Selle SMP TRK Man Cycling Saddle, Black

Found out I had very wide sit bones at a bike fitting and after a lot of research I found my way to this saddle. I wasn't about to spend a lot of money if I wasn't sure about a saddle so I ended up getting the TRK and the Extra because they were both under 100 bucks. I also got a Specialized Avatar. The TRK is noticeably wider than the Extra and by far the most comfortable saddle I've ever used. When I first put it on my bike it was a revelation. It feels so nice to sink into that recessed area. On long steep climbs, where you're getting tired and not standing as much as you should to get relief, this thing is a godsend. This is the only seat I've ever used that really seems to seriously reduce the need to stand for relief. The downside is that it is heavy. The two lighter and more expensive SMPs with similar widths are the Plus and Avant, both over 200 bucks. I'll be trying them on the new road bike I'm buying next month. The SMP Extra is not nearly as comfortable for me (although I've read people on the internet recommending it for wide sit bones), again because of its more conventional width. The Extra also seems to have thicker padding. The Specialized Avatar is the same width as the TRK and noticeably better than typical seats for me but the recessed area around your junk and the dipping beak of the seat make the SMP TRK the superior saddle. That dipping beak is a great feature, my shorts never get caught when I'm sitting back down on the saddle - although bib shorts reduce that problem as well. I'm seriously beginning to wonder why anyone who rides long distance uses any other saddle than an SMP or if it's patent laws that stop every other seat manufacturer from copying the design. If you ride long distances and haven't tried an SMP before you need to do so. Find the right width and your butt and junk will thank you. I was riding my shopping bike today with a typical WTB seat, previously one of my favorite seats, and thinking about how uncomfortable it was - this seat has spoiled me. I can't foresee using any other saddle than an SMP from here on out. I'm 6 feet 180 lbs. and really would never fit anyone's description of a "widebody" but the sit bones don't have much to do with weight. I always assumed wide seats were for fat dudes, or "clydesdales" as many of them prefer to be called. Figuring out how wide of a seat you need is a key to finding the right saddle, something I wish I had learned earlier. I got mine through "Bike Chanel". It get sent from Israel and took about a week to arrive in Califonia, which was much better than the month long estimated arrival date. The underside of the seat looked a little scuffed up, nothing major, but I really wondered how new it was or maybe how it was treated in transit. Hasn't effected the performance of the seat at all so no real complaints. Update: 5 months later and I love this saddle. I have a TRK on my mountain bike and another on my commuter. I got an Avant for my road bike and that is awesome, too. I absolutely refuse to ride with any other type of seat and so should you.

To my surprise the saddle arrived within three days after ordering. Fast, fast service. It had been carefully packed and arrived undamaged. This was my 3rd or 4th Selle bike saddle over the past 35 years and by far the most comfortable. Probably as recently as 10 years ago, I would have considered this TRK saddle too soft with too much padding. Now with little desire to race and with not much concern over the extra weight, a few ounces heaver than a racing saddle with very little to no padding, this is fine. I'm pleased to have a saddle with no break in required for a comfortable ride (saddles I'm familiar with don't break in-the break in when needed means by the rider's rear), At least this was my experience with a comfortable first 25 mi mountain trail ride. The saddle appears to be very well made and I expect will long out last the 3 year Selle warranty which came with the saddle. I do wear padded cycling shorts. I had no problem whatever ridding well back on the saddle or on the nose just before it turns downward. I do suppose were I to design a saddle just for myself, I might decrease the padding by about 1/2 but as a saddle designed, I believe to suit the "average mtb biker", I have no complaints, am happy to have found this one. wd

First of all I received the seat on time. Initially I was disappointed because it was a little bigger that the one I replaced as well a little more heavy. I put it in my Brompton bicycle. It is a little hard but is question of time. I did not use yet for long rides as I use to do; but at least riding for two hours was comfortable and I did not feel numbness in my private areas although I will need to test it for long rides about for hours and I will put another comment. For the meantime I gave it 3 stars.

I was suffering from numb bits, and decided to take some drastic action. I have 120 cm wide sit-bones and generally prefer a slightly wider saddle. So I bought this saddle as an experiment, knowing it might be too big for my needs. It is a very innovative design and comfortable saddle. Reduces or eliminates any pressure on the perineal nerves and prevents numb bits. Padding is a bit soft on the back end, but overall more firm than you might expect. Make no mistake though, this is a soft saddle and not ideal for longer treks at sustained speeds. It's better suited to more upright riding. But it's wide. You might think you need a saddle this wide, but you probably don't. It's not only wide at the back, but throughout the profile. So unless you have a very wide pelvis and thinner legs, or ride very upright, you may end up chafing from the extra width on longer rides, especially if you're on a road bike in a more aggressive position. In the end I put this saddle on my girlfriends bike since she rides fairly upright for shorter distances. For her purposes, it is perfect and very comfortable. For me, the SMP extra is a better fit. The saddle feels a little cheap for the price. It feels like a $25 knock-off saddle, but this is definitely not a fake. The cover material is vinyl, and the bottom edge has a sharp lip all around it from the moulding process. This might scratch your legs if you're not wearing good shorts, or even damage your shorts. Based on other reviews, this is the norm. It can be cut off using a razor, but I shouldn't have to do this, and it's an unacceptable defect for a saddle of this price IMO.

Bought two of these (one from Amazon and one from a local bike shop--both returned) because the first was uneven. The rails were not level, the seats were both defective. Bought two because I thought the first was a fluke, but the second was more defective than the first. I think the higher priced models of Selle SMP seats are better made, based on others reviews and my own observations.

Oh man, this seat is AMAZING! I was getting really really sore riding on the stock seat. After a 2-hour ride my genitals were tingly and it was hard to walk. Blood flow was being cut off to one of my most important organs. This seat completely fixed the problem. I now routinely do 2.5 hour rides and 4 hour rides are no problem. This seat is so good I don't know it's there 99% of the time. For those gram counters, this seat is not light, sleek, or beautiful. But it's comfortable, protects your nether regions, and is perfect for training. Grind out those hours on the bike! Save the light-weight super seats for races. You know, when you don't mind strangling your nads for a few hours in search of glory.

**UPDATE** After more than 2,000 miles since writing the review below, I am even more pleased with this saddle. Adding another bike to the stable soon and this saddle will be on it too. ________________ 5'11, 270... after one 26 mile ride, I wonder why this "eagle beak" design is not more common. This design means the boys don't have to pick a side and the stem-to-stern relief makes a big difference over a saddle with a smaller cut out. The medium size is big enough for adequate support and small enough to stay out of the way. I set the seat exactly the same as my previous saddle and it is very close to prefect (I think I need to raise it a tick).

Not a good seat. It was so uncomforable that I had to return it to the seller.