Submitted by
jadamsmtb
a Cross Country Rider
from Medford, MA USA Date Reviewed: June 22, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Tioga
Strengths:
looks so cool people stop to take pics of it and discuss it's lackof merits
Weaknesses:
like riding a cheese grater- my crotch is aching this morning! may be just a little better with cycling shorts
Similar Products Used:
specialized avatar, alias, toupe, selle itialia slr, flite, bontrager saddles, so many more
Bike Setup:
installed saddle on my single speed/fixed gear
Bottom Line:
i work in the industry so i scored this saddle for free directly from tioga and will not be installing it on any of my sweet bikes. i am happy with my specialized toupe gel. will unload this on e-bay to some sorry buyer. 1 flaming value chilli even though i got it for free!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Salinas, CA, US Date Reviewed: December 29, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$89.00
Purchased At:
Christmas..???
Strengths:
Can move around great and super light!!
Weaknesses:
A little bit hard, but if you wear padded shorts, your fine.
Similar Products Used:
Spealizied Rival
Bike Setup:
Stumpjumper with light XRP wheels
Bottom Line:
A good seat for a competor or weight weenie. No one should be complaing about the weight or feel. Compare this to some 200$ saddels and you find that this is lighter and cheaper, probally even feels better. I haven't had any bennding or breaking problems, but I just got it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daryl Evans
a Racer
from Nashville Date Reviewed: November 4, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Hamilton Creek
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
e-bay
Strengths:
looks, light weight
Weaknesses:
edges are not rounded off enough
Similar Products Used:
flyte
Bike Setup:
full carbon road bike, all Campy 10sp
Bottom Line:
I put this saddle on my road bike for something different. I have ridden it for 1 season and have had no major issues. It is quite light, gets a lot of attention and is mostly comfortable. The only negative I have found is the outside edge of the saddle isn't rounded as much as my flyte. I had some chaffing issues until I got used to it, now it is comfortable. The "sag" caused by the "webbing" takes a few months to get broken in, but once there, makes the saddle much more comfortable. Sliding fore and aft is very easy. Anyone looking for a durable, long lasting MTB saddle probably shouldn't choose this one. If, however, you ride rode, or light off-road, you may be pleasantly surprised.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Garry
a Cross Country Rider
from Ohio Date Reviewed: October 22, 2007
Favorite Trail:
All of them
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
E-Bay
Strengths:
Weight, Cool looks, Pretty comfy for the seasoned back side. Very smooth and easy to slide around on.
Weaknesses:
Would not recommend for the new rider, Almost too smooth.
Similar Products Used:
Lots
Bike Setup:
Titus MotoLite
Bottom Line:
I would buy another, Great for the weight consious. Retail price is a little high for what you get. 4 chili's for value. 4 Chili's for overall, it's not the most comfy saddle out there, but it is LITE!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Emerson Howe
a Cross Country Rider
from Jericho, Vt Date Reviewed: June 13, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Bithchin' looks, light weight, impress your friends!
Weaknesses:
Uhhhh.... it broke. Also it was $75 f***ing dollars, which is still less than full price.
Similar Products Used:
A seatpost up my bum.
Bike Setup:
2001 Gary Fisher Paragon with Avid BB5's.
Bottom Line:
Although it looks amazing, I was rather disappointed with it. I could never get it do be dialed in so it was comfortable. I have a Fetish Cycles carbon fiber set on an old aluminum Cannondale road bike, so I'm not a wus about seats. Another downside is it's price; regardless of what you pay (anywhere from $45 on eBay or $110ish new), Tioga recommends that you replace it every season. I'm 15 lbs below their max weight and it only lasted for 3 light races. If you are a lightweight it may work better for you, but I really think it depends on your body build. Try one out first if you can, because not only is it expensive but if you race with it you won't want to sit on anything thinner than a couch the next day.
Bottom Line: If you are a light weight weenie with disposable income and a hard ass, buy it. All others: don't be seduced by its looks, it's not worth the pain.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
yarrum nayrb
a Weekend Warrior
from somewhere in busharagua Date Reviewed: May 11, 2007
Favorite Trail:
tranquility base
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Lightweight, looks & believe it or not...comfort
Weaknesses:
Friends & strangers want to take it for a test ride.
FOR MEDIUM TO ADVANCED XC sessions I've had no trouble with the Spyder and would buy one again. My Lands Down Under are fine with it. You might not pick it for your first saddle,though. Knew from MTBReview that this component was iffy for breakage, so I bought a month-old one for half price on eBay. I ride 4 times a week @ 2 hrs a session. Although barely tall enough for a medium frame, I'm close to the stated weight limit for these saddles. Why so many break reports? Theory: MAYBE Spyders are incompatable with carbon fiber seat posts and the whole set up is over-flexing & breaking at the rails (my post is a full-metal-Thomson. This is useful & stylin component for out-of-the-closet weight weenies with smooth riding technique... which is, c-mon, the target audience for all super light components of this type.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mike
a Weekend Warrior
from nyc Date Reviewed: April 28, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$59.00
Purchased At:
ebay, brand new
Strengths:
none.
Weaknesses:
bend rails on first ride.
Similar Products Used:
slr, slk, fizik etc.
Bike Setup:
29er ss. 32/20.
Bottom Line:
this saddle is garbage. i am 5.9", 160lbs when out of shape. conservative, smooth riding style. no jumps. bent rails on first ride and lost red rubber thingies on the back of seat. tioga does not respond to phone calls or emails. zero customer service. is there more to say?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brad
a Racer
from Atlanta Date Reviewed: March 24, 2007
Favorite Trail:
vert ones
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
sponsor
Strengths:
Looks cool
Weaknesses:
must be broken in
Similar Products Used:
many
Bike Setup:
litespeed tsali, mavic x 517, ti everywhere, scram xo, carbon bars, ti bolts, bla, bla, bla.....
Bottom Line:
what it is is what it is.... you wimps need to shut up and ride. it will break in and flex as good as any lite-weight saddle with a layer of leather. If youre a weight weenie then get it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James Jones
a Cross Country Rider
from Asheville Date Reviewed: June 17, 2006
Favorite Trail:
tsali/bent creek
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$87.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
It Looks good but that's where it ends
Weaknesses:
fragile, I'm on my 2nd saddle in 3 months
Similar Products Used:
None this is a world class piece of crap
Bike Setup:
titus racer X
Bottom Line:
I've got to tell you this saddle is 1st uncomfortable which I expected but 2nd it's a piece of crap. I broke my 1st saddle when I layed the bike down on the trail and the rear of the seat clipped the ground. One wreck one broken seat. Tioga to there credit replaced the seat, by the way you have to bring it to a dealer not send it to them directly and just try and find Tioga's number on-line. PS here it is your gonna need it 310-719-1718 2nd seat Just broke I'm I have no idea what happened I'm just riding along felt a pinch in the arse and the saddle was broken. No wreck no nothing just broke. The problem is the webbing of the saddle just cannot support your body weight or take even a slight hit. You can crush this saddle with your hand it sooooo fragile. This seat has no use other than hey weigh my bike it's xxlbs then take the seat off and ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
scot
a
from coupeville wa Date Reviewed: May 27, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$85.00
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
looks,light,comfort
Weaknesses:
rails bent after about 3months of use.
Similar Products Used:
selle italia flite ti
Bike Setup:
khs steal ox2 manitou raceface shmano xt mavic/dt
Bottom Line:
I WOUID HOPE FOR THE SEAT TO LAST LONGER THEN 3MON. I COULD NOT RECOMEND THIS SEAT MOST MTB RIDERS. I WOUID RECOMOND THIS SEAT TO SOME ONE WHO IS REALY LIHGT. THIS WOULD BE EXCELENT CHOICE FOR A SMLL MTN RIDER UNDER 163LB.
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Submitted by
Jimmy
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto Date Reviewed: May 23, 2006
According to Tioga's website it should be replaced annually.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized S-Works, WTB Laser, Selle Flight Trans Am, etc...
Bike Setup:
Giant Trance 1
Bottom Line:
I read a review for this saddle in MB Action magazine and I knew right then I had to have it. None of my local LBSs had them so I purchased it off eBay. It arrived in a box worthy of storing the most precious of jewellery. After removing it from the box, I thought to my self, "This is so small and uncomfortable looking, what was I thinking?" Of course, those negative sentiments were erased completely after I mounted it and went for I ride. I would be lying if I said this wasn't the most comfortable racing saddle I have ever sat my unworthy a$$ on. Moving around on the saddle is so much easier. Not to mention the fact that my riding shorts seem to stay much dryer with this saddle. Tioga recommends replacing the saddle annually. Well, I'd replace it far more frequently if I had to. I have sat on more comfortable saddles but they were banana seats and those do not belong on a mountain bike. So who should buy this saddle? Well, if you like to stare at something as much as you like to use it, then this is your saddle. If you must own one of the lightest yet most comfortable minimalist saddle available, then this is for you. If you demand the most in comfort and don't mind something 1 foot wide and 2 feet long under your cheeks, then this is not for you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Travis Barnette
a Weekend Warrior
from N.O., Louisiana Date Reviewed: May 15, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Tsali
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$65.00
Purchased At:
online store
Strengths:
Cool looking and light
Weaknesses:
Exceptionally unconfortable
Similar Products Used:
Several other fast-looking, lightweight saddles
Bike Setup:
Voodoo bokor, King hubs & headset, XTR, all chi-chi parts
Bottom Line:
I've ridden some pretty uncomfortable saddles in the past due to weight issues and wanting a cool look for my ride, but the Tioga Spyder is ridiculously uncomfortable. The first time I saw it in a mag I thought to myself, wow that looks pretty sweet. The saddle looks like it will flex quite a bit due to its spider-web like design, and it does to some extent. However, if you tend to ride near the back of your saddle (like I do), you will not be able to feel any of the seat’s flexibility, but you will instead experience something totally unique (I hope) to this particular saddle. The seat’s plastic / carbonate surface is surprisingly hard, like one of those old school bmx saddles, and the spider-web like holes in the surface act like a cheese grater as you bounce along the trail. After riding on a trail for 13-15 miles I was surprised to see how just how much damage this particular seat did to my race-saddle trained posterior. I thought, I would definitely be tough enough to ride on this thing, but I was wrong. Tioga, you have created an exceptionally crappy product, but thank you for pricing it well under $110. This saddle may be suitable for road riding (I will not be subjecting myself to this), but I discourage anyone, without a kevlar reinforced butt, from using this seat on the trail. I am giving this saddle two flaming value chillies for being $65 and for giving me two flaming blisters on my rump.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew Kalter
a Racer
from S. Fallsburg, NY Date Reviewed: April 29, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$85.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Cool looking, light, cheap, airflow, slippery so you can slide into the most comfortable condition.
Weaknesses:
None yet. Website recommends annual replacement
Similar Products Used:
Terry Fly
Bike Setup:
Merlin Extralight
Bottom Line:
As comfortable as my worn out Terry Fly and 100 grams lighter. My Spyder was 150 grams, not the claimed 140 grams. I did a 1700 foot vertical gain climb today and thought the seat was very comfortable and extremely easy to move around on. It is also the coolest looking seat.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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