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Submitted by
bill
a Cross Country Rider
from Prior Lake Date Reviewed: October 16, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Comfort! When I first sat on it I was very disapointed. By the time I finished my first long ride with it, I was amazed at good it felt. weight, This thing is more comfortable than comfort saddles that weigh 2-3 times as much. Sure you can find something lighter, but it may be unridable for anything but races, they have nowhere near the comfort. Durable | | Similar Products Used: | wtb's, serfas, coda(never buy Anything that has coda on it,c'dale makes great frames and shocks,everything else is garbage or at best grossly overpriced) others | | Bike Setup: | I have had this saddle on 2 different bikes. A Cannondale hardtail, and a fat chance Ti. | | Bottom Line: | Would I pay retail for it? I don't like paying retail on anything so the answer is No! I would be willing to pay twice what I did and be happy. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kevin
a Racer
from nw indiana Date Reviewed: July 3, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | anything technical | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | extremely comfortable | | Weaknesses: | extremely UNcomfortable until it is broken in | | Similar Products Used: | selle italia's and cheap crap | | Bike Setup: | '02 specialized enduro expert, psylo, full xt drivetrain, raceface cranks, disc brakes | | Bottom Line: | wasn't sure about this saddle after the first couple rides because this thing takes a few long rides to break in and damn is it painful until then. BUT after a 50 mile or so break in period it is very comfortable. it dosen't stick to your legs or rub wear spots on your lycra either. if you watch ebay i've seen these things sell for under forty dollars consistantly. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Ashland Date Reviewed: February 23, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Incredibly comfortable. | | Weaknesses: | List price is insulting, especially compared to other top-name Italian ti models | | Bottom Line: | At first glance, the Comp would seem to have more cons than pros: cheap construction, not especially light, and ridiculously expensive. I wouldn’t ride anything else. I bought my first one for $90, and almost fainted from sticker shock--almost twice what you’d pay for a high-class titanium Italian saddle. It felt hard at first (and still does), but what I noticed was what I didn’t feel: Most of my rides involve long uphills, and I found that I could sit and crank for hours. Unlike most other saddles, there is nothing to stick in your crotch. Gel saddles? What’s the point? I don’t want anything sticking in my crotch--I don’t care if it is gel.
I like the saddle so much that I bought the only thing left in the area from 2001, which was the same saddle with ti rails. (I only bought it because the shop came down from an insulting $140 list to a merely ludicrous $80. I wouldn’t waste the money for a full-price ti saddle. Compared side-by-side, it doesn’t feel one bit lighter).
I did try the 2002 comp saddle, which is beautifully made, but it felt more conventional to me, and wasn’t as comfortable as the 2001.
Although highly overpriced, cheaply constructed, and with rather cheesy styling (especially the tacky looking chrome on the Pro Ti), these saddle have transformed my bike from a $2000 medieval torture device to something I actually want to ride. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Schelb
a Racer
from Boca Raton, FL Date Reviewed: April 11, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Boca Schwinn | | Strengths: | Good looking, comfortable, | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Other Body Geometry saddles on my other bikes | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn Peloton - Reynolds 853 - Ultegra gruppo | | Bottom Line: | I find this saddle comfortable on my daily rides (100 - 150 per week) and I am not a small 130 lb sprinter (6'00 / 205). When I first used BG saddles I had to get used to them - but now I automatically put them on all my bikes. Never sore - no pain the day after - even after a century. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Fe, NM Date Reviewed: April 3, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | pretty light for the design, easy on the soft tissue down there.... and its pretty durable | | Weaknesses: | still not that light, and there is a little break in period for your body | | Bottom Line: | this is a great and comfortable saddle. it lasts well, mine's had alot of use that has smoothed the saddle down, but there are no signs of weakness anywhere from it. most of the reviewers have complained of the uncomfortable feeling one has when using it, yet they must have not rode it for more than a couple of times. the seat forces all of your weight on the underside of your pelvis, not on the fragile and very important soft tissue. this reduced area makes the amount of pressure much higher since it isn't dispersed like most seats. and the points of pressure, while they are the ideal place for your weight to sit, are pretty uncomfortable for a little while. once your body gets used to this, the seat is no longer uncomfortable at all, in fact it becomes the most comfortable seat i've ever used. especially for longer rides when one has to fear numbness and damage to their manly parts over the extended period of blood shortage. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sara Goss
a Weekend Warrior
from Flemmings Date Reviewed: April 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Great Canadain Ball Breaker | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Specialized bike shop -- NOT K-Mart!!! | | Strengths: | This seat has Ti rails!!!!!!! | | Weaknesses: | Saddle feels sore (on the a..) when put on. | | Bottom Line: | This 2000 saddle feels awkward when ridden, but it was installed only a week ago. The installation process took most of the weekend of trial and error sessions. It took as many as 20 tries to clamp the seat correctly on my two-bolt (front and back) seat post. Once 'normally' mounted, the seat does not sit horizontal to the ground.-- (basement floor). After several trials at this installation process, it was obvious that the seat's nose actually points up ward, in a slight angle. On Sunday, my brain kicked in and I stuck small (faucet) rubber washers (1) under the seat clamp- between the seatpost base, and the clamp's base. Thereby in an effort to produce a miniscule vibration dampening effect. (My bf helped me after he installed his own) The position of the washers on the seatpost base, the seat can be angled correctly to a desirable position. Otherwise, the seat is comfy but hard on the a.s-bones, and a.s in particular. This situation should improve once the seat gets used to my a.s behind sat onto it. By the summer, I suppose. Otherwise, my bf bought one too, and tense (United Nations level negotiations with the student salesperson warrented a discounted price, which was necessary when considering the whopping price of the saddle.) The pressure points on the human anatomy are eased and it was proven that post ride (in the bed room) celebrations were successful were wide and 'once in a lifetime do you feel this good', 'winning the jackpot sensation', 'party whistles, and all' kind of joy. You get the point. Feel it for yourself when this saddle is under your delicate a.s. I'll keep you up to date on the saddle. Ride and have fun!!
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Racer
from Gatlinburg, TN Date Reviewed: February 27, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | Fairly lightweight; length allows for easy movement; great looking Festina Pro model | | Weaknesses: | Price - I bought from a good friend at a local shop at wholesale-the retail price of $130.00 is crazy; narrow profile in rear of saddle does not support sit bones, and causes chafing--I wear top-quality shorts, and use chamois creme-it's the saddle; grooved channel should extend the length of the saddle ; raised stiching may also be part of the problem | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Body Geometry Comp; San Marco Race Day Strada | | Bike Setup: | Fondriest Status | | Bottom Line: | Do not buy this saddle unless you have no ass; I'm a 160 lb. roadie, by no means a Clydesdale, but I cannot get comfortable on this saddle; a friend of mine has the San Marco Era, and is very satisfied with it so I've ordered one to replace the Festina Pro model I have now. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Melb Date Reviewed: November 5, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Ti rails, feels great after the wearing in | | Weaknesses: | not strong enough, the plastic bits seem like their falling apart | | Similar Products Used: | stock saddle | | Bike Setup: | specialized rockhopper XT, discs, 521, xvert | | Bottom Line: | This seat seems fine for ordinary XC and urban assaulting. However dont go to extremes. I was at the skate park and apparently did a 6 foot high jump and bent the seat. I weigh 175lbs. It's also rather expensive | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Wales Center NY Date Reviewed: November 1, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Strengths: | There are NONE, except it didn't fall apart or break. | | Weaknesses: | For all the engineering the specialized put in to these seats, you think they would be alot better. I bought two seats, one for a hardtail, and one for a full suspension. They both squeek, all the time. Very, Very f*#$%king annoying when riding. Not to mention giving the seat 6 months of riding to break in/ body to adjust, but still get a sore ass. Tired of them. going to send them back to specialized | | Similar Products Used: | WTB, guess I should have kept it. And bought a different one for the new bike. | | Bike Setup: | A GT Pantera, much upgraded, and an INTENSE TRACER, full XTR, RACEFACE, love it | | Bottom Line: | Wouldn't offer it to anyone. PERIOD!!!! A buddy has two also, he is ditching his. Don't blame him a bit. Not worth the BUCKS, Buy something ELSE, you'll be much happier. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Brooklyn, NY, USA Date Reviewed: September 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Broadway, Manhattan-Bronx to the Battery | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$110.00 | | Purchased At: | Sid's | | Strengths: | good comfort narrow profile slight road damping | | Weaknesses: | underside plastic nose piece loosening leather cover on underside | | Similar Products Used: | Selle Italia Max Flite | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Caad3 Road | | Bottom Line: | I purchased this saddle in ‘99 to replace a wearing and semi-comfortable Selle Italia Max Flite. For whatever reason, the whole concept and design of the seat from a comfort point of view simply had some logic (this was just before Specialized began those seductive ads and challenging everyone's possible loss of manhood). If I had relied upon an initial ride impression, I would have rejected this saddle. It took a couple weeks and maybe a little break-in to really get accustomed to the feel of it. The change of pressure points on your bones from one area to another simply takes time.
Since then the saddle has been pure comfort for 1-1/2 years. The length of the saddle has just a little bit of flex which may help smooth things out a bit. I can also slide forward and back to find different positions over the course of a ride. I've used it for a training and few centuries using a stiffer Cannondale 2.8 frame and my current CAAD3 set-up. I don't start to feel its presence until 5-6 hours into a ride... but hey, sitting on anything that long is going to get to you.
My biggest complaint would be the overall workmanship. It hasn't worn out yet but I don't see it lasting beyond 3, maybe 4 seasons of use. At the point where the leather turns to the underside of the saddle, the adhesive sometimes works loose. This first appeared about a month after I started using it and I have resecured it a couple times with some heavy-duty adhesive from the local hardware store. This is a minor annoyance and I hope the problem does not spread to the entire seat perimeter. For the price, I expect a little better. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom F.
a Racer
from Tulsa Oklahoma US Date Reviewed: September 17, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | a store | | Strengths: | relieves numbess
| | Weaknesses: | grooves hurt, but relieves numbess, I am mostly a roadie and I dunno how this seat will work on multi day rides. AFter 100 miles I was hurtin pretty bad, and I have Pearl Izumi micorsensor shorts, very good chamois, so its not the shorts. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | diamondback interval | | Bottom Line: | relieves numbess but hurts, little pricey for 150 dollars, I got it for 90. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kirk Rogers
a Weekend Warrior
from Altadena Date Reviewed: September 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Red Box | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Helen'/ Pro bike Arcadia | | Strengths: | It is a very comfortable saddle. My bike store let me try it and I tried a few seat mentioned and was not happy until | | Weaknesses: | It took some adjustment and patience to get it perfect. | | Similar Products Used: | CODA, Frazik | | Bike Setup: | Kestrel carbon fiber 200SCI, Ultegra. I'm 215lbs. 5' 11" tall | | Bottom Line: | Great product! I've read the reviews and can tell that there are complainers. Research better! Don't buy stuff you don't research enough and complain about the product. How spent the bread? I have found the temperature on my bottom has cooled. I ride 500-600 miles per month and I do not complain about my seat anymore being uncomfortable. My riding partner who is 170lbs and he's 5'8" did not like the seat rubbed his leg too much. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Stock
a Cross Country Rider
from Sunnyvale, CA Date Reviewed: August 25, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Specialized Factory | | Strengths: | Does what it says, really comfortable. Makes riding several times a week a lot easier. | | Weaknesses: | High price and funny looking chrome caps. | | Similar Products Used: | N/A | | Bike Setup: | Kona with Judy XC and specialized team control tires. | | Bottom Line: | I wouldn't have paid retail price for this seat, got it through a friend at Specialized. Wanted to get a nice saddle that was more comfortable and be able to have kids later in life. I love the seat, feels great to ride on, sort of cheasy chrome parts though. All in all, this saddle gets the job done nicely but for the price it should. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Manerd
a Racer
from Brown Summit Date Reviewed: July 28, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | The saddle relieves numbness and is comfortable. | | Weaknesses: | My chrome is starting to wear off and it is over priced.
| | Similar Products Used: | Turbo,Vetta | | Bottom Line: | This seat once it has broke in is wonderful, It takes around 300 to 400 miles to break in. I was having problems at first trying to get comfortable sitting on the back of the saddle portion but over time it becomes softer and you forget that you are sitting on a narrow saddle. At first I had the tip of the saddle slightly upward but found this to hurt to much so I leveled the tip because the front of the saddle is already slightly tipped. This saddle does work and I have no more numbness.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jorg wagner
a Weekend Warrior
from goldsboro, nc Date Reviewed: June 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | tsali, nc | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | comfortable | | Weaknesses: | a bit too much plastic, a bit too much $$ | | Similar Products Used: | flite ti, wtb | | Bike Setup: | i use it on my road bike, R1000 | | Bottom Line: | Most of the reviews decry the fact that the seat does not work so well in rough conditions. Well, folks, i truly find the pro ti to be a road seat. i am extremely comfortable on long rides in the saddle. the padding is perfect for my taste and the cutout works superbly. the seat does a fine job dulling some of the lighter hits and i have not had any problems with the workmanship. granted, the plastic "chrome" is not everyone's taste, but you can easily take it off and secure the leather cover with some aquaseal underneath the seat. at 6'4, 260 lbs, i cannot complain about the seat at all. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Iceaxe
a Cross Country Rider
from Novi, Mi, USA Date Reviewed: June 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Boyne Mt. | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Comfortable--it does what it says! reasonably light(I guess) | | Weaknesses: | Break in period, not REALLY light, PRICE! | | Similar Products Used: | Selle Italia trans am. Gyro fizik | | Bike Setup: | Jekyll 900 sl | | Bottom Line: | This is the PRO Ti MTB model. So far I've ridden it for two months with out any problems. My @ss went numb at first, but now this thing is great. I tried to go back to my trusty fizik saddle . . . No way!!the specialized design fits my "area" really well. I've ridden in the rain and so far it still looks good and is holding together. Being that it's a nubuck type leather, I put some conditioner on it which has protected as well as sped up the break in. My advice before you buy is to ride it to make sure it hits you in the right spots, for some people it's to wide, for others to narrow. It'll feel stiff at first because you're riding on less of your body's realestate but it will soften up. My only gripe is that for $130 it should be a little lighter . . . but I guess you can't put a price on comfort. Ride hard my bruthas! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
voodoo-1
a Cross Country Rider
from Jackson, WY, USA Date Reviewed: May 17, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | It beats not using anything but the post. Good shape, not enough padding. | | Weaknesses: | It started falling apart after about 2 months or riding. . .now it's coverd in electrical tape to keep it together. REALLY uncomfortable. | | Similar Products Used: | I'm not even sure what they all were, but this is one of the worst. | | Bike Setup: | Doesn't really matter for this review | | Bottom Line: | I do have an older version of this saddle, so maybe they've made it a little more comfortable/durable. Mine is pretty bad as far as saddles go. As far as the guy that says it hurts his prostate. . . I don't think he knows where his prostate is, or he's using his saddle all wrong. The saddle looks better than it works/lasts. The "kevlar" (I'm not even so sure it is kevlar, looks a little more like cotton to me) started unstitching from the seat almost as soon as I threw it on the bike. Then the cover started to come off from the nose of the saddle. . .so it's all held together with tape right now. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tim
a Racer
from greensboro,nc,usa Date Reviewed: April 2, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | It does relieve numbness but that doesnt mean this saddle is comfortable. | | Weaknesses: | To narrow, hurts on the right and left sides of your prostate. Could do with out the chrome | | Similar Products Used: | Turbomatic,Vetta | | Bike Setup: | Bottecchia road bike | | Bottom Line: | I gave this saddle time to break-in but the pain hurts to bad on and off the saddle.The saddle is way over priced and looks are subjective. May work for some but not for me. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Art
a
from Adirondack Mts., NY Date Reviewed: March 2, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | •Ample, stiff padding if that's what your looking for. | | Weaknesses: | •Too narrow/weird shape. •Goofy cosmetics. •Heavy. •Expensive. | | Similar Products Used: | •A whole bunch. | | Bike Setup: | •Litespeed road. | | Bottom Line: | This one's name is the B.G. Pro Ti, not Sport Ti. The B.G. Sport is the $40. model.
But anyway, the Pro Ti is another saddle that is too skinny for me in the sit bone region. (I'm 6'/197 lbs.) Here you have a saddle that, judging from it's price, is pretending to be in the high-end ranks. Proof that a high price (without some worthwhile features) doesn't make a better product. I suppose the marketing "pro's" at The Big S figured they'd slap some Ti rails on this thing, and some embossed leather and expect 130 bucks for it. Yeah - right.
Then, to try to make it look worthy of it's ridiculous price, they mess it up even more with the cheap "chrome" plastic under the nose and on the wings. I guess you could remove the screws and take off the "chrome" pieces, but then you'd have the rough edges of the leather sticking out. But it probably would look better! Hey, this pee-sa-sh¡t it doesn't even have light weight going for it.
I'll bet the next time I'm in south Phoenix, I could cruise Central Ave. with this thing, and get in "no problemo" with the low-rider punks down there. But then, they'd probably kick my a$$ and steal it for their own bikes.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark McTamany
a Racer
from BooAdelphia, PA Date Reviewed: October 16, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | the streets of filthadelphia | | Duration Product Used: | less than 1 month | | Strengths: | comforatable | | Weaknesses: | looks cheap, very eggspensive, made very cheaply, specialized must be raking in a profit from the amount it costs to build this saddle (2cents), to how much it costs ($100+) | | Similar Products Used: | Regular Body Geometry | | Bike Setup: | GT track bike | | Bottom Line: | Whats up with Specialized? Who OK'd this P.O.S. looking seat? I bought this mail order, and when I got it, I was like what the f**k!!!. I wanted to return it, but am to lazy to deal with the hassle. All of the pictures that I've seen of this saddle hide its cheap tackiness. If Specialized continues this type of deception, I will sceam bloody murder and renounce their products and integrity for all to hear. Hey Specialized, no couriers will ever buy any of your products if I have anything to do with it!!! | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Cross-Country Rider
from Merrimack, NH Date Reviewed: August 2, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | City Park Austin, TX | | Duration Product Used: | less than 1 month | | Strengths: | The saddle really works! It is comfortable and quite functional so that you can be as well. | | Weaknesses: | It is pricey, (I got mine for 30% off), and a little tacky looking. It's not as light as it could be for those who are weight conscious. | | Similar Products Used: | Terry Liberator Ti (Men's), Bontrager Ti Selle San Marcos | | Bike Setup: | 97 Specialized M2 Stumpjumper Comp, Answer Minitou SX Ti and Thompson Elite seatpost | | Bottom Line: | I have had NO quality problems with this seat and I probably put about 20 to 25 hours on it. It works and is comfortable. I have had no problems getting behind it for drops and big descents. I'm going to keep my lightweight Bontrager San Selle Marcos around in case I do have problems with the Specialized, but the Specialized will be my seat of choice. The only two MINOR complaints I have are that: 1. It isn't as light as my Bontrager (210 Grams), It weights in around 250 grams. 2. It does look a little tacky with the chrome effect, I'm into performance, not glitz. Other than that, I'm sold on the idea and performance of this saddle. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross-Country Rider
from Park City, UT Date Reviewed: July 30, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | Wasatch Crest | | Duration Product Used: | less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Revision to previous review | | Bottom Line: | Specialized should absolutely be embarassed that they every sold this product. Yesterday, I was riding down some technical sections after a rainstorm. Believe it or not, the wetness seem to weaken the glue and the seat cover started to pull apart. You try riding down some very slick trails without any confidence that your butt can stay in the saddle.This product is garbage. If I had been injured, trust me, I would have litigated this product defect. My dealer replaced the saddle, but despite the fact that my nether regions were happier, it's still apiece of junk. It's ugly, cheaply made, and mountain bikers should avoid it especially.DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT UNLESS YOU LIKE WASTING MONEY.I'm giving it one star, because there's no option for negative numbers. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross-Country Rider
from Park City, UT Date Reviewed: July 19, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: | Wasatch Crest | | Duration Product Used: | less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Wow, I'm not numb any more. Light weight | | Weaknesses: | $150????? And the saddle looks like it was made for a custom low rider bike. What's with the tacky chrome?Also, without Kevlar edges, I think this saddle is going to be considered disposable | | Similar Products Used: | Selle Italia Flite | | Bike Setup: | Merlin Echo, tricked out with XTR | | Bottom Line: | OK, I'm going to be a sexist pig for one minute. With this saddle, I can check out the buff babes on the trail, and, well, know that everything works. But seriously, I really love this saddle for comfort. I think I could sit in this saddle for hours without worrying if I'm going to permanently lose feeling.BUT, I hate this saddle for a couple of serious problems...it is truly for roadies and it looks cheap. What's with the chrome for chrissakes??? I think Specialized is nuts with this tacky, cheap look.While I put on the road miles or jeep trail, I will have to ignore the looks, and just dwell in the comfort.I'm giving this product 3 flamers, deducting one flame for excessive price (relative the cheesy quality) and one flame because of it's looks. I should deduct one additional flame for the fact that it's a roadie saddle, but since I ride on the road, I'm all right with it. | Overall Rating: |
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