Bike Setup: Litespeed Siena with Ultegra...Easton EA90 SL wheels
Summary: This saddle is time-tested and used by those who know the value of comfort. Do you think of your bike as a Porsche or a Five-Series BMW? If you are the latter, then get a San Marco Rolls. The beautiful Italian leather only gets better with age and you can go for hours without thinking of what you are sitting on.
Strengths: Beauty and comfort
Weaknesses: Low cool factor (for those who actually care about such things)
Similar Products Used: The San Marco Rolls has no equal, but I've tried lesser saddles like Aspides and suffered for it.
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Favorite Ride: Through the foothills when it's not too hot
Bike Setup: Trek 5200 w/ all Ultegra, Bontrager X lite wheels
Summary: Though I'm not all that experienced, this is the best saddle I've tried.
The first saddle that came with my used Trek 5200 was a Selle Success which was too narrow and became painful very fast.
The second saddle I tried was a Bontrager Race X Lite-- it was much better but started getting a little uncomfortable after about 15 miles. A long ride on it would be painful.
Then I read the reviews on the Rolls and ordered a Ti Rolls and found it to be more comfortable. Minimal soreness after 2 hours (I'm a beginner--that's a long ride for me).
I move around a lot and the Rolls is long so it allows for a lot of positions. I tilt the nose down slightly. By the way, I'm 5'9' and weigh 165 LB.
It doesn't look sleek but I keep telling myself are looks worth the pain?
It's not all that heavy at 275gm (though 100gm heavier than the other saddles, it's still less than a pound)
Strengths: Comfortable- the right amount of padding. Long enough to allow for different positions. Leather. Relatively lightweight (titanium version). Price is reasonable.
Weaknesses: Looks-- it's not the coolest looking saddle for a racing bike.
Similar Products Used: Selle Succes, Bontrager Race X lite
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Bike Setup: Scattante CFR 2007 carbon road bike from Performance, Ultegra STI groupo, Dura Ace pedals, Shimamo 561 wheels.
Summary: I logged thousands of miles on my 22+ lb. 1988 steel Schwinn Circuit equipped with the comfortable Selle San Marco Rolls saddle. Several months ago I joined the new millenium and purchased a 17 1/2 pound carbon bike. I became obsessed with maintaining minimum weight components on the bike so I tried some new lightweight saddles. They all caused me pain in the male soft tissue in the prostate area. Even though these saddles had the hole in the middle to relieve pressure, they were still uncomfortable. I was about to transfer my old "heavy" Rolls saddle to my new bike when I discovered that a newer version of the Rolls was available as a Rolls Ti that is lighter in weight because of its titanium rails. I ordered the Rolls Ti, put it on my new bike, and Voila!!!, Bob's your uncle. No more discomfort. The Rolls has no hole in the middle and yet amazingly relieves pressure on the soft tissue area. The designers of this seat are either geniuses or lucky. I've tried to figure out why this seat works and the only explanation I come up with is the contour of the seat. While many seats are more flat across the back portion, the cross sections of the Rolls are rounded in a way that seems to perfectly displace the pressure to the proper anatomical "sit" areas. And even the soft tissue area that is in contact with the seat is cushioned by just the right amount of padding that crowns the seat from front to back. The entire seat is comfortably usable as I slide slightly forward or back depending on whether I'm in the handlebar drops, my aerobars, or on top of the handlebars.
Helpful Hint: I tilt the nose of my saddle a few degrees downward in front to compensate for the added pressure I put on the soft tissue by leaning forward onto my handlebars. While riding I also rotate my pelvic area slightly forward tucking it a little to take pressure off the soft tissue. It amazes me how other male roadies can endure leaning forward on a seat that is level to the ground, or even ("YIKES"!!) on a seat that is raised in front. The Rolls Ti weighs a few grams more, but get one yesterday, tilt the front down a little, and forget about it. I just ordered a second as a spare. Even though they last forever, I get a warm fuzzy feeling knowing that if they ever stop production, I'm set.
Strengths: Super comfortable, perfect padding density, last forever, entire seat usable, lighter now with titanium rails, stylish, well made, perfect leather finish for sliding fore or aft or sitting securely in one spot.
Weaknesses: A few grams heavier at 275 grams than some racing saddles, but give me the comfort, baby!
Similar Products Used: Terry Fly Titanium, Forte Pro SLX Carbon, etc.
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Bike Setup: Two road bikes, one commuter, one MTB.
Summary: I have used Rolls saddles since the mid 1980's. In fact, I still use the same Rolls saddle I bought! It's on my commuter/beater bike, and it's still as comfortable as ever. It's a little more care-worn, sure, but it is not in any way broken down. I have Rolls saddles on all my bikes (2 steel railed, 2 titanium). If it works for you, you'll never want another saddle.
Strengths: Comfortable. Saddle is wide and flat on top, and you can use a great deal of the length of the saddle, depending upon what you're up to at the time. Tough. I like how they look. Still used by some pro's today. Can't argue with that.
Weaknesses: The styling may not be to everyone's taste. If you need to floss your happy bits, not for you. Weighs more than floss-saddles, too. I defy anyone to tell the difference (apart from in comfort), when on the bike.
Similar Products Used: Bontrager, Specialized, various others. All long gone...
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Bike Setup: For me, I sit toward the rear of this saddle. So, I have this saddle a bit more forward than others (from a measurement perspective) to position myself fore-and-aft in the proper spot. I have heard that from others too.
Summary: Just add me to the fan club! The seat is super comfy and allows me to maintain excellent pedal stroke, high RPM spinning, and power climbing. The shape distributes pressure evenly, causing no numbness, saddle sores or chafing.
The small additional weight that the Rolls carries over its more modern day rivals more than makes up for itself in COMFORT. This is a great racing saddle because it fits so well when you are in the drops motoring along. It also allows you to concentrate on the road ahead rather than on posterior comfort issues. I highly recommend this saddle and can see why Selle San Marco still makes these after all those years!
Strengths: Stays comfortable for long rides, Fits me when I am in all positions on the bike. Some seats feel great when you are on the drops but not so great when climbing. This seat allows me to shift my body slightly to be perfect for riding drops, hoods and tops. The shape of the saddle distributes the weight evenly between sit bones and front part of the lower region. No numbness at all!
Weaknesses: I looks a bit clunky but who cares, it works! Seats should not be purchased for looks but for fit.
Similar Products Used: Fizik Aireon, WTB Rocket V, WTB Devo, Selle Italia Flight, Avocet O2
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