Rubbery Covers on new saddles...

[avalonracing]

So what is the consensus on the many of these newer saddles that have a rubber or rubber-like finish on them. Personally, I'm not a fan. I like to easily slide on the saddle depending on the grade of the climb or my pace. Likewise, I would think these covers lead to more saddle sores and even wear on the shorts faster.
Discuss.

[AngryScientist]

i agree with you, i like to be able to move around on my saddle, as with a leather saddle.

that said, wasnt there some pro who would use sandpaper on his saddle to keep from moving? tony martin maybe? i vaguely recall some story about that.

must be a personal preference, or maybe position thing?

[Veloo]

Which brand is doing this now?

It would prob drive me nuts too.
I find these (other) rubber coated products break down and it gets very tacky.

I recall a saddle in the 90s (?) with a back that was slightly turned up to give something small to brace against.

[Hindmost]

I have a Ritchey saddle that has that grippiness. It surprises me when I go to do that subtle position shift and it has a hold on my shorts. I have to consciously lift my butt off the saddle to get everything back into place.

I think some time trialists like to be anchored to their saddles.

[fiamme red]

I borrowed a new Brooks Cambium saddle from a friend and loved it at first. Then I found that the stickiness of the rubber didn't allow me to change positions easily, which is important when I'm doing a long climb.

[kylecycler]

I think the OP might have hit on something here, just generally - saddle cover material is something that's seldom talked about. Not just rubbery material, but I've long suspected that one of a leather saddle's less acknowledged advantages is the fact that it's super-smooth, even if it means the ass tends to slide forward.

Concerning that, mind you, I've never been convinced that a leather saddle needs to be set "nose up," but others with more experience tend to disagree. But I reckon even some synthetic saddle cover materials (not just the rubbery ones) can be too grippy - the smoother the better, I think - and padding can effectively make a saddle cover grippy even if it's smooth, if you see what I mean.

[Spinner]

My saddle of choice is the San Marco Regal and I prefer ones that are perforated, because they prevent sliding around.

[Dead Man]

this is a huge part of why i love SMP. i do like to be locked into my saddle position, but NOT by my bibs. i wanna be locked in by the shape of the saddle, yet still have my bibs slide free as needed

ive even polished my SMPs in the past.. for a little more slide

[nortx-Dave]

I'm riding a new Selle Italia Flite with a "special polyurethane cover." Feels sort of rubbery to me too. But I'm able to move around OK on it - it's not like I'm stuck to the saddle. When I sit back down from standing, I tend to lower myself and then slide back (true on any saddle) and the cover on my new Flite doesn't grab at my shorts or anything like you might expect. I'm totally happy with the way it is performing.

[jemoryl]

I believe the Prologo CPC saddles have some grippy pads that stop one from sliding around, for example: https://www.prologo.it/en/products/nago-evo-cpc . Personally, I like to be able to move around on the saddle, and have always avoided those with embroidery or such.

[Bentley]

Originally Posted by avalonracing

So what is the consensus on the many of these newer saddles that have a rubber or rubber-like finish on them. Personally, I'm not a fan. I like to easily slide on the saddle depending on the grade of the climb or my pace. Likewise, I would think these covers lead to more saddle sores and even wear on the shorts faster.
Discuss.

Truthfully, I move around on the saddle quite a bit, having some grip helps. I have been riding the Prologo’s with CPC (kind of looks like a short rubbery rug). Keeps me “planted” on the saddle...

Ray

[Veloo]

Not to go on a tangent but these are the saddles with raised rear.
Don't know if these were banned by the UCI back in the day.

https://www.facebook.com/sellesanmar...9518369776561/

[m_sasso]

One of these will fix everything!

[rustychisel]

Remember embroidered saddles? They gripped knicks, created saddle sores and were dreadful.

I prefer to 'move'.

[J.Higgins]

Originally Posted by fiamme red

I borrowed a new Brooks Cambium saddle from a friend and loved it at first. Then I found that the stickiness of the rubber didn't allow me to change positions easily, which is important when I'm doing a long climb.

Was it an early Cambium with the natural rubber or the All Weather? My All Weather is fairly slick, and I can move around on it. Its not as comfortable as a B17, but its not a bad compromise for a bike that sees a lot of wet weather.