Saddles
I've bought and tried at least 30 saddles over the past 10 years (after my backside, along with the rest of me, got a bit old and a lot more sensitive.) Some were pretty good for hard 2hr rides, but for long days in the saddle, touring and bikepacking, none were great. But trying a Selle Anatomica saddle (ultimately no good for me) gave me the idea that a cut out + leather might be good if I could find the right shape. Western Bike Works had this Brooks on sale, and as sold, it was pretty good, but after I got my whittling tools on the job, and carefully extended the cutout toward the nose an additional 1.5", well, it's pretty perfect. And of course dealing Western Bike Works was great. Fast shipping, fair prices, etc.
Been riding for many years and have tried dozens of saddles through the years, searching for that saddle that will make the longer rides (3-10 hours) just a little more comfortable and doable. I'm not interested in paying $200-$infinity to save a few grams to shave off a few seconds an hour, so for me it's about finding saddles that balance comfort, performance and value. Most saddles I buy are around $80-$100, so this one was a step up in price. A very good saddle but for me not appreciably better than many I've bought at half the price, so I can't say it was a good value for me. For reference, I've put about 1500 miles on this saddle so far on all sorts of rides, so that's plenty of time to assess and adjust.
My first experience with a Prologo saddle so I was a bit wary when I ordered this item. I previously used a Selle San Marco Era followed by a Fizik Arione. The Selle San Marco provided me with years of pain-free riding but finally wore out and is no longer available. I had high hopes for the Fizik Arione but it simply did not match my backside and became increasingly uncomfortable. Based on glowing reviews from several of the major cycling websites, I decided to give the Prologo a try even though I had never ridden a short-nosed saddle with a wider width than I was used to. Within a few miles, I knew this saddle was for me--firm yet supremely comfortable. Short-nosed design means if you like to shift your seating position during different phases of your ride--I don't--then it's not for you. My rides are typically 40 - 60 miles long. During the summer months I'll ride three to four times a week. I'm a small-to-medium framed individual weighing about 130 pounds. Other pluses: very lightweight and the saddle seems well-made. I'm very happy with this saddle and cycling is a joy again.
