I can testament to James being nice. Was an amazing bike fit I had with him. Never been sitting better on the bike as I do now. No more feet pain or numb private area.
I tried them and threw sold them on the next week. Impossibly fiddly and impractical, also I couldn’t find the pedals anymore when attempting to clip in. I recognise they can be tailored in any possible fit, as such for a lost soul here or there they might work, but it’s overkill and the other advantages none existent.
Speedplay Xseries users here. Been on them for ages! Only issue I have now is you can't find cleats for this model. Cleats aren't cheap, but I find they last a heck of a long time. I also don't get the finicky comments. Swapping cleats is a breeze and a simple regrease of the bearings once a season keeps mine running smoothly... To each their own I guess.
I would absolutely love to see a joint panel on some bike fitting topic with James and Neill Stanbury from the Road Cycling Academy channel. 2 gents that I respect greatly and learn a lot from in terms of bike fit.
@@cyclingsfatsuma9808 That would be tough considering their respective locations! But it would be quite cool. Honestly I just want to see these two geniuses geek out together :)
@@MarkCRyan absolutely that :) I have faith that they could disagree respectfully where they differ and still find lots of good stuff to geek out on together.
Get that man on a bike packing adventure pronto, I need hear someone tell me how amazing the people are and how the place is the "f**King nuts" again 😂👍
Funny and ... yeah probably got the point at most of the products. Except one: The Specialized Power is the first saddle after years of trying and searching that solved my sitting problems. Switched to that on all of my bikes all of my bikes without any regrets. My local bikefitter (I trust him) also reccomends it.
Haha i love the power saddle, things carried me on huge bikepacking trips. Not the huge 155mm you showed there but the 143mm is probably the most comfortable saddle Ive ever used was a game changer. Loved the video 😂
I’ve been using the 155 for 5-6 years on recommendation of local bike fitter and it’s been one of most comfortable seats I’ve had. I do get a little rub on edges as described in video. I was surprised to get the recommendation as I’m pretty average sized all around but apparently have wider sit bones. Would be curious what this guy would recommend instead
Agree, I had one of these saddles which came with my Propel, I normally change the saddle to one that I have had made to measure, and it's very good had it for 5 years until one day I managed to snap it, BTW I am 65kg. Just bought some speed play pedals, and they are a game changer.... Anything with plastic cleats is just pish! Cost of speed play cleats is irrelevant as they shouldn't wear out unless u have clown feet!
Great for me too. I had my sit bones measured at 135mm. The saddle that came with the bike was 135 🙈 I know they do various power saddles, but the Power Comp 155 fits me OK.
I also have the top spec power saddle. With Ti rails & extra advanced padding. It’s comfortable for the weight. I seem to do well with speed play and get discount from Wahoo.
Loved it, even though I love fixed cleats. I grew-up racing in the 1980s. I had toe straps and nailed on cleats on wood bottomed Detto shoes. When the Looks came out, they were so cool. Then as time went on, the cleats with the few degrees of freedom came out. Everyone loved them and said they were great for reducing knee pain, etc. Well, I never had any knee pain. Eventually I tried them. I hated them because I was a big sprinter. When going full out, I did not like to feel my shoes moving on the pedals. I though my shoes were going to come unclipped. Terrified me and a lost a sprint when that happened. I went back to fixed cleats and my winning ways. I was a USCF Cat II rider. That will date me right there. 😲Now that I'm 60 and an ultra runner more than a cyclist, I still have no knee pain so I think the fixed cleats were good for me. Don't get me started on wide handle bars for road or mountain bike. SMH LOL
You are 100% right about the Arione - I had a very nasty experience with one a few years ago that not only led to a trip to A&E, but also half the student urologists of north London having a look at me because they don't see that sort of thing very often. However, if you are finding that the 3T seatpost with the two barrels is excessively up or down, it is because you don't know how it works - this is the fault of 3T as they didn't provide instructions. It gives you +/- 1 degree adjustment in a way that is rock solid - the adjustment and clamping are totally separate, which is a massive improvement on literally every other type of saddle clamp.
I love these guys and their content. They're so un-serious about everything and so relatable. Straight to the point with chill humor mixed in. No gatekeeping either.
I am a Specialized power saddle user, and I quite like that saddle, I can even ride for an hour or so without cycling shorts. What I as a more enthusiast-casual rider would like to know is: What does James recommend then for we who have gotten on quite well with the Power saddle? Also, great to see James back on the channel!
Everyone is different. I tried various saddles in the $150-$200 range including the power and ended up on wide volt titanium. Would maybe like the pressure relief a touch wider for hard, long trainer sessions but my 1-2 hour normal intensity rides I never even notice the saddle. Would've tried a koda but couldn't find a wide titanium in stock. I never ride with a chamois.
Another impressively informative video. The first things to go when I buy an "off the shelf" bike are the handlebars, stem and seat. 2 of my bikes came with the wide flared handlebars. Gone. For women, Terry makes really good saddles (these almost never get returned)
Hisahiburi James! Pretty sure it was one of these bikefit tuesday videos (*neither filmed nor released on Tuesday, I was told) that led me to this channel when I started cycling. I learned a *lot* watching James, and his advice heavily guided my first "real" road bike purchase. Looking forward to a regular supply again :)
“The c spring on speedplays are worn out after 1000 miles?”… I’ve got 4000 miles on mine… The pedals and cleats are still perfect. I have changed the grease once and lubed the cleats 4 or 5 times at most, which takes about 5 seconds. Speedplay are not for everyone but they have been incredible for me!
Got to love a rant from James-it’s always to our (riders) advantage and he is so passionate and knowledgeable about his craft. Seeing him chucking bits of kit around his studio always makes me chuckle.🤣
Arione is probably the most successful saddle of the past 20 years. Cured my problems and I even managed an Everesting on one without discomfort. No reason for the nose to be so long but fantastic saddle otherwise. Pressure relief, cutouts etc only added extra pressure points for me. There is probably a better saddle out there but no intention of changing what already works. Black cleats in combination with valgus wedges cured my knee pain - need to have my knee tracking straight and locked in with no slop. Got rid of my pain 15 years ago and it hasn't been back. Agree on integrated bars though - dumb idea.
yeah I’m not sure I would ever trust a bike fit from this guy who says “i’ve never had any control issues with 40cm drop bars off-road so I don’t believe it’s a problem”
@@jonamcc I've used 38 cm bars on gravel rides and they were fine, but there was no significant cornering and only a couple of descents. Tried them in a cx race and they were a nightmare. I now prefer flared bars and get in the drops for anything technical. Makes an enormous difference and much safer.
I disagree on a few things: -Speedplays are fine. They have a low stack height. Maintenance is easy and minimal. And I have cleats with thousands of miles on them without any issues. -I don't care for the Arione, but I do like a long saddle. I like to sit forward towards the nose and get a more TT position for short periods. -I take my gravel bike on singletrack. For that I like a wider bar. Not crazy wide. I use a 46cm.
My new Roubaix came with the Specialized Power saddle. It was gone and replaced by James' best selling Selle saddle as soon as one could arrive. Interestingly, the seller was apologetic about the narrow handlebars -- they were spot on perfect for me...something I learned from an old BFJ/Cade video. When my old Roubaix (dedicated trainer bike and backup) handlebars started disintegrating from sweat, I snapped up narrower bars and amazingly a lot fewer problems in long indoor training sessions. Rant on James. Great video Francis.
Thank you for great advices, I used most of them for my bike fit at home and it improved my comfort a lot, especially swap 42 to 40 cm handlebar! Just want to mention, that Fizik Arione is the only saddle which worked for me perfectly. I tried quite a number including Bontrager Aeolus and Selle Italia Novus both with pressure relieve channels. But all saddles with this channel are simply too wide on the nose and hurt my inner leg. Same problem was with Selle Italia x3 and a few others. And only Arione had thin nose to fit well. With tilt between 0 and 1 grad it is the most comfortable saddle from what I tried for rides about 100 km. PS. The long back of Arione is useless, I assume it is only for design purpose.
Well said. Good job! I will add on the internal routing too. I know a lot of riders love the internal routing, but the external is much more easer to manage and cheap to mentain. Just an option 👍
I have Speedplay on all my shoes. I'm a larger cyclist and have no issue whatsoever. I maintain them myself at little cost and the cleats are still like new as you guessed it I maintain them regularly. 👍🏻
I use four of these hated products, and I love them all. 7 years and I've never changed a seatpost. Love my Power saddles. Love my speedplays only had one spring snap in about 14 years never had any cycle-related knee issues. Maybe I'm lucky. Or maybe it's because I've never had a bikefit.
Whenever I watch a video with James it makes me wish we had decent bike fitters in the US. I've never found one, but videos like these have helped a lot.
Top 10 commuter rants. 1 - Drop bars brakes in city 2 - MTB tyre in city and incorrect pressure and bad knee + saddle setup 3 - Clipless are pointless at traffic 4 - no viz gears & lights, be visible 5 - Traffic lights, Law breakers and Cycle lane blockers make a bad name to "real cyclists" 6 - UCI components on commuter bikes 7 - Commuters come in all body type, so saddle choice is very diverse compared to road bike users 8 - More gears than what you need in city. 9 - Never enough bike lock location 10 - bad bike locking skills by so called cyclists.
I still like my Arione saddle since my position changes depending on rough terrain and tail or headwind. though, I want to try one with a pressure relieve channel.
As i started Road raging ( oh Cycling... I ment Road Cycling 😜 ) I got a Fizik Arione Classic for VERY cheap and loved it ! BUT here and there ( depended if I was riding "normal" or "TT like you mean it" ) I got numb Genetals . THAT was definitely a problem 😂 Then a friend bought an Arione R3 Open , wich he didn't liked .. and gave me that Saddle. Ooooohhhhh BOY ! THAT was a Game changer!! LOVE this Saddle!!! Unfortunately I crashed 🙄 And the Saddle was badly scratched 😩 ( not a few slight mark's.. ) Now I got a Arione R3 Versus EVO I hope i love this like my R3 open OR better .. Time to find out 🤷🏼♂️ All three are in regular I've tried a Selle Italia Boost Model ( wich can be a VERY good concept.. if you're build wider ... I ? am not -.- )
I also like being able to move forward and backward on my saddle, but not by that much… I’m happy using the flat version of the salle italia slr boost superflow..
see if you can find a specialized toupe. especially the older ones with less padding. they've been discontinued, but you can probably find some on ebay or something.
I rode on fixed look cleats for about 5 months last year and raced on them. Loved how stiff it felt sprinting and I generally have no issues with bike fit which I had done all the way back in 2020.
I am quite a strong guy in the shoulders, torso as I do a lot of upper body weights and sports, and I use wider drop bars, it lets me open the chest on climbs and I love the leverage they give me, no shoulder neck pain at all. On the hoods it may make you a bit blunter to the wind, but if you are doing a pb effort you tuck into the drops and your aero.
so spot on that i was laughing out loud! thank you for filming what many of us who actually care have to deal with on an everyday basis at ye old bike shop!
1. I own a 3T 25 saddle (just like on video). I agree that it is a poor design, but I easily fixed that with a bit of a thread locker/retaining compound, it has not moved in 2 years. 2. Never had a Specialized Power saddle, but I have an Sqlab which I run in 15cm width and a very aero position. I am not a very big person, but never experienced any problems with it being too wide. It is not a short saddle though, but I do not sit on the nose regardles... Just in the centre.
This was wonderful! 😊As someone who has used Airone saddles (currently on four of my bikes) and pre-Wahoo Speedplay pedals for more than a decade, it brightened up my day. I think the proprietary stuff is not so much a fit problem as an unnecessary expense--my Colnago C40 has a 28 mm seatpost: why?
Ideas change. In the time it was designed and built we thought bikes should be stiff, and the new wonder material (carbon fibre) could make bikes stiff, so they did. We've gradually learned that stiffness isn't all that it was assumed to be. For seatposts it's more comfortable to have a bit of flex, and so the term compliance was introduced to the cycling lexicon. Interestingly, the amount of flex is *really* small, but it does seem to have a positive effect.
Thanks James; I didn’t have any of the ten parts on my bike. Seriously, thank you as you resolved my foot pain in the front of my foot by moving my cleats! Love bike fit Tuesdays!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Brilliant to hear unvarnished truth. You have potentially saved so much frustration and unnecessary cost. Recently another TH-camr was talking about trying zero float cleats that were recommended to him. Knowing my issues with them and reading others misfortunes with them this is a good warning.
Funny rant but... Gotta be careful as some of the items you trashed (just some..!) have really helped a few cyclists out - maybe those with a specific/unique requirement. It'd be a sad day when the only equipment available was bog standard, and it didn't help your need you're stuffed! I'm probably referring to 'contact points' - saddles, pedals, handlebars... Absolutely agree about proprietary seatpins!
9 out of 10. The Power saddle comes in different widths. The one you had looked extreme. With a measure of my sits bones, the 155 is the best saddle I've ever owned. Cheers!
Please can you get in touch with Neill Stanbury/Road Cycling Academy (RCA) because I’m desperate for him and James to have a discussion about Speedplay pedals. They’re the two bike fitters I love/trust the most. Both have differing views on Speedplay… Thanks!
I completly agree with the Airone assessment. The first time I sat on one of them I thought it was awesome, which is a good indicator of how bad my previous saddle was. Unfortunately, I standardized on them across my bikes. After using them for a few years, I kept developing sit-related issues on longer rides and finally decided I needed a saddle change. I pick out an SQLab saddle based on my sit bones, and it was immediately noticeable how big of a mistake my Airione journey was. I replaced all of my Airones within a month.
I'll beg for mercy on the Speedplay pedals. My feet are permanently crooked. (Think of a clock face with my feet pointing at 11 and 1). While most people hate the large amount of float on the Speedplays, which allow your feet to rotate while clipped in, I need that. Using a standard SPD for me is the same as grabbing my feet and twisting them straight by force. Hey, I might be a rare case, and I agree about the excessive price of the cleats, but sometimes we do what we gotta do!
I was feeling very happy seeing James back on the channel till the specialized saddle popped up 😂, I ride the ‘arc’ version so it’s slightly better shape I think 🤔
I agree with everything that bike fit James says, except for the bit about Speedplay pedals.. I've been carefully hording original Zero's, 65mm spindles, and fore- aft aluminum base plates.. Since the aforementioned idiots at Wahoo bought Speedplay...
James letting off steam always amusing, I can think of another seatpost that's a similar design to 3t to add to the list, also I can confirm James is a nice chap.😁
The Specialized saddle was similar to the one on my Crux, Sofa levels of comfort but deadly off road when trying to get over the rear wheel on steep downhills as the width catches on your thighs
LOL Guess I need to give up cycling...back in the day (2008-11I think) I loved the Fizike Arione, and it was great because they came on on tons of Cannondale bikes so you could find them everywhere..had one on my steel city bike, a couple road bikes, my Cdale Prophet and latter a SC Heckler, the Power saddle, love it!! its fitted to the bike I ride on my trips/tours, with the 3t seat post your holding and a 46cm flared bar :O
Wow, Attacking a saddle like that is bold(to be nice about it)! As you know, how one works with a rider is pretty person specific. I've been road riding since 1968, and have tried more saddles than I can list, and after lots of back and forth and professional bike fittings (at Boulder and elsewhere), the Arione is still the saddle that works the best for me. For reference, I have done a lot of long distance rides in the mountains all around the world, so its not that I haven't ridden it under difficult condition. I'm not saying that the Arione is good for others, just that it is probably the right saddle for some.
The 3T ionic seatpost is a worthy inclusion. I know, I had one. It is so hard to level and so easy to rattle loose. At one stage, I actually carried a spare allen key on my rides in case the bloody thing came loose (which it did, several times). I eventually replaced it with a simpler, cheaper and far more effective Giant seat post.
It is funny you mentioned the Fizik saddle, A friend of mine in Texas rides one but he modifies it by cutting out a pressure relief channel with a box cutter. I tried a power saddle as well and it would cut into the backside of my sits bones, I got a $40 padded carbon saddle with similar dimensions except no silly side wings, Much Much better.
3 out of these 10 are on my bike as we speak and I've used another 2 in the past. Should throw them back on and book an appointment with James. Not sure yet who'd having the fit at that point 😂
That saddled - on my 2007 Cannondale System6 Ultegra, a bit long but there had been a rationale to it in, I think, the year before Giro. Fixed Look cleats - We were watching Channel 4 TdF feature on the Look pedals used by Hinault & Lemond, wife said, "Get them", I got the just release movable ones and used cleats clipless ever since till recent flats on town bike. Had the Speedplay pedals since 2008 on the Cannondale, should have got wedges to fit between pedal and shoe (not inside the shoes) like ski boot wedges to cater for my legs being bowed below the knees.
Any saddle with a pressure relief channel actually hurts because of a surgery I can't sit symmetrically on a saddle. To that end the Antares actually works for me.
I agree on the SW Power issue, I bought one of size 143 instead of the recommending size 155, at first it was fascinating, but with a year's miles accumulating, and with indoor trainer (stay sitted for most of the time), I began to feel the bone pain due to the wide part on the Power, it really happened and I didn't know why until I see this video ( I thought it may be my own problem or some). I've got another bike with Bontrager RSL, and with that design this issue just disappeared.....
"as wide as your shoulders" but my shoulders are 48... I really enjoy that bike industry has a lot of variety now and do not need to suffer pain on 42 anymore. I hope more people start to think not only in terms of "most people".
Now we just need someone to fit all of these into one bike, schedule a bike fit and film James' reaction.
One side speedplay one side r540 would definitely look funny! :D
😂😂
Hell i bet he would break the bike in 2 pieces
@@allenjay896He'd be fuming if he saw my bike😂😂
James ranting about anything will always put a smile on my face.
Totally, I love how angry he looks 😃
The truth. Was grinning from ear to ear, then I saw this comment :D
Yes a good rant ! He is right about the dumb pedals , I always use old chrome toe clips and leather straps hahahaha
Word
Wait until you meet “turbo mouth” “live” 😂😂😂………..#BikeFit anyone?
10 out of 10 gents ! 😄 Great to see James back on your channel Francis 👏
Yup! James is awesome!
lets chant together lads: JAMES JAMES JAMES!!!
@@schaedlichd" James James James! "😅👍
YES! The return of James! All James all the time if you ask me! 😃
I can testament to James being nice. Was an amazing bike fit I had with him. Never been sitting better on the bike as I do now. No more feet pain or numb private area.
After several different pedals I ended up back at Wahoo/Speedplay. My knees are much happier. I know they're not for everyone but I love them.
I tried them and threw sold them on the next week. Impossibly fiddly and impractical, also I couldn’t find the pedals anymore when attempting to clip in. I recognise they can be tailored in any possible fit, as such for a lost soul here or there they might work, but it’s overkill and the other advantages none existent.
Speedplay Xseries users here. Been on them for ages! Only issue I have now is you can't find cleats for this model. Cleats aren't cheap, but I find they last a heck of a long time. I also don't get the finicky comments. Swapping cleats is a breeze and a simple regrease of the bearings once a season keeps mine running smoothly...
To each their own I guess.
@@ivarbrouwer197 wrong
same
@@ivarbrouwer197you get used to clip in. i clip faster than any of my friends on other systems
I didn't realize how much I missed James's rants, glad you're bringing him back to the channel!
I would absolutely love to see a joint panel on some bike fitting topic with James and Neill Stanbury from the Road Cycling Academy channel. 2 gents that I respect greatly and learn a lot from in terms of bike fit.
Or do a bikefit test to see how different a result they come up with for the same person and equipment.
@@cyclingsfatsuma9808 That would be tough considering their respective locations! But it would be quite cool. Honestly I just want to see these two geniuses geek out together :)
Neil, James & Francis together on a bike fit video would be an instant you tube classic! 👌🙏.
The instant fight about speed plays though😂
@@MarkCRyan absolutely that :) I have faith that they could disagree respectfully where they differ and still find lots of good stuff to geek out on together.
Love the Specialized Power saddle. Fits me perfectly, bought a second one for my road bike. People come in many sizes.
Yep, all my bikes have spec power saddles😅
And furthermore, for me, being 6'9", the extra width was the main/only selling point.
Been on original speedplay for 3yrs and 1yr on wahoo ones. Never had any issues with with anything. I agree with everything he said except the cleats
Get that man on a bike packing adventure pronto, I need hear someone tell me how amazing the people are and how the place is the "f**King nuts" again 😂👍
Funny and ... yeah probably got the point at most of the products. Except one: The Specialized Power is the first saddle after years of trying and searching that solved my sitting problems. Switched to that on all of my bikes all of my bikes without any regrets. My local bikefitter (I trust him) also reccomends it.
Haha i love the power saddle, things carried me on huge bikepacking trips. Not the huge 155mm you showed there but the 143mm is probably the most comfortable saddle Ive ever used was a game changer. Loved the video 😂
Been running the 143 for about 7 years and I've never had issues with it
I’ve been using the 155 for 5-6 years on recommendation of local bike fitter and it’s been one of most comfortable seats I’ve had. I do get a little rub on edges as described in video. I was surprised to get the recommendation as I’m pretty average sized all around but apparently have wider sit bones. Would be curious what this guy would recommend instead
Yes, I don’t get this particular rant :) Just choose the right width. There are 3 sizes, hope he doesn’t think the 163mm is the only one.
Agree, I had one of these saddles which came with my Propel, I normally change the saddle to one that I have had made to measure, and it's very good had it for 5 years until one day I managed to snap it, BTW I am 65kg.
Just bought some speed play pedals, and they are a game changer.... Anything with plastic cleats is just pish! Cost of speed play cleats is irrelevant as they shouldn't wear out unless u have clown feet!
Same. The Power saddle was the only saddle that has worked for me. Gamechanger. Agree with everything else though
The Specialized Power saddle solved all of the saddle comfort issues I was having. They fit me like a glove - have them on four bikes now.
I'm the same. A great saddle.
Great for me too. I had my sit bones measured at 135mm. The saddle that came with the bike was 135 🙈 I know they do various power saddles, but the Power Comp 155 fits me OK.
I also have the top spec power saddle. With Ti rails & extra advanced padding. It’s comfortable for the weight.
I seem to do well with speed play and get discount from Wahoo.
James can also solve crime problems because he’s also CID.
agree
When James talks, you listen. Love the passion
Loved it, even though I love fixed cleats. I grew-up racing in the 1980s. I had toe straps and nailed on cleats on wood bottomed Detto shoes. When the Looks came out, they were so cool. Then as time went on, the cleats with the few degrees of freedom came out. Everyone loved them and said they were great for reducing knee pain, etc. Well, I never had any knee pain. Eventually I tried them. I hated them because I was a big sprinter. When going full out, I did not like to feel my shoes moving on the pedals. I though my shoes were going to come unclipped. Terrified me and a lost a sprint when that happened. I went back to fixed cleats and my winning ways. I was a USCF Cat II rider. That will date me right there. 😲Now that I'm 60 and an ultra runner more than a cyclist, I still have no knee pain so I think the fixed cleats were good for me. Don't get me started on wide handle bars for road or mountain bike. SMH LOL
Nice story 💯
You are 100% right about the Arione - I had a very nasty experience with one a few years ago that not only led to a trip to A&E, but also half the student urologists of north London having a look at me because they don't see that sort of thing very often.
However, if you are finding that the 3T seatpost with the two barrels is excessively up or down, it is because you don't know how it works - this is the fault of 3T as they didn't provide instructions. It gives you +/- 1 degree adjustment in a way that is rock solid - the adjustment and clamping are totally separate, which is a massive improvement on literally every other type of saddle clamp.
Not surprisingly. User error is a pretty common cause of product failure, esp when there is no RTFM.
I love these guys and their content. They're so un-serious about everything and so relatable. Straight to the point with chill humor mixed in. No gatekeeping either.
I am a Specialized power saddle user, and I quite like that saddle, I can even ride for an hour or so without cycling shorts. What I as a more enthusiast-casual rider would like to know is: What does James recommend then for we who have gotten on quite well with the Power saddle?
Also, great to see James back on the channel!
If you like it, why get rid of it?
I have the power and love it I have tried other but this one fits my ass the best
Everyone is different. I tried various saddles in the $150-$200 range including the power and ended up on wide volt titanium. Would maybe like the pressure relief a touch wider for hard, long trainer sessions but my 1-2 hour normal intensity rides I never even notice the saddle. Would've tried a koda but couldn't find a wide titanium in stock. I never ride with a chamois.
why do you care about his opinion, lol.
@@jasonhowes6431 Me, too. It is absolutely the best saddle I've had since I began riding a road bike 10 years ago.
Had lots of right knee pain. Ditched the SPDs for Speedplay with float and knee pain disappeared. Been riding them for 40K miles. Never an issue.
Another impressively informative video.
The first things to go when I buy an "off the shelf" bike are the handlebars, stem and seat. 2 of my bikes came with the wide flared handlebars. Gone.
For women, Terry makes really good saddles (these almost never get returned)
Hisahiburi James! Pretty sure it was one of these bikefit tuesday videos (*neither filmed nor released on Tuesday, I was told) that led me to this channel when I started cycling. I learned a *lot* watching James, and his advice heavily guided my first "real" road bike purchase. Looking forward to a regular supply again :)
“The c spring on speedplays are worn out after 1000 miles?”…
I’ve got 4000 miles on mine…
The pedals and cleats are still perfect. I have changed the grease once and lubed the cleats 4 or 5 times at most, which takes about 5 seconds.
Speedplay are not for everyone but they have been incredible for me!
First thought: If I had booked a fit with James, I would have cancelled it by now because he'd possibly thrown my gear all over the room.
😂😂😂😂
Got to love a rant from James-it’s always to our (riders) advantage and he is so passionate and knowledgeable about his craft. Seeing him chucking bits of kit around his studio always makes me chuckle.🤣
That means maximum potential for improvement!? Good for you! 😉 🤭
@@JanoschBoesche Or just no sign of hope.
Wondering how he'd react to all my AliExpress fitments and shoes...I think it would be me he throws around the room or ritually sets fire to
Arione is probably the most successful saddle of the past 20 years. Cured my problems and I even managed an Everesting on one without discomfort. No reason for the nose to be so long but fantastic saddle otherwise. Pressure relief, cutouts etc only added extra pressure points for me. There is probably a better saddle out there but no intention of changing what already works. Black cleats in combination with valgus wedges cured my knee pain - need to have my knee tracking straight and locked in with no slop. Got rid of my pain 15 years ago and it hasn't been back. Agree on integrated bars though - dumb idea.
yeah I’m not sure I would ever trust a bike fit from this guy who says “i’ve never had any control issues with 40cm drop bars off-road so I don’t believe it’s a problem”
@@jonamcc I've used 38 cm bars on gravel rides and they were fine, but there was no significant cornering and only a couple of descents. Tried them in a cx race and they were a nightmare. I now prefer flared bars and get in the drops for anything technical. Makes an enormous difference and much safer.
@@jonamcc He also is known to despise cx bikes and deemed them completely unsuited for commuting, gravel or any other type of riding bar cyclocross.
@@carlosflanders518 "the high bb and steep steer angle makes it awful and dangerous to ride" I'm sure it's something like that.
@@carlosflanders518because it’s designed around uci rules, buy a gravel bike and you have far more tire clearance. Much more versatile 🤷🏻♂️
Love this rant! Real advice and no pandering to manufacturers. Keep it coming
I do like the flared bars idea as how Trek made them last year. More aero, less wide at the top, 2 cm wider and the drops seems ideal to me.
Disagree about the Specialized Power, I've had one for ages on several bikes and it's great.
I disagree on a few things:
-Speedplays are fine. They have a low stack height. Maintenance is easy and minimal. And I have cleats with thousands of miles on them without any issues.
-I don't care for the Arione, but I do like a long saddle. I like to sit forward towards the nose and get a more TT position for short periods.
-I take my gravel bike on singletrack. For that I like a wider bar. Not crazy wide. I use a 46cm.
My new Roubaix came with the Specialized Power saddle. It was gone and replaced by James' best selling Selle saddle as soon as one could arrive. Interestingly, the seller was apologetic about the narrow handlebars -- they were spot on perfect for me...something I learned from an old BFJ/Cade video. When my old Roubaix (dedicated trainer bike and backup) handlebars started disintegrating from sweat, I snapped up narrower bars and amazingly a lot fewer problems in long indoor training sessions.
Rant on James. Great video Francis.
Thank you for great advices, I used most of them for my bike fit at home and it improved my comfort a lot, especially swap 42 to 40 cm handlebar!
Just want to mention, that Fizik Arione is the only saddle which worked for me perfectly. I tried quite a number including Bontrager Aeolus and Selle Italia Novus both with pressure relieve channels. But all saddles with this channel are simply too wide on the nose and hurt my inner leg. Same problem was with Selle Italia x3 and a few others.
And only Arione had thin nose to fit well. With tilt between 0 and 1 grad it is the most comfortable saddle from what I tried for rides about 100 km.
PS. The long back of Arione is useless, I assume it is only for design purpose.
Yuhuuuu, look who just returned to the channel.
Bike fit Tuesday is the best
Well said. Good job! I will add on the internal routing too. I know a lot of riders love the internal routing, but the external is much more easer to manage and cheap to mentain. Just an option
👍
Fizik Arione is one of the few saddles that work for me, so there's that. This is a case of someone telling me not to like what they don't like.
Same here 😂😂
I have Speedplay on all my shoes. I'm a larger cyclist and have no issue whatsoever. I maintain them myself at little cost and the cleats are still like new as you guessed it I maintain them regularly. 👍🏻
I find that a handlebar slightly larger than my shoulders suits me better on my gravel bike. So 42-44 cm is fine for me.
I use four of these hated products, and I love them all. 7 years and I've never changed a seatpost. Love my Power saddles. Love my speedplays only had one spring snap in about 14 years never had any cycle-related knee issues. Maybe I'm lucky. Or maybe it's because I've never had a bikefit.
James! Yes! However, I've had nothing but great luck with Speedplay for the last 18-20 years but I don't doubt his gripes.
Whenever I watch a video with James it makes me wish we had decent bike fitters in the US. I've never found one, but videos like these have helped a lot.
There are plenty of great bike fitters in the US but no one goes around making TH-cam videos of them.
I love James. I'm willing to listen to him rant about issues other than cycling, FYI.
Top 10 commuter rants.
1 - Drop bars brakes in city
2 - MTB tyre in city and incorrect pressure and bad knee + saddle setup
3 - Clipless are pointless at traffic
4 - no viz gears & lights, be visible
5 - Traffic lights, Law breakers and Cycle lane blockers make a bad name to "real cyclists"
6 - UCI components on commuter bikes
7 - Commuters come in all body type, so saddle choice is very diverse compared to road bike users
8 - More gears than what you need in city.
9 - Never enough bike lock location
10 - bad bike locking skills by so called cyclists.
Whenever you need content we're always very happy to see a James' rant - just wind him up and press record! 😂👍
I still like my Arione saddle since my position changes depending on rough terrain and tail or headwind. though, I want to try one with a pressure relieve channel.
As i started Road raging ( oh Cycling... I ment Road Cycling 😜 ) I got a Fizik Arione Classic for VERY cheap and loved it !
BUT here and there ( depended if I was riding "normal" or "TT like you mean it" ) I got numb Genetals .
THAT was definitely a problem 😂
Then a friend bought an Arione R3 Open , wich he didn't liked .. and gave me that Saddle.
Ooooohhhhh BOY ! THAT was a Game changer!!
LOVE this Saddle!!!
Unfortunately I crashed 🙄 And the Saddle was badly scratched 😩 ( not a few slight mark's.. )
Now I got a Arione R3 Versus EVO
I hope i love this like my R3 open OR better ..
Time to find out 🤷🏼♂️
All three are in regular
I've tried a Selle Italia Boost Model ( wich can be a VERY good concept.. if you're build wider ... I ? am not -.- )
He literally says people keep moving on this type of seat wich means you saddle type is wrong?
@@l0s3rke I don’t think so, I find muscle recruitment is different under different types of load/ terrain and the saddle should accommodate that.
I also like being able to move forward and backward on my saddle, but not by that much… I’m happy using the flat version of the salle italia slr boost superflow..
see if you can find a specialized toupe. especially the older ones with less padding. they've been discontinued, but you can probably find some on ebay or something.
More “James Rants” please. 😂
I rode on fixed look cleats for about 5 months last year and raced on them. Loved how stiff it felt sprinting and I generally have no issues with bike fit which I had done all the way back in 2020.
It's been a while since I last seen this kind! It helped me with my road bike body pains early on. Good to see it back!
I am quite a strong guy in the shoulders, torso as I do a lot of upper body weights and sports, and I use wider drop bars, it lets me open the chest on climbs and I love the leverage they give me, no shoulder neck pain at all. On the hoods it may make you a bit blunter to the wind, but if you are doing a pb effort you tuck into the drops and your aero.
What does james think about the selle smp saddle? And you should make another video 10 things james likes
I reckon Selle SMP is great since it has shape like a human...not just a straight plank
so spot on that i was laughing out loud! thank you for filming what many of us who actually care have to deal with on an everyday basis at ye old bike shop!
wow, i did 3 of them!
i use r550 pedal, narrower handlebar, and in the process of getting rid of the power saddle
😆
Nice to see James back on the channel.
Does anyone else think he looks/sounds like Roy Kent (from Tel Lasso)?
Maybe just me.
1. I own a 3T 25 saddle (just like on video). I agree that it is a poor design, but I easily fixed that with a bit of a thread locker/retaining compound, it has not moved in 2 years.
2. Never had a Specialized Power saddle, but I have an Sqlab which I run in 15cm width and a very aero position. I am not a very big person, but never experienced any problems with it being too wide. It is not a short saddle though, but I do not sit on the nose regardles... Just in the centre.
I've lost track of how many cycling videos I've watched, but this was very insightful, I'd love to meet James!
This was wonderful! 😊As someone who has used Airone saddles (currently on four of my bikes) and pre-Wahoo Speedplay pedals for more than a decade, it brightened up my day. I think the proprietary stuff is not so much a fit problem as an unnecessary expense--my Colnago C40 has a 28 mm seatpost: why?
Same here, no problems with fizik and speedplay pedals.
Ideas change. In the time it was designed and built we thought bikes should be stiff, and the new wonder material (carbon fibre) could make bikes stiff, so they did.
We've gradually learned that stiffness isn't all that it was assumed to be. For seatposts it's more comfortable to have a bit of flex, and so the term compliance was introduced to the cycling lexicon.
Interestingly, the amount of flex is *really* small, but it does seem to have a positive effect.
Thanks James; I didn’t have any of the ten parts on my bike.
Seriously, thank you as you resolved my foot pain in the front of my foot by moving my cleats!
Love bike fit Tuesdays!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
So good to see James back on the channel. Pretty much agree with all he said re arione, power saddle, speedplay
Power saddles are the best for me.
Brilliant to hear unvarnished truth. You have potentially saved so much frustration and unnecessary cost.
Recently another TH-camr was talking about trying zero float cleats that were recommended to him. Knowing my issues with them and reading others misfortunes with them this is a good warning.
Specialized power first saddle where I got no problems with
I have that specialized saddle, at the beginning i thought it was wide, but i like it now, i have rode 73 miles max with no issues
Yes, this made my week….and it’s only Monday….even though this is Bike Fit Tuesday….
So happy to see James back again on the channel!!
I like James, I've been cycling since 1992 and I always feel like I can learn something from him.
Funny rant but... Gotta be careful as some of the items you trashed (just some..!) have really helped a few cyclists out - maybe those with a specific/unique requirement.
It'd be a sad day when the only equipment available was bog standard, and it didn't help your need you're stuffed!
I'm probably referring to 'contact points' - saddles, pedals, handlebars...
Absolutely agree about proprietary seatpins!
I LOVE my power saddle. No numbness and very comfortable. I will not change it.
9 out of 10. The Power saddle comes in different widths. The one you had looked extreme. With a measure of my sits bones, the 155 is the best saddle I've ever owned. Cheers!
Please can you get in touch with Neill Stanbury/Road Cycling Academy (RCA) because I’m desperate for him and James to have a discussion about Speedplay pedals.
They’re the two bike fitters I love/trust the most. Both have differing views on Speedplay…
Thanks!
I completly agree with the Airone assessment. The first time I sat on one of them I thought it was awesome, which is a good indicator of how bad my previous saddle was. Unfortunately, I standardized on them across my bikes. After using them for a few years, I kept developing sit-related issues on longer rides and finally decided I needed a saddle change. I pick out an SQLab saddle based on my sit bones, and it was immediately noticeable how big of a mistake my Airione journey was. I replaced all of my Airones within a month.
Had a bike fit a few years ago, and removing the wedge that had been put into my shoe cured all of the numb foot problems I was having
I'll beg for mercy on the Speedplay pedals. My feet are permanently crooked. (Think of a clock face with my feet pointing at 11 and 1). While most people hate the large amount of float on the Speedplays, which allow your feet to rotate while clipped in, I need that. Using a standard SPD for me is the same as grabbing my feet and twisting them straight by force. Hey, I might be a rare case, and I agree about the excessive price of the cleats, but sometimes we do what we gotta do!
I mean, don't get me wrong, I've missed Bike Fit Tuesdays, but that doesn't mean I'm not super excited about James Rants Mondays!! :D
burning stuff you do not like is a well known tradition in Europe and allways helps to elevate the mood.
I was feeling very happy seeing James back on the channel till the specialized saddle popped up 😂, I ride the ‘arc’ version so it’s slightly better shape I think 🤔
2:22 me after spending $100,00 on this exactly same seat
James thank you! I thought I was the only fitter with my hands in my hair with these “concepts” of stuff. 👊🏻 from SA
Great video James and Francis … now that’s ‘infotainment’ ❤😊
I agree with everything that bike fit James says, except for the bit about Speedplay pedals.. I've been carefully hording original Zero's, 65mm spindles, and fore- aft aluminum base plates.. Since the aforementioned idiots at Wahoo bought Speedplay...
The sheer palpable anger at the spesh saddle! 😂🤣
James letting off steam always amusing, I can think of another seatpost that's a similar design to 3t to add to the list, also I can confirm James is a nice chap.😁
Great to see James again arguably the best bike fitter on the planet.
The Specialized saddle was similar to the one on my Crux, Sofa levels of comfort but deadly off road when trying to get over the rear wheel on steep downhills as the width catches on your thighs
I love the Arione...it's my goto saddle! To each his own.
LOL Guess I need to give up cycling...back in the day (2008-11I think) I loved the Fizike Arione, and it was great because they came on on tons of Cannondale bikes so you could find them everywhere..had one on my steel city bike, a couple road bikes, my Cdale Prophet and latter a SC Heckler, the Power saddle, love it!! its fitted to the bike I ride on my trips/tours, with the 3t seat post your holding and a 46cm flared bar :O
Wow, Attacking a saddle like that is bold(to be nice about it)! As you know, how one works with a rider is pretty person specific. I've been road riding since 1968, and have tried more saddles than I can list, and after lots of back and forth and professional bike fittings (at Boulder and elsewhere), the Arione is still the saddle that works the best for me. For reference, I have done a lot of long distance rides in the mountains all around the world, so its not that I haven't ridden it under difficult condition. I'm not saying that the Arione is good for others, just that it is probably the right saddle for some.
We missed this guy and bikefit cave ;)
The 3T ionic seatpost is a worthy inclusion. I know, I had one. It is so hard to level and so easy to rattle loose. At one stage, I actually carried a spare allen key on my rides in case the bloody thing came loose (which it did, several times). I eventually replaced it with a simpler, cheaper and far more effective Giant seat post.
It is funny you mentioned the Fizik saddle, A friend of mine in Texas rides one but he modifies it by cutting out a pressure relief channel with a box cutter. I tried a power saddle as well and it would cut into the backside of my sits bones, I got a $40 padded carbon saddle with similar dimensions except no silly side wings, Much Much better.
Having tried many many different saddles Fizik Arione is the first one I find really comfortable even on the longest rides.
the Arione VS is my saddle of choice
3 out of these 10 are on my bike as we speak and I've used another 2 in the past. Should throw them back on and book an appointment with James. Not sure yet who'd having the fit at that point 😂
Love how James talks about the reason why he dislikes the products and keeps descriptive and short over ramblings or upplaying the issues
That saddled - on my 2007 Cannondale System6 Ultegra, a bit long but there had been a rationale to it in, I think, the year before Giro. Fixed Look cleats - We were watching Channel 4 TdF feature on the Look pedals used by Hinault & Lemond, wife said, "Get them", I got the just release movable ones and used cleats clipless ever since till recent flats on town bike. Had the Speedplay pedals since 2008 on the Cannondale, should have got wedges to fit between pedal and shoe (not inside the shoes) like ski boot wedges to cater for my legs being bowed below the knees.
Any saddle with a pressure relief channel actually hurts because of a surgery I can't sit symmetrically on a saddle. To that end the Antares actually works for me.
I agree on the SW Power issue, I bought one of size 143 instead of the recommending size 155, at first it was fascinating, but with a year's miles accumulating, and with indoor trainer (stay sitted for most of the time), I began to feel the bone pain due to the wide part on the Power, it really happened and I didn't know why until I see this video ( I thought it may be my own problem or some). I've got another bike with Bontrager RSL, and with that design this issue just disappeared.....
Did you say recommended size was 155 but you bought 143? You are the problem in this case.. Not a saddle. Do yourself a favor learn why size matters.
The best post have seen recently is just to the point and awesome!!
My bike came with an Arione. It was absolute misery to ride it 10 km to a bike fitter to get it changed out immediately.
"as wide as your shoulders" but my shoulders are 48... I really enjoy that bike industry has a lot of variety now and do not need to suffer pain on 42 anymore. I hope more people start to think not only in terms of "most people".
I agree the Fizik Arione saddles are horrible and as a former bike store owner I agree 100% with your list.
I've got the 3T Ionic seat post and fixed cleats. Works well for me.
You had me till the power saddle
Haha...I love the Arione seat; just have to have the right tilt angle and it is pretty comfy - otherwise not so much!
Thanks chaps! James is as funny as he is knowledgeable!
James having a fit about bike fit...nice
As a bike shop employee I FEEL this video. Especially the Speedplay rant.