MoonSaddle

UPDATE, 2015-01-23: I am purchasing a third moonsaddle c-model for my boyfriend's Giant Rapid, so that I can stand to ride the bike. Getting the angle right on this bike is trickier than it was with the other two bikes. I may have to buy a different seat mount. Just FYI that sometimes it takes a little more effort to install the seat. Original review follows:I am currently using this seat on my trusty 28-year-old CyclePro hard-tail mountain bike.I had seen another person in my bike club using a two-padded seat, and I almost bought one of those. I weighed the reviews and picked this one instead. I love the simplicity of the design. I love that it is available in smooth plastic, since I hate absorbent seat cushions that you can't wash or leave out in the rain.This seat is much better than I had anticipated. It looked like it might be heavy and bulky, but it's quite light and sleek.I can reposition myself all sorts of ways. When riding up hill, I can scoot a little forward so that I'm pressing back against the seat with each down-stroke of the pedals, getting extra leverage. When coasting or resting, I sort of hook the bottom of my pelvic bone on the bar; or I can hang my glutes over it. When my glutes are tired, I can reposition so that the seat hits the top of my thighs. When standing in the pedals, it's easy to lean back a little and have the seat hit me even lower in the thighs. This experience is very unlike the one I have on a conventional seat, where I pretty much have just one option when I am not standing up: a hard piece of metal grinding into my hard pelvic bones and cutting off blood flow for that exquisite combination of pain and numbness known to cyclists everywhere.The backstory is that, after biking ever since I could walk, I was starting to feel the effects in my pelvis. I didn't know what the problem was. I started physical therapy, and, being an overachiever, I attempted to multi-task and do my pelvic exercises while doing other things--lifting weights, walking, running, doing yoga, biking. I quickly learned that, no matter what, I absolutely positively could NOT relax my pelvic muscles while riding a bike with a normal, hard-nose bike seat. I was only able to relax when I stood up in the pedals. It suddenly dawned on me that every single bike ride, usually an hour and often longer, my entire core was clenched tight for the whole ride. And in turn my pelvic muscles were passing the tension on to my glutes, which were pulling on my hamstrings and calves, which were all yanking on my knees. My whole lower body was a crampy, spasmy mess. And it was due largely to cycling with a hard-nose seat.So I got this seat. I put it onto my bike right before my hour-long, up-mountain ride to the gym where I then lift and take a step class. I was nervous before I got on the bike, worried about things like balancing and taking my hands off the handgrips, and what it would be like to navigate bumps and potholes and how scary it would be to fly back down the mountain in the dark after my class. And then I got on the bike and pulled out of the driveway. And I broke into a big happy grin. I smiled all the way to the gym and knew that I would never go back to a conventional seat.I've been using the seat for a few months. It felt slightly unfamiliar for about 10 minutes but I really had no trouble learning to balance at all. The trip up the steep mountain was easier than it ever had been. The trip down the mountain was, surprisingly, not scary at all; even though I didn't have something to grip between my thighs, I felt completely secure with the seat behind me. Bumps and potholes are easier to take.I have never even re-adjusted it. I followed the instructions for installing and angling the seat and that was it. I never had to "break in" body parts; there was no rubbing, blistering, or aching in the contact points. No special biking pants with pads are required; I can ride in my jeans if I want. It's a seat that "just works". And now my lower body also "just works" again--no more troubles with my knees, calves, and IT bands.I really had had no idea just how much I had suffered all these decades, or why.Today I am ordering a second seat for my Specialized Stump Jumper.

Received on Friday evening so installed it on my Giant Sedona DX and made some adjustments to seat height, then tested it around my cul-de-sac. Felt a little strange. Saturday morning went on a 6 mile ride - pavement and packed gravel trail. Felt unstable at first but liked the 'no crush' feeling. Got off the bike at home and walked normally without shaking my legs out. Made another adjustment to seat height - you have to lower the seat height - and also lowered/adjusted angle of my handle bars. Went on a 7 mile ride in the pm wearing non-padded shorts. Pretty darn good. No soreness on my sit muscles / dont feel like I'm sliding off / felt less unstable on the second ride so maybe its a 'getting used to' thing. I do feel like I'm using a different set of muscles now.Not totally sold yet, but I do like getting off my bike and walking normally. Didn't get to ride on Fathers Day but I will provide a follow up in a week when I do my 15 miler.Update #1 - Jun 17,13 - went on an 8 mile ride. After the two-mile mark stopped to make handlebar height adjustment. Then six straight miles without a stop...and really enjoyed the ride. Much more stable, probably because I'm growing used to it. No pain or soreness on my sit muscles still. I feel like I'm getting a better workout because I don't have to stand on my pedals every 10-15 minutes like I used to (you know, to shake out the numbness). I just stay seated and pedal until I'm finished. Really liking this seat...really....

I regret disregarding the other negative reviews of this saddle. As a 10-year noseless (aka hornless) saddle user, i knew that it takes a while to get accustomed to a noseless saddle, so i took a chance that that might be a major factor in those negative reviews of the MoonSaddle. After 10 days with this saddle, and about 200 miles, i'm sending it back. The reason: It created a couple very nasty sores on the bottom of my "moon cheeks."This saddle might have worked better had i been able to move it farther back, and tilt it up more, but its non-adjustable rail geometry precludes that (definitely a design flaw).Although i bought the "C" comfort model, it was about as soft as a 2x4. I'm height-weight proportionate, so not over-weight, and even installed this saddle on a brand new shock-absorbing seatpost. I rather liked the look of the saddle on my bicycle, but unfortunately that's about the only charitable thing i can say about it. I really wanted to like this saddle, but the sores on my rear are forcing me to admit i erred seriously in purchasing it. I've never owned a pair of gel-padded shorts, and never thought i needed them with any previous saddle; they would be a must with this saddle (although a gel-padded seat cover designed to fit this saddle would make more sense).The reason i purchased this saddle was to replace my 10-year old BiSaddle (by Bycycle Inc [sic]), which was literally falling apart, and which i didn't think i could replace (i thought the company had gone out-of-business). I just learned today that another company has bought the BiSaddle patents, and will be ramping up production once again! So the MoonSaddle goes back to Amazon, and my decrepit BiSaddle goes back on my bicycle until i can get a new BiSaddle.2015 Update: By the way, it took four or five months for the MoonSaddle sores to heal. They were much worse than i realized at first. Hard to believe how much damage that torture device inflicted. I'd give it negative stars, if i could.