Bicycle Seat Reviews » Petra

Ritchey WCS Marathon V2 Ti Saddle

Petra — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 12:32:07 +0000

For over 35 years, Ritchey Design Inc has been creating superb bikes and saddles making them a viable competitor in the cycling world. Their mountain bike saddle line, cleverly called Marathon, is in honor of the intense endurance XC style racing taking over the mountain biking world. Their 35% carbon content offered in the base shell provides you with the toughness you expect from Ritchey saddles, and is combined with hi-density, super light foam that provides you with unbeatable comfort.

What you get from the Ritchey WCS Marathon V2 Ti Saddle:

: Added foam padding perfect for longer more comfortable rides
: Vector wing design to help dissipate vibration
: Low-profile design and narrow shell
: 35% carbon injected shell provides light weight stiffness
: Genuine leather seat with abrasion resistant sides
: CrN/Ti alloy rails
: Weight = 223g
: Available in white and black

Why you want the Ritchey WCS Marathon V2 Ti Saddle:

Although not as light as many offered in today's market, the Ritchey WCS Marathon V2 Ti Saddle is not to be easily dismissed. Where this saddle surpasses it's lighter competition is by providing excellent cushioning of your bum from the roughest part of the trail without rubbing or numbing the parts that matter. Even after a full day of riding.

And what more could you ask for than that??

Ebay Bargains

US $89.93

2010 RITCHEY WCS MARATHON V2 BICYCLE SADDLE BLACK

US $86.95

RITCHEY WCS MARATHON V2 BIKE SEAT SADDLE BLACK

US $86.95

RITCHEY WCS MARATHON V2 BIKE SEAT SADDLE WHITE

US $90.00

2010 Ritchey WCS Marathon V2 Ti Saddle Black 223g NEW

US $88.99

Ritchey WCS V2 Marathon Road Mountain Saddle Black

US $64.00

RITCHEY WCS MARATHON V2 BIKE SEAT SADDLE Black

Amazon Deals

	Ritchey Marathon WCS saddle, CrN-Ti - black List Price: $99.95 Sale Price: $89.93
	Medium layer of lightweight padding for All Mountain or Road training. Vector wing suspends rails for reduced vibration. 35% carbon injected shell, cutaway sides (plus embroidery on the WCS).

Brooks B17 Standard Saddle Review

Petra — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 03:26:29 +0000

Talk to anybody who takes riding a bike seriously and they will tell you one of the most important bike accessory decisions they made, one of the hardest bike accessory decisions they made, involved searching for the perfect bicycle seat.

Additionally most cyclists have a bevy of slightly used, some well-worn, tossed aside saddles that all promised tidings of comfort and painless miles, yet sadly they all fell short of the being the perfect bicycle seat. I fit among this "most cyclist" category, finding a mere one or two saddles that sufficed, but not one that ever really fit the bill. Up until I tried the Brooks B-17 saddle, that is.

Brooks B-17 Saddle Review

I had read and heard repeatedly cyclists praising the Brooks B-17 saddle, but having tried so many other name brands that were also highly praised, I was reluctant to invest in yet another "hopeful" (especially since Brooks saddles have a reputation for starting out rather "hard" and require a long "breaking-in" period.)

Boy am I glad I bit the bullet and ordered one anyway. After about 100 miles on my Brooks B-17 saddle, I am a firsthand believer. Let me tell you why:

Though hard to the touch, the Brooks B-17 saddle felt so incredibly comfortable that I didn't even feel where my sit bones and the saddle met. After having adjusted the seat positioning for my height and riding style, I found that much of my weight was actually shifted off of my backside and transferred to my arms. The result was less weight planted directly on the saddle, making my ride much more comfortable. As well, the Brooks B-17 saddle is wider than the norm for today's standards, and I found the added width aided in support of my backside.

The added bonus here is that even though the seat was so comfortable initially, I know it will only get better once the actual break in period has been met. That's the nice thing about Brooks saddles - since they are designed to conform to one's backside, the result is comfort designed especially for you.

Although the Brooks B-17 saddle is firm, I noticed that it absorbed "road shock" when I encountered a rather rough patch of pavement. I am not sure if it is due the suspended leather, the high rails, or a combination of the two, I just know that it was a very welcome change for me.

Another point to note is that the nose section of the Brooks B-17 saddle is more narrow than most other saddles offered in today's market. Being as the Brooks nose remains narrow through its length and tapers somewhat abruptly where it meets the rear part of the seat, I found the sudden transition more accommodating for my inner thigh area. Other saddles seem to have longer tapering transitions between the nose and rear of the saddle, which has resulted in painful chaffing of my inner thigh. It was such a welcome change not to suffer this with the Brooks saddle!

Plus I noticed that I did not slip in this saddle, or feel the need to reposition myself as I have with other seats. (Perhaps it was due in part to the fact that I did not sweat in this saddle as I do in vinyl ones; leather being more weather friendly. Perhaps it was due to the set of holes punched along the seats nose which seemed to allow air to pass over my crotch area during my rides. Either way, it was great!)

Conclusion

My verdict? Hands down, the Brooks B-17 is the best ride I have had, period. Sure you will hear people complain that the Brooks saddle is too hard, too uncomfortable, but you can't surmise that with your eyes, or with your hands. Of course it is hard; it is designed to be. But not on your backside. Try it. If adjusted properly, I am willing to bet you will not be disappointed. I wasn't. And I can promise you I will ride the Brooks B-17 saddle for a long time to come.


Brooks Saddles B17 Standard is our flagship model, ideal for long distance sports touring, trekking and atb use. It has been on the market for over 100 years, being featured in as early as the 1898 catalogue. The Standard models feature black steel rails and the black leather seat features tubular steel rivets. The saddle weighs 525 grams

Specialized Jett Saddle Review

Petra — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:26:46 +0000

I have a confession to make, I am a "bicycle seat-aholic," in fact, I might be a bicycle gear-aholic. I love new stuff, just ask my husband. I enjoy tweaking and playing with the settings and adjustments of my beloved Bianchi 928 Carbon and I love trying new gear.

I had that craving recently for a new saddle for my bike and it was an itch I needed to scratch. With the explosion of cycling gear on the market, finding a new saddle wouldn't seem to be a daunting task but traditionally, finding a saddle that works well for me is not an easy task. I am fussy. The perfect saddle will be comfortable to sit on, while providing a posture that will prove to help my pedal technique and drive power to the wheels more efficiently.

The Perfect Saddle

I did a lot of research on the subject and after a few misfires, I bought a Specialized Jett saddle and after spending a month riding the Jett I was amazed at how comfortable it was. With far too many seats, the rider spends countless hours shifting around but with the Jett saddle, I was able to find a comfortable seating position quickly and the endless shifting was no longer an issue.

Complete with research completed by the Boulder Institute of Sports, the Jett saddle is a considered a Specialized Body Geometry saddle designed with proper ergonomics in mind. What this research does is study how parts of the body make contact with the bike, like the hands, feet and saddle and the research looks at finding ways to improve rider comfort. Part of the research findings showed that different bodies can benefit from a wider or narrower seat, based entirely on the riders size. The Jett saddle has address this and comes in three different widths and even the ability to be measured with the BG Saddle Fit System to help find the perfect saddle.

I also had a bit of an inside edge. My husband has been riding bikes far longer than me and he RAVES about Specialized Body Geometry gear and he too rides a Specialized Saddle....the Specialized Alias.

Saddle Fit

In the past my usual process would be to buy a saddle and measure the distance from nose to bars and then install it, making sure it was level. Obviously this was not working for me because once I mounted the bike and was off, I constantly squirmed to find the a comfortable seating position. With the Jett saddle, you are seated in the perfect spot which eliminates the need to shift around. All the squirming is what can cause back pain, knee pain and fatigue, but with the Jett saddle, all these issues are finally solved.

Even the shape of this seat is perfect for the female form with the hourglass cutout. As long as your sit bones are placed in the appropriate spot on the saddle, the rest will fall into place and you will have a comfortable ride. The cherry on top of this seat is the ability to buy it in many different colors so you're sure to find one that matches your bikes color scheme.

It's also not a one size fits all with three different width saddles to match the sit bones of just about any woman out there....this is something that most manufacturers do not offer. They make a saddle that will come close or match the majority of people, but if you are outside of the norm, then you are left out or have to make the best of it.

If you are looking for a female specific saddle, then I would highly recommend the Specialized Jett Women's Saddle. It worked great for me.

US $99.99

NEW Specialized Jett Saddle Womens 130mm Ti Bike Road

Why is My Bicycle Seat So Painful?

Petra — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 03:00:19 +0000

Question: I just started riding a mountain bike last week for exercise. I enjoy riding but I am experiencing a significant amount of pain.....it makes me not want to ride anymore. Do I need a women's bicycle seat? What's wrong?

Answer: This scenario is quite common for many new riders and it can be difficult to discern what is just "newness" from something that will require an anatomical correction via a women's specific bicycle seat.

First and foremost I would always recommend that a new rider give their butt a chance to condition itself to the new stress that you are putting on it. It might not make you feel any better, but it is very, very common for new riders to experience a decent amount of pain as they condition their bodies to riding. Howevver, that said, if your pain is severe or you have given an adequate amount of time to condition yourself and the problem isn't getting any better then it might be time to look for a better seat.

The seat might possibly be the single most important component on a bicycle, it certainly is when it comes to the comfort of the rider. So knowing this, don't just buy any old seat and hope for the best. You will be far better off to do some research, ask around and get the right seat the first time.

What's Right

The first thing you need to know when selecting a seat is what kind of riding you are going to be doing. Your riding style and seating position will determine what kind of seat you should consider. Take a look at this seating position chart and determine which one is more closely suited to what you are going to be doing.

Once you have a better idea what kind of seat you are after it is time to consider your choices. There are two issues that should be considered when looking for a women's specific seat. The first is that you need to make sure that the top of the seat is "friendly" with the female anatomy and you also need to make sure that it is wide enough to accomodate your sit bones. Female sit bones tend to be wider than men's sit bones, so most of the seats on the market that are targeted towards a male rider, will likely not be right for you.

The first issue mentioned is usually overcome by creating a groove or a depression down the center of the seat. This removes pressure from your most tender of areas and is actually quite common on both male and female specific seats as men also have numbing issues with the blood vessels in their perineum area as well.

The second issue mentioned is typically the culprit when it comes to a persistent issue that just won't go away. If you wear shoes that are too small, your feet don't just get over it, they hurt every time you take a step. Your bicycle saddle is the same way and toughing it out is not recommended. If a seat is too narrow it will actually put outward pressure on the sit bones and create an extreme amount of discomfort and some really ugly pressure points.

What to Do

This might sound overwhelming, but this is a very common issue and most bike shops will be more than happy to help you measure your sit bones or you can easily measure them yourself. If you wear a thin pair of shorts, sit on a hard wooden bench or chair and "feel" through your butt. You will quickly feel two boney protrusions that are supporting your body, you will feel them quickly when seated on a hard surface. Locate the center of these two points, ( a helper comes in handy) and then measure that distance.

Once you know how wide your sit bones are then you can much more easily find a saddle that is designed to fit your anatomy. In many cases that will be a women's specific saddle but if you don't have a wide pair of sit bones then you won't have to worry about buying a female specific seat.

If you aren't capable of measuring your butt then you might ask the bike shop to let you try a number of different seats on a bike mounted in a trainer. Once you are on and pedalling, simply "feel" for your sit bones and make sure they are firmly located on the seating area of the saddle. If it feels like they are on the outer edge of the seating area then that saddle is too narrow and will be uncomfortable.

This advice is equally important for both men and women, it is just important for women to note that they are typically wider than the average man so many of the unisex seats on the market will work for you.......so a women's specific seat could be just your ticket.

So to answer the original question of do I need a Women's Specific Bicycle Seat? The answer is quite clearly "maybe."

US $111.93

Terry Butterfly Tri Gel Womens Bike Saddle Black

US $30.00

Terry Damselfly womens leather saddle

US $59.40

TERRY WOMENS TRX GEL SILVER VANOX TRIATHLON SADDLE

US $34.93

Terry Cite X CrMo rail Womens Bike Saddle

US $52.15

TERRY DAMSELFLY WOMENS BICYCLE BIKE SADDLE SEAT BLACK

US $39.93