I spent a couple grand this year on a 2006 Trek 5200, and then had to drop another $200 on a Fizik aliante saddle because I found the Bontracer saddles - the stock race lux, the race, and the race lite to all be uncomfortable. What use is the Trek saddle "comfort guarantee" given the hassle of waiting for your LBS to get yet another saddle for you to try? I finally said to hell with it and bought what I found was a highly rated saddle through an online retailer. Happily, I love my Fizik alinate. Sadly, Trek made me go through the hassle of having to go this route instead of putting a world class saddle on their higher end bikes in the first place. Or is it just me? How many of you riders of Trek carbon frame bikes use the stock Trek saddles?

My 2005 LeMond Buenos Aires came with a Race Luxe. After a couple short shakedown rides I installed the Selle Italia Turbomatic from my older bike (which I had anticipated doing anyway, as I've been riding Turbomatics for more than a dozen years). I put the Bontrager on the older bike, thinking it would probably be okay for the relatively few times I'd be riding it. Wrong. The first time I did a 30-miler on that bike, I realized I was going to have to find a substitute for the now-discontinued Turbomatics.

I can understand the mfrs putting the the cheap-jack marshmallow saddles on their entry-level bikes, because they feel soooooo comfy in the showroom to newbies who don't yet know what a good saddle needs to feel like in order to get you through a long ride. On the more expensive bikes, which are typically bought by more experienced riders, I guess they figure that the owner is going to want to use his preferred saddle anyway, as I did. Remember, backsides vary; one man's world class saddle is another man's torture rack.

Also, had a better saddle been installed at the factory, the added cost would have been reflected in the bike's MSRP.

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. My Madone came with the race lite lux and I've been happy with it ever since. The first ride was a bit painful, but then I think it would have been that way for any saddle, as I was not used to riding ANYTHING yet. I have some pretty pointy sit-bones; maybe that has something to do with it. So, maybe ignorance is bliss, but I'm happy to be blissfully ignorant :thumbsup:

the race lux was off my lemond before i ever touched it......the things are terrible, imo.

It's not the Bontrager saddle that came on my Lemond Maillot Jaune, but I love my Race XXX Lite Carbon saddle. I believe it is the same shape as the Race X Lite but it's all carbon.

http://westlakecyclery.com/images/library/large/bontrager_260394_05_m.jpg

It's not the Bontrager saddle that came on my Lemond Maillot Jaune, but I love my Race XXX Lite Carbon saddle. I believe it is the same shape as the Race X Lite but it's all carbon.

http://westlakecyclery.com/images/library/large/bontrager_260394_05_m.jpg

Now that doesn't look very comfortable!

Whatever came on my 2100 is what I've had for 1600km this summer. I ride WTB Lasers on all my Mountain Bikes, and haven't found this Bontrager any less (or more for that matter) comfortable. Must be the chamois!

My bike came with the Bontrager Race Luxe (I can't find an image of it)

I spent a couple grand this year on a 2006 Trek 5200, and then had to drop another $200 on a Fizik aliante saddle because I found the Bontracer saddles - the stock race lux, the race, and the race lite to all be uncomfortable. What use is the Trek saddle "comfort guarantee" given the hassle of waiting for your LBS to get yet another saddle for you to try? I finally said to hell with it and bought what I found was a highly rated saddle through an online retailer. Happily, I love my Fizik alinate. Sadly, Trek made me go through the hassle of having to go this route instead of putting a world class saddle on their higher end bikes in the first place. Or is it just me? How many of you riders of Trek carbon frame bikes use the stock Trek saddles?


I use a Bontrager Race X Lite Pro saddle on my Madone SSL. Great saddle. Light, no excessive padding and comfy. I don't like those super comfy types or excessive ones. Mine's just right.

waterloo, I believe your saddle's the same shape as mine. How's it feel? I might wanna get a new frame so I might look at that saddle if it's good and put it on my Madone and use my current saddle on the new frame. I'm a little skeptical about carbon saddles though, I must say. Something just makes me thing it might be a tad too hard even for me.

I dumped mine after two rides for a Koobi PRS.

Oh yeah Op, it's BontraGer.. not bontracer.. :)

Bontrager saddles are all over the map. The low end ones suck, but some of the upper end (Race X Lite, etc.) are O.K. The '07 Trek's are coming with a new generation (new supplier) of saddles which appear much nicer.

But one person's heaven is another person's hell. I have an old Flite Ti on one bike and a Fizik Arionne on the other. Love 'em both.

Well lke you said richard, different people like different things.

oh but the new treks still come with bontrager actually.. not sure what you mean by new supplier... :idea:

oh but the new treks still come with bontrager actually.. not sure what you mean by new supplier... :idea:

The '07 Trek's and Gary Fisher's have, while still "Bontrager", completely different saddles. Grey instead of black, embossed details, etc. The one's on the '07 2.1 Pilots are much nicer and noticeably firmer than what came on the '06's.

Our understanding is, that as well as a redesign for a lot of models, Trek's gone to a new Asian supplier.

..... Or is it just me? How many of you riders of Trek carbon frame bikes use the stock Trek saddles?

It's you. Seriously, you can't expect a stock saddle to be all things to everyone.

waterloo, I believe your saddle's the same shape as mine. How's it feel? I might wanna get a new frame so I might look at that saddle if it's good and put it on my Madone and use my current saddle on the new frame. I'm a little skeptical about carbon saddles though, I must say. Something just makes me thing it might be a tad too hard even for me.

Yes, they are the same shape according to their website. It took a week or two to get used to the fact that it is has zero padding or flex, but now I don't even notice it at all...I love it. I've got almost 3000 miles on it and a few centuries so far.

It is like a $250 or something saddle. As such, before I actually purchased it at my LBS, I talked to someone about Bontrager's saddle replacement policy. They told me that Bontrager does have a comfort guarantee. If within 30 days of purchase I found the saddle to be uncomfortable, I could exchange it for a different saddle or get my money back. A bit of insurance when taking a plunge on a $250+ saddle that may not work out.

It's you. Seriously, you can't expect a stock saddle to be all things to everyone.

Actually, you can't expect ANY saddle to be all things to everyone, regardless of price