Selle SMP Evolution

Price Paid:  $180.00 at Ebay

Favorite Ride:
Fresh Paved Cuyahoga Valley Roads

Bike Setup:
Quattro Assi Scandium, 105 build & wheels, this amazing saddle

Summary:
Well lets just say, the Evolution that is on my bike right now is the first saddle that has ever graced any bike I have owned that has cost more than $30. After having a bit of an awkward conversation with a friend about about numbness he told me to try his saddle for a week. That week was the most comfortable 200 miles I had ever had and i had to get an Evolution for myself.
I was taken back at first by the price, but I knew if I was to have children one day I needed this saddle. Now a month later the money is not even near an issue. The all day comfort and no pressure makes it perfect. The low padding is not for everyone, but i can make it through even on the rough rural roads in my area. it does not do this saddle justice to just ride it once and form an opinion. it takes some time to get it adjusted to you, but the labor is so very worth it. Spend two days for an hour a day on the rollers getting it right.

Strengths:
No numbness. Enough said

Weaknesses:
Price
Adjustment takes about two hours on the rollers/trainer or stopping on the road every 20 minutes or so.

Similar Products Used:
Sette from pricepoint

Price Paid:  $800.00 at David's World Cycle

Favorite Ride:
Trek

Bike Setup:
Trek 1.0 Road Bike, Profile Design clip on aero bars, Profile design Fast Forward seat post, Selle SMP Evolution saddle.

Summary:
I love this saddle. Check out my review at http://www.fitness-toolkit.com/?p=35.

Strengths:
No numbness.

Weaknesses:
None encountered so far.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at italiabikeimports (

Favorite Ride:
costa mesa Ca.

Bike Setup:
Colnago c-40, Campagnolo record, Zipp wheels.

Summary:
Perhaps the best saddle on the planet, painless !!

Strengths:
You don't even know it's there, total comfort !

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Fizik Carbon arione

Price Paid:  $200.00 at cbike.com

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere in New England

Bike Setup:
Had a 1984 steel Centurion Turbo which I had carefully upgraded over the years. The bike just fit and rode so nicely. Nearly broke the frame completely apart in two places during my accident. Time for another frame - probably titanium.

Summary:
I purchased a Strike Evolution almost 2 years ago and it completely transformed my riding experience. I thought I had a pretty good saddle and slight soreness after 100 miles on rough roads was normal. Apparently not - now I can get off my bike after 100 miles of hard roads with zero butt discomfort. It doesn't get any better than that. I crashed my bike this summer and totaled it (and nearly me). I asked my wife for the exact same saddle for Christmas because it cannot be beat.

The huge cutout can cause additional more pressure on the left and right of your package where the saddle is pretty "sharp". I spent a week or two adjusting and getting used to it before it became the best saddle ever. The aggressive shape probably makes it less forgiving if you don't have it adjusted correctly.

Finally - the SMP line comes in several widths - be sure to do some research or work with a dealer to try to figure out what you need for your sit bone width. The Evolution is probably good for most mid sized men but women may want something wider.

Strengths:
Super comfortable. Very open in the middle - no possibility of the family jewels getting damaged. Opening is so large I feel it allows greater ventilation and heat dissipation. Quality is very good. Looks crazy aggressive.

Weaknesses:
At $250 normal price this is a premium saddle - it should have titanium rails.

Price Paid:  $200.00 at Ebay

Favorite Ride:
All

Bike Setup:
Cervelo R3-SL w/Campy record

Summary:
Best seats I have ever tried and I've tried many. I started with the Strike plus model and moving to the Evolution to save more weight. Both models are great, with the Strike being slightly more forgiving. Once you break the seat in it just seems to melt away. I suffered from numbness on most seats to varying degrees, but that disappeared with these models. You need to get past the adjustment period before you can make a judgement. After about a 3-4 weeks of riding everything was perfect. Getting these put on all of my bikes. Saddles are a personal thing, so I'd advise to try these used if possible or find a store like Competitive Cyclist, which will let you demo them.

Strengths:
Complete comfort at a decent price and weight.

Weaknesses:
None.

Similar Products Used:
Selle Italia (too many to name), but everything right up to their top priced models. They make some good saddles as well.