Bicycle Seat Reviews » Specialized Saddles

Specialized Phenom SL Saddle Review

Hammer — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:32:22 +0000

Heeding the cries of MTB cyclists who demanded the Specialized Troupe Road Design in a mountain bike saddle, Specialized stepped up to the plate by introducing the MTB Phenom SL.

First impressions of the Specialized Phenom SL are a bit intimidating with its rigid design and ultra light padding geared for longer ride time, and for some, the first ride out of the gate doesn't do much to improve it. But there is a saying about not judging a book by its cover and nothing could be more accurate with this saddle.

Saddle Specs

Weighing in at less than 200g, you will be surprised to find the Specialized Phenom's saddle design is both solid and durable, offering as well a middle cut-out section geared to eliminate undercarriage squish. Creating a sweet balance of MTB riding with a lightweight race-profile saddle, the Specialized Phenom SL also provides recessed scuff guards ensuring snag-free racing as well as a slightly down turned perch for easier seated climbing.

The Phenom is available in two colors: black with silver scuff guards or white with silver scuff guards (however you may still find some of the more expensive 2008 bikes equipped with red scuff guards instead of silver.)

The Phenom is also available in two sizes: 130mm width or 143mm width.

The Phenom is available in four models: the Phenom SL, with hollow titanium rails and a carbon reinforced flex reducing shell; the Phenom, which offers hollow Chro-moly rails versus the titanium; and the two Phenom Gel versions, one with titanium rails, and one with Chro-moly rails.

First Impressions

Anyone familiar with bicycle saddles, knows that it's not always safe to base your decision on a saddle from the first couple rides, however this also means that finding a saddle that feels great from ride one translates to a saddle for life.

I've read other reviews where the cyclist found this saddle to "grow" on them over time; that is, once the saddle was "broken in." I however did not have this problem and found the saddle to feel great even on the first ride.

I am a road bike rider by preference and was intrigued by this saddle as it has been compared to the Troupe, which I love, but does not have the hard tip that the Troupe has, which is my only complaint with the Troupe.
Couple this new feature (or lack of I should say) with the down curved nose, and I experienced none of the pressure points found with other saddles I have used. The sleek design of the Specialized Phenom SL also proved no abrasiveness on my thighs. Always a bonus.

Saddle Conclusion

The Specialized Phenom SL may be billed as a mountain bike saddle, but don't think that means it's not a great road bike seat. Troupe fans will love this seat, and those looking for a sleek design with versatility in saddle positions will agree. This is definitely a saddle worth having in your arsenal.

But don't take my word for it; try it for yourself and then come back to tell us what you think.

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Specialized Phenom 130 Seat Specialized Post 309 mm
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Specialized Toupe Saddle Review

Hammer — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:50:02 +0000

Specialized Saddles have become legendary around the cycling community as being some of the best performing products on the market. Specialized patented Body Geometry saddles take into account your human anatomy and they've spent countless hours testing and testing and testing to come up with a line of saddles that look great and perform even better. The Specialized Toupe is a perfect example of the quality that Specialized brings to the market. Check out the reviews below and if you end up buying one, come back and leave us your own Specialized Toupe Saddle Review.
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Saddle Review

I am a big fan of Specialized saddles and have been for quite some time. I remember when I first started cycling how difficult it was to find a saddle that worked for me and I went through a dozen or so before finally finding out about sit bone width and ended up purchasing my first Specialized Saddle which was the Alias.

I still ride that Alias on my Trek but recently had the chance to road test another extremely popular Specialized Saddle and that is the Specialized Toupe road saddle. The similarities to the Alias are many and my expectations were very high that I would like the Specialized Toupe saddle.

First Impressions

One thing you should know about Specialized saddles before you ever put your butt on one, is that they are a firm saddle. By firm, I don't mean hard, they are padded but it's a firm ride. One that your sit bones will have to condition themselves to somewhat. An experienced cyclist should be ok but a new rider will likely have to give it a few weeks before your sit bones get accustomed to this type of saddle.

It's a difficult concept to grasp but you WANT a firm saddle for long distance rides. The more hours you spend in the saddle, then the worse your behind will do with a plushly padded saddle. Trust me on this...firm is good.

Specialized Toupe

Like the Alias, the Toupe offers a very perineum friendly center groove as well as three different widths to choose from as opposed to many seats that only offer a 1 size supposed to fit all model. That's one of the reasons that I like Specialized so much, they get the idea that all people are not the size of a 130lb Tour de France rider and come in different widths, so the seats should too.

It's important to mention that the Specialized saddles being firm, will work best with a rider the sits on the saddle correctly. What I mean by that is you should ride with your hips rotated slightly forward, relaxed arms and shoulders and using your core, legs and arms to support some of the weight of your body. If you plant all of your body weight on the saddle like you were sitting in a kitchen chair, then you may not like the Specialized seating surface. If you do have decent form, then you should love it.

A gel version is available but honestly, you should work on your posture on the bike anyways, it's just good form and will make your pedaling more efficient and your rides more enjoyable. You could almost consider the seat a built in cycling coach. Once your butt starts hurting, you know your form is off.

Toupe Conclusion

The bottom line is that the Specialized Toupe is a great saddle at a decent price that comes in enough different varieties that you can pick one custom tailored to your own body geometry. The specs compare to other saddles in this category with the weight being very rider friendly.

The proven Body Geometry designed saddle features a very familiar center groove for those who might have issues with prostate or perineum soreness and the padding is designed for longer distance riding. It's firm but very butt friendly if you ride the bike the way it was designed to be ridden. Most saddles in this category will require that you practice good habits in order to be comfortable so do not be mistaken that this saddle is any different than most.

We're big fans of the Specialized lineup and the Toupe is practically their flagship model so give it a look and if you buy one then come back and leave your own Specialized Toupe Review.

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Specialized Jett Saddle Review

Petra — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 23:26:46 +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.

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US $39.99

Specialized Alias Saddle Review

Hammer — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 01:06:05 +0000

The Specialized Alias saddle is one of the many offered by one of the industry giants in the bicycling world...Specialized. This saddle sports their famous Body Geometry technology and it blurs the line between a performance oriented saddle and an ergonomically comfortable saddle that will allow long hours in the saddle. It also happens to be the saddle on my Trek 5900SL that I have ridden for the last 2 years, so I am very familiar with it.

Anatomical Cutout

The Specialized Alias bicycle seat offers a sculpted design that has removed the center groove from the seating surface in order to ease perineum pain. It is quite common for riders of both genders to report "issues" in the perineum including but not limited to tingling, numbness, mild pain and irritation all the way to intense pain and discomfort if left untended.

Men are especially vulnerable to this issue and many men have suffered from a lack of blood flow to the genital area and experience numbness even after getting off the bike. This doesn't affect everyone but if it affects you then you should consider either this saddle or one like it.

Debates have raged over how serious of an issue this is or how much concern you should show, but my point of view is that ANY tingling or numbness in your groin, is probably a bad thing. I experienced blood flow issues with a number of other saddles before finding the Alias and it solved that issue instantly.

I can ride for hours with no numbness and no tingling thanks to the design of this saddle.

Features and Benefits

The Specialized Alias comes in three different widths to accommodate the different geometry of the many riders out there. This is a huge advantage over many saddle manufacturers as getting the width right in order to support your sit bones is absolutely critical and the three different widths allow this saddle to be used by nearly any rider on the planet.

The Specialized Alias saddle incorporates a lightweight "tuned density" foam padding to cover the seating area and provide enough padding to retain comfort but not hinder performance. I put about 100 miles a week on this saddle, so I am intimately familiar with it and I would classify it as a firm but very comfortable ride. I prefer it that way and I think many other riders do as well, once they get used to it.

It's wrapped in a seamless "Micromatrix" cover which is some sort of vinyl material judging by the way it feels. I have ridden mine for about 2 years now and no rips, tears or issues with it so far and I am what you would call a Clydesdale, so I can be hard on a seat but the Specialized Alias has held up very well. The lightweight carbon reinforced shell is attached to lightweight titanium rails that are hollowed out for weight savings. Again...I am a Clyde and after 2 years of 100 mile a week riding I have no issues with mine. The Specialized Alias bicycle seat is rock solid and is standing up to the test of time for me.

The Specialized Alias is not a featherweight but it's definitely not a brick either. The approximate weights are: 130mm = 230g, 143mm = 250g, 155mm = 265 (+/- 5%) and it measures out at 270mm long.

Ride Comfort

Any time you get into the world of performance road bike saddles, ride comfort gets to be quite subjective and a matter of personal taste. I will share what my thoughts are on the Specialized Alias as it is my saddle of choice currently on my Trek 5900SL. I don't log anywhere near as many miles as some riders but I easily log 100 miles a week during the winter and many more than that during the summer....so I am intimately familar with the Specialized Alias.

The ride on the Specialized Alias is quite firm, when you plant your sit bones down on it then you know you are on something. The bike shop owner that convinced me to try it was right about it 100%. When I was a new rider, I like many others, migrated from saddle to saddle hoping that this would be the cure. I never asked advice until finally I decided I had no choice.

I shared my numbness issue, I shared the hot spot issues and my concerns about never feeling right on any saddle I tried. When he asked me how wide my sit bones were, I think the blank look on my face told him all I needed to know. About 30 minutes later after we measured my sit bones and talked about how I ride and what I expected he pointed me to a 155mm Alias. Half my problem was that I have wider than normal sit bones for a man and I was continuously riding saddles that were in the 140 mm range.....just didn't work.

The fact that I am riding the Specialized Alias two years later will tell you that I love it. I am a gear junkie, I love to tweak and upgrade and change things but I can guarantee that I will always own an Alias or a saddle just like it. I remember the searing pain in my perineum all too well and have no desire to go back to that bad place.

Conclusion

So in summary, the Specialized Alias bicycle saddle could be the perfect answer to that age old question..."Why does my butt hurt so bad when I ride my bicycle?" The answer is usually not the fault of the saddle and I would always recommend that if you are a new rider to ride the saddle you have at least for a few weeks to see if you condition your butt to riding.

That said, if you are an experienced rider and are still having issues, then you might consider getting your sit bones measured and checking out an Alias. It's going to be very firm at first but my butt quickly conditioned itself to it and I prefer the firm feel now, I can't ride anything else.

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