If you are unfamiliar with Selle SMP, you are not alone. It’s not a saddle you will likely see on a World Tour bike any time soon, as the company chooses not to spend hundreds of thousands of euros to pay teams to ride their product. Instead, they focus on making some of the best saddles in the world. In case you didn’t know, World Tour athletes don’t choose the saddles they ride on, they are paid to ride on a particular saddle, and the saddle they ride is a function of contracts that are written to fund the team, not ergonomics or even performance.

Note: “Selle” simply means saddle in Italian…some people confuse Selle SMP with Selle Italia. These are not the same company. Selle Italia literally translates to “Saddle Italy”. It is the equivalent of a US saddle company naming itself “America Bicycle Seat”.

I began carrying SMP saddles in 2013. I carry all types of SMP models and can order any saddle to have it in my shop in three to five days. Additionally, I keep stock of common choices and colors on hand in the shop. In most cases, this means I have one saddle in most models in stock, in black with steel rails. They are available for order in several different colors, with steel or carbon rails. All the color choices, weights and technical details can be seen here:

Selle SMP Saddles

In my opinion, SMP makes one of the best products on the market. Saddles are a highly personal choice, and one type of saddle won’t work for every rider out there, but in my experience SMP saddles are a significantly improved saddle choice, or what I call a “final solution” for a high percentage of riders I work with. If you have never ridden in a cup shaped saddle with a large cutout, the comfort of a SMP will likely be a welcome change to your bicycle interface.

I also recommend Steve Hogg’s excellent article on SMPs. He describes the various models in detail and it can give you a great idea of where to start in their line up.

SMP makes three basic base shapes, and each of these shapes are available with different levels of padding. Normally a rider will try all three base shapes, and agree with one more than the others. Then, we can figure out what level of padding is needed. This comes down to personal preference, but in general less padding means lower saddle weight, less pelvic motion and greater stability.

If you have never ridden on SMP or have no idea where to start, the best thing to do is order a TEST KIT. This kit will contain one of each of the 3 saddles, so you can try them back to back. Typically when riders try all three saddles back to back, the experience is very illuminating. Back to back trials are always best because we can quickly become accustomed to something that is not optimal, but we have been conditioned to “deal with it” due to the glorification of suffering that is prevalent in endurance sports culture.

This misguided ideal is incorrect. There is constructive discomfort that is intentionally undertaken in the process of athletic growth [example: sore legs from long rides] and unconstructive discomfort which is at a minimum a detraction from the total effort one can put forth into sport. At its worst, this unconstructive suffering is the cause of injury or compensated movement patterns [this is a common outcome of a poor saddle choice].

The three shapes are:

1. Composit / Vulkor
2. F Series
3. Forma

There are two options for the SMP test saddle program.

OPTION ONE: SMP THREE PACK

There are two sizing options in the three pack This will consist of the three saddles listed above, so they may be tested back to back. The price will be $300 which includes shipping both ways [a return label will be in the box], and a SMP set up guide [both written and video].

There are two sizing options in the THREE PACK: The “S” will consist of

1.  Composit [129mm x 263mm]
2. F20C s.i. [135mm x 250mm]
3. Forma [137mm x 273mm]

SMP THREE PACK “L”

1. Vulkor
2. F30C s.i. [150mm x 250mm]
3. Forma [137mm x 273mm]

Before you email me with your “sit bone” measurements, keep reading.

This TEST THREE PACK can be used for 3 weeks from date of receipt, which should normally be enough time for someone to try all the saddles and figure out what works and what doesn’t. ideally, you will simply try them all back to back on a single day: ride for about 30-60 min on each saddle, stop, get the new one on, tinker, ride for 30-60 minutes, repeat. If the rider wishes to purchase a retail saddle, they will purchase the model and color on my web store. When the TEST THREE PACK is returned, they will be refunded $250. Effectively the fee for testing the 3 saddles is $10/ saddle plus shipping [typically $9-11 in most cases]. You do not need to return the TEST PACK before you order a new retail saddle; this means you can install the new one right when you take the old saddle off. This saves having to ride a previous model which in many cases, is far lee than ideal.

The models selected for the SMP THREE TEST PACK are all unpadded. This allows for quick discernment of which model base will work best for you. If you find one of the three saddles to be the best by far, but to “bony” then we add padding from there. I often find that riders need much less padding then they think they do. When the base of the saddle fits your bony anatomy and soft tissue, you need and want less padding. Padding is a one size fits all solution. There is literally not a single aspect of bicycle fitting that is “one size fits all”.

OPTION TWO: SINGLE SADDLE TEST

The customer places an order for a single test saddle. The price will be $110 with an $90 refund coming back to the customer upon return of the test saddle. If a retail saddle is desired, one can be purchased on the web store. I ask that you keep the test saddle for no more than 3 weeks.

SMP saddles are 100% made in Italy. Rail choices are hollow stainless steel or carbon fiber with a thin bonded stainless plate to prevent the saddle rails from being crushed by the seat post clamp. These saddles are very high quality and last for many years with proper care. For models with padding, there is not really a “break in period” and the carbon reinforced nylon base does not break down or sag over time.

Gelu saddles are handmade in Portugal. The saddles are extremely lightweight and well made. For several months I tested various models and landed on the F-3 for myself, with the leaf spring design, which is available in any model. This is something like a modern version of a Brooks B-17, but a much more elegant construction.

The magic of the Gelu is the blend of stability and movement that is supported by the ability of the SI joints to move while the sacrum has a stabile platform. They are designed to have the ishium sitting just outside the cutout, which is in contrast to the SMP, where the ishium lay along the top inner edge of the cutout [in theory].

For a while I had the SMP Forma on one bike [I have ridden primarily this saddle since 2014] and a Gelu on another. Switching back and forth led me to figure out over time that the Gelu allows more movement of the SI joint, while maintaining a stable base for the sacrum. The result is a pedal stroke that feels unrestricted while at the same time, I am supported. This is probably what a narrow, old school saddle like the Conor would allow, except that with a convex center profile, it would not be a stable base and would likely result in a pelvis that rolls from one side to the other. Not to mention an intolerable amount of perineal pressure.

If you are still on a saddle without a cutout or some cup to the shape, you are still in the 19 century.

The Infinity saddle is a line of products created by Dr Vince Marcel. I had him as a guest on my podcast in this episode.

Infinity saddles, in particular the E2 and E3 models are very unusual by conventional standards. Dr Vince explains why he came up with this design in the podcast. In some cases these saddles are a “hail Mary” choice for riders who simply cannot find a comfortable saddle from another manufacturer.