Ideal Saddle Modification Adamo Racing Saddle

Price Paid:  $159.00 at A.E. Bike.com

Favorite Ride:
Hills and TT's

Bike Setup:
2006 DeRosa Corum. Mizuno carbon fork. D-Ace 10spd. Mavic Ksyriums. Carbon bar/stem/seatpost.

Summary:
Finally there's a saddle that lives up to it's claim. After riding Fizik Ariones for the last 3 years, going numb after 25 miles was frustrating me enough to try a new approach. Like others have said, setup takes patience. I spent about 3-4 weeks dialing it in and once I found the sweet spot, I knew it. It sits much further back than my Arione because you sit on the forward portion of the saddle, NOT the rear. Very long rails allow many positions. Try to set it up to duplicate YOUR current position, NOT your current saddle's position. The freedom from numbness is like a license to ride all day. I was amazed to hit mile 45 one day and realize I had experienced ZERO numbness. The saddle puts all weight on the ischial tuberosities, the "sit bones", so for the first 10 rides or so, this area felt tender. After that time, I toughened up and now have no pain in the sit bones or numbness in the boys. SWEET! It's so comfortable, I can get into a fast, flat back aero position and ride 'till I blow up without any discomfort at all. The saddle seems well made, but won't ever be as good looking as an Arione. Or as painful.

Strengths:
Sweet comfort
Well made
Makes you faster

Weaknesses:
Price
Takes patience to setup
Non-traditional looks

Similar Products Used:
Fizik Arione, Flite Ti, Specialized Toupe

Price Paid:  $170.00 at Mack's Cycle- Miami,

Favorite Ride:
when I am in the zone

Bike Setup:
Kestrel 200SCi, Shimano Ultegra SL, FSA K-wing, Thompson stem, Kestrel carbon fiber fork, American Classic Ti seatpost

Summary:
I have several hundred miles on this seat.  I made many adjustments, based on the advice of ISM (including their instructions and set up video).  I had a FitKit done for proper set up, changed out handlebars and stem (FSA K-Wing and Thompson stem- LOVE THEM!).  Ultimately, my mileage suffered severely, as my butt could not wait to get off of this seat.  I was constantly squirming on my return trip.  One weekend, I ended up with open wounds on the sit bones where the seat makes contact.  I have talked, at length, with someone at ISM.  They concur that the seat set up was correct.  I am one of those that can not benefit from this seat.  I can NOT recommend this seat to anyone.  Anyone want to buy a near-mint ISM Adamo Racing Saddle??

Strengths:
I really liked the idea/solution to a potential problem of numbness.

Weaknesses:
It worked for numbness, but caused other severe issues

Similar Products Used:
I am now testing a Fizik Arione CX.

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Price Paid:  $45.00 at internet

Bike Setup:
Vamoots
Kona Explosif

Summary:
I was messengering on an SDG Ibeam bel-air. Eventually it began to cause me pain at the end of the day. Then the onset of pain started to encroach earlier into my working day.

I read about the Adamo and took a chance. Like the other reviews; it takes a while to get set up properly- longer than your average saddle. I came close to giving up on it BE PATIENT. You'll have a different pain initially but then it goes and it becomes a pleasure to ride again. The dull perennial pain goes and you no longer feel like you're damaging your soldiers health.

Your riding position will be altered, it may be an idea to match this with a "lay-back" saddle to keep close to your old saddle position?

I stopped couriering months back and recently got a brooks swallow Titanium for my new build but I can't take it anymore. The ADAMO is going back on.
I imagine the majority of folk that don't enjoy this saddle DO NOT set it up correctly...

Strengths:
HEALTH
riding without being in pain
unique looks

Weaknesses:
takes a while to set up properly
I think its ugly

Similar Products Used:
Brooks swallow titanium
SDG I Beam Bel-Air

Price Paid:  $105.00 at Ebay

Favorite Ride:
Any ride with my buddy Jim

Summary:
I had high hopes for this saddle, and spent several rides trying to make this saddle work for me, but it's just too wide. Granted...the zip ties around the nose helps, but where the width bothered me the most was a couple inches in front of the sit bone area. This is where the inside of my upper legs straddle the saddle, and it quite literally felt like I was straddling a 6" wide piece of wood (wide and hard). Now, with that said, yes it does what it claims (reducing numbness). But for me, the width was too much to overcome. And for the record, set up wasn't as bad as I was expecting.

Strengths:
Reduces numbness

Weaknesses:
Comfort (for me), value, craftsmanship.

Similar Products Used:
too many to list

Price Paid:  $115.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
folsom Lake Loop

Bike Setup:
Trek 5900

Summary:
Reviews that talk about how long it takes to get this saddle adjusted are on target. I mounted the saddle following the instructions in addition to making adjustment for my old saddle position and riding style. The first week I was ready to throw this thing away. It was simply too wide and since the front is chopped off, I had done all of my measurements from the back of the saddle. Now I understand that I should have done them from the widest part of the saddle. So, for the next two weeks I adjusted 1or 2 mm farther back, dropped the saddle a couple mm’s and now after 2 plus weeks of doing that (making micro adjustments) this thing works…it really really works. It took a while to get it “just right”, but once you find that sweet spot, you’ll spend mile after mile of very comfortable riding. One note and this is very important, at first I used zip ties to narrow the front of the saddle, but in the end, I found that a metal hose clamp placed at the top (front) of the saddle rails really did the trick on narrowing the saddle front.

Strengths:
Comfort, no more numbness, no more constantly making adjustments to your “equipment” just mile after mile of riding pleasure.

Weaknesses:
The adjustments. Don’t give up, it just takes time. It took me about 4-5 weeks to find the perfect position, but I am sold for life.

Similar Products Used:
Too many to name.