Moonsaddle
I’m the kind of person that will try most things at least once. When the fine people from Moonsaddle ask me if I wanted to test one of their Moonsaddles, I quickly agreed.
I installed the Moonsaddle on my trusty steed, the DiamondBack Transporter. Yeah, it looks funky but how does it feel?
I hooked my Co-Pilot trailer and took my girls for a ride around my neighborhood. When I first sat on the saddle, something was missing…. there was nothing pushing against my family jewels! We rode for about 3 miles and I quickly adjusted to the saddle, comfortable? so far, so good.
I’m going to put some miles on this saddle, so stay tuned for my full review and recommendation.
October 19th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
I am looking into buying this saddle but finding little info online. I want to ride about 30 miles several times a week without bike shorts. Any update appreciated!
Thanks
Coy Boy
October 24th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Coy–most people who ride MoonSaddle glady throw out their padded bike shorts! Wanted to say more info can be found at http://www.moonsaddle.com.
Bike Geek–Glad to see you are enjoying the seat (I work for MoonSaddle). Also, we recommend a 20-30 degree angle for installing the seat, so if you have any discomfort you might try angling downward toward the front tire more as it doesn’t appear you have it mounted at much of an angle. We are coming out with some new rails in the next couple of months that should help achieve the correct angle, the rails themselves are angled! If the angle you have it mounted at now feels good to you, that’s great too! Comfort is the name of the game, right?
October 25th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Hey Cara, I angled the moonsaddle as much as my seatpost let me. I still found it rather comfortable. If it bugs me, I’ll swap the seatpost.
November 11th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
I got mine a little over a week ago and put it on my Trek 520. So far I have riden it 20 miles once, 12 miles several times and 8 (off the mountian) once, all without bike shorts, for a total of 78 miles. I first tried it turned with the tips facing to the back but couldn’t get the proper 20 deg angle. I now have it on with the tips facing to the front and with the proper angle. This is much better but the tips do seem like they are in the way slightly. I still am not used to the balance (or lack thereof) but the comfort is great. Even on the 20 mile ride I actually stayed sitting down the entire time but did move around a little to just change the pressure (this was with the tips facing backward). I don’t guess there is anyway to correct this angle on my saddle so I may eventually get one of the newer angled rail ones you (Cara) mentioned or try a different seat post like Bike Geek mentioned For now I will ride it with the tips toward the back. Oh, and I found kaki pants and regular sweat pants worked better than my nylon shorts. With the nylon shorts I felt like I was sliding to the front too much and my hands got tierd.
Coy Boy
February 7th, 2008 at 3:58 am
I’m a bit skeptical. I have an overpriced but well dependable seat that does the trick.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:15 pm
My wife bought me a Moonsaddle for my birthday, I ride both mountain and road bikes and was very interested to see how this would work. I tried the moon saddle for a month on any bike I was riding to break it in under different conditions. My opinion of this saddle has slowly deteriorated…at first it seemed like it might be comfortable, as there is no pressure in between your legs, but it is a wide seat, and set at the angle prescribed, pushes up your rear…those horns become a nuisance after a couple rides. And, unlike a regular saddle with a cutout, there is only one position on this seat, you can’t move forward or back….without adjustment it becomes very uncomfortable, and isn’t suited for mountain biking’s varied terrain. My opinion is that this seat alters the riding position and feel of the bike far too much to be practical. There are better options.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
I tried this seat, and my wife tried it. It was about 60-$80 from the mfgr website. She is a total new rider and overwieght. I am a skinny, experienced rider who has gotten out of shape over 4 years.
I found it to be hard and uncomfortable, but found it promising. The wing things are mostly for looks and to protect the actual seat area from crashes/wear and to provide a trademark style. If you like it, you may have to get a longer frame or a layback style seatpost, and possibly even use one of those dorky BMX style posts with the huffy-walmart clamp to get it to tilt “down” more, or buy the more expensive new version with the improved rails.
The rail has popped out of the seat already after 3 rides (less than 20 miles easily) but its possibly a simple mass mfgr defect or because of my wifes weight. I expect the seat to be replaced promptly under warranty.
I highly suggest you try it if you have a feeling of pain from your seat, because its becoming more popular, and the customer service seems friendly. I feel like I could sell the saddle or re-gift it easily if it isn’t exactly right for me or my wife. If you are going to buy a handful of $40-140 seats anyways, might as well try it. Get the new rails.
We are also trying the new Terry saddles and I will also use nashbar cheapos as I have for several years. I don’t care so much if my butt hurts as long as I can pee freely! lol.
brutal.conversions@yahoo.com
September 15th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Hey cool. I just saw, you can order also when living in Europe. Before I do: Please write the full review.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I would like to add to my former review. I think I found the niche this seat was created for. At slower speeds, when your legs don’t support you as much, the Moonsaddle is a joy and really saves your nethers from carrying your body weight. I have gone on some sight seeing tours and was very happy to have given this saddle another chance. Once you set it up right, you will be rewarded with not noticing your seat on longer, slower paced rides. It will be with me on my hybrid to see the foliage turn in the coming weeks.
October 25th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
I ordered my MoonSaddle on line from the company and it took 18 days to show up. Seemed like an excessive amount of time.
Mounted the seat at 20-30 degree angle as recommended. Rode for an hour on asphalt and gravel roads. (I usually ride for 2-3 hours at a time, but gave up after one painful hour.)
I found the seat very uncomfortable and painful even though I wore padded biking shorts. I could not a comfortable position on the seat. My “sit bones” still ache four days later.
There are ridges on the top of the seat that are designed to reduce pressure on the perineum. They do that, but really dig into my “sit bones.”
I sent the seat back. Would NOT recommend it.