I’ve gotten to test a lot of saddles over my cycling life; so many I’m beginning to feel like Goldilocks trying out bear chairs. Soft, hard, just right – for the first 10 miles at least. The central truth that emerges is this: no one can tell you what’s comfortable. When you’re saddle shopping, the best possible scenario is a saddle that’s returnable if you two just don’t jive. Terry comes through with a generous love-it-or-return-it policy that puts them at the top of the list when you’re testing new saddles.
Terry’s beautiful FLX saddle line, new for 2011, is a part of their performance group – light, firm saddles for elite riders. If you’re not elite, don’t let that scare you off. As you ride longer and longer distances, you’re probably going to find out what elite riders already know – firm doesn’t mean uncomfortable. It means better performance and less soft-tissue pressure.
I got to test the FLX gel saddle, the mama bear of the line. The gel gives just the right amount of cush for your sit-bones and the narrow nose eliminates inner thigh chafing problems, but the most interesting feature of the FLX is the flexing of each side of the saddle. You’ll see from the image that the FLX has a cutout that runs from the nose all the way through the back of the saddle, giving each “arm” a very slight, independent flex as you put pressure on it. I found this really helpful for getting rid of the hip pain I get on my right side from a disparity in leg length. I have no scientific proof, just the fact that my bum hip felt better on this saddle than it has in a long time.
The FLX weighs in at 258 grams, the heaviest in the performance group, but still plenty light, and the width on all the FLX saddles is 5.6 inches. Measure your sit-bones* before you select a saddle and you’ll be able to narrow down the field as you shop. Remember, wider isn’t always more comfortable. Terry has a handy-dandy chart with weights, lengths, and widths for all their saddles.
Terry FLX Gel Saddle MSRP: $110, www.terrybicycles.com/Saddles
*Put a piece of aluminum foil or printer paper on a carpeted stair and sit on it, preferably in your undies or nothing at all. Your sit bones will make a clear impression on it. If you use paper, mark the depressions with a pencil and then you have a pattern you can put on top of a saddle.
