that if I had to come out of aero-position a lot the Prologue definitely wouldn't work as well for me.
  • Jump4Joy19Jump4Joy19

    @Doug, no it didn't sound like that at all! I got what you meant, I was just clarifying why I made the decision I did. I might throw the Adamo back on for a flatter race, as it is much more comfortable in the aero position.

  • Dino SartiDino Sarti
    I am with Bob. My fitter just put me in Cobb V-Flow Max and it is great. Total change versus the Fizik I was riding. I think the saddle looks a bit chunky and ugly, but it ride great!
  • danjohnstondanjohnston

     Thanks for the input everyone.  Sounds like I need to check out Cobb!  Can anyone give me some specifics on the different models that Cobb offers?  Thanks again.

  • GMAN 19030GMAN 19030

     Dan,

     

    http://university.tri-sports.com/2010/10/21/cobb-cycling-saddles/

  • danjohnstondanjohnston

     Bob, thanks!  Very helpful article!  Based on the chart, I think im leaning toward either the plus or the max. Not 100% sure the difference is between these two other than the Max is a little newer and a little longer.  Thanks agin for the info. 

  • John WithrowJohn Withrow
    @Dan-- Simply call them and they will talk to you and help you figure out which is best for you. They have excellent customer service: (903) 253-8555

    In my experience, they tend to recommend the Max for bigger peeps (I'm currently ~190lbs and I use the Max), I have a friend that is ~160lbs and they recommended the Plus for him. FWIW, my little peep wife also uses the Plus.
  • ezellrhezellrh
    @Dan, I would take John's advice and call. As a data point, I'm 6'3, 185 and have the plus. It is working great for me. I believe the max is a tad wider than the plus. I've ridden road on a Koobie (thin split nose) for years and didn't want to go with a wide nose. After the transition, no issues.
  • Dino SartiDino Sarti
    I tested both the Plus and the Max found the Max a shade wider....
  • danjohnstondanjohnston

     Just ordered my new Cobb Plus saddle. Can't wait!!

  • danjohnstondanjohnston

    I did my first ride with my new Cobb Plus addles this morning.  Overall, it was fairly comfortable but felt a little too much pressure towards the nose of the seat - especially when I was down on the aero bars.  If it is more comfortable when I am sitting up then when I am in the aero position, does this mean I might need to tilt the nose of the saddle down a little bit?

    Also, for anyone else who uses a Cobb saddle, did it take you a while to transition and feel comfortable with it or were you good right out of the gate on the first ride?  Thanks!

  • ezellrhezellrh
    Dan, it took me about three weeks to really feel comfortable with the Max. I was actually not happy after my first few rides and was thinking about sending it back. However, adjustments to it along with a switch to tri-shorts full time (recommended by John Cobb) made all the difference. I have the seat tilted at a very slight downward angle (as viewed by the rails, not the seat itself). This position is comfortable aero, rideable on the bull horns, but it does make me feel off balance when I'm on the bull horns (i.e. makes me want to get down). Now it feels great (or as good as I expect any saddle to feel after a 6 hour ride). Good luck!
  • GMAN 19030GMAN 19030

    Dan, tilt the saddle down some and see how that works.  John Cobb himself has stated a tilted down saddle works for many, many people.  You'll want to strike the proper balance through trial and error.  You'll want to tilt it down to the point that you aren't sliding forward or putting too much pressure on your arms/shoulders.

  • tribeathlon_onetribeathlon_one
    I have the regular v-flow. I used the ISM through 2010, but found the width of the "nose" of the saddle too wide, so I switched to the regular v-flow. The max has about the same width as the ISM, and the nose width goes down from there. For reference, I'm a medium unit 6' 170lbs, but like narrow saddle noses-love the fizik or cobb v170(?) on my road setup.
  • GMAN 19030GMAN 19030
    Posted By Chris Leach on 10 Jul 2012 04:48 PM

    I have the regular v-flow. I used the ISM through 2010, but found the width of the "nose" of the saddle too wide, so I switched to the regular v-flow. The max has about the same width as the ISM, and the nose width goes down from there. For reference, I'm a medium unit 6' 170lbs, but like narrow saddle noses-love the fizik or cobb v170(?) on my road setup.



    At least you didn't say you are a small unit.  I would've gone for big unit over medium but being humble is not a quality I embrace. 

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