Is a $400 cycling saddle worth it? (My experience with different saddles) 

400 buck!! It better perform another service while it's down there.

I love that Tyler wanted a new saddle so he got Competitive Cyclist to give him one in exchange for a video. That's a pro move right there. Nicely played and nice video.

why did I have to pick such an expensive sport as a lowly poor person

I used the Selle SMP in track cycling it's great for not getting your shorts getting caught on the tip of a regular. After being out of the saddle on a hard sprint or acceleration and you drop back in on the front of it. Once you get used to it, it is so comfortable. No fatigue.

Mark Beaumont used an Selle SMP Pro (nearly identical to the one you called "an abomination") on his record breaking 80 day round the world challenge. Just goes to show how personal saddle choice can be. One man's abomination is another man's comfort.

“Very long, very happy to see you.”

I have tried 2 specialized saddles, 2 fizik saddles, 2 giant saddles, a selle italia saddle, a wtb saddle and the only one i have found to be comfortable was a selle SMP Well. looks kinda odd but it feels like armchair for ultra-endurance.

So I'm a girl, a competitive bodybuilder, and I have a huge butt - and I ride the abomination saddle and it's the most comfortable saddle I've had. I have one of every other kind in this video, including an ISM Adamo. I love my Selle abomination the most. Everyone has different sit bones and different levels of tissue. And Competitive Cyclist is the bomb.

the Selle SMP are fantastic! I currently ride the carbon version but I have had 3 so far and i love them! the least painful of any saddle i have been on! Hands down! they feel as good as they look crazy!

Nah, I'm not going to a LBS, try a bunch of saddles, and then buy the one I like online. That's not right.

This is where it all started for me one year ago. Saw this video and bought a test tri seat (fizik mistica) from the bike shop for $50. You’re helping people in bigger ways you know man. Big thanks

Selle SMP's saddles are the BEST! Spent lots of money on every type of saddle over the years and Selle SMP Dynamic is the best saddle and the only one I ride.

Contrary to the opinion registered here, the Selle MP was the solution to thirty years of discomfort when I bought my first in 2011. Ten years, NO issues ever since.

My SMP saddle is the best saddle for my sit bones, I’ve tried many others and they killed me on rides over 30 miles where the SMP fits like a glove... you need to remember a saddle is a very personal thing, just like shoes, bibs etc...

Thanks to this video, and the comments section... I'm looking for a SMP.

I have a SMP forma and is the most comfortable saddle I have. By the way I do have a bike and it has an SMP SADDLE.

If you choose a seat solely on how it looks, you're gonna have a bad time. Also. +1 for SMP. No doubt they look goofy, but dammit they're comfortable. Best bike fitter in the world, Steve Hogg goes in depth on why the SMP saddle is so good. Worth the read on his website/blog

SelleSMP Conposit model saddles work for me Have them on a number of my Road bikes for 4 years

The Selle SMP is *VERY* sensitive to tilt angle. Mine didn't work until I got the angle just right. And it does lock you in, so if moving around on the saddle is your jam, it probably won't work for you. I actually like being locked in, so I'm fine with SMP-style saddles. (I actually have my trust old Fizik Arione on right now, but I like to rotate thru different saddles every few months. I've found that if I stick to any one saddle style for too long, I eventually start to have comfort issues.)

The pros ride a small selection of saddles their handed. Most ride long nosed saddles with NO cutout. When asked "what's the first thing you change on a rider" The coach for thre U.S. Junior National Team said "We usually lower their saddles by a centimeter to a centimeter and a half.". If you are sitting "to high" in the saddle, you will have numbness, rocking hips and upper body and loss of balance and power. Look how low in the saddle Chris Froome rides. He has that odd upper body motion but I believe that's him keeping his upper body-that isn't doing much work-relaxed. Most riders can benefit from a lowered saddle and a stretching regime, to allow one's legs to extend as far as possible in the pedal stroke.

Don't knock Selle SMP - that locked in feeling is dope: you can put down so much power that way. The SMP plus that you showed in your video is likely way too big for you. Full carbon lite or the dynamic are likely the versions for you. Big difference in feeling if you don't pick the right model for your behind. A one minute ride is likely not even enough to adjust the seat angle properly. 2, 3 degrees front or back can greatly change the feeling.

Product videos like this are SOOO helpful becasue cycling is hella expensive and it’s hard to get opinions and first hand experience about where to spend your money!

My 155g Selle San Marco Open Shortfit Carbon FX is the best thing I ever bought for my bike at $200. Feels more like I'm perched than sitting. Not a single issue after a thousand miles. I'm 6'4" too with a viking sized package.

“such a treat for the balls” this line right here could sell millions of saddles 🤣😂🤣

Saddles are highly personal. Often saddle problems are more about position than they are about the saddle. See bike fit James. I lowered my saddle a bit and changed to the Fabric scoop shallow, no cut out, and my saddle problems disappeared. The short nosed TT saddles were made that way so the saddle can be moved way forward and satisfy the UCI regulation for distance from saddle nose to bottom bracket spindle. I’ve tried a couple of cut out saddles and we didn’t get along. The flex that’s designed into Fabric saddles works the best for me!

Great video Tyler. The dangers of mucking about with the wrong saddle & wrong position are REAL! Long story, but in the interest of perhaps saving another dude the torture I will share.... In early 2018 I raced a TT on my Venge fitted with the Specialized ROMIN saddle. I did a couple of tests before the event to make sure I had the fore/aft & tilt dialled in...over 2 hours of mucking about to get it "right". Went to the event (from memory it was a 16km TT) and got off the bike walking like John fucking Wayne. A day later I was pissing blood at work (lots of fresh blood, not just a little colour in my stream... ) and went to the ER. At my age (41) they immediately flag you for possible bowel/liver/kidney cancer and begin testing for cancer....despite me telling the story I smashed my balls the day before on a bad fitting saddle in a TT they were insistent (due to my Dad dying of liver & bowel cancer). Before I knew it, I was in a consult with a bowel cancer specialist who asked me to lay on the bed and drop my pants....enter (literally!) Dr. Squarefinger. I got my first prostate exam without as much as a "May I?". No chocolates, no flowers, no kiss...he just cranked his finger in like we'd been dating for months. I then was "cleared" of prostate cancer...yipee! Next, was a screening for Liver Cancer...weird x-ray, metal taste in mouth, cold sweats, IV pumping X-ray fluid through my whole body...WEIRD experience. But worst of all came at the end, once they figured my butt, liver and tubes were cancer free...they then went down the last avenue of exploration. They booked me in for an internal scoping of my penis and urinary tract....full anaesthesia and camera down the eye of my old fella. I was relieved to wake from the haze of drugs to be told I didn't have cancer and must have just smashed my balls & taint really hard on a bike saddle. SCARRED FOR LIFE :(

Purchased the ism shortly after you came out with this video and I couldn't be happier. No numbness ftw. Thank you!

Happy New Year from Japan!! Dude, Bruh, the SMP is the shiznit!!

Pretty funny my takeaway from this video is I’m going to try a Selle SMP.

I have a Fabric saddle intended for sitting more upright, endurance riding. They are awesome. I also like the Sella Italia! For me a saddle needs some curve, not flat! Yes... test them out... buy what works!

Another move if you're a bro on a budget, get a piece of cardboard, put it on a flat hard surface, sit on it. Draw circles around sit bone indents, use a ruler to measure the distance between your sitbones. Look for saddles with your sit bone measurement. You can buy some cheap saddles on sites like AliExpress that will give you a pretty good idea of if you like that kind of thing and upgrade to a better brand of the style you rode when it innevitably wears out.

Tried out quite alot of saddles with pain on most. After finding selle smp's Nymber I've been pain free for half a year now... 😁

Selle SMP is the best. And don’t give me “only suits people who like to sit in one spot”

I've tried dozens of saddles but the tried and true SLR is perfectly comfortable so I keep going back to that :)

SMP Dynamic all day long. Real butt. Wife approved

Get your sit bones measured. You may have a good saddle, but it may be narrow compared to your sit bones. Happened to me, got a fit and found the correct width and have not had any saddle issues. I rock a Specialized Power. Good luck.

I bought a lightly carbon fiber version of the fabric tri saddle last year for $65. Its by far my favorite saddle. I learned through painful experience that I prefer short nose saddles. Ism just doesn't suit me well. The specialized power is actually pretty good for me but the fabric is the ideal fit: short and narrower.

Been through plenty of saddles throughout the years. Models from San Marco, Fabric, Prologo, Specialized, SMP, etc. I'm good on a Fizik Arione but I keep going back to the Selle Italia SLC. It's been discontinued for years now and I always buy one when it randomly pops up for sale on ebay. It has the cutout like the newer model SLR but it's not connected by the shell in the back. It allows each side of the saddle to flex independently. 8 hour granfondos and zero issues. Most cyclists have their go to saddle which is tried and true but good luck to those still searching. +1 giving a cutout a go if you've never tried it. The key is finding one that the padding of the saddle closest to the channel doesn't put too much pressure on your arse and inner thighs. FTW!

I don't have a butt. Good to know

I’ve tried a bunch of saddles. SMP full carbon is the best. I know it looks funny but I need a saddle to avoid pain and prostate cancer.

Appreciate your efforts on this topic....but would like to help you to communicate more clearly. - "sit bones" ... you are a little off with your use of this term. The sit bones are the ischial tuberosities (ITs), which you take weight through when sitting erect. (check a diagram of pelvis anatomy). - when riding a bicycle, leaning forwards, one shifts weight off the ITs onto the ischiopubic rami (IPR). These are 'rails' between the ITs and pubic symphysis. They angle inwards from back to front. These are the bits one has to 'harden' or condition to taking weight when a cyclist. WIth many thousands of km's in the legs, the periosteal lining of the bone and the bone itself begin to adapt to taking weight....and discomfort gradually eases. - saddle paresthesia and other soft tissue issues occurs when the muscles and other tissue between the IPR endure excessive compressive force. A cut out or channel can help this. - However, by far and away the best strategy for a more comfortable butt is to lose weight, adopt a healthier diet with lots of vege and fruit and improve spine and limb flexibility. Why so? -- because excess weight usually comes with stiffer joints (especially spine) and this prevents one from getting more weight onto the hands off the butt. -- excess weight means more weight driving the butt into the saddle -- excess weight is associated with more atherosclerosis, so less blood flow to the perineum at a given pressure. -- greater flexibility means being able to distribute weight more variably between hands and butt, as well as adopt a more aero position for longer periods.

The praises he gives to the "sit bones style" saddles tells me he's the perfect customer for the SMP. I'm a long time user of the long "plenty of real estate" Arione saddles, but also have 2 SMPs and they're very good once dialed in (as "sit bones" as you can get). Buy the less padded ones. Takes a few rides.

specialized power is a good option for short nose. I had the hollographic version which looked cool but the surface rubbed off after 1000km :(

I personally really like these videos. It's not like competitive cyclist is paying you to lie. They are helping you get more equipment to give honest reviews of. I'm really liking these.

"Taint smasher..." LMAO. "My balls were celebrating..." OMG Tyler...LOL

I have a Specialized Power with Elaston (a softer middle section over the regular Power) and that thing is awesome. $275, but probably the most crucial part of the bike.

Gotta say, I've got two of the Selle SMP saddles, and I have much butt (all the butts). Very comfy, looks dumb as hell. For my gravel/rando bike, I've been using the Brooks Cambium carved. Feels good, looks much less dumb.

Ive had saddle sores all my life, now rolling with the bontrager aeolus pro saddle.. Life changer!

Liked the Video! I have an ISM on my TT bike, I tried it on my Road bike and found it to be NOT a good fit. One thing...the go try out saddles in LBS then go buy online for discount. Lets support the LBS so they can stay around.

Riding an SMP Drakon for 1 year and no regrets.

(Brooks) : I had friend who worked at Avocet. He gave me a whole box full of saddles. I tried nearly all of them and went back to buying another Brooks all leather saddle. (495 gr.) I WILL say I sometimes get penile numbness while training but NEVER on the road. I used a Brooks to go from Miami to Seattle, so I know this type saddle well. (that bike was stolen so had to buy another Brooks)

I love my Selle SMP. Very comfortable. Run it on my road and MTB. Maybe you should have tried one for more than a minute or tried another SMP saddle before a public condemnation. JS

Love this. Just purchased ISM PS 1.0 from LBS after riding demo saddle for a few hundred km. Couldn’t recommend higher! You’re spot on with everything in this vid! Thanks!

Happy New Year! Keep up the good work. I use the SMP Dynamic and the Bontrager Aeoulous Elite saddles. Both very comfortable

SMP dynamic my favorite on long rides , I almost can’t even feel it but , we all have different requirements , I just love the SMP

what's wrong exactly with the SMPs? I ride daily on a SMP TRK large saddle with a thudbuster and absolutely got rid of any taint soreness. Fill me in, what's wrong with it?

check out Francis Cade's channel for some great saddle info with James on Bike Fit Tuesdays.

i bought a very expensive saddle and just could not get used to it, than i went back to the 5 euro saddle i was using on my other bike... i never went back, its simply amazing!

For years, I rode with a fizik aliante saddle because it was the most comfortable out of the ones i could afford and was able to test. I later realized it actually gave me saddle sores. Fast forward to the present and the brooks cambium c17 has been my new go to. The nose may be a taint smasher in certain positions, but I get zero saddle sores.

Love my SMP Drakon. You may not have adjusted it properly. Needs to be nose down 5 degrees plus. If it is setup correctly, you can move around.

Next gear discussion should be road tires. As overlooked as they are, they can be HELLA expensive (at least for me). How big is the difference in puncture resistance, traction, and comfort? And does the difference in rolling resistance really make THAT big of a difference?

After trying many, i found the ideal one: Specialized Power

"Go to your bike shop and test out a bunch of saddles, then buy the best one on CC." That's a bit of a scumbag move tbh.

Alright dude, I usually like your videos but why the hating on the Selle SMP? As far as my wife tells me I have a relatively normal and attractive butt. I absolutely LOVE my Selle SMP Well! (WELL is the model) I have ridden just about every type of saddle you showed and the only thing I am comfortable on is the SMP. The Well is not the Extra. It is very minimally padded and vegan. I can move fore/aft enough to change position and my junk never goes to sleep. It is comfortable without cycling shorts up to about 30 miles. My daily commute is about 40 minutes in the AM and 90 minutes in the pm and I do this every workday in my work clothes. Rant done.

Got a saddle pressure measurement recently. Helped a lot! No experimenting, just science.

You are referring to pubic ramus, the narrow front bony part of your pelvis you sit on during time trials or when you're in the drops. The sit bones are the 2 pointy bits you sit on when you're upright.

Have a SMP Evolution on the indoor trainer bike and zero numbness. 6 months ago I bought a cheap Chinese version of the Specialized Power saddle to put on the race bike just to see if I liked the shape and we’ll I’m still using it.

My favorite saddle is a cheap PRO Tunix. Of course, I’ve never owned an expensive one so what do I know? HNY dude!

I’m riding a brooks colt saddle and the taint smashing is so real. I just got back into riding after not riding in like 15 years. And even riding only 1.5 hours a day, I still feel it.

did you measure your sit bones? how much larger did you go/ the Selle SLR looks pretty wide. Love the vids, need some taint relief current saddle is killing me.

Time on a trainer will force you to understand “bike fit” differently than riding out in the world. Great conversation about saddles.

Bruhh I hate the SMP too. I shit when you said that. Lol Our Vegan Spirit connection prompted you to upload this video EPIC Review.....as I just destroyed my bike/saddle/etc. Saddles are a tricky one. 99% of the time it's preference. Always great to hear your take. I always like Fiziik for the style/money/comfort. Antares Vs R3. I Ride sitting way forward also... I basically TT as much as possible on a Road bike=====(position+power+aero=free speed)...Comfort is a RELATIVE Term in Cycling tho.

Wish you had a person with out balls giving input. So here goes: For saddles with cut outs are good, they reduce pressure on the soft tissues and nerves of the vulva, the ventilation is good for preventing yeast and urinary tract infections. Saddles with gel in the seat are good, so you don't have to wear bike shorts that fell like wearing 1950's sanitary pads and spandex on the fanny is bad for UTI and promotes yeast growth. My favorite is a Medicus, wittkop gel saddle, At fifty-seven, I have done 100 km/day rides, in the summer spend 20+ hours a week on the bike.

My saddle is a Specialized either Romin or Power Comp, can't remember which. I love that saddle and it didn't cost a fortune even at my lbs. Clothing and some accessories I'll buy online but I try to support my lbs as much as I can.

Dude you got to try Selle SMP Dynamicfor a good test ride

I bought myself the ISN PN 1.1 for christmas a few years ago for Time Trialing and longer road rides (with Tri Bars fitted) definitely a position you need to adapt to. However I found the saddle to be quite hard and somewhat uncomfortable when riding on the hoods/drops, but would be manageable on the extensions. I currently run a Selle Italia saddle with cutout. I've spent roughly 9 months riding it and tweeking the position here and there to the point where getting off the bike after my longest ride to day (118 miles) I didn't have any actual soreness but i did end up with some sores from possible chaffing. Great Vid VC

"So depending on, you know, ...what type of B......... Budget you have". I really thought you're going to say "what type of Balls you have" 😂 😂 😂

This is no joke. I haven't ridden since 3/24/19 because of prostatitis. I battled it for 7 years, but the last event was a life changer. After an 8 month nightmare I am finally back to my normal, but don't think for a second it can't happen to you...... it's just one of cycling's dirty little secrets, like morton's neuromas. If you put in enough miles, over a long enough period of time, then you will eventually find out.

2 cents worth : - you make a great point about needing to slide fore and aft along the saddle. - but it is more nuanced than that. as well as slide, you tilt/roll your pelvis forwards/backwards. when you tilt forwards you move most of your weight off your ischial tuberosities and load the ischiopubic rami (the bone between the ITs and pubic bone). The more time you spend on the drops, or riding downhill, and even on some climbs, the more you tend to have your ITs unloaded, and your IPRs loaded. - and when on your IPRs you tend to be towards the front of the saddle. and the IPRs angle inwards towards the pubic bone. - now in between the IPRs is perineum, a lot of soft tissue including the penis root. If the root area gets compressed excessively, blood vessels and nerves are compromised, leading to local numbness, pain, and difficulty urinating. - so the goals with saddle fit, are to reduce compression of the perineum, and supporting the ITs/IPRs, no matter whether you are sitting up, or in the drops, or spinning or grinding. That's a lot to ask from one saddle. 1. The thing that makes the greatest difference is to reduce your bodyfat % to 12% or lower. When you do that you can stay comfortable on a greater range of saddles. Many pros don't use saddles with a cut out, because their perineum is not bulked up with lots of useless excessive fat. The Fizik Arionne and Antares are flat saddles and have been favorites among pro cyclists for decades. 2. Second thing is to do lots of spine, lumbopelvic, and hams flexibility exercise. This will help increase comfort time at various degrees of pelvic tilt, whether on the hoods or drops. 3. Lots of saddle issues are actually low back, SIJ, sciatic and pudendal nerve issues. Only a highly experienced cycling health professional can diagnose these things, and provide the best solution. 4. Many cutouts have too sharp an edge with the outside support surfaces. This edge can bite into your perineum. There's a case to be made for not having a cutout, but a depressed channel. Cutouts make a saddle weaker, causing longitudinal flex and early failure. 5. Many saddle issues are due to having the saddle too high, and causing lateral pelvic bone from side to side. A lower saddle is necessary to engage the hamstrings more when pulling the pedals rearwards. However, a lower saddle can unmask knee problems. You're welcome.

Hey Mate, love your diet tips. But different people require different saddles. Selle smp works for a lot of riders with the Plus model working for larger riders. I would recommend every rider to get professionally bike fitted with saddle testing being a large component of the fitting process. I would never advise buying a saddle without testing it first.

I for one appreciate your advice to try a bunch of saddles at a local bike shop & to purchase it online. I’ve dealt with too many rude local bike shop managers who only care to make a quick buck & if they want to sell their saddle, then they should sell it at a fair and competitive price!

I put SMP Composit on my two bikes and it's the best!

I had opposite experience; The Flight 1990 is a way more versatile and comfortable. Got the SLR Boost Superflow 3 wks ago.It has very little adjustment. I cant move front to back very well. it takes to long to get comfortable when you move. i remember when cut out seats first came out and i used to laugh after a 100 miles riders would always be fixing their shorts trying to get comfortable. Just ordered another 1990.

Bike shops in our area have a very limited selection of saddles. They mainly carry whatever low end saddles they can double their money on. I've noted that price doesn't necessarily correlate with comfort, at least for me. I bought a used bike where the LBS had put a cheap $12 (yes, a $12 saddle) on that I found to be glorious, even on 40+ mile rides. I liked it so much I approached him about purchasing another for another bike. He wasn't so good on the price though, asking me $40 for it. Arrrgh! The most comfortable saddle I've ever owned was a Brooks Imperial. Yeah, the weight at over 500g isn't good, but on long endurance rides, it's nice to tell my legs to shut up instead of my "taint" as you call it.

Mark Beaumont rode a Koga that had the witch nose saddle, through Africa

Selle San Marco Zoncolan is my favorite saddle. It has the cutout and is nicely padded.

An SMP saddle can be either a fluffy cloud or a medieval torture device, and the difference is a few mm fore-aft or a degree tilt. It's really quite difficult to get it right but once you do it's quite good and I've no sore at all after 10-hours rides. Having said that they're ridiculously expensive and I could achieve the same result with the very popular Specialized Power at considerably lower cost. The Fiziks however, why do they even exist?

Been using the $70 fabric over a year. ZERO regrets, love it!!

Thanks for the video. Had me laughing throughout. Loving the Fizik Antares R1 Versus Evo saddle. Comfortable on all distance rides I've done.

Make sure you get the right width. This makes the biggest difference for your and preventing leg injuries.

Yeah. Also I need to move forward to back at different times during the ride. For example climbing vs. Getting aero. Sometimes you just need to get over the bb a bit more. That italia saddle looks good. I run the specialized one with the hole in it. It's OK, and I don't mind it but I bet that italia one is better.

Best comment talking about starter saddle "Very happy to see you "

Pro Stealth saddle. Awesome price for about 100 bucks and the only saddle you'll ever need. Works in both race and TT position.

Another SMP dynamic here. Love it

Best take away, try LOTS of saddles (and if you're fit is poor, you're gonna suffer on any saddle). You need time on the saddle to really know if the fit is right for you, everyone's different, but time will tell. His advice on demoing saddles form your local bike shop is good advice.

Ufff! Saddles is a world in it's self!! Most important is keeping in mind that you gotta take care of that prostate area period. Once you get that right, then comes finding out which one works for you best. I would seriously consider the opening in the middle on a saddle, it's a game changer!!! Saddle sores are not fun at all!!!! It can ruin everything!!!!!

Sorry i'll be that guy and mention something not in the video and I will say you can try all you want and Competitve Cyclists has a really dope return policy.....but I haven't been happier since I discovered the S brand power a few years ago...OH MY GOD WHAT A SADDLE. And I have a 20 month old...so no issues there lol. I have user the super cheap 99 dollar version and the 300 dollar all carbon one.. It doesn't matter the material...just Get the taint smasher off your bike and get the power or a similar "all sit bone saddle"

I just took a Selle SMP off my cycle and put on a Specialized Power knock off. Selle SMP would be good for indoor trainer but it kills on long road rides.

Tried so many saddles, last 2 were Specialized Power saddles didn't really cut it for long rides, now have a Cadex Boost 148mm expensive yes but best saddle I have had, full carbon so very light as well. ( Happy undercarriage!).

I have a ISM PN 1.1, its different but it works, its almost all flat with a slight dip where your sitbones go. I bought a 2nd one to put on my new Tarmac but the clamp is for oval rails only and the ISM is round so I have a new spare I can sell.