Saddle Up- Selle SMP

SMP Dynamic

What does Selle SMP have in common with the lead up to the 2013 Tour de France? Absolutely nothing, seeing as possibly no riders are on them in the Tour. It’s a long three weeks of Tour ahead, let’s think about our own asses for a brief moment. As a disclaimer: this is not a Reverence article, yet, maybe after a few centuries and pavé parties it could be. I paid retail from a LBS for this and have no connection to SMP. I’m not even advocating anyone should get one, like I do advocate everyone owning Speedplay pedals. I am just shedding a little light on these unconventional and messed-up looking saddles.

Two years back I stared at one of these saddles on a bike whose owner was a big fella. The saddle was a thin slip of a thing, more space than saddle and it looked unridable. He made a lasting impression when he said it was great. Great? That looks highly uncomfortable, it was nearly devoid of padding and there just wasn’t much to sit on.

We all have our own limit for what we will put on our steeds but eventually a 160 km ride will sort out if form follows function. Those shoes may be the same ones Boonen wears but if they are killing your feet at 80 km, every time, they have to go.

And speaking of Specialized, they have a gizmo for measuring sit bones so one can get a good fitting saddle. I’ve owned two of their saddles and like them enough. Upon restarting long rides after my haitus this winter I re-remembered how much my lower back would hurt, especially on long climbing rides. Also while on haitus, also known as: my position must be wrong, I’ll never ride again, do I need insoles, how high should my saddle be, do I need wedges under my cleats…hell. I read up on Steve Hogg, fitting master, looking for salvation. Steve is an advocate of SMP saddles and makes the point we don’t sit on our sit bones unless on, gasp, a recumbent or bigger gasp, a Harley. Maui’s aforementioned LBS has a nice selection of test saddles, many SMPs in the mix. I went right for the Dynamic model, for my fat ass. It took at least a week before I could even figure out where to sit on it, it’s that different a design.

There are two great things about these saddles: they have a massive cut-out section in the front so nothing gets mashed and the curved profile means one is sitting on the bones forward of the sit bones. That means your hips rotate forward, your lower back can straighten and relax. Do you want to ride the phantom aero bars while staring at your reflection in store front windows, it’s much easier with a relaxed, flatter back and uncrushed bits. I’m using that technical/medical English term to cover everything “down there”.

In summary, if your lower back is fine and you have never experienced torchmen’s taint, keep doing what you are doing. Shoes and saddles fit differently for every body. Comfort and weird looks don’t come cheap. Mine cost $230 US with steel rails but it is made in Italy, so that is a wash. They do come in celeste green if one wants to ruin the look of their Bianchi. Since one is sitting differently on it, the initial set up takes longer. It’s much harder to figure out the correct saddle height with this new position. I do think they have come up with a well researched design, especially for us riders who aim to be cyclists for the long haul.

Gianni

Gianni has left the building.

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View Comments

RedRanger says:

Jun 27 2013 at 9:59 am

@the Engine

Now I remember - according to the Profanosaurus, the area between a gentleman's giblets and the old brown eye is referred to as one's barse.

here in the states we call it the taint
scaler911 says:

Jun 27 2013 at 10:07 am

@RedRanger

@the Engine

Now I remember - according to the Profanosaurus, the area between a gentleman's giblets and the old brown eye is referred to as one's barse.

here in the states we call it the taint

Or the gooch. (I'm not embedding this, NSF(most)W): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoBe6JYaUHk
ped says:

Jun 27 2013 at 10:32 am

@RedRanger

@the Engine

Now I remember - according to the Profanosaurus, the area between a gentleman's giblets and the old brown eye is referred to as one's barse.

here in the states we call it the taint

Are you talking about the ladies chin rest?
VeloVita says:

Jun 27 2013 at 10:37 am

@frank

@frank

@Tobin

I love the cowering of this guy as even before he's hit he anticipates the crushing Fuckness that's going to rain down on him.

I think he's actually just trying to duck under the puffy arm of the gentleman behind him for protection from Hinault's impending 'Man with the Hammer' impersonation
Steampunk says:

Jun 27 2013 at 10:42 am

@frank

Tuesday's RetÃ¼l fit came with the express instructions that I tilt forward and straighten my back in order to reduce pressure on my right shoulder (which has become increasingly painful). I'll report back on whether it worked, but the intent is to find a comfortable neutral position. No: not at its most aerodynamic, but the premise is sound. Find yourself in a comfortable neutral position, and from there you can reach, lower, make yourself as aerodynamic as possible while limiting your discomfort.

Hinault: you're not him. And badass as he might be, sport science and medicine have evolved an awful long way since the 1980s (and I'm not making any cracks about "preparation").
Gianni says:

Jun 27 2013 at 11:02 am

@frank

@Mauibike, @Gianni

Why do we care about flat backs so? Doesn't seem to me that would provide any benefit in power or comfort. I feel most powerful with a curved lower back.

FFS! You think I said I was a vegan! . One, you are a young fuck, talk to me in twenty years. And yes, I'll be dead then so you better shout. Two, I'm really talking about just straightening the lower back a few degrees. My back is a long way from flat. It's more about being able to relax my back instead of it always being in tension trying to support the rest of my torso.

Mauibike is an animal. He is threatening to make the Cogal in the Cascades. Danger Will Robinson, danger...
RedRanger says:

Jun 27 2013 at 11:06 am

@ped indeed
Tobin says:

Jun 27 2013 at 11:26 am

@frank

@frank

@Tobin

I love the cowering of this guy as even before he's hit he anticipates the crushing Fuckness that's going to rain down on him.

This is one of those moments when you wish you could have audio...I always wondered what "I am gonna beat you like a rented mule" sounds like en francais.
Joe says:

Jun 27 2013 at 11:50 am

I had one of those razor edge SMPs. I used it for about 3 weeks and proselytised vociferously on its merits.

Then I trapped a nut between the rails while trying a Faboo-style easy on up with more speed number which left me a sad rumpled heap by the side of the road for a solid 20 minutes.

It's been in a box ever since. In fact, If I can find it, I'll happily donate it to anyone in continental US for their own experimentation....
CanuckChuck says:

Jun 27 2013 at 12:01 pm

Switched to a Cobb SHC saddle last year and it has been great. It's like the perfect VMH: firm, yet supportive. My bits used to be quite numb following long rides when I was on my old Selle Italia (took 24 hours to get back to normal after the 200 on 100) and this saddle has taken care of that issue.

Of the Cobb road saddles, it's the only one with some redeeming aesthetic qualities (function follows form at Cobb) along with offering low weight and comfort for the long haul.