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Season 1 Eposide 1: Before DH DIED? - Did the INDUSTRY ever get round to...

Gary

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,648
5,562
UK
Producing an actual DH bike specific saddle?

I haven't really payed attention to new saddles for years so tend to stick with S/H SLRs bought from roadie dentists on my lightest bikes, cheap Madison Flux' for general riding, and currently a Tioga D-Spyder for DH.

as I'm in the process of collecting parts for a new DH build I thought I'd take a look on CRC to see what was about. Other than the Nukeproof Sam Hill mud saddle I saw zero innovation with regards to a saddle designed for control over sitting on.I know no one here actually rides DH anymore and just comes for balance bike advice but thought i'd ask anyway.

What I mean by designed for DH:
  • Durable (cromo rails and durable cover)
  • Narrow
  • flat top (sitting comfort is completely irrelivent)
  • minimal top padding
  • extra side padding/soft construction or curved edge for your inner thigh to push against
  • shortened rear for maximum slammage while tilted upwards** (something I feel is far more important for riding flat pedals and pissing about having fun than racing in than clips)
  • not too heavy (260g ish sounds about right)
  • Decent value for money (£140+* for any saddle is fucking retarded in my eyes. Over £50 for a DH bike saddle equally so.)

*$200

**As always comedy replies equally valid as graphs, spreadsheet data and of course #kidwooFashionGuru Advice
 
Dogboy

Dogboy

Turbo Monkey
Apr 12, 2004
3,209
584
Durham, NC
The Ergon SMD2 ticks most of your boxes. 3 models ranging roughly 42GBP-104GBP with the middle model using cromo rails and weighing in at 215g.
 
Gary

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,648
5,562
UK
Dogboy said:
The Ergon SMD2 ticks most of your boxes. 3 models ranging roughly 42GBP-104GBP with the middle model using cromo rails and weighing in at 215g.
Click to expand...
Oooohhh... Even comes in a stealth version with the ugly logo and writing blacked out. Thanks.
 
Electric_City

Electric_City

Torture wrench
Apr 14, 2007
1,995
716
Interesting topic cause I've recently been thinking of the same thing.

The saddle should be narrow. Around 125mm at the back.

Padding on the side

The padding should actually be taller than usual. Not as tall as the beloved Love Seat, but if that seat had something going for it, that was it.

A radius on the back end that follows the profile of a 2.7 tire. I know most use 2.5 now, but we know how much that varies from tire and rim width. On my Wilson the tire will hit the seat and raising it makes it uncomfortable. Which leads to

A plastic shield. My Funn saddle has a piece of plastic under the back of the saddle that follows the profile of it. It's screwed in from the bottom and stopped the tire from ripping the material. Due to a bad landing last year, I finally ripped it off after 10 years of use. Maybe if the plastic wrapped around the top of the saddle it wouldn't rip off, but can be replaced.

Kevlar or cordura the whole way. No fancy, delicate shit.

Cromoly rails.
 
Gary

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,648
5,562
UK
Electric_City said:
Kevlar or cordura the whole way.
Click to expand...
I've always been in two minds about Kevlar/cordura sides. Yes it's tougher. but that also always seems to make it far more abrasant on the inner thigh of your DH/nicoVouillozGTspandex/whateverwooswearing shorts/pants. and the abrasion can get far worse in the wet depending on soil content on the hill. Surely there's gotta be a less abrasive but still tough non slippy material? or a better way to weave the kevlar/Cordura than currently.
 
B

bonky

Chimp
Jan 22, 2016
14
0
I just buy used Selle SLRs for a few euros, they usually last me a few seasons and I quite like the shape when cornering.
 
Electric_City

Electric_City

Torture wrench
Apr 14, 2007
1,995
716
Gary said:
I've always been in two minds about Kevlar/cordura sides. Yes it's tougher. but that also always seems to make it far more abrasant on the inner thigh of your DH/nicoVouillozGTspandex/whateverwooswearing shorts/pants. and the abrasion can get far worse in the wet depending on soil content on the hill. Surely there's gotta be a less abrasive but still tough non slippy material? or a better way to weave the kevlar/Cordura than currently.
Click to expand...
Whatever "FX synthetic" is worked flawlessly.
http://www.cheapbikeparts360.com/products/funn-skinny-rl-saddle/
 
troy

troy

Turbo Monkey
Dec 3, 2008
1,008
742
@Gary maybe You should check out some Octane One (Rocket DH or Phoam models) or Dartmoor (Trail/Trail V2) or Even BBB Feather and Accent products? You shouldn't have any problem getting them in the UK or EU. They are quite cheap, and pretty descent.
They all cost ~20-35GBP.
 
Gary

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,648
5,562
UK
Electric_City said:
Whatever "FX synthetic" is worked flawlessly.
http://www.cheapbikeparts360.com/products/funn-skinny-rl-saddle/
Click to expand...
I already have 2 of those. (one's on my race BMX and the other's spare) They're alright but they do beat the shit out of your inner thigh on a DH bike. Think I started a thread here asking if there was anything similar but moar thigh friendly 10 years back

bonky said:
I just buy used Selle SLRs for a few euros, they usually last me a few seasons and I quite like the shape when cornering.
Click to expand...
Yeah. for an XC/road saddle they're decent. And incredibly light. But for DH they don't last that long here. Why I only buy them for my road bike and 4X hardtail.
 
Gary

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,648
5,562
UK
troy said:
@Gary maybe You should check out some Octane One (Rocket DH or Phoam models) or Dartmoor (Trail/Trail V2) or Even BBB Feather and Accent products? You shouldn't have any problem getting them in the UK or EU. They are quite cheap, and pretty descent.
They all cost ~20-35GBP.
Click to expand...
Rocket DH and Feather look great for a cheap fairly traditional saddle to use on a DH bike.
Phoam has a cutout and in the UK that's just an enema feature.
Had looked at the Dartmoor saddles previously. All kevlar never dries so the trail is out. Trail 2 looks interesting though.
Thanks.
 
velocipedist

velocipedist

Lubrication Sensei
Jul 11, 2006
559
702
Rainbow City Alabama
Kidwoo wears pants?

Gary said:
I've always been in two minds about Kevlar/cordura sides. Yes it's tougher. but that also always seems to make it far more abrasant on the inner thigh of your DH/nicoVouillozGTspandex/whateverwooswearing shorts/pants. and the abrasion can get far worse in the wet depending on soil content on the hill. Surely there's gotta be a less abrasive but still tough non slippy material? or a better way to weave the kevlar/Cordura than currently.
Click to expand...
 
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