Selle SMP Glider

Price Paid:  $160.00 at the 'bay

Favorite Ride:
Central Saanich

Summary:
I think I've finally found the right saddle. It took 2-3 weeks for my butt to build up tolerance, but today I was in the saddle for about 2-1/2 hrs, and when I got home, I realized I hadn't even noticed the saddle during the ride. This is the first time I can say this. Although it doesn't allow much room for fore-aft movement, once it's adjusted horizontally, you just settle in and go. It's also extremely comfortable in the drops, rotating forward into the saddle. No numbness at all.

Strengths:
comfort comfort comfort, quality construction

Weaknesses:
expensive at full price.

Similar Products Used:
SI SLR, SMP Evolution, Terry Ti Race, Fizik Aliante, San Marco Rolls.

Price Paid:  $269.00 at CycleItalia Store

Favorite Ride:
Italy

Bike Setup:
We ride steel Torelli or Mondonico bikes

Summary:
Both of us LOVE this saddle. We did an expensive and time-consuming test program trying to find comfortable saddles after years of using old-time designs like Turbo, etc. We tried seemingly everything out there with a slot, cutout or hole before moving up to the more expensive SMP saddles. I thought these looked a bit odd when I saw them in an Italian magazine years ago but after a client on one of our bike tours showed up with one, I became curious enough to try one after our search had gone through the lower priced alternatives from Sella Italia, San Marco and others. After getting used to it (we did try Pro, Evolution and Stratos before deciding upon the Glider models as most fitting to our anatomy) we'd never use anything else!

Strengths:
NO SMASHING! Just like the advertising claims. You sit "in" this saddle rather than on it. Grabbing the "hooks" to get low aerodynamically is totally comfortable now, no pressure on the "tender vittles" no matter how low you want to get. Super long rails let you dial in your position perfectly.

Weaknesses:
The only weakness could be the price (over $250) when compared to some others. But SMP could make seats/upholstery for Ferrari I think, they're amazingly well-made, 100% Made in Italy as well.

Similar Products Used:
We tried most all of 'em, from Neuvations, Terrys, Selle Italia, San Marco, etc.

Price Paid:  $210.00 at We Keep You Cycling

Favorite Ride:
Seattle to Portland One Day

Bike Setup:
Trek 5200

Summary:
Great saddle up to around 60 miles. After 60, it becomes a little uncomfortable. I like to ride in century and double century one day events. Took this out on a century and it held out for roughly 60 miles before I became uncomfortable.

Strengths:
Very comfortable for me up to 60 miles. The nose shape keeps shorts from snagging on the nose of the saddle.

Weaknesses:
Comfortable up to 60 miles and I do a lot of centuries and double centuries.

Similar Products Used:
Fizik Aliante

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Price Paid:  $210.00 at We Keep You Cycling

Favorite Ride:
Century and Double Century

Bike Setup:
Trek 5200

Summary:
Great saddle up to 60 miles. After that, I began feeling uncomfortable.

Strengths:
Cutaway is nice and the downward nose helps prevent your shorts from getting caught on the nose of the seat.

Weaknesses:
No real weeknesses other than the comfort only lasted about 60 miles.

Similar Products Used:
Fizik Aliente

Price Paid:  $313.00 at LBS in Oz

Favorite Ride:
Anything out of the rain

Bike Setup:
Trek 2300 road bike (alloy frame), Dura-ace, Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels.

Summary:
I looked at these for a couple of years before I made the decision to buy. You do need a friendly LBS that lets you test ride or return/swap it if it doesn't suit. This saddle was painful and going back to the shop until the distributor said to set it dead level and drop the saddle height a bit. A half-centimetre (1/4") later and it feels fine with almost no numbness, chafing or saddle sores even on flat 4 hour rides where I hardly get out of the saddle. With other saddles I was hunting for a comfortable spot within the first hour of a ride. The shape means there is no more sliding forward due to hamstrings rubbing on the front of the saddle. I'm 195cm (6'5") and 100Kg (220 lbs). My sit bones are about 133mm apart and this saddle is only 136mm wide so I was concerned that it would be too narrow for me but it's fine. Not the lightest saddle out there but I'm not a weight-weenie and would rather be comfortable. So far I've only done a half-dozen rides of 1.5 - 4.0 hours on it but it's a great saddle so far.

Strengths:
Comfort (once set up right). Long rails mean lots of room to find the right fore/aft position. Local distributor was happy to discuss saddle set up and offered suggestions which made all the difference.

Weaknesses:
Price. Getting the position right for you is very important and fiddly. Small changes can make a big difference. Jury is still out on the embroidery (older ones just had a printed logo).

Similar Products Used:
Too many. Selle Italia, Serfas, Specialised.