I’m looking for a new saddle, I’ve recently switched to a Scott Addict and the stock seat is a bit rough on the rear end. My seat position is slightly forward from a “fitted” road position and I use shorty aerobars for a little leverage but by no means roll in a “aero’ position. I’m 6’ 1” about 230lbs.
I’ve been looking at the John Cobb V-Flow Plus but have questions as to how it will perform as a road position saddle. Any feed back there? I’ve always liked saddles with the cutout for pressure relief and ventilation.
Are there any other recommendations that I should take a look at?
Thanks
EDIT: I’ve tried the 3 different saddles I had on hand, none are suiting me. There are just too many options, to go at it blindly. So I was hoping to come away with 3 or 4 reccomendations I could chase down.
+1 on experimenting. I was in the same situation last year and decided that I’d just buy a new saddle. I went to Performance Bike online, ordered one of their house-brand tri saddles and was pleasantly surprised with my $30 purchase.
Simply put, if what you’ve got isn’t cutting it, almost anything is going to be better.
+2 on experimenting. I just put a V-Flow Plus on my tri bike and find it’s very comfortable even when I sit up. OTTH, for the past five years my road bike has had a Fizik Aerone with very little padding and I’m very happy with it. As one of the other posters said, padding isn’t everything. And what works for me doesn’t necessarily work for you.
don’t be afraid to try saddles with little to no padding, sometimes they are more comfy
+1. I’ve experimented with 6 total, and in between my misadventures in crotch comfort, I always gravitate back to my original road saddle which is like a solid oak 2x4 … with the 2 side up.
I had a Selle something-or-other with little or no padding other than a gel patch in the middle of the seat that I rode just fine for years (albeit with a QR seat cover on top). I guess it finally wore out recently, so I switched to the Serfas Performance RX. Economical (relatively), a good bit of foam padding, and the center cutout. No outdoor rides on it yet thanks to the weather recently, but it has held up well after a couple of one-hour and a two-hour+ trainer ride. But as a couple of other folks have said, just because something works for me is no guarantee that it will work for you.
Fizik Arione (I hated it, people love it. I refer to it as the ass hatchet)
Selle Italia SLR (I hated it, people love it like a religion)
ISM Adamo (have yet to try it, but as a big guy like you I’m generally not a fan of split saddles… worth a shot)
Performance E3 Form Gel (an easy try for $30 and it seems to fit odd proportioned people, my goto road saddle but I can’t tri in it)
Try buying used if possible… I’ve found most used saddles have surprisingly little mileage I know TriSports does a saddle demo program for $25 per saddle shipped and CompetetiveCyclist offers about a dozen different saddles for $75 but they’re very Selle Italia heavy which don’t agree with my ass.
Fizik Arione (I hated it, people love it. I refer to it as the ass hatchet)
Selle Italia SLR (I hated it, people love it like a religion)
ISM Adamo (have yet to try it, but as a big guy like you I’m generally not a fan of split saddles… worth a shot)
Performance E3 Form Gel (an easy try for $30 and it seems to fit odd proportioned people, my goto road saddle but I can tri in it)
Try buying used if possible… I’ve found most used saddles have surprisingly little mileage I know TriSports does a saddle demo program for $25 per saddle shipped and CompetetiveCyclist offers about a dozen different saddles for $75 but they’re very Selle Italia heavy which don’t agree with my ass.
This is a good list to start with. I’ve tried all of these saddles except for the Performance E3. I’ve been on an Adamo on my tri bike for the past 1 1/2 years, but recently bought a used Selle SMP Strike Evolution from the ST Classifieds and am loving it so far. I haven’t done a long ride yet, but so far so good. It’s pricey, but worth a try if your butt doesn’t agree with the others.
Used to ride a Fizik Arione and although it is a great saddle, it wasn’t for me…I got really numb in the nether regions. My sitbones were too wide for it. I went to a Specialized TriTip and haven’t had any problems.
My First Post here but I just went through this so I figured I could contribute.
In the last few months I went from an Alias 143 to a Selle Gel Flow, to a Selle SMP and finally to an ISM Adamo. I’m very very happy with the Adamo. My LBS was kind enough to let me borrow the latter two so if you can find a shop willing, test away.
For a few years I’d been using the Alias with no issues but I let the bike and saddle go for an upgrade. The new Bike started with a Selle Gel Flow which caused discomfort right away. With ample amounts of butt butter and Desitin ointment to ward off rash in a particular spot I stayed on that saddle for two months while I monkeyed with the fit and even changed up clothing. I was riding 200 mi or so a week at that time and just couldn’t get it dialed in.
I finally decided I’d had enough and went looking for new saddle. I started on the SMP, more for the idea of keeping my boys working long term than anything, but figured it may help with the sore area. It didn’t do much better so after 200 or so miles I switched to the ISM Adamo Race and now all is good in boys town.
My point… don’t suffer with the saddle and don’t buy based on price or looks. The Adamo is awesome for me and I’d recommend everyone give it a try before purchasing.
After 400 miles or 40 hours on the bike, whichever comes first, I could usually ride on a soft 2x4. In other words, if you are just getting out on the bike, give it some time, your butt will toughen up.
Some of the good tri-shops and LBS will let you try a test saddle for a couple of rides (I’ve found this especially true of the expensive/exotic saddles like the Adiamo, Selle Strikes, etc.; since people are loathe to drop that much on a weird saddle that they may not like).
That being said, the Fizik Arione Tri2 has been a great road saddle for me. More padded than the road version, and lots of room to slide forward to that semi-aero position.
+1 on using chamois cream and getting some really good shorts (Desoto 400Mile, or Assos)
I know TriSports does a saddle demo program for $25 per saddle shipped and CompetetiveCyclist offers about a dozen different saddles for $75 but they’re very Selle Italia heavy which don’t agree with my ass.