A review I posted a long time ago on bikeradar that I always wanted to repost here: a fantastic saddle that looks funny but that you’ll love very quickly!
The problem with reviewing a saddle is that it’s always heavily skewed towards the tester’s body shape, and will definitely not be a fair test like you could do for a pair of wheels. As said in the article, do try (extensively) before you buy!
I have an ISM adamo podium on my road bike and I love it! I also have a roadII on my TT, and my girlfriend who suffered horribly from saddle sore in the past now has a Century on her road bike.
Like for wheels, it’s important to test these in the conditions they are expected to be used.
From my own experience:
The RoadII is designed primarily for an agressive TT position. It does not always work and can be uncomfortable in an upright position. That’s why it’s on my TT and not on my road bike. That said, I do use it for hilly TTs and triathlons.
The podium took me a little to get used to, but now it’s perfect. However, it’s also designed for a fairly aggressive riding position (understand low on the bars, or on the drops), hence I’d reserve that for a race bike, not for touring.
The Century seems (as my GF says) perfect for a more relaxed and upright position.
For these saddles and the radical change of design in where it supports your body, I’d advise everyone to try them for a full week of riding, not just a 10K loop or 5 minutes on a turbo in a bike shop. With these saddles it’s imperative to find the sweet spot or it will not feel good at all.
If you’re in the UK, you can try these saddles from http://trybikestore.co.uk/ We’ve done it at home for all 3 models and you can use them for 7 days until you return them, or buy them.
Don’t judge only on the looks! It’s a bit weird I admit, but for many, it works very well. Just see how many are now used in triathlons everywhere and you’ll get the idea.
At the end of the day, it’s a totally different kind of support, so you have to give it time to adjust, but if it works for you, you won’t come back to your old ones.
Today there’s a bit of everything early morning. 15 min swim, a quick spin on the bike around Puerto del Carmen and a little run. Stretching the legs and re-invigorating the body. Then it’s time to play with lots of sticky numbers on bags, helmet, forehead of my dad (well, maybe not this one, but there are some if you want them!)
Everything’s ready in a flash, and as usual I can’t find anything else to do. Boring times, just waiting. A nap. Then going to rack the bike and put the bags in place.
There’s as usual a lot of money on the racks there! And lots of testosterone pumping! Some look properly scared, and some even comment they don’t like the wind… 3 of ‘them’ will be doing their first ever triathlon tomorrow! I hope they’ve trained a bit at least! Sounds like a dare gone wrong, but I wish them all the best.
The bike is racked in possibly the worst place in transition, between a fire hydrant and a concrete bin that I’ll have to get around, but the race will happen somewhere else. Keeping a smile on my face, I’m here to have fun!
Wednesday only has a little swim and a 90min spin on the bike. I do half a lap of the swim course, practice a few more times diving back in. It’s a bit better today! The hotel on the sea front is an easy sight as well to get your bearings.
This is officially my first ever open water swim this year. With the wonderful weather we’ve had in the UK so far, I’ve only ever used my wetsuit a couple of times in the pool this year, and I feel it. It’s rubbing everywhere, my neck is catching the flap at the back, and it feels too tight now that I’ve got a bit more shoulders. But it will do as it’s very thin and flexible. I still love that suit!
First day on the island of fire! Back for some more after the 70.3 in November 2012.
I’ve left my other half at home. It’s not nice. I don’t like it, but it was always going to be like this and we knew it from day one. I won’t be long now! Just a little race to do!
Packing was easy, it’s a well oiled drill by now, although my dad suggested I packed the wrong bike when we exited the flat!
The flight was easy and uneventful, except for the constantly crying kid on the next row. There really should be a family class added to planes! First, business, economy, and family. With lots of eggs boxes on the walls to cancel out crying baby noise!
Arriving in Lanzarote and it’s not too hot (yay!), and we’re at the hotel in a flash, despite the sat nav being so wrong. For the record, Puerto del Carmen is a gigantic one way system, and the map makers have no idea bout it! We reverted to the paper map from the car rental and eventually arrived at a nice flat from Arena Dorada. Thank you Sarah for the hint! Jana says hello!
It’s 19:30, we’re starving, so the bike will wait after dinner to get built and tomorrow for a spin. Instead, I go for a quick dip in the hotel pool. Nice and fresh, long strokes, easy rhythm. Great after the travel to relax before dinner on the sea front. The little walk we do takes us on the final hundred meters of the run course, we identify the finish line, the transition zones etc, and look at the swim course for tomorrow morning. While it’s not a mountainous run, it’s definitely not flat. And I’m sure these little inclines will feel like mountains at the very end of the race!
I first saw this bag in Paris in the early 2000s during one of the evening roller skate rides that happens there every week. A guy dressed all in black spandex, looking like a power ranger complete with full face helmet, had it loaded with a car stereo, powerful speakers and bright LEDs all around. Talk about a first impression!
