Good Touring Saddle?

[gtmtnbikr2001]

Hey there, Im just looking for different peoples advice on a good touring saddle.  My saddle on my trek creaks and flexes as I ride.  Any comments would help.

[biker_james]

I'm sure you'll get a lot of recommendations for the various Brooks saddles. Let this be the first. They are popular with the tourig crowd because the leather stretches and shapes to your butt, not like the plastic which was shaped by a mold, and will never change. That being said, I think you have to find out for yourself, as everyone is built a bit different, and probably has different expectations from a saddle. Brooks makes different models that are wider or narrower, and there are hundreds of others, all of which work for some people. Check out www.wallbike.com for info on Brooks saddles models.

[gponce101]

I'll be a second on the Brooks saddles. Though on Cycle Utah this year I was the only one with a Brooks saddle I didn't have any issues with it at all. Well broke saddle but I sure like it that way.

[yfor01]

Any particular model in mind ?   What do you think about the spring model?  I have spent so much money on saddles over the past couple of year it's not even funny.  My butt deserves the best...

[driftlessregion]

The B-17 takes almost no time to break in, the Pro will take longer but last forever if you take care of it (mine is 20 years old). Don't have any experience with the spring loaded versions. My guess is that it could hurt power output but that my be of no concern for you. There are many other discussions in the forum archives about saddles to peruse. Good luck.

[HONDO]

I purchased the B17 Champion Flyer (sprung) for my Cannondale mt. bike then switched it over to my new touring bicycle. Its well worth the little bit of extra weight.

[tofubicycle]

I really want Brooks saddles to work me. They appeal to me on every level except for the fact that I just don't find them comfortable. I've tried all the break-in methods including, you know, just riding the hell out of one for almot 18 months, and finally decided they just weren't for me. And they aren't for everyone. So, if you're like me and find that a Brooks isn't the ticket, you might want to check out these saddles which are favorites among the road and touring customers at my shop as well as personal favorites of mine:

-Terry Liberator Y Saddle (available in Men's and Women's). This was my first touring saddle, continues to find itself in heavy rotation for multi-day rides and comes highly recommended from some of my touring customers, a few of whom have done coast to coast trips.

-Specialized Avatar Gel Saddle and Alias Saddles. These are pretty thin and narrow saddles for touring amd generaly more popular for typical road riding. Having said that, I've used the Alias on a few one and two week trips and been very please and also have a customer who just returned from a coast to coast jaunt on the Avatar.  

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i'd rather be biking.