Selle SMP Glider

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

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.

Price Paid:  $229.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
A1A

Bike Setup:
Giant TCR C2, Ultegra

Summary:
You have to try these out with a friendly LBS who will let you try a couple of different models. I tried the Pro, and the Evolution before settling on the Glider. This is a very individual purchase.

Strengths:
Suprisingly comfortable in the "soft tissue" area. No more numb spots. Good overall comfort. Expensive but worth it.

Weaknesses:
Must be adjusted carefully to get the full benefit. The "edges" along the open area can rub a bit over long miles, but what seat doesn't rub somewhere!?

Similar Products Used:
Fizik Aliante, Koobi PRS

Price Paid:  $220.00 at Performance

Favorite Ride:
Any time the sun is shining

Summary:
Looking for a comfortable saddle, I came across the Selle SMP series. I purchased one from Performance intending to "try" it and ended up loving it. Have been on several 30-60 mile rides and the "boys" have been quite comfortable. Also, the seat does seem to allow more blood flow to the legs allowing you to go longer without losing steam. Nothing like being comfortable on your ride. Especially for a 6'3" 240 pound rider like myself.

Strengths:
Does just what the MFG suggests. Very comfortable. Well constructed.

Weaknesses:
Only weakess I have found is that Selle SMP stitching on the seat seems to cause spots to wear on shorts a little prematurely. Also a bit pricey, but worth every penny when the "boys" are happy.