chinese carbon saddles

[aeroskiii]

@aeroskiii, did you buy any of those?

I am looking for a weight weenie (narrow) full carbon saddle. Three candidates below.

It looks like the last two are replicas of the Gelu K1, while the first one is slightly longer:

TLO 65 saddle (120 x 260 mm, 75.7g, 76 EUR):
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007543963047.html

Ryet K1 (122 x 242 mm, 58g, 87 EUR):
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007436570770.html

OdinZeus K1 (122 x 242 mm, 57.5g, 109 EUR):
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006376314421.html

Anyone have tried any of these?

Curious about the weight difference of the first one, while the Ryet and OdinZeus looks to be exactly the same thing except for an additional mark up on the latter.

Reviews of the Ryet are not that encouraging, as there are several cases with cracks after the first rides (see pictures). On the other hand, Ryet offers a 1 year warranty replacement which I do not know if any of you have ever used. No idea about the warranty of OdinZeus, as I have never bought from them either.

Cheers!

I have it on my road bike, dropper post for the MTB, and rigid darimo post for the MTB.

[jhearrtot]

It's been over a year now, and I still have a love-and-hate relationship with this saddle.
https://www.velobuildmall.com/products/pu-wrapped-carbon-fiber-much-more-comfortable

I love it because it doesn't make me go numb 'down there' while going more aero in position, but I hate it because it is too narrow for me (130mm).

I had a bike fit last Nov 2024 and fitted 3 saddles in my rotation (eagle beak 130mm, berk lupina and another saddle for indoor 150mm both), and the eagle beak causes less to no numbness at all.

It helps me spin faster and longer too compared to the other saddles I've used.

I was wondering if y'all know something similar but WIDER at 150mm. Otherwise, I think I will have to go with the original Selle SMP Well saddle.

[stb]

Yup I use the gelu k1 clone. It has been perfect on my flight attendant Supercaliber which I race pretty technical UCI courses on. Great comfort and the durability has been better than the bontrager XXX saddle and much more comfy than the aelous RSL saddle. 5/5 reccomend

Thanks for your feedback! Glad to read it is holding up to abuse, especially on the MTB. Those pictures of cracked saddles on AliExpress were not so encouraging.

Which of the clones did you get, Ryet or OdinZeus? Not that it matters I guess, since they are both the same... just thinking about the warranty, just in case 

Cheers!

[stb]

It's been over a year now, and I still have a love-and-hate relationship with this saddle.
https://www.velobuildmall.com/products/pu-wrapped-carbon-fiber-much-more-comfortable

I love it because it doesn't make me go numb 'down there' while going more aero in position, but I hate it because it is too narrow for me (130mm).

I had a bike fit last Nov 2024 and fitted 3 saddles in my rotation (eagle beak 130mm, berk lupina and another saddle for indoor 150mm both), and the eagle beak causes less to no numbness at all.

It helps me spin faster and longer too compared to the other saddles I've used.

I was wondering if y'all know something similar but WIDER at 150mm. Otherwise, I think I will have to go with the original Selle SMP Well saddle.

I have not used anything similar to the eagle beak saddles and always < 130 mm, but the Berk seems to be a more "traditional" shape.

In that regard, I have a Selle Italia SLR Carbonio Flow in one of my bikes (not Super Flow,  this one is not manufactured anymore, difference being just a shorter channel). The discomfort starts around the ~4 hours mark.  Right now I am trying a SQLab 612 which works better on > 4 hours rides and it is manufactured in different widths, including 150mm. It is pricey though 

[jhearrtot]

ah I'm eyeing the SQLab 612 as well. Good thing there's a bike shop here that can help ID the actual size before purchasing so that might be a better route for me then.

Thanks!

[aeroskiii]

Thanks for your feedback! Glad to read it is holding up to abuse, especially on the MTB. Those pictures of cracked saddles on AliExpress were not so encouraging.

Which of the clones did you get, Ryet or OdinZeus? Not that it matters I guess, since they are both the same... just thinking about the warranty, just in case 

Cheers!

Odinzeus

[stb]

ah I'm eyeing the SQLab 612 as well. Good thing there's a bike shop here that can help ID the actual size before purchasing so that might be a better route for me then.

Thanks!

Sounds good!

You can always measure your sit bone distance at home to have an idea of the size you need.

Maybe you already know all this, if not, this is how I do it:

1. Put a towel on a hard surface, place a piece of tinfoil on top and sit down.

2. Then check the table in Step #3 in this page:

https://www.sq-lab.com/en/ergonomics/sit-bone-measurement-for-bike-saddles

3. Add the X cm that suits your riding position to the seat bone distance you measured, which will give you the width of the saddle you need.

Every saddle manufacturer tells you to add a different X amount, no consensus, so it is always better to try the saddle first or buy it somewhere where you can return it if it does not work for you 

[jhearrtot]

Sounds good!

You can always measure your sit bone distance at home to have an idea of the size you need.

Maybe you already know all this, if not, this is how I do it:

1. Put a towel on a hard surface, place a piece of tinfoil on top and sit down.

2. Then check the table in Step #3 in this page:

https://www.sq-lab.com/en/ergonomics/sit-bone-measurement-for-bike-saddles

3. Add the X cm that suits your riding position to the seat bone distance you measured, which will give you the width of the saddle you need.

Every saddle manufacturer tells you to add a different X amount, no consensus, so it is always better to try the saddle first or buy it from somewhere that you can return it if it does not work for you 

perfect! Will try this! Thanks!

[Blueberry]

I like the Mixed 5D, its my go-to these days. I've had several and never had any issues but I'm not a big rider. I did try the 6D, for a more upright bike, but decided I like the 5D better.

[jonathanf2]

Loving the new T40A mesh on the RYET Arcode saddle. This one totally fixes the stiff mesh from the original. It's a tad heavier at 170g, but it's way comfortable! 

[stb]

Quick update (and PSA).

I finally bought the Ryet K1 instead of OdinZeus, just to compare with @aeroskiii feedback.

The weight is ~52.5 g, which is below the 58 g in the spec, great (?).

But the saddle rails are a full 1 mm smaller in both width and height (!)

I measured  ~5.5 mm x 7.5 mm vs. the specified 6.5 mm x 8.5 mm.

This makes it impossible to use in any of my two road bikes, as both of my seat posts use 1 bolt type of clamp for oval carbon rails (7 mm x 9 mm) or regular 7 mm x 7 mm.

Probably same outcome even if the rails where on spec., but wanted to let you all know 

Anyway, time to look for a round seat post with a 2 bolt type clamp, usual suspect is the Elita One 63D: this one clamps the rails from the top/bottom, so I hope it works for such undersized rails. The other seat post is (proprietary) aero shaped so I am out of luck for that one anyway 

Cheers!

[ediryppah]

I ran the plastic base Ryet Aircode on my aluminium rim break bike most of last year and was super happy. Always comfy.
I got a new carbon bike with carbon hoops during winter sales, and paired it with a carbon base Aircode, figured I'd save some weight.

The new bike had been out just a few times and I never got along with the new saddle. I assumed it was a fit issue (always difficult to perfectly re-do a fit between bikes), so I was messing around with saddle setback/angle a lot.

But yesterday I just realized the saddle with the carbon base has a super stiff upper, like it's a dramatic difference to the other one I have.
Swapped over the plastic base saddle to the new bike and went out today and I was comfy again.

I don't know if there's different batches or if this is a general issue? I kind of want to get a carbon base "soft" aircode, might just try those new softer uppers then.

[BeR]

Loving the new T40A mesh on the RYET Arcode saddle. This one totally fixes the stiff mesh from the original. It's a tad heavier at 170g, but it's way comfortable! 

I read that the front of the saddle may be to wide and leads to irritation or damage the short. Could you confirm please ?

[amacal1]

I ran the plastic base Ryet Aircode on my aluminium rim break bike most of last year and was super happy. Always comfy.
I got a new carbon bike with carbon hoops during winter sales, and paired it with a carbon base Aircode, figured I'd save some weight.

The new bike had been out just a few times and I never got along with the new saddle. I assumed it was a fit issue (always difficult to perfectly re-do a fit between bikes), so I was messing around with saddle setback/angle a lot.

But yesterday I just realized the saddle with the carbon base has a super stiff upper, like it's a dramatic difference to the other one I have.
Swapped over the plastic base saddle to the new bike and went out today and I was comfy again.

I don't know if there's different batches or if this is a general issue? I kind of want to get a carbon base "soft" aircode, might just try those new softer uppers then.

No, the Aircode is insanely stiff. It was my first carbon saddle and I was expecting flexy, bendy carbon. What I got was a chunk of carbon fiber so stiff I would have thought it was a solid aluminum block. Still, I didn't find it uncomfortable. The shape of the Aircode is pretty good for me, honestly, but that nose is just too wide and the exposed carbon rim would occasionally get me if I didn't seat myself down on it just right.

I eventually bought a different Ryet carbon saddle with a more rounded edge (that is also covered with mesh and doesn't just leave exposed carbon) and has a MUCH thinner nose. Notably, the carbon is more like what I expected it to be, it's very flexy and bendy. Not nearly so stiff as the Aircode, not even close. I don't find it *quite* as comfortable as the Aircode, but it doesn't have those specific problems.

[jonathanf2]

I read that the front of the saddle may be to wide and leads to irritation or damage the short. Could you confirm please ?

None of my bibs are are showing any damage. The original 3D mesh Arcode is a bit stiff, but after trying several other 3D printed saddles I've gone back to the Arcode on both my road bikes and my gravel bike. You really have to dial-in the seat post height and angle properly. The reason I prefer the wide nose of the Arcode is due to my climbing style. I tend to position forward on the saddle to get pedaling leverage. Narrow saddles tend to be less comfortable in that forward position (causing irritation for me) and the big gap in the Arcode helps keep the crown jewels comfortable!

The new T40A mesh on the Arcode is a big improvement in my opinion. I have that saddle on my gravel bike and it almost feels invisible on my butt. I would update my other Arcode saddles as well, but I'm trying not to buy more stuff. It really comes down to your riding style.