Specialized Toupe Gel

Price Paid:  $0.00 at OEM with bike

Favorite Ride:
The next one

Bike Setup:
2009 Specialized Roubaix Expert, all standard OEM components

Summary:
The saddle came with the bike, and I've only done 25-30 miles per ride so far. It's a bit hard, even with the gel, but the strategic cutouts are well implemented, and there's been no soreness or numb nuts. Just feel like I'm bouncing around on bad Chicago Pavement (even on a Roubaix!). Had to tilt it up from back to front about 2-3 deg. to keep from sliding forward. It's adequate, but I wouldn't buy it.

Strengths:
Light, stylish, comes in 3 widths.

Weaknesses:
hard hard hard.

Similar Products Used:
Too many to list!!! So far, favorite is the Koobi PRS Enduro, Fizik Arione close second.

Price Paid:  $150.00 at Criterium

Summary:
I bought the white gel model and love the way it rides. However, after 4 days of use the white turned yellow. I'm taking it back tomorrow. I talked to the store yesterday and was told all the white ones are doing it - even the bikes in the show room are having the problem. I was told that Specialized is working on finding a new material to cover it with. Make sure you get the black one.

Weaknesses:
turning yellow

Price Paid:  $140.00 at The Bike Shoppe

Favorite Ride:
Uphill

Bike Setup:
Old School Vitus 979 w/ Easton Ascents

Summary:
This is a good saddle, but not as comfortable as the standard Toupe. Specialized seems to have added a little gel padding but made this model less flexible. Not a good tradeoff. The flex is what makes the standard Toupe great.

Strengths:
Comfortable, but not the best. See review above.

Weaknesses:
Silver paint on the trim will eventually wear off.

Similar Products Used:
Terry Zero, SLR Gelflow, Specialized BG Comp

Price Paid:  $150.00 at FitWerx

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere not in a big city

Bike Setup:
Cervelo R3-SL

Summary:
I have been using this saddle for over a year. While it is adequate and there has been no pain or pressure points and I can do 3 hour rides with no problem, the saddle has been disappointing because I have not been able to find a stable platform. With a 1 degree rise, I still continually kept slipping forward. I moved the nose up which stopped that problem, but I still feel that I can't move around at all. I suppose I prefer a flat saddle and will soon switch to some kind of SLR model. I don't understand the reason for making a saddle which isn't flat. I have a general feeling with this saddle which I can't quite explain that it just isn't large enough even though I have the 143mm model.

Strengths:
Relieves pressure points in the sensitive areas. Extremely well made looks exactly like new as opposed to my old Selle Italia Novus which would cave in and the leather would fall off after 10,000 miles (I had 5 of them in 10 years). The bridge at the back makes sense. The cutout and low profile enable me to reach the poorly designed adjustment knob on my Syntace seatpost.

Weaknesses:
The shape isn't flat, I don't understand the rationale for this. I give 4 for value because of this.

Similar Products Used:
Selle Italia Novus (Ferrari) for 10 years. Concor, Cinelli, Brooks leather.

Price Paid:  $2999.00 at Bicycle Village

Favorite Ride:
Specialized Roubaix Expert

Bike Setup:
Stock 2008 Specialized Roubaix Elite triple.

Summary:
How anyone can call this saddle "comfortable" is beyond me. I just bought a new Specialized Roubaix Expert and this was the stock saddle. I did two 20-mile rides on it before doing a century on it yesterday, and all I can say is "Where are the painkillers?" I realize that the intent of this saddle is lightness, but compared to my old Specialized Body Geometry saddle, it doesn't even come close. I will be chucking this torture device for a Koobi PRS Enduro or Century.

Strengths:
Very light; looks sleek.

Weaknesses:
Comfort is non-existent.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Body Geometry.