I am having a the biggest issue with trying to find a saddle that works for me. I hear stories on here of people’s saddles “feeling like butter” and “feeling like they can sit in aero for days” and I can even feel comfortable on a saddle for an hour on the trainer. It is becoming literally a pain in the ass (and taint). I have tried the Adamo Race, Cobb V-Flow Plus and Arione Tri 2 all to no avail. The Adamo was too wide the Cobb just a little off and the Arione didn’t seem to have even padding (it put a lot of pressure on my sit bone). Frankly, I’m sick of wasting money on new saddles.
I am at my wits end. My A race is IMFL and need to be able to sit in aero for a prolonged period of time. I don’t know if anyone can help but I just need to bitch.
I am having a the biggest issue with trying to find a saddle that works for me. I hear stories on here of people’s saddles “feeling like butter” and “feeling like they can sit in aero for days” and I can even feel comfortable on a saddle for an hour on the trainer. It is becoming literally a pain in the ass (and taint). I have tried the Adamo Race, Cobb V-Flow Plus and Arione Tri 2 all to no avail. The Adamo was too wide the Cobb just a little off and the Arione didn’t seem to have even padding (it put a lot of pressure on my sit bone). Frankly, I’m sick of wasting money on new saddles.
I am at my wits end. My A race is IMFL and need to be able to sit in aero for a prolonged period of time. I don’t know if anyone can help but I just need to bitch.
Sorry for complaining.
Go back to the Adamo and try sitting further forward on it…try the Road model if it seems to tough on your sit bones.
IME, if people complain about the Adamo being “too wide” that means they are trying to sit too far back on it.
Have you tried riding with a very lightly padded tri-short? On my V-flow I can make it around 1-2 hours before I get uncomfortable using a Pearl Izumi thick chamois and make it 3-4 with a desoto fleece short. Counter intuitive, but it falls in line with Mr. Cobbs recommendation.
Also have you looked at getting a bike fit or have you had a reliable one performed?
You’re going to get all sorts of recommendations here and you already have, but you said you were closest on the Cobb so I’d suggest going back to that. Give them a call and mr. Cobb will literally walk you through the process and even analyze video of yourself on the bike. I had this experience with them and can’t say enough great things about him. He wants to help…or so it seems.
Do you know for certain your exact saddle position (i.e. saddle height and saddle setback) based upon a fit? Sounds like you may also need to tweak these depending upon saddle choice. If you can’t find a good fit with either the Adamo or Cobb saddles than it’s probably not the saddle.
I have tried at least 30 different saddles on my tri bike including the ones you tried with similar results.I even experimented with WTB mountain bike saddles. I went with the Cobb V-Flow Max a couple of months back even though the v-flow plus didn’t work for me. First few rides were ok but not great with the Max. But to my suprise, each ride there after got better and better. Even though the Max looks wider than the plus, it seems to fit differently and seems less wide. Lots of people on this forum are useing the Max and love it , including me. Just my 2 cents.
just received the V-Flow Max today in the mail. quick test on the wind trainer and i’m sold! best by far! been through way too many saddles (and too much $$$!) but at last i think i’m done started with the Selle Italia SLR T1, then tried a Selle SMP and then the Fizik Arione Tri 2. Could never get very comfortable on any of them when down on aerobars. But the V-flow Max is a beauty
Hey man, been there done that. I went through 8 saddles between my two bikes before I found the winners. As someone asked before, how long are you riding them, long enough to adapt a bit? Also, you mentioned the trainer, are you only riding on the trainer or outside also? Often on the road I have a lot more chances to get out of the saddle for a hill or something and that’s just enough to keep me comfortable. When I first rode a Toupe on my roadie it was murder after 90 mins, now after giving some time to adapt, I ride two pretty minimal saddles (Adamo road and Romin) all the time and saddle pain is never an issue. I feel (felt) your pain, good luck!
I am having a the biggest issue with trying to find a saddle that works for me. I hear stories on here of people’s saddles “feeling like butter” and “feeling like they can sit in aero for days” and I can even feel comfortable on a saddle for an hour on the trainer. It is becoming literally a pain in the ass (and taint). I have tried the Adamo Race, Cobb V-Flow Plus and Arione Tri 2 all to no avail. The Adamo was too wide the Cobb just a little off and the Arione didn’t seem to have even padding (it put a lot of pressure on my sit bone). Frankly, I’m sick of wasting money on new saddles.
I am at my wits end. My A race is IMFL and need to be able to sit in aero for a prolonged period of time. I don’t know if anyone can help but I just need to bitch.
Sorry for complaining.
Brian
Funny I am in the exact same dilemma with the exact same saddles.
I’m no expert on it but as I understand it, those who find the Adamo too “wide” are usually sitting too far back on it. When you are sitting on the nose as you are supposed to, the width seems almost irrelevant. Most of the saddle isn’t between your legs anyway. Are you certain you were sitting in the right position with it? Did you follow the ISM instruction guide?
How about just going with a tried and true, minimal and thin saddle like a Selle Italia SLR and just add a Desoto neoprene cover on it for an IM bike leg. Will probably work just fine you you!
I have finally solved my own saddle mystery. I found the Adamo very uncomfortable…too much pressure on my sit bones after trying it for several months. The Cobb was much more comfortable initially, but I found myself moving around too much trying to get comfortable “in the slot”. The Arione was numbing at first, but provided more even support so other than getting numb, it was perfect. I started to fiddle with nose up/nose down angles in VERY small increments and finally landed on an angle I could live with. Every ride gets more comfortable. (My short rides are 1:40 to 2:00 and my long ride is 4:00).
I’ve really enjoyed my Neuvation wheelset, so I’m hoping John’s saddles are just as good. Maybe you’ll find a winner in there. I think they’re pretty good about returns, BTW.
I have finally solved my own saddle mystery. I found the Adamo very uncomfortable…too much pressure on my sit bones after trying it for several months. The Cobb was much more comfortable initially, but I found myself moving around too much trying to get comfortable “in the slot”. The Arione was numbing at first, but provided more even support so other than getting numb, it was perfect. I started to fiddle with nose up/nose down angles in VERY small increments and finally landed on an angle I could live with. Every ride gets more comfortable. (My short rides are 1:40 to 2:00 and my long ride is 4:00).
Funny because of this thread I took my adamo off last night, and put the Arione 2 back on. I traded a college student on here for a nicer saddle in exchange for his Arione, so I wasnt directly out anything - it just did not work last time.
I know it is a very popular saddle, and with having narrow hips, I think the adamo is just to wide, hence severe swelling / slight saddle sores on the outside edge of my sitbones leading to my inner leg. Ouch.
Ill monkey with the Arione - I will take numb over severe pain.
I am having a the biggest issue with trying to find a saddle that works for me. I hear stories on here of people’s saddles “feeling like butter” and “feeling like they can sit in aero for days” and I can even feel comfortable on a saddle for an hour on the trainer. It is becoming literally a pain in the ass (and taint). I have tried the Adamo Race, Cobb V-Flow Plus and Arione Tri 2 all to no avail. The Adamo was too wide the Cobb just a little off and the Arione didn’t seem to have even padding (it put a lot of pressure on my sit bone). Frankly, I’m sick of wasting money on new saddles.
I am at my wits end. My A race is IMFL and need to be able to sit in aero for a prolonged period of time. I don’t know if anyone can help but I just need to bitch.
Sorry for complaining.
Brian
Hi there,
You sound like you are going through what I went through. I highly recommend the Selle San Marco Azoto Triathgel saddle… your anatomy might be different from mine but the way you describe your feeling from those saddles… you’ve got nothing to lose!
Interestingly I thought the Adamo was too narrow…and I tried every style they make! I would really like to try the Alliante on the roady but am running an Arione there for now.
I found tipping up the nose of the Arione (Tri2 and road model) worked for me. It looks level at first glance but it is definitely nose up and I used a bubble level to make the adjustments. It took three rides to feel “perfect”, which in my case means no numbness and no screaming sit bones. (Also, my roady seat post doesn’t allow for rotation of the saddle as Cobb recommends so I’m SOL on that one.) I concur with those that say you should get out of the saddle every 20-30 minutes as well. I think that makes the transition period a little better.
started with the Selle Italia SLR T1, then tried a Selle SMP and then the Fizik Arione Tri 2. Could never get very comfortable on any of them when down on aerobars. But the V-flow Max is a beauty