Specialized Toupe Team

Price Paid:  $165.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Any

Bike Setup:
Trek 5200 w/Campy Athena 11 groupo, Rol Race SL wheels

Summary:
Was fitted for this saddle at Gray Goat Sports in Indy. Brian is a BG fitter and helped me adjust my bike setup and tried several saddles. I road 50 miles the next day with complete comfort! Saddle is VG. Get properly fitted!

Strengths:
VG support. Does not press on places it should not

Weaknesses:
At this price, I expected a leather cover rather than plastic.

Similar Products Used:
Selle San Marco Rolls, Bontrager Inform R

Price Paid:  $0.00 at came with bike Black

Favorite Ride:
Kitchen Creek Pine Valley

Bike Setup:
07 Tarmac Pro aggressive fit.

Summary:
Came with my Tarmac Pro, I've tried adjusting the seat laterally left to right and the nose up and down in very small increments and I still haven't made it comfortable enough to where it doesn't hurt 20 miles into a ride. The cut out attempts to relieve pressure to your perineum but it displaces pressure to the small surface area to the left and right of the cutout which is still at your perineum. I've practiced all types of methods for sitting on the saddle but it still feels as enough pressure is not being displaced to sit bones.

Strengths:
Rails are strong

Weaknesses:
wing/sides of saddle tend to bend down over time. I'm 5'11 160 lbs. White cover dulled after 4 months. I never took it in the rain or wore tough shorts.

Similar Products Used:
SLR,Asipde,aliante,alias

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Sid's Bikes NYC

Favorite Ride:
Santa Cruz Mountains

Bike Setup:
Tarmac pro - full DA drive, WH-7850 carbon clinchers, 3T ARX-Team stem, S-Works SL carbon handlebar, Look Keo carbon pedals.

Summary:
Absolutely the best seat I have used. Granted a good seat for me might not be the best seat for someone else. Always buy from a store that will allow for exchanges - can't tell from just a couple of rides if any seat is going to suit your riding style and your body.

Why this seat is great for me:
1) No padding or gel - horrible marketing tech that causes more pressure points that relieves it. Don't get anything with gel or padding - get a seat that is stiff where it needs to be (at the sit bones) and flexes where it needed (by the wings for leg rotation).
2) Stiff and lightweight - 170g
3) Durable so far - with over 8,000 miles the red highlights have rubbed off a bit but that's fine - who want a brand new looking saddle anyways? Newbie look!

Strengths:
1) Stiff where it needs to be and flexes at the wings.
2) light weight 170g
3) durable - over +8,000 miles this season

Weaknesses:
Fabric that covers the saddle is prone to damage with if dropped, ect. but otherwise pretty durable.

Price Paid:  $110.00 at LBS and from Special

Favorite Ride:
anyplace without trucks!

Bike Setup:
Orbea carbon frame w/Ultegra SL and Mavic; Surly steel frame with Campy Veloce; Redline Conquest Pro with Rival; Cervelo Soloist with Chorus and Eurus.

Summary:
I have blown thousands of dollars on lightweight saddles over the last 3 years (since I started riding road again), and this saddle is the BEST! I haven tried others since. "Body Geometry" is more than just marketing BS. The Phenom saddle weighs more, but is similarly shaped, and equally - - if not more - - comfortable, and costs a bit less. If you have been riding Selle Italia or Fiz in pain, try this saddle! I am not a Specialized fan whatsoever, but the Tuope/Phenom saddles are the only saddle for me now; they are on all of my road rigs.

Strengths:
Light, durable and COMFORTABLE

Weaknesses:
Does not have a "massage" function built in, otherwise no complaints.

Similar Products Used:
Too many to name (or even contemplate without getting depressed) due to the wasted time, wasted $$, and the unnecessary pain!

Price Paid:  $100.00 at online

Favorite Ride:
Highway 9 through the Trees

Bike Setup:
On two of my bikes...Trek OCLV 110 and a Custom Scandium/Carbon rig.

Summary:
Frankly, I'm perplexed how this saddle is so comfortable....it is so minimalist! However, every time I go for a long ride, it never lets me down. While the materials aren't top notch (given the inflated price), it's the comfort that is worth the premium. One caveat: always pair this saddle with some quality shorts...otherwise, you won't be experiencing the full benefit.

Strengths:
COMFORT (the real factor here!), titanium rails, lightweight, looks good in black.

Weaknesses:
Not the best materials for the price...yes, the titanium rails are nice, but all good saddles have ti or carbon rails. I would like to see a better cover material and less faux carbon accents. One more thing: lose the silly name.

Similar Products Used:
Too many to list here...but I found the Selle Italia SLR and SLR XP to be the most comfortable saddles before I switched to the Toupe