[PauliusA]

Hi everyone, so I just broke my henge expert saddle and I am looking for a replacement. I'm riding a 2013 Specialized Carve Expert with a 23" inch size and it felt great with the specialized henge that I was running until it broke. However, I've been reading about the 29er specific Fizik Thar and was wondering if it's worth a shot. I'm asking because I've no frame of reference as to what works for me and what doesn't as this is my first proper mountain bike on which I've learned all of my techniques.

So, any ideas if it's worth it? Here's a picture of my bike, with the saddle position that I always use.

 

[savechief]

First off, the notion of a 29er specific saddle is totally ridiculous.

As for if it's "worth it", only you can decide that. If it was a $10 saddle, but didn't feel good, then it wouldn't be worth it. If it was $300 but allowed you to ride pain free, then it might be worth it. Buy one, try it out, return if uncomfortable. Easy.

And just curious, why don't you just buy a replacement for the saddle you broke, but know you like?

 

[skiahh]

fizik doesn't think it's ridiculous. They're putting R&D and marketing $$ into the idea.

As for being worth it, my local fizik dealer has the whole range of fizik saddles available as loaners. Go find your local dealer and see if they have the same. Check one out for a week and then another to compare. And another.

I love my fizik saddle, but I spent several weeks comparing various options before finding my ideal saddle.

 

[bikerbert]

I saw that in MBA. Pardon the question, in all seriousness, how is a saddle specific to wheel size?


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[Cayenne_Pepa]

Some of us guys are simply too smart to fall for that marketing hype....

 

[Thor29]

Ha! If you read the BS about this saddle it makes no sense at all. There is nothing inherent in 29er frame design that causes saddles to end up too far back. And that stuff about the tire not hitting the saddle when the dropper seatpost is slammed, well, if that is a real thing it only happens on very small frames.

I've owned 29ers made by Niner, Surly, Voodoo, and Kona. Not a single one had an issue with the seat being too far back. In fact, I had a setback seatpost on the Surly Karate Monkey. The Kona has a dropper post and the saddle does not hit the tire.

 

[Krakkreel]

Some 29er has a seat angle more open than 26er, so they got a bike more "nervous". Cause of this, saddle must be fit at the end of their rails. A specific saddle for 29er has larger rails and other features like lenght of the nose, etc

If you fit your broken saddle at the end of rails (was this cause of failure?), perhaps the fizik 29er solvent your problem.

 

[jeffj]

If that fore/aft position of your saddle is what you prefer, I would suggest using either a seatpost with a setback clamp design, or a layback/setback seatpost so that the clamp is attached at the rear of the rails, not at the front. With it clamped at the front of the rails, as it is pictured, it puts a lot more leverage on the saddle rails. Most bent/broken saddles I see have the saddle mounted with the clamp toward the front of the rails.

 

[Krakkreel]

Op, if you buy the fizik thar, dont forget post here a pic to compare the old and the new saddle, so your impressions