I had been riding my ORCA OMX for two years with the Specialized S-Works Power Saddle. However, for the first 10 miles of every ride, I consistently experienced a gradual numbing or lack of blood flow down my inner left leg. While standing out of the saddle provided immediate relief, I knew this wasn't a sustainable solution, especially on flat terrains.
Deciding to address the issue, I visited Piermont Bike shop and consulted with Jason for an updated fit. We discovered that my riding position had become more aero over the years, leading to changes in my body dynamics. Jason made several adjustments, including a significant drop in the stem height. During the fitting, he also pointed out that the Power Saddle had a notable drop-off in width, and he recommended trying a different saddle.
Initially skeptical about the nose width of the suggested Pro saddle, I gave it a try. To my surprise, the discomfort vanished, and I found myself riding without constantly thinking about my saddle.
While I acknowledge that this saddle may not work for everyone, my journey highlights the importance of investing time and effort into finding the right saddle and shoes (after much $s spent with Sidi & Shimano, Lake shoes is where I finally landed). I've learned that having a knowledgeable fitter, like Jason, can significantly reduce the cost and time spent on this quest. Honest fitters who recommend products based on individual needs, even if it means suggesting other manufacturers outside their suppliers, is critical IMO.
It's worth noting that the only thing I miss about my Specialized saddle is its aesthetic appeal in grey, complementing my Orca's look. However, the newfound comfort and performance outweigh this minor aesthetic preference.
This saddle does not look the least bit comfortable to me, going strictly by appearance I would rather use a a piece of a 2x4 as a saddle. The padding looks (and is) very minimal and the cutout is huge so I was worried it might be unforgiving on my sit bones. Also when set up as level according to Shimano's instructions (-1 degree tilt back to front) I swear the nose is tilted up slightly due to the dip in the middle section of the saddle. I've been curious about the PRO Stealth saddles for a while but just couldn't bring myself to buy one even though they are some of the most highly rated saddles by actual consumers.
I was using the Fizik Vento Argo adaptive but switched to the ultralight 134 gram Vento Argo 00 for my new bike and put the adaptive on my old bike. The 00 couldn't hold up to my 215lbs so the carbon cracked on both ends of the cutout section (Fizik did warranty the saddle) so I decided to finally give the PRO saddle a chance. I was going to get the slightly heavier version as the weight difference is minimal but the size I need wasn't in stock so I took a chance on the Superlight version, it weighed in a little heavy at 155 grams but obviously that won't be noticeable.
I did find setting this saddle up a bit tricky and like a couple of reviews I found online I had to lower it a bit likely due to the width of the nose and the stiff carbon construction. Once set up correctly though this saddle has been amazing and has kept me comfortable on a couple of 70+ mile rides. Every position is comfortable but I find that it really shines when the road starts tilting up, I have never felt so planted when climbing. It just seems easier to crank out the power and I've been rewarded with quite a few PRs on hills I ride frequently, I'm still slow of course given my weight but any gain in speed I can get I'm grateful for.
With Shimano and their PRO brand you can count on two things; they have done an incredible amount of research before producing anything and when they finally do it is very well made. I don't have a ton of miles on the saddle yet but it still looks new and I believe it will withstand the punishment I throw its way. The 30 day trial period and 2 year guarantee makes it a little easier to give one of these saddles a chance, I'm pretty sure you will not be disappointed.
