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.
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Nice balaced article Gianni. Have to say my Ariones are suiting me very well at the moment but when I win that Veloforma frame *cough "not fucking likely!" I may test one of those wierd wavy shaped saddles....or then again maybe I should just go the whole hog and put it on one of these!
Gianni, I'm curious - What Specialized saddle were you riding before the SMP? I currently have settled on a Romin and feel that it echoes the shape of the SMP that as you say rotates the hips forward and more easily gets you that flat back without requiring the COTHO-style arch forward. That said, my back still hurts like a motherfucker after a ride with more than a modest bit of climbing in it. How much of the comfort of the SMP do you attribute to the shape and how much to Grand Canyon-esque cutout? I've always been curious about these saddles (though I think aesthetically they are god awful - but as you said made in Italy so at least that's something), but Its a pricey proposition should it not be my cup of tea. I'm willing to give them a shot though, since the Bont Vaypor article got me to try a pair which solved the issues I was having with my shoe setup.
@Deakus
That looks like a ghost bike someone rode a motorcycle with a sidecar straight though
Every time I see one of those saddles I think of Salvador Dali . . .
But you're right Gianni, it doesn't matter what pro endorses it or how light it is or what it looks like, if it kills your ass then it has to go.
@VeloVita
I have two of the Taupe (?) model. Real flat across and front to back. The Romin's curve is getting close to the SMP idea but the SMP's cutout is so giant you really can rotate forward. It has made a big difference in my lower back fatigue. it didn't solve it completely but that more because I have to remember to straighten my back. My posture is shiet anyway.
I think the Dynamic's curve and cutout make it work, both really, but that curve without the big cutout would not work. See if there is a dealer with some test saddles about.
A timely article, Gianni. I moved on to an SMP Glider a month ago on the advice of one of Steve Hogg's associates. What a revelation it's been. 5 hours in the saddle is far less tortuous and I've been able to walk like an upright human rather than hump backed ape the next day. They certainly aren't to everyone's taste or fit but there's no looking back for me, plus the more I see it mounted on my bike, the funkier I think it looks.
@Gianni
Now that you can rotate forward, drop your bars and your back will stop hurting!
Fuck, thats an ugly saddle. It does make some sense though. Thank Merckx I'm comfortable on mine, and I'm too stubborn to try one of those anyway.
Da Taint! In the Fotheringham book on The Prophet they were talking about Eddy's issues with a cyst in 1974 (I think) and it was referred to as his crutch. Ha, I think this is the most elegant term I've encounter for that area, far better than taint, nacho, or bummock.
Yup, those long rides really do sort things out. Here, here for function over form, though a nice balance is preferred. Before I really started riding a lot I used to think, "A centimeter? Who cares! No way can you tell the difference." I think we all know you sure as hell can. I think my Voler bibs with a thin pad, (that cost 1/3 the price) work better for me than Assos Uno FI bibs with a thick pad. Hate to admit the Rolls Royce of bib shorts (well, this model ain't their top dog, but) don't really work for me, but I always get soreness on one side of the crutch area and a few hours in I'm constantly tugging and maneuvering them around to find peace.
I have some different saddles on different bikes, but the older Selle Italia Flites seem to work the best for me. Doesn't hurt that I think they have a classic-yet-modern shape.
Yes, can we not pause and think about our asses for a moment before the 100th kicks off?
@frank
That is an ugly perch but if it rubs the 'taint the right way, so be it. I'm on my second Specialized Toupe and it is never an issue. And it doesn't look like Gerard Depardieu!
They are the best. By a country fucking mile. The only people who bag them are those who havent tried them.