View Full Version : cut out saddles
wc1934
03-01-2018, 05:51 PM
How do you know when a saddle is worn out ?
The past few rides (on my trusted but aged Fi'zi:k Arione K;ium) have been uncomfortable, so I am contemplating switching to a cut out saddle.
Can those who made the switch chime in - what had you been using, what did you choose, and why.
Thanks
Kontact
03-01-2018, 06:04 PM
The saddle I sell functions as a noseless saddle, even though it has one. I bought the license because I liked the design better than cut out types.
rnhood
03-01-2018, 06:07 PM
I think the fit is more important than the cutout however, for some (including me) the cutout does offer potentially a bit more perennial relief. If you find yourself typically rolling your hips forward thus loading the perennial area, a cutout saddle might help. Might, that is. Overall fit and how you sit is still more important imho.
Fizik: I never liked them cutout or not. I have tried them all except the Antares and didn't like any. Some people (including some of my riding buddies) absolutely love them and would not think about changing.
Anyway, I don't want to get off subject here. If you are sure you are fit properly then a cutout saddle might help. My recommendation is to try one, one Fizik maybe, and one of another brand. The Bontrager (Trek) Montrose, Specialized Power, Romin, Toupe, Phenom, or whatever. Since you are on a flattish saddle now, I would try the Phenom or Montrose. They are similar, and very good.
Ralph
03-01-2018, 06:20 PM
My Orthopedic Doc tells me he sees lots of aging cyclists who can no longer get comfortable on their saddles.....any saddles. But they keep trying different ones. Some can't even sit on fat cruiser saddles any longer.
He says after doing imaging....he usually sees some degeneration in the lower back, coccyx area, and sit bones....that comes with aging. So no saddle is really going to be comfortable for these people.
We see posts on here all the time....aging cyclists seeking a more comfortable saddle. With folks not affected by this issue giving advice that can't really help.
Question is....are you one of these people with age related degeneration?
And...maybe this explains the rapid growth of Trike Clubs in our area. Recumbents also. Those you don't sit on a upright bike seat. They constantly tell me they just couldn't sit on a regular bike seat any more.
jischr
03-01-2018, 06:37 PM
I have SMP Stratos and Glider, do centuries on both. Moved to them one spring when I 'suddenly' started going numb after 25 miles on my Fizik and Italia Max Flite Gel.
mtechnica
03-01-2018, 07:11 PM
I really like the Selle Italia SLR with the large cutout, it seems to offer relief from perennial pressure while riding in the drops. If you haven’t tried an SLR I would highly recommend one. Even though it’s thin, the carbon shell makes it comfortable. You can get a good deal on them from the uk.
AngryScientist
03-01-2018, 07:13 PM
to the original point, i think fizik definitely uses varying density padding in their saddles to achieve the support they design for, so i think it is entirely possible to "wear out" a saddle if those densities do not provide the support they once did.
if you liked the saddle before, it may be worth trying a new one of the same model before venturing to something entirely different.
andrewsuzuki
03-01-2018, 07:44 PM
The problem with the majority of cutout saddles is that the cutout is too narrow to do much, and sometimes isn't long enough / in the correct position.
When the cutout is too narrow, it can be even worse since it instead concentrates pressure on the edges of the cutout.
As mtechnica mentioned, the Selle Italia SLR Superflow is probably a good bet if you're coming from a flat saddle like the Arione.
madsciencenow
03-01-2018, 08:50 PM
to the original point, i think fizik definitely uses varying density padding in their saddles to achieve the support they design for, so i think it is entirely possible to "wear out" a saddle if those densities do not provide the support they once did.
if you liked the saddle before, it may be worth trying a new one of the same model before venturing to something entirely different.
The density thing is accurate. I’ve ridden the R1 and never had an issue with wearing out the saddle (lower density and almost no padding aside from the saddle cover). About a year ago I bought an R3 and after about 7000 miles it’s nearly done in. The saddle feels softer, is a bit deformed and generally doesn’t look like something you wanna sit on for a couple hours.
In addition to the longevity of the R1, I actually found it to be more comfortable and felt less flexy when riding hard than the R3.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
David Tollefson
03-01-2018, 09:00 PM
This is my idea of a cutout saddle:
https://flic.kr/p/24JV8bE
I'm moving most of my fleet over to these. YMMV.
FlashUNC
03-01-2018, 09:23 PM
Probably worn out when you can't fit your donger through it anymore.
Just started riding a Selle SMP Pro, which is pretty wide. Used almost always indoors on a Kickr. Coming from some of the wider Specialized saddles. The Pro is pretty comfortable, but kind of wide, hard to describe the feeling, but appreciate it after an hour or so.
MagicHour
03-02-2018, 12:15 AM
Just switched to a Fabric Line race 142 which has an almost full length, fairly wide cutout. Was riding an Selle Italia SL Kit Carbonio SE, which was fine on the road but starting to feel like an a** hatchet on 1:00hr+ trainer rides .
I really like the Line so far - I have the non cut-out version Scoop Shallow on my other bike, that again is great on the road, but I prefer a cutout on my trainer bike. Worth a look - comes in 132 and 142 widths and cromo, ti or carbon rails.
https://content.competitivecyclist.com/images/items/large/FAB/FAB0009/SHABLA_D2.jpg
Louis
03-02-2018, 02:37 AM
How do you know when a saddle is worn out ?
Depends on the type. Assuming we're talking about one with a thin layer of something or other over a moderate layer of foam, with a structural shell under that, usually what happens (at least in my experience) is that the foam goes soft in the sit-bone area and doesn't provide enough support.
If you were to compare an old saddle to a brand-new one (of the exact same model) by pushing with your thumbs at the right spots you'd notice a significant difference.
oldpotatoe
03-02-2018, 07:03 AM
How do you know when a saddle is worn out ?
The past few rides (on my trusted but aged Fi'zi:k Arione K;ium) have been uncomfortable, so I am contemplating switching to a cut out saddle.
Can those who made the switch chime in - what had you been using, what did you choose, and why.
Thanks
I had a saddle sore that developed into a lump of 'dead fat', down there and the only saddle I could ride on was a SMP Glider. Prior to that was a SSM Rolls.
Saddles break down over time, don't last forever..
Go find a SMP test center and try some out. Kinda goofy looking but comfy for me.
I had been riding Arione, and then as I ramped up volume, started getting numbness.
That set off a year long SMP experiment which was an extremely expensive failure. I never completely solved the numbness, and ended up with endless saddle sore battles.
I've now settled on Specialized Power Arc, but the numbness on long seated efforts is still a problem, but at least no saddle sores!
On a lark, I also tried the Infinity Saddle - this took care of ALL numbness.. but was brutal on the pubis bones (the "sides" of your crotch) - I couldn't ride it enough to test for saddle sores.
I'd be keen to try one of the split nose saddles (ISM) or Kontact's thing, but I am beat down. :)
HenryA
03-02-2018, 07:31 AM
I’d sure try one of Kontact’s saddles. The contour of the top surface may accomplish the same goal as the cut out models - taking pressure off the tender bits.
The other thing is to stand, stretch and move around more on the saddle. Stop sitting and grinding it out. Its a pretty obvious solution and you may be doing it already, but do it more and with purpose to see if it helps.
semdoug
03-02-2018, 07:49 AM
I second the comment about finding an SMP test center. A shop about thirty miles from me is a participant, I tested several models before making a purchase. Probably one of the few smart things I've done related to cycling and related expenses. The dealer also had other brands and models for testing.
Idris Icabod
03-02-2018, 09:11 AM
How do you know when a saddle is worn out ?
The past few rides (on my trusted but aged Fi'zi:k Arione K;ium) have been uncomfortable, so I am contemplating switching to a cut out saddle.
Can those who made the switch chime in - what had you been using, what did you choose, and why.
Thanks
I had the exact same issue about 10 years ago. I was using the Fizik Aliante and all of a sudden my rides made me numb after about an hour. I presumed the saddle had lost some cushion and was now applying pressure to the wrong spot, so I bought a new one. This didn't fix the issue. After trying a few brands (borrowed from friends or bought scraped up ones from Ebay for next to nothing) I settled on the SLR Flow. The first week I didn't like it, way too hard but I got used to it and now have it on all 4 of my road bikes and I usually get around 10k miles/year so around 100,000k miles.
andrewsuzuki
03-02-2018, 09:52 AM
Generally I'm an SMP fan. There's one big problem with them though, which is that they're too "scooped" fore/aft. Well, I like the scoop on the rear half, but on the front, the nose comes up too much and adds too much pressure to my scrotum.
The Infinity saddle is probably the most comfortable saddle I've tried in regards to the sit bones and perineum, though it has the same problem and adds even more pressure there.
jmoore
03-02-2018, 10:12 AM
to the original point, i think fizik definitely uses varying density padding in their saddles to achieve the support they design for, so i think it is entirely possible to "wear out" a saddle if those densities do not provide the support they once did.
if you liked the saddle before, it may be worth trying a new one of the same model before venturing to something entirely different.
^this
saddles definitely can wear out.
Johnnysmooth
03-02-2018, 04:46 PM
Never found a cut-out saddle I liked.
Been with Fizik of Prologos for yrs (dare I say 15-20yrs) and still fit my bones
juliussharpe
03-02-2018, 06:00 PM
I have an infinity saddle which I really like. One note: make sure the little tab on the back isn’t blocked from going down by your seat post bolt (I had to saw a bit off the bolt on mine)
I’ve also used the Rido saddle, but to me that would be a last resort. One way it helped me is seat positioning. The second you sit on a Rido you know exactly where you are supposed to be.
bitpuddle
03-03-2018, 12:17 AM
After trying quite a few saddles with a fitter, I settled on the Selle SLR Max Gel Flow. It is a cut out model and moderately padded.
rain dogs
03-03-2018, 12:04 PM
Pro Stealth. Huge cutout, actually bought it for my CX bike which sometimes I ride without a chamois and seams in the crotch of shorts etc. Thought the cutout would be nice.
Turns out, it isn't great on the CX, but really nice on the Road bike. Easy to get into a super aggressive position. It's good. Would recommend it if you ride in the drops a lot.
Light, flat, 142/143mm wide or thereabouts. Not too much padding. Can ride on the nose for hours if you're into that kinda thind. I think it was designed with the Sunweb riders' feedback.
http://road.cc/sites/default/files/styles/main_width/public/pro-stealth-saddle-2.jpg?itok=DdUmCRoI
mtechnica
03-03-2018, 12:13 PM
Pro Stealth. Huge cutout, actually bought it for my CX bike which sometimes I ride without a chamois and seams in the crotch of shorts etc. Thought the cutout would be nice.
Turns out, it isn't great on the CX, but really nice on the Road bike. Easy to get into a super aggressive position. It's good. Would recommend it if you ride in the drops a lot.
Light, flat, 142/143mm wide or thereabouts. Not too much padding. Can ride on the nose for hours if you're into that kinda thind. I think it was designed with the Sunweb riders' feedback.
http://road.cc/sites/default/files/styles/main_width/public/pro-stealth-saddle-2.jpg?itok=DdUmCRoI
I'm interested in this! Too bad I have a ton of SLRs already and don't need a saddle.
ls1togo
03-03-2018, 03:57 PM
As one of those "aging" cyclist's! (71)...I've tried too many saddles to list, eventually settling on SMP..first Dynamic, Drakon, Glider and finally found a home on Lite 209 and use them on all three bikes. (carbon, Ti and steel)
They work great!
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