Specialized Toupe Gel

Price Paid:  $150.00 at LBS

Bike Setup:
Carbon Specialized Roubaix Comp frame; Shimano 105 and Ultegra components; Mavic CXP-33 rims; S-Works carbon seatpost.

Summary:
I bought this saddle a month ago to replace the Avatar Gel that came with my bike. The guy in my LBS said that it would take some time to get used to the Toupe, and he was right. After the first ride I was ready to put it on eBay. But now after about 300 miles on it, I am starting to appreciate the genius of this design. The cutout eliminates any pressure on the "love canal", and the minimalist dimensions minimuze any chafing. The only contact you really have with it is your sit bones. As determined by the Specialized "ass-o-meter", the 143cm size was the best fit for me. However, even with my sit bones correctly centered on the gel pads, this is really not a "comfy" saddle. It is most comforable when riding in a more aerodynamic position, with the pelvis tilted forward and a straighter lower back - the correct way to ride a road bike. If you get lazy and sit too upright on it, your sit bones will rebel. Accordingly, experienced cyclists will appreciate this saddle much more than beginners. It definitely disciplines me to ride in a more anatomically correct position. In summary, I can't say that I love this saddle, but it is growing on me, and I plan to keep it. If it had just a little more padding under the sit bones, it would be perfect.

Strengths:
Light weight; excellent quality; minimalist design.

Weaknesses:
Hard on the sit bones at first.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Avatar 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.