Bike Setup: Trek Madone 5.2, Shimano compact crank w/ 12/27 cassette, FSA K-wing handlebars, Mavic Kysyrium ES wheelset, Michelin Pro Race tires.
Summary: There is nothing like the Flow. I've ridden centuries and ultras on this saddle with no chafing. Limited positioning but great comfort if it works for you. However I'm on my second Flow and it failed today after about 5000 miles and my first one failed sooner. The frame breaks and I am well below the rider weight limit. I am about to purchase a new saddle and I want a Flow but I can't trust them to hold up.
Strengths: Very comfortable...a veritable hammock for your butt. Cool in hot weather and cool in appearances. Everyone who sees it commments on it and asks questions.
Weaknesses: Limited durability. I have had two of these fail in different fashions but the failure is related to the "frame" of the saddle.
Similar Products Used: Selle San Marcos and Bontragers
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Summary: Granted the hard edges of this saddle are it's sore point(pun intended). Proper positioning of the Flow is critical to minimize this. Also wearing shorts with a wide enough chamois to cover the edges is a boon to comfort. I took it off for awhile as it gave me a saddle-sore on a ride last summer. I bought a Fizik Aliante which was comfortable. This summer I put the Flow back on my bike due to hot weather. For some reason I managed to position it perfectly, and it has really added to cool comfortable riding during the 32C weather we've been having lately! I haven't had any "sores" at all from it so far. No saddle is for everyone, and the Flow is no exception. I think, if the manufacturer could blend in a soft edge cover for the rails they may be able to boost comfort more.
One more point - this is the only saddle that I have owned that I did pain free back to back centuries on (Rideau Lakes Tour)!
I love my Flow!!
Strengths: Amazing comfort if it fits you!
Cool air flow during hot rides. No "hot" crotch!! Looks "cool" too!!
Intriguing design - it's quite a conversation peice!
Weaknesses: Hard plastic edges. Unfortunately they can make contact with your body and cause issues. I highly recomend good shorts and chamois cream/skin lube when using the Flow.
Similar Products Used: Brooks B15, Fizik Aliante, Selle Prolink Gel, Terry Ti Race, Selle leather XO, Selle Oktavia
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Summary: Finally I found the saddle for me. I am skinny and my bones has been hurt after a longride before. Mesh really works, like an old leather saddle. Got discount for a cosmetic flaw.
But It is not for everyone. Strictly one position saddle. I had to change my Thomson straight seatpost to another. Also, its sharp edge may scare MTB rider. Hope it comes with more design variation.
Strengths: Cool looks. Everyone stops by.
Weaknesses: Heavy rider won't like it, for hitting plastic frame.
Similar Products Used: Specialized BodyGeometry Pro, Sanmarco Rolls, Regal
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Summary: Mesh feels good in the middle.
The hard plastic shell around the edges digs in to my inner thigh and sit bones after about 40 minutes.
Chafing is not worth it.
Needs re-design on the outside hard plastic shell/frame to work comfortably.
It's going back to Ebay!
Strengths: comfy in the middle.
ventilated.
Weaknesses: outside plastic shell/frame chafes my rear and inner thighs.
Similar Products Used: Just about everything. Still searching. They all have something that needs work. I've had best luck with a Selle Italia Flite - just a decent overall saddle.
Think I'll try a terry fly.
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Bike Setup: Thomson post. That's about all that matters for this review.
Summary: We had one of these sitting around the shop, so I thought I'd bolt it on for a couple hundred miles.
It seemed fantastic at first: the mesh took all the pressure off my most vulnerable areas, kept the shorts cool and dry, and absorbed road shock very nicely.
It only took an hour for problems to emerge. First I started to feel the frame, especially at the back. I normally sit at the extreme rear edge of a seat, so I tried moving forward. That worked for a while, but I started to feel other areas of the frame. By the second day on this saddle, I was getting very sore where I was sitting on the frame.
The worst problem emerged after a few hours on the second day. Like other reviewers (especially CAAD 7 - our experiences sound identical), the edges of the nose began to chafe my thighs. This quickly became the dominant pain, overshadowing even the pain at the frame's rear edge.
The only comfortable position was when I was tucked way down in the drops. This is normally a very uncomfortable position for me, but it worked with the Flow. The thigh chafing was still an issue, though.
There's a lot of potential to this design, but it needs considerable improvement.
Strengths: - Removes pressure down the middle
- Reduces or eliminates numbness
- Outstanding ventilation
- Reduces vibration
- If the frame doesn't bother you, I suspect it would be bliss
Weaknesses: - Pressure against the frame was very uncomfortable
- Thigh chafing was even worse
- Not the lightest
Similar Products Used: Lots, but among the ones that might interest you: Fizik Poggio (very good), SDG Bel-Air (not bad), Selle Italia Flite (terrible), WTB SSK (almost good), Selle Italia Oktavia (really, really bad), Selle San Marco Aspide (not good), Fizik Nisene (bad), Titec Berserkr DH on my mountain bike (really good).
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