Which Gravel Bike Saddle?

j102 · Nov 13, 2018

Gravel bikes are close to Road bikes, but with a more relaxed, upright position. We go fast and we do long rides on them, but in most cases we take comfort over speed.
With that in mind, two questions:
1) Which saddle do you have on your Gravel bike?
2) Would a MTB saddle make sense on a Gravel bike?
I use my Gravel bike on paved roads and gravel/maintenance roads. I have a Fizik Antares R3 Open saddle on it. But, I have a Specialized Henge Comp saddle on my MTB (which is very comfortable) and I wonder how it would do on the Gravel bike.

VegasSingleSpeed · Nov 13, 2018

1) Selle Anatomica X2
2) It might. I run an Ergon on my MTB, but the larger tires/lower pressure and suspension (fork) take the edge off the ride. But, I prefer the Selle Anatomica over the Ergon on my gravel bike.

supersedona · Nov 13, 2018

On mine I run Bontrager Ajna Elite on the road and a Comp version on the Gravel. The lower spec level is only really different feelwise in that the lower trim is a little squishier(very little).

jcd46 · Nov 13, 2018

SDG Falcon and I've run the Charge Spoon (that went to my rigid Kona) and have another laying around in the parts bin.

The Falcon is comfy and I just did a 36mile ride on Saturday, it was all road but zero issues.

1 cog frog · Nov 15, 2018

I’ve used a Selle Anatomica X1 for the last year on my Penhale Gypsy gravel/monstercross bike, & loved it. The X1 is super comfy over long seated distances. I just switched to a Brooks Cambium C17 carved in anticipation of a wet winter. I switched only to try something new, & for less maintenance through winter.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

HollyBoni · Nov 15, 2018

I'll go with the usual run a sadle that works with your butt. Seriously.

Road or MTB, just find one that works for you. I run a WTB Volt Pro which is an MTB saddle in theory. I look at it as just a saddle... Don't care if it's MTB or not. Works great with my rear end.
I'm coming from a Fizik Arione which is a roadie saddle. I changed it because it was uncomfortable for me personally. Offroad or pavement, it was equally uncomfortable everywhere, and it was equally uncomfortable on both my gravel bike and my road bike.

If you have those two saddles and you're wondering how the MTB one would do on your gravel bike, easy, just put it on your gravel bike. I assure you your bike is not going to explode.

We can't give you an answer.

j102 · Nov 15, 2018

Usually MTB saddles are built (the shape of the saddle, the shape/length of the nose, where the padding goes, etc.) for a more upright position than road saddles for example.
On a Gravel bike one sits on a more upright position than on a road bike, close you could say, to the position on a MTB. That is the reasoning for the question.

HollyBoni · Nov 16, 2018

I'm not sure.

In the road world you see super slammed race bikes or more upright endurance bikes.

In the MTB world you see super slammed XC bikes, or trail bikes with long suspension forks and a really tall front end.

Even though i've built my gravel bike with a quite upright position it's still nowhere near as high as a trail bike and the WTB saddle that says "MTB" on the box works great.

Just my opinion and no offense but I think this is getting into overthinking territory. I'm sure it can be true to some extent but when I read something like a saddle designed for "more speed" or a certain position on the bike it sounds like marketing nonsense. We all have different rear ends, who knows what will work for the next guy.

And I still maintain that if you're curious how your MTB saddle would do on your gravel bike, just try it.

Sorry I probably sound like an ass, it's just a bit funny to me. The other day some guy started threads on two different forums asking about how a tyre rolls that he just installed on his bike but haven't ridden yet...

edubfromktown · Nov 16, 2018

+1 for overthinking / over-labeling

Whatever works (or came with the bike)... I have a mix of Fitzik, Morgaw and Selle Italia saddles.

None of them shred my undercarriage and that's good enough for me (props to Cookie Monster... lol).

tangerineowl · Nov 16, 2018

HollyBoni said:
...The other day some guy started threads on two different forums asking about how a tyre rolls that he just installed on his bike but haven't ridden yet...

You gave a good answer :thumbsup:

j102 · Nov 16, 2018

HollyBoni said:
I'm not sure.

In the road world you see super slammed race bikes or more upright endurance bikes.

In the MTB world you see super slammed XC bikes, or trail bikes with long suspension forks and a really tall front end.

Even though i've built my gravel bike with a quite upright position it's still nowhere near as high as a trail bike and the WTB saddle that says "MTB" on the box works great.

Just my opinion and no offense but I think this is getting into overthinking territory. I'm sure it can be true to some extent but when I read something like a saddle designed for "more speed" or a certain position on the bike it sounds like marketing nonsense. We all have different rear ends, who knows what will work for the next guy.

And I still maintain that if you're curious how your MTB saddle would do on your gravel bike, just try it. Sorry I probably sound like an ass, it's just a bit funny to me. The other day some guy started threads on two different forums asking about how a tyre rolls that he just installed on his bike but haven't ridden yet...

Yep, you are right. Nothing wrong with trying it on the Gravel bike to see how it feels.
I even agree with you on the overthinking part. [emoji16][emoji1303]

kapusta · Nov 17, 2018

IMO a gravel bike is basically the same as a road bike in terms of how I ride it and how I fit on it. So unsurprisingly, I use the same saddle as for my road bike: A Koobi AU Enduro.

I find I want slightly different things from a road/gravel saddle vs an MTB saddle.

HollyBoni · Nov 18, 2018

kapusta said:
IMO a gravel bike is basically the same as a road bike in terms of how I ride it and how I fit on it. So unsurprisingly, I use the same saddle as for my road bike: A Koobi AU Enduro.

I find I want slightly different things from a road/gravel saddle vs an MTB saddle.

According to their website that saddle is "for general purpose road cycling and mountain biking".

I really like this part: "Ideal for riders cycling 3-6 hours per week"

kapusta · Nov 18, 2018

HollyBoni said:
According to their website that saddle is "for general purpose road cycling and mountain biking".

I really like this part: "Ideal for riders cycling 3-6 hours per week"

Someday you may learn to pay more attention to how things actually work and less to ad copy.

Or not. It is up to you.

But if it matters, I tried one first on a mountain bike. It was too wide in the back and too flat. But it works out perfect for road riding for me.

But the website says otherwise, so you should probably just disregard my actual experience.

HollyBoni · Nov 18, 2018

kapusta said:
Someday you may learn to pay more attention to how things actually work and less to ad copy.

Or not. It is up to you.

But if it matters, I tried one first on a mountain bike. It was too wide in the back and too flat. But it works out perfect for road riding for me.

But the website says otherwise, so you should probably just disregard my actual experience.

I just tought it was funny that you mentioned you want slightly different things from a road vs an MTB saddle and this one is titled as both by the manufacturer.

I'm pretty sure I pay attention to how things work, when it comes to saddles I just care about the shape, not if it's titled as road or MTB. I see plenty "MTB" saddles that resemble a "road" saddle and vice versa. What i've been saying (or trying to say) all along is that it's mostly just marketing.
Saddle choice is just too personal. Who knows, the Koobi might have been comfortable for me on both of the bikes you've tried, or it would have been uncomfortable on both.
What do you do if you ride your MTB on gravel? Just kidding.

I'm sure we're gonna see gravel saddles soon tho, after all Shimano has a gravel shoe.

kapusta · Nov 18, 2018

HollyBoni said:
I just tought it was funny that you mentioned you want slightly different things from a road vs an MTB saddle and this one is titled as both by the manufacturer.

I think I pay attention to how things work, but really when it comes to saddles I just care about the shape, not if it's titled as road or MTB. I see plenty "MTB" saddles that resemble a "road" saddle and vice versa. Saddle choice is just too personal. Who knows, the Koobi might have been comfortable for me on both of the bikes you've tried, or it would have been uncomfortable on both.
What do you do if you ride your MTB on gravel? Just kidding.

I'm sure we're gonna see gravel saddles soon tho, after all Shimano has a gravel shoe.

Sorry, I may have misinterpreted the implication of your post.

Yeah, I've never been sure what manufacturers (or anyone else) think makes something a road or mtb saddle.

What I have found for myself is that when road riding, I am mostly just sitting on it in one position for a very long time and do not move around much. Or if I do, it is just for a change in position for its own sake, not because of the terrain. The wide width and relatively flat profile of the Koobi seems to work perfectly for me, and has for 18 years.

On an mtb I am moving around IN the saddle a lot more and can shift a lot (both to the rear and to the nose) and when out of the saddle I am often trying to get out of its way. I want a narrower saddle (for when I am not sitting in it) but also want a little slope at the back end and a shorter nose with a little drop.

The Koobi was way too wide and hard to get behind and around on my mtb when I first tried it (that was around 2000). I started using a dropper post in 2005, and a few years ago decided to try the Koobi on the mtb again. Still did not like it. With the dropper, the width was less of an issue (but still an issue) but I could not find a tilt angle that worked both on the flats and on really steep climbs.

To be honest, I have never found a saddle for mtb that I am as happy with as I am with the Koobi for road (and gravel). I have a few that work fine, but not perfect. I still end up trying something new every few years.

Sage of the Sage · Nov 18, 2018

I run a Brooks Swift on my Warbird, and a Chromag Trailmaster on my Timberjack.

BurkC · Nov 18, 2018

Saddles are like underwear. Everyone likes something different.

I have ridden WTB Rocket V on my MTB's for a long time. When I bought a Salsa Vaya, it came with a WTB Volt. It has a slightly lower profile but sits exactly the same (for me)

I ride my gravel bike on single track as well so I didnt want a pure "road" type saddle. I kept using the Volt and never looked back

The proper width is a important as what type of saddle you choose IMO.

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kapusta · Nov 18, 2018

BurkC said:
Saddles are like underwear.

I will try not to think about that the next time I borrow someone else's bike.

HollyBoni · Nov 18, 2018

BurkC said:
Saddles are like underwear. Everyone likes something different.

I have ridden WTB Rocket V on my MTB's for a long time. When I bought a Salsa Vaya, it came with a WTB Volt. It has a slightly lower profile but sits exactly the same (for me)

I ride my gravel bike on single track as well so I didnt want a pure "road" type saddle. I kept using the Volt and never looked back

The proper width is a important as what type of saddle you choose IMO.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

The Volt is great. I've been riding the Pro version for about half a year and i'm super happy with it. Not super slim but not overly padded either, and just a slight curve. Very nice balance. It comes in I think 3 widths which is cool.
Pretty much every Salsa bike comes with it from the factory.

Which Gravel Bike Saddle?

j102

VegasSingleSpeed

supersedona

jcd46

1 cog frog

HollyBoni

j102

HollyBoni

edubfromktown

tangerineowl

j102

kapusta

HollyBoni

kapusta

HollyBoni

kapusta

Sage of the Sage

BurkC

kapusta

HollyBoni

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