Toupe Users?

Triathlon Forum
1

I’ve read the info you’ve all posted on Toupe saddles and want to try one. My custom tri bike has an Arione Fizik Tri2, but it’s just too wide for me. Feels somewhat like it points my knees outward and I get occasional chafing and/or saddle sores. Some questions and comments:

  1. I race Olympic and sprint distance, so not riding huge hours.
  2. I’m not a nose-sitter, so a road saddle on tri bike seems intuitive.
  3. Gel saddle or plain? I like to train in tri shorts so I have the same feel on race day, but wonder if the gel on saddle provides comfort or gets in the way.
  4. My sit bones measure 90mm wide, pretty narrow for my stocky build (5’8", 165 lbs). Specialized site says I should wear 130mm saddle. This true? (per the Specialized Website FAQ)
  5. Anyone try both the Toupe and the Phenom SL? The downward tilt on front of Phenom seems comfy, but I wonder how wide it is.

I know I should try these on at the shop, but too busy to get there. Appreciate your comments and experiences.
Thanks,
Rich

2

I would go with the Phenom Gel. The gel padding is very comfortable. I have a 130 on my tribike and it’s very comfy. I’m a bigger guy at 6’ 220, but I also measured out for a 130 saddle. That gel seat that they use to measure your sit bones distance really works. I found the nose to be narrower than the Tri-Stryke I had been using. I liked the Phenom so much that I put one on my road bike, too.

3

For day-to-day training do you wear tri shorts or padded cycling shorts?

4

On my road bike, I use regular cycling bibshorts. On my tribike, I use lightly padded trishorts.

5

I use a Toupe on my road bike and TT bike, b/c I too am not a “nose sitter”.

I like the Toupe b/c it doesn’t cause numbness (like almost every other saddle on the market).

I have a spare Toupe saddle from a third road bike that I have since sold…I used the saddle for one season.

I’ll sell it to you on the cheap. It’s a 130 mm.

Red and White with Titanium rails. Very light.
How does $50 sound?

6

I love the Phenom as well. I raced it in cyclocross last season and the Toupe on my road racing bike and my TT bike, which I do not sit on the nose till the last 2 miles of a TT.

I’d do the Phenom if weight means less to you than pure comfort.

7

I’ve done a couple of road tris, but my background is mostly off-road…
Out of curiosity, why do you sit on the nose the last 2 miles?

Does that offer an advantage, or is it to help you spin?
Thanks!

8

I’ve done a couple of road tris, but my background is mostly off-road…
Out of curiosity, why do you sit on the nose the last 2 miles?

Does that offer an advantage, or is it to help you spin?
Thanks!
It just a way to mentally and physically nail it at the end. You use different muscles too which probably helps. Pretty much putting it on the nose is how you end up when hammering anyways. IN a road race I’ll be on the nose on and off all day. But in a TT I am usually as aero and back on my saddle as much as possible. At the end I try and max the power while staying aero at the end.

9

Nice offer. The red won’t match my bike, but if I’m on the fence I might PM you - would be a cheap way to test it out. Thanks.

10

I’m on a standard (non-gel) Toupe. I like it for my road bike. I’m a bit of a nose sitter at times on the tribike so I wouldn’t ever want to use it there, but for the roadie it’s been great so far.