Overall we found the X-LR offers a fantastic sense of freedom, along with a strong feeling of connectedness with the terrain. Although not broken in, It felt much better and I never felt the need for relief. For example, if your saddle is too high it can cause you to rock slightly as you reach for the bottom of the pedal stroke. The one I have (the Aspin) is much higher quality and more comfortable for me than the Brooks B17's and Brooks Professional that I have. The sides, and front tip, of the saddle have downward angles so it's easy to move on and off without catching the edges. Nice and light with a bit of give in the Ti rails. If you like to move around a lot, don't buy a waved saddle because you think you shouldn't move around. Tirox alloy rails add a little comfort and add some extra durability in rough and gritty conditions. He will happily talk for hours about the minutia of cycling tech but also has an understanding that most people just want things to work. A quality saddle is a quality saddle no matter the terrain but you should consider the unique challenges of off-road riding when choosing the best gravel bike saddle. Mind you, a lot of the bike did. Well, I took a chance today and ordered the Selle Anatomic X2. There's a wide nose paired with a wide midsection and a generous central cutout. It's only available in one size: 146mm wide, which means if you have particularly narrow or wide sit bones, then this won't be for you, but for those it will fit, the AllRoad Carbon FX saddle is a great option. This kind of saddle is going to be best for those who are flexible and have pretty narrow hips. This rocking can cause chafing even though you might have a perfect saddle. I had a C17 given to me by my brother who couldnt get on with it. Cyclingnews is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Most brands have recommendations for one or the other based on pelvis tilt. Which saddle do people use and do you use leather or the vulcanised rubber? I should probably have got a C17 as it turns out but I do find it very comfy.. Is there a break in period for these? Have had lots of miles on a Brooks B-17. Finally, you need to consider the shape of the saddle as they come in various lengths and sizes. i ride a brooks b17 i love it 500-600 miles on it so far just getting broken in very pleased with my purchase ! Many experienced cyclists have been through a lot of saddles and have built a kind of religion around what works for them. Not afraid of a challenge, Graham has embraced bikepacking over the last few years and likes nothing more than strapping some bags to his bike and covering big miles to explore Scotlands wildernesses. Graham is all about riding bikes off-road. It's common knowledge that adding more padding to a saddle doesnt necessarily make a saddle more comfortable, however, the best gravel saddles sometimes add a little more padding to help absorb some of the vibrations compared to road saddles. It may perform admirably, but it will be compromised as gravel riding is not its main application. Selle San Marco's AllRoad Carbon FX saddle is better suited to those whose gravel rides are more 'all-road' than drop-bar mountain biking. Cambian Scoop (central cutout bit) on a Sonder Camino Ti here. There's a certain mystique about Brooks saddles. Many gravel bikes use a more relaxed endurance position that makes the rider more upright. Height: 5'9" Gravel bikes put the rider in a far more aggressive position than even the most race-bred cross-country bike, this position is going to change the way your sit bones interact with a saddle. Win a pair of Shimano ME7 shoes worth 180! versatile bag and holster bikepacking combo, Sea to Summit Ultralight mat review high in comfort and low in weight, Apidura Expedition Handlebar Pack and Accessory Pocket lightweight, bombproof, waterproof legend, Kade Edwards interview the hugely versatile rider on DH's future, riding with Brandon Semenuk and more. Along with moving around on the bike for traction, you might find yourself staying seated more often. Thanks to the versatility of the best gravel bikes, riders are covering longer distances and riding increasingly varied terrain so choosing the best gravel bike saddle is vital for comfort. Cyclingnews is supported by its audience. Although a discussion about saddles applies somewhat to all bikes this is a discussion specific to gravel cycling, so here are some considerations that are unique to that discipline. As mentioned above, can also make strange squeaking noises on bumpy terrain. Sales, returns, and fitment data from the dealer network showed the way forward. Although he rarely races, if you ask him to ride from sunrise to sunset the answer will be yes. I also got a Checkpoint and yes the stock saddle did suck. Traction and balance are much more of an issue on uneven dirt, mud, and gravel. Based in Edinburgh he has some of the best mountain biking and gravel riding in the UK right on his doorstep. I did have it adjusted properly at two different bike shops, still is a painful saddle to put up with. As saddles have got shorter, Specialized has been at the forefront with its Power saddle range. Trek, and its accessory company Bontrager, is a company with a culture of data. The Cambium C13 is an answer to that need. The Angel TT starts with the Velo Angel Glide and shortens it. Seems like this topic has been closed. It weighs in at just 164g and the GL has a rear width of 132mm; broader-based riders may wish to look at the GLM which is 145mm wide at the same weight. So at this point I'll have to decide to continue to use the the C17 on my road bike or put it on my Trek mountain bike and go back to the B17 for the Cannondale. Thanks for popping by - why not stay a while? Titanium usually makes up the mid-tier level and has excellent compliance and reduces weight over steel. If your URL is correct, you'll see an image preview here. The Fizik Terra Argo X1 is the lightest in the Terra Argo range of gravel-specific saddles, designed with the goal of offering as much vibration dampening as possible. Fabric saddles offer three profiles for different types of riders and riding. The construction of the Brook Cambium C13 is different from most of what's out there. A big difference! Flatter saddles give a more uniform feel for riders who like to move back and forth on the saddle whereas curved saddles help you feel locked in place. The B17 is definitely more comfortable but it ought to be after over 10 years of use. Thicker leather, and rebuildable if needed. Graham Cottingham I bought a Brooks Cambium C15 All Weather Carved saddle. The AllRoad Open-Fit Carbon FX has been designed by Selle San Marco as a saddle for adventuring both off- and on-road. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, All-road or no road, this is a saddle designed for long rides, Medium padding takes the sting out of rough roads, Rail size may not be compatible with many seatpost clamps, Prologo's popular T-shape saddle gets an Adventure, Gravel, and CX makeover, Wide distribution of weight over the saddle, One of the lightest off-road saddles available, Limited forwards and backwards adjustment on the rails, Popular short-nose saddle with titanium rails and carbon body, Planted seating position wont suit everyone, A super light but comfortable XC/gravel saddle, Gravel specific saddle with great vibration absorption, Road saddle that can double up for aggressive gravel racing, Beefed up off-road version of Pro's popular Stealth road saddle, Surprisingly light for a steel rail saddle, Won't suit those looking for a locked-in riding position, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices, How to choose the best gravel bike saddle, Selle San Marco AllRoad Open-Fit Carbon FX, Road superstar Peter Sagan to race this year's e-MTB Worlds in Les Gets, Restrap Bar Bag Small review If you like to move around a lot on your saddle then a flat saddle is the way to go. For gravel riding, this kind of saddle is going to work best for riding that falls into the all-road umbrella as opposed to drop-bar mountain biking. Commonly steel rails are the cheapest and are heavier but are hard-wearing and ideal if you plan on doing a lot of bikepacking as they are resilient to wear. By You can get this done at a bike shop, as part of a bike fit or do it yourself at home. B17 on the Vaya which sees a bit of offroad. (seems like a common theme with the bike) I just ordered an SA H-2 saddle for it, after talking to a guy in my gravel group at a ride. Sign up as a Singletrack Member and you can leave comments on stories, use the classified ads, and post in our forums, do quizzes and more. Selle Italia has been making some seriously light performance saddles for a long time and the Italian brand's X-LR Kit Carbonio Superflow has to be one of the lightest off-road-specific saddles available. Another week, another chance to win! The short-nose shape of the Power saddle, the grippy-yet-comfortable Elaston, the soft-tissue-supporting Mimic tech are just three, and they all feature here. If you like a secure, planted feeling, however, the Power Expert is well worth checking out. I am now riding in worse weather all year long and switched to the vegan version. Prologo's Multi-Sector System design uses zonal padding to tailor comfort and support, allowing each section of the saddle to work independently. Find out more in our full review of the Specialized Power Expert. It's a little on the heavy side when compared to some of the other saddles on our list but Specialized has included its SWAT mount which can be used to neatly mount storage, hydration, action cameras or rear lights. And even within the gravel cycling umbrella, there is a huge range of different types of riding. B17 titanium on two of my bikes. Hopefully this will be a comfortable saddle. Selle San Marco has reinforced the saddle rails with a crossing X shape knot (Dynamic Node Action) to reduce twisting forces from pedaling without affecting compliance. When it comes to saddles there are few brands with the name recognition of Fizik. When you need the nose for control there's just enough. As you sit upright your pelvis widens out and the necessary saddle width will change. Instead of thinking about pelvis tilt consider how much you like to move around on your saddle. There are no seams and it's a flat profile. Contact UsPrivacyForum RulesClassifieds RulesLink RemovalLogin/cookie issues?Newsletter SettingsAdvertising, Viewing 27 posts - 1 through 27 (of 27 total). Weight: 137 lb. The foam feels soft to the touch but provides progressive cushioning so it is still supportive enough. It produces over 15 million saddles a year and is the largest manufacturer of bike saddles in the world. The SR Pro Carbon uses a design targeted for men who ride in an aggressive position. The topic Brooks saddle for a gravel bike? is closed to new replies. I can't tell much of a difference between my c17s and my carved carbon 158. Whether it works for you though depends on how much you like to shift position as you ride. The best gravel bike saddles not only give the best fit and comfort, but offer gravel-specific features, such as covers for the cutout or luggage fitments, to cater to the unique demands of riding off-road over long distances. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. There's a wide cut-out, medium padding and a carbon-reinforced nylon shell paired with carbon fibre rails. While a saddle may be comfortable for miles and miles on your mountain bike, the significantly different riding position of a gravel bike could mean that same saddle quickly becomes a pain in the ass. Move forward onto the central peak and you've effectively raised your saddle height. The unusual 9.8x7mm DNA carbon rail size could prove problematic for some seatpost clamps, so it's worth double-checking the saddle will fit before you make a purchase. Saddle height is a part of the bike fit not typically considered for saddle choice but an incorrect height can cause unexpected saddle pain. Very happy. FORUM LOG ON FOR NEW MEMBERS - PLEASE READ, Bike Shows (NAHBS, Interbike, Eurobike), Components (Bikes, Tires, Wheels, and Other Components). CtB apparently owns the market in Cambium saddles. Weighing in at 209g the Prologo Dimension AGX is not what you would call heavy but the concept hinges more around comfort than outright performance. I love Brooks saddles, have 2. The cushioning gave contact with the bike, while offering a great vibration-reducing effect. [url=https://flic.kr/p/PJg3a3]20161217_125106[/url] by jamesanderson2010, on Flickr. Bike Perfect is supported by its audience. The Carved Cambium Brooks versus the non is a night and day difference. C17 and C17 cutout on the cross and road/gravel respectively, I found the cambiums did give a bit more after a few weeks. The Ergon SR Pro Carbon is a rare offering at just over $100 for top of the line materials and low weight. It will change as you age and it will change as you take part in different types of cycling. The padding is in the right places and our tester found it surprisingly comfortable for multi-hour rides, although we wouldn't choose it for a multi-day trip. Everyone is different though. I want to replace the stock saddle that came with my Trek Checkpoint. Most people assume that because they have pain in the saddle area, they need a new saddle. With its light weight and clever build, in testing we found the AllRoad Open-Fit Carbon FX unobtrusive, yet supportive in just the right way. Especially since I can get up to 65% off retail through a discount program I am part of through my job. If you're like our tester and like to shift around as you ride, you may want to consider the Specialized Power Arc instead. Specialized has released a multitude of saddle innovations over the years. You'll need to be able to bend at the waist without needing to tilt your pelvis a lot. The progressive slope at the sides gave me flexibility and meant our tester felt part of the saddle rather than just on it, and the rise at the back gave me something to leverage against on climbs. As a dedicated gravel saddle, the Dimension AGX is all about comfort and the Italian company has made a concerted effort to improve foam density by tuning the padding structure which is 10mm thick - all of which help negate high-frequency gravel-road vibrations. The needs of a road cyclist or a mountain biker are different than the needs of a gravel cyclist. There's not really a right or wrong choice here unless it's an aspirational one. Despite that, until recently, they were almost unheard of and actually purchasing one was near impossible. Selle Italia has a reputation for some of the lightest saddles on the market. Length is also important, longer saddles are falling out of favor with shorter, fatter-nosed options becoming popular however just cause a saddle works for one person doesn't mean it will work for you. C17 on my Raleigh of gravelheft, hasnt made a single squeak on that bike. Gravel races with long hours of hard riding, where aerodynamics matter, is an ideal use case. I ordered one from him and am waiting for it to arrive. If your riding position is a little more relaxed, Fabric has a Shallow version of the Scoop which has a shape better suited to a more upright position. Overall, it may not be cheap or super-light but it's a saddle you can rely on. The most important attribute when purchasing a saddle is the width. Steel and Titanium saddles will all come with a standard 7x7mm rail, however, carbon saddles can use 7x9mm and 7x10mm oval rails. The sloped shoulders and flat nose kept out of the way of his legs and the slightly raised rear kept him well centered. For more details, check out our full Prologo Scratch M5 AGX review. Thorpey, cheers. Very comfy, but amount of flex can feel a big weird until youre used to it. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. C17 not too wide/ big then? Particularly the carved ones. The all weather version doesn't seem to flex as much as the original. Wanted to see if anyone is riding with a Brooks or Selle Anatomica or any other. The Selle Italia X-LR Kit Carbonio Superflow is so light it makes offerings from other brands seem unreasonable. There is a slight wave but it's not aggressive and strikes a nice balance between locking the rider in and allowing movement. To many, the idea of a gravel bike saddle will sound like a marketing department somewhere jumped onto the gravel bandwagon in order to sell a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Ill update after I have it and Ive had a few rides. The gravel bike niche has already developed its own geometry, groupsets and tires so it isnt surprising that as brands have developed a deeper understanding of gravel riding, componentry such as the best gravel bike pedals, saddles and handlebars have followed. The curved sides meant out tester could easily shift body position on the trails, while the raised back gave degree of security and helped on climbs. Very good actually; little firm to start off with, but my posterior is now the last appendage to complain, rather than the first, on a long cycle. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, This topic has 26 replies, 25 voices, and was last updated. I've riding a B17 for years on my Cannondale T1000 and am very satisfied. I hope so. The two saddles are exactly the same, except that the Angel TT is wider and shorter. Seasoned mountain bikers have experience shifting to the rear of a saddle, or the nose, as terrain requires it. Beate Kubitz Classic Ride Print #117 Duddon Valley, Beate Kubitz Classic Ride Print #124 Isle Of Wight, Premier Partners for Singletrack issues & exclusive subscriber perks, Metcheck MTB Weather Forecasts At A Glance. For more information, check out our Prologo Dimension AGX gravel saddle first look review. The Cambium C13 is so durable we can't imagine it ever wearing out, even after a crash. Not only that, while we have chosen to feature the competitively priced carbon-railed Pro Team, Fabric offers various price points and rail materials including a steel railed version for a bargain of $80 / 35. The break in time was roughly a few months. Handmade by Italian company Repente, the Artax GL is ultra light with some neat features. He's been riding gravel bikes since their onset so know's what works and what doesn't. A unisex saddle, it was actually initially designed as a women-specific model, however, the shape translated across both genders equally. Guy's been riding and writing about off-road bikes for over three decades. Sean's an experienced cyclocross and XC racer who's also racked up many miles on gravel bikes over the years. Just because a particular saddle worked at a particular time does not necessarily mean that it is the only saddle that will ever work. Josh hails from the Pacific Northwest of the United States but would prefer riding through the desert than the rain. Once you've got the saddle, make sure it's level. The wider version adds about 15g to the weight. Unlike a road bike saddle, mud, dirt, trees, traction, hard impacts and branches come into play for gravel saddles. The carbon fiber shell has a long shape and a generous cutout is long enough to add comfort across the full length of the saddle. This time were giving you the chance to win a pair of snazzy Shimano ME7 shoes courtesy of Freewheel. Weight is rarely the best lens through which to view components and that's especially true of gravel saddles. The Verse line of saddles from Bontrager targets men and women and all surfaces and it works. Of course, 'gravel cycling' covers a broad spectrum. It's important to continue your quest for the perfect saddle because you can have any of the best gravel bikes and wear the best cycling shorts available, but pair them with an ill-fitting saddle and your ride could be reduced to discomfort, pain, and worst of all, walking. The Angel series of saddles is the highest performance saddles that Velo offers. Kevin Schmidt, the owner of Pedal PT, and an expert in bike fit has three primary considerations for saddle fitment. Bike Perfect is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Most companies who use a relief channel use a deep channel that splits the shell from the nose to the rear of the saddle. The flattish profile, combined with the upward tilt towards the rear, means it wants to keep you in one 'right' position. Ive got a C17 Im looking to flog if anyone is interested, swapped for a C15. The long front helps with controlling the bike but limits the amount of forward pelvis tilt that is possible. The last point Kevin brings up is height. He is a road cyclist at heart and doesn't care much if those roads are paved, dirt, or digital. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. It proved nothing but a joy to sit on across several bikes from gravel to MTB. The T-shape design meant he could use the long nose to steer lightly using the pressure of his thigh, and the nose's downward curve made it easy to slide on and off the seat when needed. PathLessPedaled on youtube has a good video about alternatives to the Brooks. Check out our Specialized Power Pro Elaston Mimic Saddle review for more information. I've been riding Koobi saddles for years on both my road bike, mountain bike and now the gravel bike. Prior to that I was trying all kinds of saddles to reduce the butt pain and none of them worked - then I got the Brooks and my bike riding experience totally changed.
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