What does Selle SMP have in common with the lead up to the 2013 Tour de France? Absolutely nothing, seeing as possibly no riders are on them in the Tour. It’s a long three weeks of Tour ahead, let’s think about our own asses for a brief moment. As a disclaimer: this is not a Reverence article, yet, maybe after a few centuries and pavé parties it could be. I paid retail from a LBS for this and have no connection to SMP. I’m not even advocating anyone should get one, like I do advocate everyone owning Speedplay pedals. I am just shedding a little light on these unconventional and messed-up looking saddles.
Two years back I stared at one of these saddles on a bike whose owner was a big fella. The saddle was a thin slip of a thing, more space than saddle and it looked unridable. He made a lasting impression when he said it was great. Great? That looks highly uncomfortable, it was nearly devoid of padding and there just wasn’t much to sit on.
We all have our own limit for what we will put on our steeds but eventually a 160 km ride will sort out if form follows function. Those shoes may be the same ones Boonen wears but if they are killing your feet at 80 km, every time, they have to go.
And speaking of Specialized, they have a gizmo for measuring sit bones so one can get a good fitting saddle. I’ve owned two of their saddles and like them enough. Upon restarting long rides after my haitus this winter I re-remembered how much my lower back would hurt, especially on long climbing rides. Also while on haitus, also known as: my position must be wrong, I’ll never ride again, do I need insoles, how high should my saddle be, do I need wedges under my cleats…hell. I read up on Steve Hogg, fitting master, looking for salvation. Steve is an advocate of SMP saddles and makes the point we don’t sit on our sit bones unless on, gasp, a recumbent or bigger gasp, a Harley. Maui’s aforementioned LBS has a nice selection of test saddles, many SMPs in the mix. I went right for the Dynamic model, for my fat ass. It took at least a week before I could even figure out where to sit on it, it’s that different a design.
There are two great things about these saddles: they have a massive cut-out section in the front so nothing gets mashed and the curved profile means one is sitting on the bones forward of the sit bones. That means your hips rotate forward, your lower back can straighten and relax. Do you want to ride the phantom aero bars while staring at your reflection in store front windows, it’s much easier with a relaxed, flatter back and uncrushed bits. I’m using that technical/medical English term to cover everything “down there”.
In summary, if your lower back is fine and you have never experienced torchmen’s taint, keep doing what you are doing. Shoes and saddles fit differently for every body. Comfort and weird looks don’t come cheap. Mine cost $230 US with steel rails but it is made in Italy, so that is a wash. They do come in celeste green if one wants to ruin the look of their Bianchi. Since one is sitting differently on it, the initial set up takes longer. It’s much harder to figure out the correct saddle height with this new position. I do think they have come up with a well researched design, especially for us riders who aim to be cyclists for the long haul.
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
@Nate
Hardy har har har.
Check out the sweet paint design. Those of you paying attention to the VSP will note the similarity. These will actually be available for sale later this month or next month (The V-Lion is only an option if you've been on KT.)
@Gianni
I always thought the Avocet was a Turbo rip-off. Oh, I forgot about the Turbo. I loved the double lump on the saddle by the railes, and the Pro's saddles got so fucking gleaming because they used real leather and put lotions on there and shit to keep the leather in good condition. Man, I loved those.
I put armor-all on my saddles for the longest time. Partly to make them gleam and partly to make them appropriately slippy. I've always believed in the goodness of a slippy saddle to reduce saddle sores and make it easier to slide forward and back on the saddle.
Good one Gianni. As you say, everyone's arse is different.
Nice to see a shout out for Steve Hogg at Pedal Pusher's. He/they used to be my LBS until we moved house and he moved shop from Randwick several years ago. He is a genius when it comes to bike fit and can knock up a sweet set of wheels as well as a little side hobby. Very knowledgeable bloke and highly recommended.
@Ron Let's not forget "scranus."
@Gianni
Yes, timely and the appraisal is much appreciated. I had my fit last week and the saddle went up another cm or so. Guy said I had the longest legs he's ever fitted (89 cm bb to saddle top), but he must not get out much. The good news is that I have a short torso, so a stock frame is not out of the question.
ANYWAY, I mention that because now I feel like I can rotate forward and no longer feel so folded in half trying to get low on the hoods or drops. The downside is rolling forward onto the perineum and it has me thinking of new saddles (current is an fizik Alliante)
Love the seat pin. It's a must for a new frame.
Guy with long legs:
@frank " I did a spell of situps and planks etc to get the basics up, but then have really just resorted to once a week doing three sets of 50 leg lifts where I lay on my back and left the legs to 90 degrees and lowering them back down to a few centimeters off the ground. Keeping your feet shoulder-width apart makes it harder! Also, I finish each set with holding them just above the ground for about 10 seconds."
I assume you are keeping legs straight throughout ? I too have "lazy" core muscles that refuse to hold my back straight, may also help with my herniated disk at C7.
@xyxax
Baboom. Put your perineum (aka Bits) worries away. These could be a good solution and worthy of a test saddle somewhere. There are basically only two or three shapes and then three levels of padding, from none to too much. Can't wait for more frame news.
@Barracuda
Try a V minute plank, we can all find V minutes right? Minute 4-5 is an absolute killer! Enjoy.
Gianni, big yes to all you write about saddles, I am currently happy with Specialized but will remember the SMP for when it needs replacing. What ever the shape and profile there seems to me to be no need for anything in the middle any more... As you say the bits are happier! and you know my veiws on padding (it's like badges).
I do wish you had included diagrams on pelvic rotation and why that makes for a happier back. Mine is currently maxed out from moving but feels better when I get to ride for an hour or two.
Here's to many future happy hours in the saddle!
Oh, my favorite saddle was a plastic BMX kiddies thing I would put on for Mt. Washington cause it was so light.
@frank is the Veloforma for the road, TT's, or hill climbs? It looks sick!
@Nate & @frank:
Hearty endorsement of the Fizik Cyrano here. I've been loving me that seatpost since last year. Stunning piece of work. And I hate to rain on the limp saddle parade, but I have to ask about the aesthetics of matching a Fizik seatpost with a Selle saddle? I'm becoming increasingly particular about this sort of thing...
@xyxax
1. 89cm: that's, like 3/4 the height of my wife!
2. Just had a fit myself. Neat experience with the ReTul get-up. Kind of cool having numbers flash up on just about everything. My legs aren't that long.
3. My current saddle is the Aliante as well. But I'm shifting to the Antares. It turns out I'm a good bit more flexible than I thought, and I do tend to move around on the bike a bit (and fit the chameleon mould more than I would have imagined). This wasn't a part of the bike fit, but more an independent decision, which probably won't hurt (other than in the wallet).