I am sorry if this is a stupid question but I have a bit of a saddle dilema. I would like a new saddle for my road bike and wondered if there were any differences between road and mtb saddles. I have specialized Dolce and Bonty CRZ+ saddles on my mtbs and get on really well with them.

Could I use the same ones on my road bike or are they designed differently? I guess you spend more of your time actually sitting on a road saddle and the angles are a bit different- not as upright as an mtb. I know I could just swap them over and see how I get on before committing to buying a new one but before I get the allan key out, I thought I would ask the educated masses.

Cheers.

I'd be interested in the answer to this too - I broke my road bike saddle (apparently my arse was too fat for it and it snapped the plastic, according to my riding friend - though he now denies ever having said that!) I now use a mtb saddle on my road bike - need to get a new one, so that I don't have to keep on swapping. It is fine, but would also be interested to know if there is a real difference.

Thanks for reassuring me that I'm not the only one!

I use the same saddle (a saddle for each bike, I don't swap them around) on all my bikes as my bum likes it and I'm not breaking in another one. I can't imagine there is much if any difference between road and mtb saddles apart from the fact that mtb saddle may have some reinforcing round the edges. If you like the saddle use it on whatever bike you please.

I ride a men's Flite which in the marketing bumpf says it is used on or offroad. Its narrow enough to get off the back offroad and comfy enough on road.

If you look at the bontrager website the road saddles are exactly the same as the mtb saddles and if you look at the fizik vitesse - that is marketed as a women's saddle for road and mtb. IMO as long as you have a saddle on both bikes that is comfortable for you then why worry - the position of what you are sitting on is probably more important.

I used a mans Flite but found it just a little too narrow for my seatbones so went for a ladies Selle Italia SLK gelflow. It is super slim but has the support I need and at Christmas I toured 500 miles on it with not one saddle sore. I also use it off road and it is the great for hanging off the back on downhills.

Go with what is comfy and stick with it.

well my road bike came with a spec dolce saddle, it was so comfy I got another off ebay to stick on my mtb.

I'm sure the manufacturers would claim vast differences, weight savings etc etc for a true roadie saddle .

I've recently bought the 2007 Specialized Jett and I love it, reading the specialized catalogue I found out it is a road saddle but I have it on my mtb and it really suits me, in fact I'm thinking of getting a second one for my road bike.

I also recently bought a Specialized Jett, and was told that if I wanted to use it for Road riding, to go for the medium, and for MTB, go for the large - since I rpedominantly ride off-road (even on my commute to work), I went for the larger saddle. My hardtail has a Specialized Dolce Ti on it - VERY comfy!

I sometimes think I could do with a narrower saddle on my road bike, usually when I am in the drops but the Flite is ok as its still quite narrow. If I do eventually get one it'll probably be the 130mm men's Jett equivalent as I preferred that (seem to have a thing for men's saddles).

Only in the last few years have saddles matured in the designers minds and understanding to create models which will work better for MTB or Road.

But if your seating position is identical on both bikes it will matter less than if you have a different one for each bike. An agressive Road prosition may require a narrower saddle with a trail riding MTB position possibly needing a wider saddle with more side support.

I think whatever works for you is the best option, claire u did make me giggle for my large deriere I actually have a super slim wtb saddle but its the best I've had!