Curious if anyone has tried both of these saddles and could share any difference?
Background:
I have been searching for a magic saddle since I have started cycling. I am taken by the many posts on here where people have also been searching with eventual success. A saddle that was perfect.
I am looking for a saddle for the toughest situation. Five + hour rides on flat surface or trainer while in aero position.
I have tried Profile Design Tri Stryke, Fizik Airone Tri 2 carbon and K:ium, Cobb V-flow plus and max, and now Adamo Typhoon.
For 2.5 hour rides the V-flow plus has worked pretty well. I have done two painful century rides on the V-flow max convinced this saddle must be the saddle for me. I have tried countless adjustments and it just does not work even for an hour ride.
Yesterday I tried the Adamo Typhoon and after doing a couple of adjustment. The biggest moving it pretty far back. It was the best so far. I was able to do five hours in the saddle, with a majority of time in aero bars on a completely flat course. The only problem I had was my thigh hurt some which I have never experienced before. It really did not feel like rubbing but more muscular in my thigh. It did go away when I lowered the effort and did not come back.
I am thinking I should try the Adamo Road. Mostly because it comes in Red and would look cool on my bike :). But also because I thought it might help with my thigh. Plus I am never satisfied and was thinking it might be even a little more comfortable.
One other reason is that I prefer to have two bikes setup basically the same and I am thinking of swapping my V-flow Plus with one of the Adamo saddles.
Love to hear others experience. Also so many different Adamo modules seems somewhat ridiculous. I have also heard the Typhoon does not last. It wears out quickly. It would seem the Race version would not have enough padding for me. I do have a really boney butt.
I’ve tried both (along with a couple Cobb saddles) and prefer the Typhoon. It’s made with gel rather than foam. All my rides are with tri shorts so the combo of the gel and the minimal pad work best for me.
I think DRP might have something mixed up.
I tried the Adamo Road when it first came out. Hated it. Too firm. Went to the Typhoon when it came out because I liked the general idea of the Adamo saddle, but preferred a softer, more padded saddle. The Typhoon worked great for me, but the durability was pretty lacking. Went through 2 in two years. Decided to try the V Flow Max as it seemed somewhat similar to the Adamo, but with a nose. I’ve had mine for about 9 months now and mostly like it. At least as good for me as the Typhoon, but more durable.
I have the Adamo Race on 1 bike and the Road on the other. Same fit and pretty much the same overall size and “arm” width. The only difference IMO is the extra padding that comes along with the Road. Since I have ridden the Race for quite some time, it has become comfortable and tolerable over almost any amount of miles for me, but the Road is noticeably less harsh over bumps and longer rides. If you don’t mind the extra few grams of the saddle weight and are more concerned about comfort, the Road is the way to go. Good luck!
Let’s first and foremost be clear that saddles are a very individual thing, what works for one, may not work for another. Then i have to disclaim that i am importer and wholesaler of ISM saddles in Germany.
IMO ISM and Cobb make the only truely comfortable saddles that also keep your private parts healthy.
My recommendations:
If you ride once a week or less i recommend the Typhoon, TT bike or Roady does not matter.
If you are new to these saddles and ride more than once/week and you have a road AND tri bike: Breakaway on the road and Road on TT bike.
If you already have an ISM saddle and like it but want to upgrade: Podium for Roadbike and Racing on TT bike.
If you have one bike and ride more than once/week: Road saddle (but Breakaway can work too).
Some people may be comfy on the Racing saddle right away. Most stores will allow you to test a saddle, this is a requirement for any of the stores i sell to.
I think DRP might have something mixed up.
I tried the Adamo Road when it first came out. Hated it. Too firm. Went to the Typhoon when it came out because I liked the general idea of the Adamo saddle, but preferred a softer, more padded saddle. The Typhoon worked great for me, but the durability was pretty lacking. Went through 2 in two years. Decided to try the V Flow Max as it seemed somewhat similar to the Adamo, but with a nose. I’ve had mine for about 9 months now and mostly like it. At least as good for me as the Typhoon, but more durable.
Would you say the V Flow Max is as soft as the Typhoon, or is it closer in softness to the Road? Outside of durability, why do you like the Max better than the Road?
I used the Road this year and it worked fine, but I want something softer for the longer rides I’m planning next season for IM training (the Race was way too hard for me, even for shorter rides). I’m looking at both the Typhoon and the Max as options.
The V Flow Max is definitely harder than the typhoon. The Typhoon is gel and very soft. The max is foam.
I just purchased a road today. I believe it is foam more like the Max and Plus but not sure if it has as much.
I worked with the max a lot. More than any other saddle. I just could not get my junk to fit with the saddle. Adjusted up, back, tilt up and down varying degrees. Thank god for the level application on the Iphone.
The typhoon shape worked very well for me Now I want to see if a similar shape of the road also works for me. The road being a tiny bit smaller width wise I think might fit even better.
I had heard that the Adamo saddles can make your butt bone sore. I have a very bony butt no problem and no soreness. So think a harder saddle like the road will also work.
Typhoon is MUCH softer than the Max. I like the Max better than the road because it’s got a wider back end on the saddle and it has long rails and is more adjustable forward and backward. The Max and the Road are about the same amount of padding.
I think I’ve gone on the same Saddle Grail quest …
This doesn’t personally bother me with the Typhoon, but others who have experienced INNER thigh problems (you didn’t specify where), either rubbing or little-muscle-cramp type, have done well with tying the prongs together with a zip tie to make the nose narrower.
I’ve loved the Typhoon, and I haven’t done scads of riding on it, but in this humid tropical heat where everything (like all my tri clothes) seems to melt, it’s held up really, really well.
Additionally, the roads here are murder. They’re not well-maintained, and even “smooth” roads use a much coarser, harder grain of surface than do the roads in the States, and although the tyres and frame have a lot to do with it, believe me, this saddle makes it bearable.
Make sure you get the Cobb saddles level or even a tiny bit nose up. Don’t eye ball it, get a level b/c it makes a huge difference. Visually the setup between Cobb and Adamo couldn’t be more different. Several Adamo models have a ton of downward slope, but the back of an Adamo is basically for show, not for riding. Sliding around an Adamo is almost impossible w/o having huge effective saddle height changes. This is what turned me off the most b/c I scootch around if it’s an uphill section.
Cobb or Adamo will probably find your answer, just gotta find which. My Max is heaven.
I always use a level when setting up the saddle. I have now started also using the Iphone level app. I played with the Max more than any other saddle. I just could not find anything that worked for me. Maybe will go back to try a few things this winter/offseason. But for the time being I am on the Adamo for my race in November. Either it will be the Typhoon or the Road depending how the road works out. I am using the Cobb Plus for short races, under 1 hour.
It seems the Adamo poduim and breakaway have a much different nose prong shape. Much sleeker and smoother than the tall road. Why is this? Seems it would be a better fit for triathletes. How come I haven’t heard of them before?
This may also help Chowbacca a bit:
Podium and Breakaway are built for roadies (but IMO can be used for Tri too), are much flatter than the other ISM models and can thus be used for multiple sitting positions. I am totally writing from personal experience here (Steve or Dave, pitch in if you read this), when climbing on my road bike i tend to sit back and with a traditional ISM saddle the nose would be rubbing my thighs. The Podium and B’way are tapered in the front so you don’t get this rubbing. Hope this helps.
That helps a bunch. I tried the Adamo road a few years back and it just kept poking/rubbing me in the thighs. Maybe I wasn’t far enough forward looking back at it…but I thought I was. If figured it was just too wide for me. Maybe not. I would like to try the breakaway/podium. Anyone got on they want to sell me cheap?!