Submitted by
Russ
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2008
Strengths: Feels slightly more cushy than the Selle Italia Flite.
Weaknesses: Cheap plastic supports inside broke in less than one month of riding. Blood flow improvement not as good as one would expect from the design.
Bottom Line:
I rode on the original Selle Italia Flite for almost five years and countless crashes including one that sprung my frame. That seat had no issues. In two crashes, I trashed this new gel seat. It has cheap plastic reinforcements between the gel and the posts that can't stand up to reasonable demands on the trail. Unless you just race, look for something else.
Submitted by
Clay Spradlin
a Weekend Warrior
from Wooster, AR...USA
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2007
Strengths: looks good
Weaknesses: too hard, shouls say ACME Brick Co. on the side
Bottom Line:
I used to think the reason my toes were going numb was beacuse of my cheap (Sette) riding shoes. So I got a good pair and guess what, still going numb after 30 - 40 min in the saddle. Talked to my LBS, we decided it was the concrete disaster that I was sitting on was putting pressure on my Siatic Nerve/s causing the numbness. I order a Brooks B17, it will be here on Monday, cant wait to try it out. Break-In cant be worse than this thing.
Submitted by
Todd
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria, BC
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2006
Strengths: Light, nice shape, nice look
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
I'm a 210lb cross country rider.
I started using this seat and loved it immediately. I've read other complaints about how much it hurts and am wondering if this seat comes with and without a centre cutout. The one I have has one.
This isn't your mama's gel seat. This is a stiff racing seat that gives a bit of gel and flex for cushioning. If your strong on your legs and don't sit hard on your saddle, you should have no problems liking this seat. It's long for multi-positions and is a great addition to any bike looking to go light and fast. Best saddle I've used for sport/racing.
Bike Setup: TST Ti hardtail, Marzocci MX Comp ETA, FSA Orbit XLII, Thompson hardware, Shimano drive, Crankbrother Candys, Chris King Hubs, Mavic 717 rims, Selle Italia Flite Gel
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Sean
a Cross Country Rider
from Newark, DE
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2006
Strengths: Better than riding on just a seatpost.
Weaknesses: Hard as hell, numbs your privates
Bottom Line:
Don't let the "Genuine Gel" fool you, this is saddle is a bonifide a$$ hatchet. After my first few rides on this thing, it left my taint so numb I wondered if I'd ever make it to fatherhood. The length and width of the saddle aren't a problem, it's the fact that Selle Italia actually raises the part under your sensitive area with padding. That's exactly where you don't want it - thus Terry's opening and WTB's love channel. Saddles are personal and everyone likes something different - I just can't believe some people can actually be comfortable on this thing. I think I'd prefer a piece of slate on my seatpost.
Strengths: Very comfortable, has cutout, reduced numbness, looks good.
Weaknesses: Not cheap (not the most expensive either though), feels very firm at first.
Bottom Line:
Replaced my stock Fizik saddle which came on my Cannondale with the Flite GelFlow with the middle cutout. Felt too firm at first, but very comfortable once I got used to it. If your saddle is causing you numbness, you should certainly give this a try.
Submitted by
ken
a Cross Country Rider
from columbia, sc usa
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2006
Strengths: Fairly light, stiff, not too wide, aesthetically pleasing.
Weaknesses: If you don't ride a lot, this seat can feel like granite or if you ain't rockin' a chamois.
Bottom Line:
This a good saddle for tons of riding but will definitely hurt newbies. I don't know if you'll need Viagra after riding this saddle, but if you have any worries about your nether-regions, stay away from this saddle.
Similar Products Used: SDG, Terry, WTB, other Selle Italia
Bike Setup: Yea, it's fast
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Greg
a Cross Country Rider
from Middletown, CT
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2005
Strengths: comfy, light.
Weaknesses: Gaudy looking, but it is Italian.
Bottom Line:
A very comfy saddle. I bought it used for twenty bucks, like new condition. I did my first ride yesterday, a seventy-five mile road ride and it proved very comfortable. A post-ride pee was accomplished with no pain whatsoever- the true test of a saddle. I'd been using an old Vetta Lite for 13 years and I wish I'd changed sooner. I also had a regular Flite on another bike and it was very comfortable too, but the Gel Flite is more so. Saddles are a matter of individual preference and anatomy, but this one works for me.
Submitted by
ignaz
a Cross Country Rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2005
Strengths: Firm, has some give. Light. Looks sleek
Weaknesses: The threads starting to fray. The leather starting to peel off under the seat.
Bottom Line:
Good saddle. The first one that allows me to shift my weight about easily when on technicals sections. The more shifting I do on long rides, less soreness and numbness I experience on the ride. This means it's not a padded seat. When I loose my footing on the pedals and have one or two legs hanging loose over the bumps, the family jewels suffer the most. Use it for road or XC, is a nice saddle. Without gear, I weight between 78 to 80kgs so I think it will work for fast cyclists. The soreness experienced is normally by friends who use my Flite Gel and ride it like they're sitting in a sofa. Racers always shift their weight or bounce in the seat, so this seat does a fine job for them.
Weaknesses: The leather wears down (am I riding to much?)
Bottom Line:
Took me about three months to get used to it, after that perfect. Rides my racer every day during 8 months/year that makes about 4000 k's/year. Will buy another one for my XC.
Submitted by
Hector
a Cross Country Rider
from Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
Date Reviewed: November 13, 2004
Strengths: Very confortable, looks awesome, light
Weaknesses: Stiching desintegrates in high friction areas.
Bottom Line:
I had this seat on my old bike, it suvived countles epic outings, went with me to Nepal, India and all over the Sinai and took everything the trails could dish out along with some nasty falls, others have written here that your body needs to get used to the saddle, I think it's true, the more you ridde it the more confortable it becomes, great leather craftsmanship.
Similar Products Used: bontrager, regular flite, terry, titec, san marco...
Bike Setup: titus
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
andrew eckett
a Downhiller
from sydney australia
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2004
Strengths: its sleek and slight which keeps it out of the way. looks awesome. lasts for ever. weight. very comfortable.
Weaknesses: stitching wears evenually
Bottom Line:
there are two things i swear by and thats thomson posts and flite saddles. i ride over 300 km per wk off road and on road never having a sore ass. i ride it without pads sometime and still have no problem. people always say that u can break it in but u don't break it in it breaks u in. i do think its designed for slimmer riders i.e racing level riders. if this saddle is hurting u, u need to ride more. it is extremely comfortable. But as it seems not for everybodies asses. so if u are heavier or are just a casual rider don't buy the flite but don't steer away from selle italia. they produce high quality saddle with that ferrari flavour
Hi
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