Will a racing saddle work for touring?

[ride4life]

I did one ACA self contained tour last year, loved it.  Bought my husband a Surly LHT and we will spend all of July in Wyoming/Montana.  He put his favorite saddle on the bike, an Arione.  He is a good distance cyclist (double centuries, 500 mile races, etc) and so he's comfortable on this saddle, but it looks so streamlined to me compared to the saddles I see on other men's touring bikes.  Is there a reason a guy would need a bigger or different saddle?  We only have time for a few training rides and one overnight shakedown before our 27-day tour, so I'm not sure he'll really have an opportunity to break in a leather saddle.

[DU]

If I were him and could do those kinds of rides comfortably, I would stick with the Arione. I think with saddles, whatever works is the right choice.

[rvklassen]

I did one ACA self contained tour last year, loved it.  Bought my husband a Surly LHT and we will spend all of July in Wyoming/Montana.  He put his favorite saddle on the bike, an Arione.  He is a good distance cyclist (double centuries, 500 mile races, etc) and so he's comfortable on this saddle, but it looks so streamlined to me compared to the saddles I see on other men's touring bikes.  Is there a reason a guy would need a bigger or different saddle?  We only have time for a few training rides and one overnight shakedown before our 27-day tour, so I'm not sure he'll really have an opportunity to break in a leather saddle.

It's really hard to say.  I have a Terry Fly on the tandem, and have ridden it for metric centuries and one day of 100+ miles, and everything else we've ever done on the tandem.  Including a seven-day tour when by the third or fourth day I was wondering whether I need to change my choice of saddle.  I'm seriously considering trying to break in a Brooks for the next tour.  Then again, if he can do 500 miles in  row, that should be far enough to know whether the saddle will work for 27 days.

[velo]

Yes, if it will if it fits. It ride either a Fizik Pave or a Vitesse for all of my riding commuting, racing and touring. If it fits it fits. An ultralight saddle might not be the best choice because of potential breakage.

[staehpj1]

A lot depends on his riding position.  Will he use the same riding position that he uses for his other rides?  If so I would stick with the same saddle.

If he switches to a sit up and beg posture, he would probably be miserable with a racing saddle.

I would suggest he stick to his current saddle and do the former rather than the latter.  I personally think I would be miserable if I was forced to ride in the more upright postures many tourists adopt.

[DaveB]

)....and so he's comfortable on this saddle....

That's your answer right there.   Saddles are the most personal item on any bike and once you have one that works, but several replacements because you can be certain they will go out of production or be "improved" by the manufacturer. 

[whittierider]

but several replacements

Should that say, "buy several replacements"?

[DaveB]

but several replacements

Should that say, "buy several replacements"?

Yes, it should have, and if I could type (or proofread) it would have.