anyone tried the "Easy Seat" or other nose-less saddles?

topic posted Thu, May 15, 2008 - 8:46 PM by  Alchemy
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Googling today I found
- spiderflex - www.spiderflex.com
- Easy Seat (by hobson) www.hobsonseats.com/
- Bi-saddle www.bycycleinc.com/
-sponge wonder www.spongywonder.com/
- moon saddle www.moonsaddle.com/

except for the moon saddle which is a thin crescent, all the rest are two separate pads, one for each 'sitz' bone.

My current saddle has a groove down the middle, but I can't say that the groove makes any difference at all compared to a brooks saddle on my 80s Bianchi.

One of the women who moved into our house has, and likes, the original easy seat. Right now its on another housemate's bike - he's ridden it four times and likes it a lot so far.
posted by:
Alchemy
SF Bay Area
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  • Brooks, FTW!

    I've got a B-17 with over 4000 miles on it, which I just moved over to my fixed gear.
    I'm a product tester for Brooks, and I'm currently riding the B-17 Imperial (see pix in my profile) which is a B-17 Champ. Std. wtih a center cutout. I'll be putting a double metric on that one Saturday so I can give it a right and proper distance-ride review.
    • the unsaddle is a noseless saddle that targets the higher end of the market- triathlon and road. It's not built for mom and pop type riders.
      www.dimarusa.com/un-saddle/welcome.htm
      I've done some consulting work for Un-saddle. the major difference between usaddle and every other saddle on the market is the movement- the un-saddle pivots from side to side instead of up and down.
      • The Un-Saddle looks like it would be the best one of them all because it isn't an over-padded cushiony blob. That's the biggest gripe I've got with most of the noseless saddles: They make them out of giant pillowy messes of stuff which is just as bad for you as a poorly fitted traditional saddle. Instead of compressing the pudendal artery and surrounding nerves, the cushiony material causes unnecessary compression of the soft tissues they contact. Just like an over-padded traditional saddle, they'll cause the same gluteal pain.
        That Un-saddle (and there's one other noseless I've seen advertised in Velo-News, I think) are built like a traditional light-padded road saddle but without the horn.

        I won't use one, but that's because the nose of the saddle is integral to steering when riding no-handed; something very common for long and ultra-distance riding to stretch your back, neck and shoulders.
        • As a lifetime 45 year Rider,now with Collapsing Vertibrae issues in my lower back,I tried the Hobson "Easy Seat" as a last-ditch effort to keep my 18 pound carbon Fiber Wonder Bike. Not only are Traditional Road Racing Bike Saddles painfully uncomfortable after the first 2 hours of a day-long ride,they also transmit shock directly to anyone with lower back issues with every little bump and then your ride becomes a "hellish day of pain" and Hot soaks and heating pads for two days after your ride!
          Clifton is correct,The thick pads of the First-Generation Easy Seat did compress the Gluteals (not the sit-bones,but the gluteals in back of them) to the point of pain,and the Saddle having no "nose" makes the rider feel like he is "falling foreward" putting even MORE pressure on your hands and arms causing Carpal Tunnel Issues. The only benefit of the Hobson Easy Seat was during "World naked Bike Ride" becuase you have a place to "put" your Penis during this Worldwide Nude Ride.
          There really is NO currently existing "really comfortable" Bicycle Saddle becuase no matter what it's "shape is" you are still balancing the entire weight of your body on it(and your hands/arms).
          The only truly comfortable two-wheeled pedal ride is on a Recumbent. On a Recumbent you sit In a "Seat" that has lumbar support and you arent balancing your body on a narrow Saddle,holding up the front of your body with your arms. There is no discomfort at all on a Recumbent Bicycle becuase your entire body is fully supported in a form-fitting 'Seat' and nothing "Rubs".
  • FWIW, I ordered and tried a Moon Saddle, I rode it 4~5 times, just couldn't get comfortable on it. Am returning it.

    it really changed the way I sat on my bike. I couldn't get the seat low enough and the handlebars high enough to get my weight off my hands.

    To be fair to the moonsaddle, I think the top tube on my current bike is a bit short for me - I realize I sit on the back of my brooks clone saddle, and the moonsaddle just won't go that far back.
  • Hi everyone!

    I DID BUY THAT MOON-SADDLE. I'M USING IT ABOUT A MONTH NOW.

    1. The m.s. does eliminate the pressure on the perineum completely. That's a godsend salvation for me because I really suffered from the discomfort and even pain, and even worried about my health. Kudos!

    2. In the beginning the ride was hard & rough, but I think I'm getting used to the hardness of the seat, and it doesn't bother me anymore. Also, thanx 2 the bike-man adjustment, I now lean forward on my hands much more than before, so I put less of the body weight on the seat. (My hands hurt a little and I don't know if it's how it's supposed 2 b, or not. Trying 2 figure out.)

    3. Since I rely a lot on my hands (& feet) now, I don't feel at all that there's a problem with the control -- I control the bike with hands & feet, and the seat is there just 2 give me some little space 2 sit, so that I don't stand the whole time. It's definitely not made for sitting back and relaxing ;) It just helps u 2 stay connected 2 it by fixating your sit bones in those special grooves. Actually, I feel my ride lighter, loftier now than before, because I don't get "glued" 2 the seat with all my weight anymore. Also, this seat made in the way that it forces me 2 not slouch but maintain the correct "S" shape of the spine. And I don't feel tired because of this! This is important.

    So, basically, I currently don't c the m.s. as "a lemon" and hope it'll stay that way ;)

    Hope it's helpful to those of u considering buying this saddle.

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